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OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, August 14, 2009 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 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: NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY Regional 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 SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Cops raise too high Regular readers of this newspaper know that we have always supported the vital role Halton police officers play in the community. Without their presence and hard work, crime would likely be more rampant, leaving Halton residents feeling less safe in their homes, businesses and places of leisure. However, the most recent collective bargaining agreement between the Halton Regional Police Association and Halton Police Services Board -- which spreads a 9.2 per cent wage increase over three years -- has us questioning the amount of the raise when so many are out of work and struggling. We recognize that Halton has recently been lauded as one of the safest communities in the country. However, Halton Police Services Board Chair Bob Maich insists that's not the reason for the raise. Instead, Maich notes that the increase helps keep Halton police officers in line with pay earned by 11 other large police services in the province. We question whether keeping pace with fellow police services should be our top priority in a time of economic uncertainty -- and at a time when Halton Region has committed to bringing in a zero per cent tax increase for 2010? We don't think it sends the right message. By Maich's own admission, this wage hike makes it challenging for the police budget to achieve Halton's zero per cent tax hike target -- especially since personnel costs account for 85 per cent of the policing budget. We fail to see how 9.2 per cent over three years will help Halton Region keep its promise to bring about a zero per cent tax hike in next year's budget. We suspect another regional service will now have to suffer a larger cutback because the police service returned with a salary increase out of line with the spirit of Halton Region's promise of a 2010 tax freeze. In this time of financial hardship for the region's most vulnerable citizens, Halton needs to be looking for solutions that assist local residents the most -- while concerning itself less with whether the salary of the police service here is keeping pace with those of our neighbours. 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. Letter to the editor Vandalism angers ex-cop grandfather On Monday, Aug. 10 our grandson along with our daughter attended at the Time for Tykes Day Care Centre in the Trafalgar Presbyterian Church, Upper Middle Road, just east of Trafalgar Road in Oakville. Our grandson has attended at this fabulous day care centre for several years now, as did his older sister who is now in public school. The staff at this centre are the most caring people and have provided excellent service to our grandkids. When our daughter and grandson entered the day care centre on Monday morning they were devastated at what they saw. Sometime overnight some mindless punks broke into the centre, which is in a church, and demolished the day care centre. The staff were beyond belief at what they found as was our daughter and, no doubt, our grandson. Our son-in-law was able to take time off work and come and pick up his son and the staff were trying their best to The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal conisolate the children that were there to siderations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone protect them from this terrible sight. number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., I was a police officer in Halton for 30 Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. years, having retired in 1994. For 12 years my partner and I worked the B&E portfolio and we encountered many families and business people who were Re: Dan Ferrone terminated from the Y, him "Why would you raise money for the affected by a break and enter into their Oakville Beaver, Aug. 5, 2009 competition?" he replied, "The Y is an residences and businesses. When I spoke with my family, who I remember while working for Dan at important part of the community." Ferrone Fitness, he was raising money Does this sound like the `wrong fit' for were attempting to comfort staff at this day care centre, I had this wish to be through the Oakville Dream Home Lottery the Oakville YMCA? for the Oakville YMCA. When I questioned CHRISTINE DELIJA "back on the beat" again in an attempt to assist in solving this sickening crime. I know the Property Detectives at #2 District Oakville will give this entry a long hard look. When the cowardly punks are apprehended and placed into BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com the court system, justice will be served (yeah, right). Please, if anyone out there has any information as to who may be responsible for this break and enter at Time for Tykes Day Care Centre, please contact the Halton Regional Police (Oakville Division) or Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222TIPS (1-800-222-8477) to remain anonymous. TED AND LORRAINE WALLER Letters to the editor Ferrone was the right fit for the YMCA More letters to the editor on pages 7-10 Pud