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6- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday October 4, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: IAN OLIVER Group Publisher NEIL OLIVER Publisher JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor KELLY MONTAGUE Advertising Director DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Manager TERI CASAS Business Manager MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA CALHOUN Circ. Manager Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd., includes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, Alliston Herald/Courier, Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance, Brampton Guardian, Burlington Post, Burlington Shopping News, Caledon Enterprise, City Parent, Collingwood/Wasaga Connection, East York Mirror, Erin Advocate/Country Routes, Etobicoke Guardian, Flamborough Review, Georgetown Independent/Acton Free Press, Harriston Review, Huronia Business Times, Lindsay This Week, Markham Economist & Sun, Midland/Penetanguishine Mirror, Milton Canadian Champion, Milton Shopping News, Mississauga Business Times, Mississauga News, Napanee Guide, Newmarket/Aurora Era-Banner, Northumberland News, North York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, Oakville Shopping News, Oldtimers Hockey News, Orillia Today, Oshawa/Whitby/Clarington Port Perry This Week, Owen Sound Tribune, Palmerston Observer, Peterborough This Week, Picton County Guide, Richmond Hill/Thornhill/Vaughan Liberal, Scarborough Mirror, Stouffville/Uxbridge Tribune, Forever Young, City of York Guardian Wanted -- informed voters As of 5 p.m. last Friday the 2006 municipal election officially got under way -- although some candidates started campaigning months ago. During the course of the next 40 days leading up to the Nov. 13 election, local residents will have to determine which people they want to see form the Town Council for the next four years. (Yes, four years instead of three, so be sure to pay close attention to who is promising what and when.) Historically, municipal elections have had all the appeal of burnt toast. Voter turnouts are usually poor. It was a paltry 30 per cent in 2003. That's a shameful number when you consider what is at stake for our town. Perhaps it's apathy, laziness or a mindset that "it doesn't matter who you vote for, all politicians are cut from the same cloth", that pervades municipal elections. Whatever, there is no excuse not to cast an informed vote. Politics at the municipal level is where the voter can have the biggest impact. Councillors are generally more accessible than their federal or provincial brethren and because they spend every day in the same neighbourhoods as those who elected them, they are more accountable -- or at least should be. To be sure, being a local politician is not an easy job. It entails plenty of meetings, late phone calls at home from residents complaining about everything from a pothole to when the road will be cleared of snow. But these candidates know this, or should, when they put their name forth for election. The people we elect in November will determine how our tax dollars will be spent and what direction Oakville will take for the next four years. These people carry an enormous responsibility but it is you -- the voter -- who determines who shoulders that responsibility. For your sake, and the sake of your community, take the time and learn about your ward, your current councillors' records and the candidates seeking election. While these candidates all want to make a difference not all of them will make great local leaders. Take the time and make an informed choice on Nov. 13. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Letter writer uses flawed arguments to defend pesticides Re: "Anti-pesticide movement harmful" Sept 27, 2006 Is it not enough that Ivor Davies has found himself a voice on the Oakville Town Council, Environmental Strategic Plan (ESP) Advisory Committee. Must Oakville citizens also be subjected to his letters to the editor. His Sept. 27 letter inferred that the selective banning of DDT has led to malaria outbreaks, increased bedbug infestations and the deaths of millions of children. These statements lack merit, are blatant examples of circular logic and are an insult to the intelligence of the readers of The Oakville Beaver. Contrary to his inference, DDT is still used today in many tropical countries to control localized mosquito populations. Widespread epidemics occur in poorer nations as outbreaks are usually not recognized early enough, due to inadequate manpower and resources. Insufficient antimalarial drugs, lack of transport and poor logistical capabilities are all major contributing factors in all these events. Citing malaria and touting non-selective pesticides (DDT) as a cure-all treatment for these regions is shallow, shortsighted and trivializes the problems of developing nations. Clearly Mr. Davies has made an odd leap of logic when thinking that a motion to Town Council to prevent "cosmetic pesticide" use in Oakville is somehow directly tied to DDT, malaria outbreaks and deaths in Third World nations. Oakville regional insect/pest infestations may call for some selective actions however, it is our community misfortune that Oakville Town Council must base important local decisions on such vague, tainted advice. For or against the ban on pesticide use, these continuous letters to the editor illustrate flawed logic and are clearly an attempt to direct the future actions of our Town Council's actions. DAVID COPPING Pud BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com Tree bylaw election issue I must say that I am very disappointed in the Town Council. The taxpayers have sent a clear message to them that they do not want any tree bylaw of any kind and yet they have by their actions and indecisiveness shown nothing but contempt for the citizens of Oakville that they purport to represent. Shame on all of them. The fact is we do not want a tree bylaw of any kind and we do not want a Town Council that sees fit to undermine our individual rights by imposing its own view on we who pay the municipal taxes. However, if it was their intention to make this an election issue, they have certainly accomplished your objective. PETER SWIRZON