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6- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday November 17, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com 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 The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate.The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Commentary NEIL OLIVER Publisher JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production Metroland Media Group Ltd. includes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, Alliston Herald/Courier, Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance, Caledon Enterprise, Brampton Guardian, Burlington Post, Burlington Shopping News, 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, MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA CALHOUN Circ. Manager WEBSITE oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver is a division of Guest Columnist Our legacy to the future Kevin Flynn Oakville MPP s Canadians marked Remembrance Day last week, I stopped to think of the tremendous contributions, sacrifices, and legacy our veterans left us all. It's a chance to think of what legacy we will leave our children and future Kevin Flynn generations of Canadians. In my new position as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment I look forward to the challenges and opportunities facing us. The Ministry of the Environment is responsible for protecting clean and safe air, land and water to ensure healthy communities, ecological protection and sustainable development. I look forward to bringing the same energy, passion, and dedication to this new role that I did serving in the Ministries of Labour, Democratic Renewal, and Energy. Climate change and pollution are global issues and unlike any environmental challenge we have ever faced before. A cleaner, greener, healthier environment is everyone's responsibility, but as a government I know we have a unique role to play. Our government's climate change targets are important and will require concerted efforts from business, government, and Ontarians across the province. Based on the international baseline of 1990 our targets for emission reductions for 2014, 2020 and 2050 are as ambitious as any on the continent. Six per cent below 1990 levels by 2014, increasing to 15 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050. We are serious about seeing real, tangible results. To date we've already made some real strides to improving our shared environment. We've initiated the fastest growing alternative energy program in North America. We are phasing out use of inefficient light bulbs and partnering with industry to reduce the use of plastic bags throughout Ontario. Our government recently announced the historic $17.5 billion dollar MoveOntario transit initiatives, which will dramatically expand rapid transit options across GTA and Hamilton, and reduce gridlock and smog. We're re-introducing environment and conservation into the school curriculum, to ensure our next generation of leaders understands the fundamental importance of a healthy, sustainable society. In Oakville we've seen the benefits of investments to improve our environment. The creation of the greenbelt, investments in local and GO transit, ensuring clean drinking water, building HOV lanes on the QEW, and protecting more than 1,000 new acres of green space in our community. Ontario is now on the right track with the Next Generation Jobs Fund we initiated in our last mandate. This fund aims to ensure Ontario takes full advantage, and becomes a leader, in the development of green technologies and products. The five-year, $650-million strategy will stimulate economic growth and prosperity in the province while helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve environmental sustainability. The fund will invest in the manufacturing of green cars and auto parts, development of clean fuels, and the creation of clean technologies and products. This recent election campaign saw our government confirm its intention to take real action on the environment. We announced, if elected, it was our intention to expand our Next Generation Jobs Fund to $1.15 billion to support job creation in areas of great potential for Ontario. We can create prosperity while being good stewards of our environment - the two need not be mutually exclusive. Climate change, the environment, and a prosperous economy are important priorities for us all. Working together, we can leverage our opportunities to build a stronger Ontario that will leave future generations with a legacy of which we can be proud. IAN OLIVER Group Publisher Media Group Ltd. 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 A RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY: Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: United Way of Oakville TV AUCTION Bucking trends and horsing around with The Odd Couple T his morning I bid a fond farewell to two fast friends who, in a blatant bucking of the trend set by snowbirds, are heading north for the winter. One mile north, mind you, but north nonetheless. These friends and I are saddled with improbable history and an unlikely relationship. Initially they were solely my wife's friends, her hirsute and hefty buddies. But over time I became quite fond of them. Now, we hang out together. I bring them apple treats. I watch them horsing around. They entertain me with their eccentricities and peculiar personalities. Always seemingly at odds, I find their constant bickering and nickering to be comical, and reminiscent of other incompatible (albeit endearing) duos like The Odd Couple and the Costanzas from Seinfeld. The friends I said goodbye to, our 1,000-pound pals, are horses. Specifically, my wife's horses, Bambi and Apollo. I was saying goodbye because each winter we trailer these two great goofballs and send them on their way to their winter home, a ranch just north of us. Now, my wife has always been an equine aficionado, a real horse nut. She grew up riding horses. And she loves horses so much that she was able to do the impossible ­ that is, passion- ately persuade me (much to the astonishment of our friends) into trading my swell city life in favour of country living. Remarkably, she convinced me to abandon our urban abode in favour of a country home with the acreage necessary for her to house her horses in the backyard. So it came to pass, the certified city boy turned country squire. With steeds on the Andy Juniper homestead. At first I had little to do with the horses. Sure, I'd occasionally sit in the sunroom and observe them ­ they are, after all, magnificent creatures. But my appreciation and interest tended to end there. In time, however, their distinct personalities began to surface and my interest naturally grew. Apollo, I noticed, was a big tease who liked nothing more than to goof on Bambi and infuriate her at every opportunity. Bambi, conversely, was (if you'll pardon my language) kind of a bitch. She squawked constantly at her stable-mate, giving him the business for getting in her way at the hay feeder (which he'd do all the time, on purpose, just to get her goat). Ah, the Costanzas. Yes, these two fight, frequent territorial battles replete with screeching and wild bucking. If you watch them battle you'd swear they hate each other. But whenever we take one out of the paddock, the other cries out in anguish, like Juliet crying out for her Romeo. Horses, you see, are herd animals. They need their herd and if their herd consists of only one other horse, then they rely on that other horse. Even if they can't seem to get along. While Bambi and Apollo definitely have their own personalities, they are alike in many ways. Both are big scaredy-cats. Despite their size and brute strength, these creatures are afraid of their own shadows. I've seen them run in fear from an errant beach ball. As mentioned, I've become very fond of them, just as I've grown fond of country living. There's something sublime about being out in the early morning, dew on the grass, horses nickering in greeting as I bring them their morning grain and hay. I am saddened by their departure and I know they were sad to leave. Honestly, how else can you explain the long faces? Andy Juniper can be visited at his Web site, www.strangledeggs.com, or contacted at ajuniper@strangledeggs.com.