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To all Whistler mountain bikers Certain incidents this past weekend have compelled me to raise some issues about the use of the Whistler Mountain Bike Zone.

To all Whistler mountain bikers

Certain incidents this past weekend have compelled me to raise some issues about the use of the Whistler Mountain Bike Zone. I can understand that "the park" has a good deal of difficult terrain to challenge all levels of ability, and that it is sometimes hard to do the trails with riders of lesser ability in front of you. What some people fail to realize is that everyone on the mountain has paid to have the same good time as all the "hardcore" riders.

I think very strongly that those riders that encroach on other people’s fun need to refresh themselves with the mountain users responsibility code and display a bit of common courtesy towards all users.

If we just give people their space to have fun and challenge themselves, we’ll go a long way towards enjoyment for all.

Derek "Cowboy" Maxheleau

Whistler

The B.C. Lung Association, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. and Yukon and the Canadian Cancer Society, B.C. and Yukon Division, which make up the Clean Air Coalition of B.C., applaud the provincial government for choosing to continue the lawsuit against tobacco companies to recover health care costs from tobacco use.

During the election campaign, the Clean Air Coalition polled all parties on this issue, and the B.C. Liberals said they would review the relevant information before making a decision. They have made the right decision based on evidence.

On the other hand, government is considering a delay of the implementation of the WCB second-hand smoke regulations. We hope that as part of its decision-making process, the government will be reviewing the most up-to-date scientific studies that demonstrate the lethal effects of second hand smoke.

Just this month, two significant studies were published that establish the negative health effects of exposure to second-hand smoke. The Canadian study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, found that non-smokers routinely exposed to second-hand smoke in the workplace can face triple the risk of contracting lung cancer. The Japanese study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that just half an hour of exposure to second-hand smoke can impair normal blood flow to the heart.

We encourage the government to make the right decision yet again, and allow the WCB second-hand smoke regulations to be implemented, as planned, without further delay.

Barbara Kaminsky, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Cancer Society, B.C. and Yukon Division

Scott McDonald, Executive Director, B.C. Lung Association

Bobbe Wood, Chief Executive Officer, Heart and Stroke Foundation, BC and Yukon