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6- The Oakville Beaver, Friday May 23, 2008 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 IAN OLIVER Group Publisher Media Group Ltd. NEIL OLIVER Publisher DAVID HARVEY General Manager 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 MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA ANCHOR Circ. Manager Halton's heroes Michael Gural, Mathew Tabar, Karen Denuzzo, David Palmer, Michael Belton, David Overton, Steven Reynolds and Tony and Nancy Mirabelli are ordinary citizens who share a special bond. They are all Halton heroes. Through their selfless deeds these nine civilians achieved extraordinary heights of bravery while doing the right thing. When a split-second meant the difference between life and death these citizens acted swiftly, placing the wellness of strangers ahead of their personal safety. Their actions saved lives and, in some cases, helped bring criminals to justice. The courageous acts of these men and women epitomize what many Halton residents appreciate most about living in the region -- that feeling of living in a safe community where strangers look out for each other. Through their collective efforts, the nine helped put an end to a summer school stabbing in Oakville; provided medical attention to a stabbed youth in a Georgetown park; pursued, stopped and detained an impaired driver who had driven away from the scene of a Burlington accident involving a cyclist; revived a choking man at a Burlington steakhouse; gained control of a rampaging, samurai sword-wielding woman at a Milton gas station; and positioned a vehicle between a seriouslyinjured motorcyclist and oncoming traffic at the site of a summer evening accident. Last week, the Halton Regional Police Service honoured these citizens for placing their own lives in jeopardy in order to come to the aid of strangers. These citizens' extraordinary efforts provide a beacon of hope for anyone who should find themselves in a time of need. As a police spokesperson remarked to one of the recent recipients, "It is this kind of citizenship and valour that makes our community a better place to live. Your courage and actions speak highly of your character." We agree. Well done. 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. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Re; Oakville residents need new businesses, guest column by Gerry Popp, Oakville Chamber of Commerce, Oakville Beaver, May 17 The Oakville Chamber of Commerce, Town of Oakville, Halton Region and individual residents can and should agree on how to grow the local economy, on how to keep Oakville attracting and retaining employment opportunities, increasing the industrial/commercial tax base while adding to our shared quality of life. Municipalities need sustainable funding from higher levels of government Instead, the predictable debate of lower verses higher development charges continues allowing the provincial and federal government to use our arguments against each other and thus, with respect, duck the real issue. What is the real issue? We do not have an effective and coordinated federal and provincial, long term sustainable funding agreement for the municipal governments: the building blocks of this nation. In this fast changing global market place the potential of Canada and Canadians is under utilized as we compete with countries who receive a far greater percentage of core municipal funding from federal revenues, not property taxes. Remember where the federal funds originate from: the income, consumption and capital gains taxes etc.each of us pay. In June, the Provincial Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery Review is anticipated to be released. Hopefully, a meaningful piece of the funding puzzle however, without the federal government fully engaged the puzzle will remain BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com incomplete. Rumours once again abound about a federal election. One day there will actually be an election and we need to be ready to place the municipal agenda front and centre. What if the Chamber, Town, Region, community associations and individuals agreed on a common, non partisan brief relating to municipal revenues? The brief would outline the need for sustainable investments itemizing the enhanced dividends that would flow to the federal and provincial coffers. By focusing on how economically strong, financially empowered communities would benefit all parties, thus building a stronger and more sustainable Canada, together we would honour the one word motto of Oakville, Avancez. Oakville people could advance this vitally important national building agenda at a critical time versus rearranging the, already acknowledged inadequate deck chairs. At the same time, advancing Oakville's profile as the ideal location to bring, keep and grow a business because of the co-operative nature of its talented people who continue to enjoy and nurture the wonders of the town's location, environment, history and people. ANN MULVALE Pud 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.