The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, August 19, 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 Life jacket laws need more teeth While up until this week it has been a very unsummer-like summer, that hasn't prevented Ontario lakes and rivers from being the scene of far too many tragedies this year. To date this month, there have been an unprecedented eight deaths on cottage country waterways. None of those who died were wearing life jackets. The number of deaths this summer could simply be a statistical blip, but there are rumblings the federal transportation ministry may consider a tightening of federal law to demand all boaters wear life jackets. Under current law, enforced by Transport Canada, the number of personal flotation devices (PFDs)-- or life jackets -- must match the number of people on vessels of any size. Makes sense, right? Amazingly, however, the law does not require they actually be worn. So much for making sense. While not all of the latest tragedies involved boaters, recent statistics indicate that many deaths on waterways could have been easily prevented by wearing life jackets. A total of 23 people lost their lives in 2008 while boating on waterways policed by the OPP. This year 20 people have perished. Only two of the people who drowned this season were wearing life jackets. Since 2000, 350 people have lost their lives in boating incidents and of them, only 13 per cent were wearing life jackets. That is why the OPP supports a review of the current law surrounding the use of life jackets. "We know that mandatory life jacket or PFD use will start saving lives immediately," OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said. We couldn't agree more. An accident can happen in the blink of an eye. Having a PFD stored under a seat or lying next to you is no help in the event of an emergency situation. Making the use of PFDs mandatory for anyone on a watercraft -- and enforcing the law -- is the best way to ensure boaters keep their heads above water. 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 Patient grateful In June, I was admitted to Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital for a knee replacement. The morning I was due for surgery, I was taken to the OR and met a male nurse, Josh, who immediately put me at ease. He even made me laugh. After being in recovery for a couple of days, I was transferred to the rehabilitation ward. I will never be able to say thank you enough to the nurses and doctors for the care and attention I received. Nothing was too much trouble for them. The nursing staff was always cheerful and caring. Early one morning, I needed some assistance and called for a nurse. Another male nurse, Jeff, answered my call. He remade my bed, got me a drink and I was able to settle down comfortably. Physiotherapists had me walking with their help -- that part was not easy -- but they made it far better than I thought. Another nurse -- I only knew her as Sydney -- removed my stitches without an ouch on my part. So, thank you all at OakvilleTrafalgar Memorial Hospital for making what was a painful experience much easier to bear. JOAN DAVIS 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. Oakville Liberal president defends Flynn's environmental record The letter from provincial Progressive Conservative riding president, Peter Turkington (Aug. 12), makes me glad I'm associated with Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn and the Ontario Liberals. Rarely has an elected official delivered for his community and remained as consistent about an issue as Kevin Flynn has with environmental protection. For 24 years, Kevin has championed Oakville's environment. Elected to Oakville Town Council in 1985, he served for eighteen years before moving to provincial politics in 2003. As councillor, Kevin promoted environmental awareness and protection. He advocated for land preservation north of Hwy. 5 and chaired the citizens' committee on environmental and health impacts that cleaned up poisons coming out of the refinery west of Bronte. As MPP, Kevin procured 650 acres in north Oakville to create the Glenorchy Conservation Area. Re-elected MPP in October 2007, Kevin was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment. From the Lake Simcoe Protection Act to pesticide and toxic chemical reduction, he and the provincial Liberals have consistently advocated for a clean, healthy environment. Currently, the smart decision to shut down dirty coal burning plants and Ontario Power Authority's mandate to ensure reliable, sustainable power are causing concern -- concern about the environmental impacts of a proposed offsetting gas-fired power plant on the Clarkson airshed. Over the past few months, I have witnessed Kevin struggle with this issue. When the Integrity Commissioner ruled that he could not be involved, he wrestled with the idea of stepping down as Parliamentary Assistant. But before making any decision he did what he has done consistently for 24 years of public service -- he listened. He listened to individuals and organizations in our community including residents' associations, the mayor and councillors. Overwhelmingly, people supported him and his high environmental standards. That superseded the superficial calls for him to resign. And today, Kevin Flynn remains a consistent, strong voice in the rooms and corridors of Queen's Park. I ask you who better to secure the well being and environmental protection for the residents of Oakville and Ontario than MPP Kevin Flynn, an environmental advocate with a proven track record? WENDY BODNOFF, PRESIDENT, OAKVILLE PROVINCIAL LIBERAL ASSOCIATION