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" OPINIO Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of the advertisi t ize and reject the applicable rate. The pr resei o c EDITORIAL Tbughjob Federal Defence Minister David Collenette has one of the most difficult portfolios to administer. It‘s so difficult, in fact, that no one has really been up for the task for at least the past decade. The Canadian military has always been a political football. When the need arises, we trot out what‘s left of our troops and say ‘hurrah!‘ But when there comes time to cut budgets and the like, the prime minister of the time usually utters some inanity about cutting military spending. When the wall separating the two Berlins came tumbling down, many westâ€" ern countries saw this as a way to save cash on their military budgets. Canada jumped on this bandwagon only to find the ‘peace‘ in eastern Europe very shortâ€" lived. Our government even now is complaining about the cost of keeping our contingent in warâ€"ravaged Bosnia. Unfortunately, over the years, many of the decisions surrounding the miliâ€" tary have been made by politicians and not the military itself. This has meant a very uneasy alliance between our military and Ottawa. On the one hand the milâ€" itary establishment needs Ottawa to survive but on the other, it has had to comâ€" promise with or be a party to,decisions that adversely affect our military. The crisis in the military has come home to roost with the latest debacle that is Bosnia. Compared to even minor military players who have sent troops there, our force is poorly equipped, especially when it comes to basic military hRardâ€" ware such as armoured troop carriers. The defence minister has inherited an existing policy that was to see our active army numbers cut and our European presence totally cut this year. With the instability of the former Yugoslavia and rising tension in Russia and its forâ€" mer republics, Mr. Collenette has his work cut out for him. Final indignity One of Brian Mulroney‘s last acts as prime minister was to charge around the world in what was dubbed ‘the Brian and Mila tour‘. It saw the prime minister do the European circuit that included stops in France, Germany, England and Russia. ' The May 6â€"15 tour cost Canadian taxpayers an estimated $600,000 for what amounted to a giant egoâ€"trip. The ‘gang‘ included the PM and his wife, 17 hangersâ€"on, an eight member press contingent and a 16 member air crew. This latest figure is an update of the earlier accounting which pegged the cost of the trip at $465,000. For most Canadians, the farewell tour of a retiring head of state was further evidence that something had to be done to teach the Progressive Conservatives a lesson in humility. And while Mulroney was full of smiles during the trip and its photo opportunities, including the nowâ€"classic shot of the PM and Russian President Boris Yeltsin standing over two boars they had shot, Canadians had clearly seen too much of Mulroney already. What followed was the worst electoral defeat by a party in Canadian politiâ€" cal history. But even as he left Ottawa, Mulroney again landed on his feet in the corpoâ€" rate arena, smiling all the while that he won two majority governments and left politics a winner. But the taxpayers and voters knew who were the losers. 467 Speers Road, Oakville, Ont. L6K 3S4 845â€"3824 Fax: 845â€"3085 Classified Advertising: 845â€"2809 Circulation: 845â€"9742 or 845â€"9743 The Oakville Beaver welcomes your comments. All letters must be signed and include the writér‘s address and phone number. Letters should be typed, doubleâ€"spaced and addressed to: Letters to the Editor, The Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakvilie, Ont. L6K 354 No alternatives to Ford Drive extension Dear Sir: I refer to a letter from Erica Oberndorfer in your edition of Jan. 5th, 1994, attacking Pat Melhuish‘s positive position on the extension of Ford Drive. First, if Oberndorfer‘s conâ€" Time to get Ford Dr. project completed Dear Sir: Re: Ms Oberndorfer‘s letter (Beaver Jan. 4th) â€" Ford Drive Project. What a wonderful heartâ€"wrenchâ€" ing, tearâ€"jerking dissertation on the wonders of Joshua Creek‘s wild life, which we are asked to believe will all disappear when about a mere 4% of the area will be impactâ€" ed by completion of Ford Drive to Lakeshore Road. At least it would have been wonderful had it not clearly been seen to be another ploy by a vestedâ€" interest nimby; another procrastinaâ€" tion, another attempt to sabotage a project that has been dogged by such frustrations since its inception and authorization more than two decades ago. As to not incurring the expendiâ€" ture in these difficult times, if the project had taken place when planned years ago, the question would not now be arising. And who caused the delays in those bygone years? The same super selfâ€"interest nimbys who are continuing to do so even though they knew Ford Drive was already authorized when they bought their properties. Ford Drive will be completed down to Lakeshore Road as was always intended. And more imporâ€" tantly as desired and voted for by the vast majority, the hundreds and hundreds of eastâ€"end residents. And just as importantly because compleâ€" tion is for the benefit of the Town as a whole (why else did the Town‘s planners conceive it, and they, plus other professionals, conâ€" tinue to favor it?) So let‘s have done with the sorry, sordid, series of blatant panâ€" derings sought by a miniscule numâ€" ber of nimbys, and get the job finâ€" ished. j James H. Williams tention that Melhuish‘s "sole" desire is for an alternate route in and out of the }. shua Creek area, then she has not been paying attention! Winston Churchill is not an acceptable alternative to the extended Ford Drive and what an arrogant thing it is to suggest it. Suppose for a moment that the portion of Ford Drive between Cornwall Road and her street (Aspen Forest) were to be closed and it was proposed that she make her way to the intersection of Ford Drive and Royal Windsor Road via Winston Churchill. She would be outraged. (One of her alternaâ€" tives would be through Constance or Brookmill, but that‘s the probâ€" lem at hand, isn‘t it? We need a Ford Drive completâ€" ed to Lakeshore Road so that we can have the same level of accesâ€" sibility she enjoys. Further, it is imperative that we get the 16,000 or so cars that use the neighborâ€" hood streets on a daily basis as Sponsors made event a success Dear Sir: Thank you to all our Sponsors for making our First Annual Signature Fund Raiser â€" "Run of the House" â€" at SportDomes, the sucâ€" cess it was. Coâ€"sponsor â€" The Oakville Beaver; CGC Interiors; Ukrainian Canadian Congress; Dr. Frank Invidiata; Leo Cassaday. Sports Organizations â€" Denver Broncos; The Toronto Blue Jays; The Vancouver Canuks; The Atlanta Braves; The Detroit Pistons; National Football League; The Dallas Cowboys; The Detroit Tigers; The Miami Dolphins; The San Francisco 49ers; The Ottawa Senators; Pro Set Inc.; National Baseball Hall of Fame; New York Rangers; Don Cherry and Blue. Golf Clubs â€" White Oaks Golf Cub Ltd.; Executive Fairways Golf Centre; Hidden Lake Golf and Country Club; Glen Abbey Golf and Country Club. Restaurants â€" Stoneboats; Paridiso; Verdi‘s; Cognito‘s Fine Dining; The Country Squire Inn; Bronte Fish and Chips; Macy‘s Diner and Deli; The House of india; Robert‘s Fish Cove; The Queens Head Pub; The Meeting Place; Mon Bijou; Sharkey‘s; KFC; Kelsey‘s â€" Speers Road; McDonalds; Gino‘s Pizza â€" Nottinghill Gate; Chaps â€" Bronte; The Towne Restaurant. Other â€" Zippy Print; Dynamite Design; Quality Inn â€" Oakville; Bruce Hood Travel; Petro Canada; Sony; Koss; National Sports; Gatorade; St. John Ambulance â€" Ontario Council; Case Tech Leather; Laerdal; Mr. David Love â€" Polaroid; Skybox International; Sensella Inc. â€" Scott Health Care; Kwik Kopy; A P â€" Town Centre; Harry Uhrig â€" BDO Dunwoody; John Burkus â€" SongLines Consulting. A special â€" Thank You â€" to the management and staff of SportDomes Oakville Inc. for all their help and consideration with this event. St. John Ambulance Oakville Branch SPEAK YOUR MIND Got a gripe? Give us a call. Readers are invited to express their opinion on a topic of their choice by calling 845â€"5585, box 5250. All callers are allowed 45 secâ€" onds to express their opinion and must provide their name, address and phone number for verification. A cross section of the responses will be published in next Wednesday‘s Oakyville Beaver. L e c o E ALONE I NF 0 CALL845â€"5585 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IF YoU FIND THE o UPSETNNG thoroughfares out of the district. We don‘t want any more children hit. Oberndorfer refers to the costs of the project. Had it not been for the delays caused by people of her ilk and by the directors (not the general membership) of the Joshua Creek Ratepayers‘ Association, Ford Drive would have been completed years ago. That‘s where the culpability belongs. By way of the developâ€" ment process, approximately $1â€" million has been collected by the Town for the construction of an extended Ford Drive. There is a moral obligation to build the road. It has been on the books 20 years! My house backs onto the creek and what a delight Joshua Creek is. The Great Blue Herons do indeed visit the valley for a short time each year. We watch them with fascination and admiration. They visit in spite of a busy Devon Road and in spite of the new houses and parkland on the northeast bank. The snapping turâ€" tles continue to lay their eggs at the foot of our garden notwithâ€" standing the activity that occurs each spring around our house. A lowâ€"level bridge crossing the creek is going to disturb little. Indeed, a representative from the Ministry â€" of Energy and Environment, in company with an Oakville politician, walked through the entire area. The offiâ€" cial stated that there was nothing growing or living in the valley that was endangered. I am bemused by Oberndorfer‘s â€" "I‘m alright Jack" â€" attitude. Her house is sitâ€" uated in part of what used to be the same forestland that she is now trying to "protect". The number of trees to be removed by extending Ford Drive pales in comparison to those that were removed to accommodate her residence. I suppose it depends on whose ox is being gored. There is no question that Ford Drive must be extended to Lakeshore Road. There are no alternatives. Ronald Rea Ian Oliver Publisher Robert Glasbey Advertising Director Norman Alexander Editor Geoff Hill Circulation Director Teri Casas Office Manager Tim Coles Production Manager ing space occupied by the errongous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at aphical error, advertising goods or services at the wrong price, goods or services may sold Jan. 12, 1994 The Oakville Beaver, published every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, at 467 Rd., . Oakville, is one â€"of the Metroland Printing, Publishing Distributing Lll. group of suburban newspapers which includes: Ajaxâ€"Pickering News Advertiser, Barrie Advance, Brampton Guardian, Buri Post, Collingwood Connection, Etobicoke Guardian, own Independent!‘ Acion Free Press, Kingston This Week, Li This Week, Markham Economist and Sun, Stoutiville/Uxbridge Tribune, Milton Canadian C! ion, Mississauga g::sm Newmmyfl(aTt;‘Aurxa Erapâ€"Bamnt, N?merI:m Mirror, Oakwville Beaver, Orillia Today, is Week, Peterboroug! is Week, Richmond HilV/Thornhi/Vaughan 'Z\?m' 1 publi M"?rris Oakvill material ished in le Beaver is protected ight. roduction in whole or in part of this material is strictly forbidden pwilhout lhzy wwwngg'm publisher. not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. LETTER OF THE DAY _ Acceptable way to live? Dear Sir: Though understandable, the outrage directed at proprietor David Walsh of Hustler Snowboards for selling boards depictâ€" ing graphic violence misses the point. The essence of our Charter of Rights lies in its ability to accord the widest possible latitude for individual expression. Providing a retailer‘s goods are neither stolen, nor fraudulent, nor sold coercively, then no intervention should be permissible. Expunging such material from the community is best achieved by simply not buying it. Far more penetrating questions arise from this issue than Walsh‘s personal ethics and values. Why direct such concern at a single proprietor, when governments and corporate elites engage in similar conduct on a massive scale. To a large extent, are our movie theatres not celluloid charnel houses? Is the material found on television or in local video shops any more elevating? Where is the outrage at our federal government for proclaimâ€" ing NAFTA in the full knowledge that Mexican authorities recently amended the country‘s Constitution by privatizing land held communally since 19207 By pandering to demands from American big business, this action cost countless Mexican aboâ€" riginals their selfâ€"sufficiency and directly precipitated the preâ€" sent revolt. From all reports, the Mexican army is currently engaged in acts of genocide against its own citizens! Indeed, we should be outraged at the pervasive process of indoctrination which coâ€"opts the vast majority of Canadians into believing that our preoccupation with technology, material ° gain, and profit at the expense of spiritual and creative enlightâ€" enment somehow is an acceptable way to live. Peter D. Pellier Children put mittens to good use Dear Sir: On behalf of myself, Janette Comeau, and my sisters, in Delta Epsilonâ€"Beta Sigma Phi, I would first like to thank the Torontoâ€" Dominion Bank for allowing us to display our Mitten Trees in support of the Oakville Parent Child Centre. Second, I would like to thank all the people who were so very kind in donating new or used mittens. Your support and kindness is greatly appreciated. Thank you and I wish every one a very safe and happy New Year. Janette Comeau _ World exports of crops from tropical forest Value (in billions of dollars) Coftes 3 Crop Citrus fruits Natural rubber Banana Palm oil 2.8 Cacao (for chocolate) Pineapple B . Vanilla |a.1 So rce: Worldwatch