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Ian Oliver Publisher Robert Glasbey Advertising Director Norman Alexander Editor Geoff Hill Circulation Director Teri Casas Office Manager ‘Tim Coles Production Manager he Oakville Public Library, like all publiclyâ€"funded bodies, is having some money problems. Like other town operated departments, it has been forced to slash its budget and part of that process has involved the closing of two branches on Saturdays. t 4 d q oc ds â€" uc o ho nc ns in sn ts dn it fas 215. According to library officials, the decision to close the White Oaks and Woodside branches was based solely on usage. The same guidelines were applied to the new Glen Abbey library and not surprisingly, this branch had more than enough activity to warrant opening on Saturdays. Library user Sandra Stewart told the Beaver it might make sense to have the White Oaks and Woodside branches open for half a day on Saturdays as a kind of compromise. hsn t es .. SE Y MR While that‘s a possibility, the fact is that spending cuts from the province and town, mean more restraint is in order so look for even more dramatic changes in how the library operates in the coming years. The library board is even looking at user fees as a way to help curtail costs and will be examining other areas that can be made more efficient. is Library patrons should enjoy what they have this year, since the province did not cut its $283,000 grant to the library this year. There‘s no way that will be repeated and look for the town to sharpen its pencil again when dishing out cash to the libraries next year. â€" 2 oo ge n ie LCCA OOR LO B C d Some jurisdictions have already decided to close their branches down for weeks at a time to help save moneyâ€"not a pretty alternative to the situation we have here in Oakville but one that may have to be addressed. well remember the hew and cry from those who stated the move was yet other case of government intervention into the lives of Ontarians and their right to kill themselves and others in auto crashes. Some outrageous scenarios were paraded before legislators as a way to try and avoid buckling up before driving on the province‘s highways. They were rejected and the seatbelt law was passed. It should be of no surprise then, that some groups have come out against the pending bicycle helmet legislation. ‘There are a number of factors at work here. First and foremost is the safety of cyclists, particularly children, who need only be involved in one fall to possible kill or permanently injure the individual for life. fi nyone who was around when the Ontario seatbelt law went into effect, can uit mt n o 4 w thein Fermilu ll\/llll“ll\/lluj Eoi ce d on Aside from the pain and suffering caused to an injured cyclist and their family, it also results in high costs to Ontario hospitals and other support services. Most injured cyclists sustain head injuries of some sort and to many, that means a life of dealing with brain injuries. Not a pleasant thought. But then again, no one hops on a bike with a view to being involved in a cycling accident. They just happen. 26 CC OCV CCC Consider the statistics: about 16,000 people in the province a year suffer brain injuries from car and other accidents with 3,000 suffering permanent injury; 5,000 Canadian children a year are injured while riding bicycles and 60 die a year in bike accidents and of that number, 45 are the result of head injuries. L OOE PA [ 115 Ti 9 0 h 4.3 nc hn ies c on h e ie Professional cyclists have long known th benefits of wearing helmets and this legislation only builds on this fact. If only one life is saved, the law is worthwhile. think Ontario Premier Bob Rae was right in refusing to attend a Do you prime minister in British First Minster‘s conference called by the Columbia Sunday? Yes:6 No: 14 CALL845â€"5585 : Wear a helmet No immunity 467 Speers Road, Oakville, Ont. L6K 354 845â€"3824 Fax: 845â€"3085 Classified Advertising: 845â€"2809 Circulation: 845â€"9742 or 845â€"9743 WEEKLY POLL Do you think the 12 year prison term for Karla Teale‘s role in the slayings of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy was too lenient? Cast your ballot by calling 845â€"5585, box 5008 to vote. Callers have until 12 noon Thursday to register their vote. s k _ Results of the poll will be published in the next Friday edition of the Oakville Beaver. Bicycle helmet law is a bad idea Dear Sir: While riding my bicycle to collect my Saturday newspaper today, I was mulling over the fact that what I was doing would almost certainly be illegal within a short whileâ€"I didn‘t have a helmet on! When the bicycle helmet legislation was first mooted, I thought it was preposterous: why should we ALL have to wear helmets when, surely, parents with young children â€" the legislation is based priâ€" marily on head injuries to children â€" can surely make up their own minds if a helmet for little Johnry of Mary is necessary? But, of course, this isn‘t how the pressure groups in society work but, we question just how muck real Defeat of gag law a victory for C_anadian democracy ................. o anaranteed freedoms of Dear Sir: An attempt by Ottawa‘s political elite to vioâ€" late our fundamental freedoms during federal elections has just been thwarted in court. P ioi Ee mm Tsl In a magnificent victory for freedom, Justice Donald MacLeod of the Alberta Court of Queen‘s Bench struck down the electoral gag law as unconstitutional on June 25th. The gag law threatened citizens with up to five years‘ imprisonment if they independently spent more than $1,000 to support or Oppose political parties or candidates during federal elections. The law was drafted in secret and passed with the support of the three establishâ€" ment political parties. Justice MacLeod ruled that this law violated Boys thought ‘crime‘ cards were disgusting Dear Sirs: Recently I went to Oakville Place to take a look at the card show going on there. When my brother and I got there we looked at the different card dealers and were shocked to find that some of the card dealers were selling "True Crime" cards and. "Hot.Shots" cardsâ€"which were for The Oakville Beaver welcomes your comments. All letters must be signed and include the writer‘s address and phone number. Letters should be typed, doubleâ€"spaced and addressed to: Letters to the Editor, The Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, Ont. L6K 3S4 thought has been given to this legislation. Take the reality of today. While police budgets are being pruned â€" leading to less capability for policing society â€" we add another requirement to our already overburdened police force: enforcing a bicyâ€" cle helmet law. It isn‘t difficult to paint a scenario where a police officer, while ticketing for bicycle helmet infractions, misses, around the corner or the next block, a child being abused, a woman (or man) being raped or any other horrible violent behavior that our society is prone to. Ee y d Let‘s use our common sense for a change"and defeat this silly law. We the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms speech and association and the right to infcrmed voted. ® CCC This historic ruling has foiled the federal political establishment, which sought to use this liw to shut citizens up and shut them out of the ¢lectoral debate. : Fortunately, backed by the 40,000 supporters of The National Citizens‘ Coalition I was able to «challenge this law in the courts and win. Hopefully, the political elites now realize that this kind of draconian law has no place in a free and democratic society. an3. adults only.I thought that Oakville Place should not have allowed these cards at a show in which children were going to purchase from. I thought the "True Crime" cards had been banned from Canada, I think that these cards are disgusting! David Somerville President, The National Citizens‘ Coalitition * * Peter Miller LL. Davies