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Positive reinforcement may pay better health dividends

Dear Editor: Health Minister Mike de Jong has it ridiculously incorrect when he suggests smokers pay more for health care. Perhaps smokers might be looking after their health in other ways: less stress, more exercise, etc.

Dear Editor:

Health Minister Mike de Jong has it ridiculously incorrect when he suggests smokers pay more for health care. Perhaps smokers might be looking after their health in other ways: less stress, more exercise, etc. To tar smokers with this brush is anti-democratic and hypocritical as the B.C. government makes much money off of tobacco taxes.

I suggest a higher MSP premium to the parents of the kids who are on wheels without helmets. I suggest higher premiums to people who are overweight, I suggest higher premiums to people who have bad driving records, etc. etc. The list never ends. It won't work.

The program in North Vancouver whereby kids wearing helmets get free North Vancouver recreation centre passes, or something of the same is excellent. Positive reinforcement is the answer.

Wendy Qureshi, director, North Shore Safety Council