Dear Bird Talk:

I have just received via snail mail the winter issue of CSA News. The article on Prostate Specific Antigen Test (PSA) is, in my opinion, probably the most important article I have seen in the News. Hopefully it will save many lives because I know that the PSA test was the main item that led to the discovery of my prostate cancer in 1994 and the subsequent surgical removal of the prostate. I had been going to a doctor and a urologist for three years before a PSA test was recommended, and that was only because I changed doctors. I urge all men to have a PSA test done and to also write the Ontario minister of health deploring the discrimination that is there when women can have a mammogram for free, while men must pay for the PSA test and both procedures are for the detection of cancer.

Sincerely,
H. Webster
London, On

(This is just part of a very thoughtful and excellent letter from Mr. Webster.)

Donald Stacy of Mississauga pointed out in a recent letter to us that if you already have prostate cancer, OHIP will pay for your PSA test. What government "expert" decided that paying for a PSA test to confirm the presence of prostate cancer only in men who already had prostate cancer was good health policy.

I recently asked my own doctor to request a PSA test while I was having some other tests done. He said, "You don't need one, and it doesn't mean anything anyway." I believe this to be the general attitude in the medical community and it is very, very wrong, based on the many studies and articles I have read.

Good, cost-effective health policy means prevention and early detection of problems, for any illness or disease. The PSA test should not only be paid for by the governments ­ it should be mandatory in my opinion. Please send a letter or e-mail to your health minister, your MP, your MPP, your premier and our prime minister. Help save someone's life.

Dear Bird Talk,

As a snowbird going to Florida for five months each year we felt discriminated against in the federal election.

We were in Florida when the election was called. We did contact Elections Canada in Ottawa right away.

The person who answered the phone spoke very poor English and could hardly understand me. He had no idea of Ontario geography, only Quebec. We tried to explain where we lived (Muskoka Georgian Bay township) to no avail.

However, they offered to send us the form to register to vote by mail. They wanted to e-mail or fax it to us but we don't own either. So it came in the mail (took two weeks).

We returned it so we could get a ballot. Again, many phone calls to Elections Canada if you could get through on the line. By the way, half-page ads in the St. Petersburg Times were telling Canadians to vote.

Our ballots arrived on voting day in Canada, so it was useless. I feel we were disenfranchised and discriminated against for being snowbirds.

Of all the Canadians in our area of Florida, and there are quite a number, not one was able to vote. What can be done about this?

Sincerely,
J. Nola
Coldwater, ON

As hundreds and probably thousands of snowbirds found out, having the RIGHT to vote outside the country doesn't mean you CAN vote. Elections Canada is working very hard with the CSA to resolve this problem and is gradually getting systems in place to allow proper and timely voting. The St. Petersburg Times ad was one of our recommendations and similar ads were placed in several other U.S. papers as well. Elections Canada is listening to us and we believe they will "get it right" for our next election.