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6- The Oakville Beaver, Friday October 6, 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: THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS A DIVISION OF METROLAND MEDIA GROUP WEST GROUP PUBLISHER IAN OLIVER 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 Time to give thanks As we sit down to Thanksgiving dinner with our families this weekend, we can be thankful that we live in Canada -- a land of peace and freedoms. Even if you do not agree with the work our troops are carrying out in Afghanistan, take the time to think about them as you dine with loved ones and friends. Raise a glass in their honour and be ever so grateful for living in such a blessed country. Remember, too, that the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces are trying to better the lives of people around the world, not just Afghanistan. They deserve our respect and praise for regularly putting their lives on the line for others. They are enduring hardships that are unimaginable to us. We live in a great country that needs to be celebrated for so many reasons this Thanksgiving. Here in Canada, we can harvest our bountiful crops without the worry of stepping on landmines. Here in Canada, as we prepare for the upcoming municipal election, we can be thankful to know that whoever is elected will be allowed to take office safely and securely. Here in Canada, we can be thankful that those who want to work, can do so -- and at a fair wage to support their family. Here in Canada, we can take comfort in the fact that if life knocks us down, our neighbours and wonderful community will rally to pick us up. Here in Canada, we have a health-care system that, despite its shortcomings, is readily available to all residents. Here in Canada, we have an impressive education system that ensures students have the opportunity to succeed at all levels. Here in Canada, we are so rich in precious natural resources that we are the envy of the world. Here in Canada, we can freely attend church and marry whom we choose. We are Canadians -- and that is something for which we can all be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving. 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. Bronte community wants a report on Ontario Municipal Board loss Mayor Mulvale, Oakville Town Councillors: As you are aware, the Palm Place development application was fiercely opposed by our Bronte community from its absolute onset, in fact -- even prior to the Town receiving the application. Hundreds of community members took time to attend meetings, write letters and get involved because of their very strong feelings on this issue. Most, we understand, have never become involved in a municipal issue before this. It was officially and unanimously opposed by this council for your entire three-year term. There is no doubt that this was the No. 1 issue for the Bronte community during the past four years and council supported the community. Those are the facts. Unfortunately the one additional fact is we lost. Completely. Our community now wants to know why. We are now formally requesting Town Council require the legal counsel on this file to report to you on the reasons for the loss. Further, we are formally requesting that her report be made public. This was, after all, taxpayer dollars that paid for her services not to mention our own community time, effort and money that went into this fight to defend the character and nature of our beautiful town. We could not have done more. So why did we lose? It seems obvious to us that you and council would want a professional opinion and recommendations for change in our 'system' so it doesn't happen again. With respect, we would further recommend, that given your mandate to ensure public consultation, you and Council solicit opinions from our community on how Council and Town staff handled this file. There is a perception in this community that both our political leadership as well Town staff let us down on this one. This deserves public enquiry so it is not repeated. We are left with questions that should be answered by our leaders. How was it possible for the Shell House Lands to be implicated and encumbered in a totally separate development proposal (Lakeshore Woods)? This so-called `300 unit credit' opened the door for highdensity development despite the low-density zoning on the property and highly influenced the OMB decision. How could such a `deal' happen without public input? Was it legal for Town Council to agree to this `deal'? We demand that Town Council ensure Pud BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com See BVRA page 7