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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Tuesday, December 22, 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 --Open 9-5 weekdays, 5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekends 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 Help still needed More than a year removed from the 2008 catastrophic collapse of the global economy, many Oakville residents still struggle to survive. Despite its outward appearance as a mostly affluent community, our town has not been immune to the economic shockwave that has rocked most of the world. While economists provide words of encouragement that there is a light at the end of this economic tunnel of doom, many of the agencies that work so hard throughout the year to help people down on their luck get back on their feet report the need is greater than ever this year. Evidence is everywhere. Earlier this month, the Oakville United Way announced it was extending its campaign to January to meet its $3.6-million goal. At that time, it had only reached 95 per cent of its goal. Meanwhile, last week the local Salvation Army Christmas Kettle campaign had only just passed the 50 per cent mark. "All money raised goes towards the Salvation Army's Community & Family Services for programming and direct service to those in need in our community," said Aisha Chaney, community services coordinator for the Salvation Army, Oakville. Every day -- but especially during this season of giving -- it is incumbent on those of us who have, to do what we can for those who have not. If you can't afford to donate money, a new toy or some non-perishable goods, most local charitable organizations will gladly accept the gift of time. Anyone wishing to help push the Salvation Army over its 2009 Christmas Kettle goal, can call 905-8275324 to arrange to be scheduled into the remaining timeslots for watching one of the kettles for a few hours. Volunteers are particularly needed to stand with outdoor kettles at local LCBO locations. The United Way continues to accept donations toward its 2009 campaign. The simplest way to donate is by visiting, visit www.uwoakville.org or call 905-845-5571. Oakville has earned a reputation as a community that cares and a town capable of meeting every need, however great it might be and no matter what time of year. It is for that reason we remain confident the local need will be met during this holiday season -- and beyond. On behalf of all those who work to make a difference to the less fortunate in our community, the Beaver thanks you for your generosity. 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 Economic development key to sustainability I was disappointed to read John Scheel's questioning of the need for the Town to be involved with economic development. (Town Council approves 1.61% tax increase," Oakville Beaver, Thursday, Dec. 17). Oakville does not exist in a bubble. We compete with municipalities throughout North America that are aggressively working to attract companies to their communities. In order to have a livable and sustainable community, Oakville must make economic development a priority. Scheel is incorrect when he says "10 per cent of our taxes come from industry." In fact, 23 per cent of the property taxes paid in Oakville come from businesses. It is important to note that only 13.4 per cent of the assessment base in Oakville is non-residential. The business community pays a disproportionate share of the taxes in Oakville. A typical business uses less than half the services of the average resident yet the business pays two to three times the rate of taxes. Without a strong business community, residents will pay considerably higher property taxes. Currently, 63 per cent of Oakville's residents must leave town to work. There is a serious imbalance in the ratio of jobs to residents in Oakville. This imbalance has very significant economic, environmental and social consequences. Not having local jobs forces people to commute to work, which requires enormous investment in public infrastructure such as roads and transit and causes traffic congestion at a time when the world is looking for ways to reduce carbon emissions and their impact on our natural environment. Commuting degrades our quality of life; it takes time away from our families, it erodes personal time and it means fewer hours available to get involved in our community. We applaud Council's economic development initiatives and we encourage them to have the political will to stay the course in the long-term best interests of all the citizens of Oakville. SONNY JELINEK, CHAIR OF THE BOARD OAKVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 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 email to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Multicultural congregations co-exist peacefully We were delighted to read recently of the joint venture at Hopedale Presbyterian Church, uniting two congregations -- one in English, the other in Korean (One faith, two cultures, two languages at one church, Oakville Beaver, Dec. 16) It is encouraging to hear how two branches of the Christian community can co-exist in peace and happiness under one roof. At Central Baptist, corner of Morden and Rebecca, we have had a similar experience. For more than two decades, we have had a Portuguese and an English part to our congregation. The Board of Deacons -- our governing body -- is made up of both English and Portuguese-speaking members. We meet for a shared Communion service once a month, with hymns shown on Powerpoint in both languages. Our youth group thrives with its multicultural makeup. Before Christmas, we shared in one congregational dinner, with delicacies from both ethnic backgrounds. Our choir concert also featured music from the two groups. It is heartwarming to hear of other diverse congregations enjoying unity in their Christian faith. As you drive past the places of worship in your neighbourhood, notice how many of them have a second ethnic group associated with them in their times of worship. We wish Hopedale Presbyterian -- and similar combined churches -- a bright future as it moves ahead in its exciting undertakings. WARREN MCBURNEY