The Vancouver Sun from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 1

HALLE. BERRY IN TOWN FOR CATWOMAN V' 'K gaisDsaiiGanteaas J. 1 I -r VERS VANCO 1 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2003 www.vancouvcrsun.com FINAL EDITION Man, 77, left lodged in car windshield after bein ehit J. Infants on antibiotics at high risk for asthma Indiscriminate use of the drugs can also lead to allergies, study says BY SHARON KIRKEY CANWEST NEWS SERVICE OTTAWA Giving children even one antibiotic before six months of age more than doubles, the risk they will have asthma by their seventh birthday, a new study shows. Babies who take antibiotics are also significantly more likely to develop allergies to pets, ragweed, grass and dust mites.

And a child's risk of developing allergies increases if the mother has an allergy or there are no pets in the house. The study, presented Tuesday at the European Respiratory Society's annual conference in Vienna, is the largest ever to show the medication often prescribed indiscriminately to children for infections such as colds and flu where it would be ineffective may set children up for a risk of asthma and allergies later in life. The research may explain why allergy and asthma rates in children have risen in lockstep with the growing use of antibiotics since the late 1970s. Studies suggest one in eight school-aged children in Canada suffers from asthma. Chronic lung disease is the leading cause of childhood admissions to hospital.

The new study also backs the growing belief that antibiotics disrupt the normal development of a child's immune system through a phenomenon known as the "hygiene hypothesis." The theory holds that children need to be exposed to a variety of bacteria at an early age to stimulate their immune systems and make them more resistant to allergies and asthma. See LIKE WITH A17 d- i- 1 MMM f'fVlHn 1 IAN SMITHVANCOUVER SUN Waiting to hear about the condition of Harcharan Grewal, who was struck In a crosswalk Monday night are his wife, Rajwant Grewal (left), grandson Harjot Grewal and son Jagjlwan Grewal. Police say the driver was prohibited from being being the wheel. Family wants suspect in custody: We can't take the pain' BY CHAD SKELTON VANCOUVER SUN The family of a 77-year-old Surrey man seriously injured in a horrific accident that left him lodged in a car windshield say they are overcome with worry as they wait for news of his condition. "The whole family is upset," Harinder Cheema, Harcharan Grewal's daughter, said Tuesday.

"We can't take the pam." The fam-lTysalso won- aers wny a suspect arrest Harcharan Grewal ed shortly after the accident is not in custody. "He should be in jail," said Grewal's youngest son Ranbir. "I don't know what's going on." Grewal was walking home from the Sikh Temple on Scott Road Monday about 7 p.m. when he was struck in a crosswalk by a car northbound on 124th Street at 69A Avenue. He was launched into the air by the collision and crashed head-first through the windshield.

Late Tuesday, he was in serious condition at Royal Columbian Hospital. The 51-year-old driver of the car who police say was prohibited from driving pulled off at the nearby Khalsa School and, according to some witnesses, tried to remove Grewal from the windshield. See DRIVER FLED A2 policy," Fraser said Tuesday. The privacy commission is at the centre of at least a dozen investigations and reviews. Fraser called in the RCMP to gate several breaches of the Financial Administration Act, as well as the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency to investigate unclaimed taxable benefits enjoyed by senior executives.

But Radwanski, who had tried to delay the release of Fraser's report, called it a "vicious and unjustified personal attack" that was rife with "false or distorted characterizations" and ignored his side of the story. He has insisted from the start he did nothing wrong and relied on his senior executives especially executive director Julian Delisle for advice and to handle all "responsibility for administrative and financial management." See TEAM HEARD A2 CLEARBROOK 31677 Fraser (604)850-2250 CHILLIWACK 46365 LuckakuckW (604) 858-7202 Prrr Meadows 19068 Lougheed (604)465-9422 SQUAMISH 3B918 Progress (604) 892-5525 A-G's report uncovers cronyism, extravagance Police investigate threats against B.C.'s top Catholic INSIDE Cloudy periods. Full report, D18 Arts Life CI David Baines D3 Horoscope C7 Letters A19 BirthsDeaths D19 Movies C8 Bridfie D18 Ian Mulgrew Bl Vaughn Palmer A18 Mike Sasges D14 Business Dl Careers D12 Classified F1- Sports ComicsKids D17 TV 8 Crossword C7.D18 Theatre C5 Editorials A18 DonWhiteley D6 Barbara Yaffe A18 Ferry ScheduleD18 70 CENTS RETAIL 75 CENTS COIN BOX $1 MINIMUM OUTSIDE LOWER MAINLAND 1 canada.com 'Reign of terror' in privacy commission's office shocks MPs BY KATHRYN MAY CANWEST NEWS SERVICE OTTAWA Auditor-General Sheila Fraser says the scope of the abuses, cronyism and misuse of taxpayer funds uncovered in an investigation of the privacy commission was beyond her "wildest dreams." Her long-awaited report expos-es abuses that shocked MPs, bureaucrats and even ministers who claim they had no idea of the "reign of terror" that existed at the privacy commission since George Radwanski was appointed by Prime Minister Jean Chretien in late 2000. "Many senior executives turned a blind eye to breaches of law and community. "There's a lot of emotion out there.

We've had a lot of criticism and a lot of support," said Schratz, adding the archdiocese has received more than 100 calls and e-mails, including one linking Exner to Nazism. Meanwhile, Drennan said Vancouver police are also investigating the possibility that seven bomb threats made late last week against VanCity Credit Union were related to the conflict with the Catholic church. "The bomb threats started after the big story came out in The Vancouver Sun, so we certainly have to look at it carefully," Drennan said. So far, Drennan said, police have no suspects, although they know the phone booth from which the threats were made. See VANCITY BRANCHES A14 Archbishop Exner advised to take security measures BY DOUGLAS TODD VANCOUVER SUN Vancouver police are investigating complaints that B.C.'s top Catholic, who is at the centre of a fiery debate over homosexuality, was threatened by an angry crowd of protesters outside his window late at night.

"We have been in contact with Archbishop Adam Exner about the incident and talking to him about security measures he can take," Vancouver police spokeswoman Anne Drennan said late Tuesday. Although police do not necessarily believe Exner's life is in danger, Drennan said, they're The archbishop writes, A19 taking the situation seriously and advising him on ways to keep safe during public events. "We won't be commenting on any advice we've received from the police," said Paul Schratz, spokesman for the archbishop, spiritual leader of 340,000 Roman Catholics in Greater Vancouver. "Obviously this is a sensitive and delicate matter. The archbishop's personal safety is involved.

It's been a very difficult week," said Schratz, refusing to give any more details. The public has expressed strongly opposing views since The Vancouver Sun reported last Wednesday that Exner decided to sever ties with VanCity Credit Union because it supports the gay and lesbian Furniture Ml, Warehouse 1VliY COQUITIAM SURREY 1101 United Blvd 6935K.Georae Brand Name sTFurniture Mattresses VANCOUVER RICHMOND 3057 Granaviev 7731AWertm()ge Way (604)430-8699 (604)270-7810.