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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, March 24, 2010 · 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: Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America Canadian Community Newspapers Association ATHENA Award 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 Surf at your own risk Oakville is No. 6 in Canada, but not in a category that is likely to leave many local leaders bragging. According to a study by Norton from Symantec -- a seller of online security software -- Oakville is the sixth most vulnerable place in Canada for cybercrime leading to identity fraud. Keep in mind, this doesn't mean local residents are actually being victimized online more than other Canadian communities, just that there's a greater chance they could be. According to independent research firm Sperling BestPlaces, a combination of cyberattack data and third-party data about online behaviour, including Internet accessibility and WiFi hotspots, led to the conclusion that Oakville residents are more susceptible to cybercrime than anywhere else in the country. Neighbouring Burlington topped the study's list of the 10 highest risk communities for online crime. Rounding out the Top 10 highest risk communities in Canada are British Columbia's Port Coquitlam (2), Langley (3), Vancouver (4) and Kelowna (9), Calgary (5), Markham (7), Toronto (8) and Kitchener (10). However, we question the validity of the study. The so-called cyberattack data -- used in part to compile the list of most vulnerable Canadian cities -- was supplied by Symantec's own Security Response group, which tracks reports of such incidents in cyberspace. It was Lynn Hargrove, director of consumer solutions for Symantec Canada, who added, "Residents in areas with more access to computers, the Internet and WiFi hotspots will go online more often to shop, bank and communicate with family and friends, making them greater targets for cybercriminals." Yes, and the more often you visit a bank branch, the more likely you are to witness a robbery, but it doesn't mean you will. It's important to remember the company that released this study is in the business of selling online security software. Still, there's no denying there are risks when going online. A 2009 report on ConsumerReports.org found that one in five online consumers had been victims of cybercrime in the past two years, losing an estimated $8 billion. We suspect that an individual's risk online has more to do with naively placing too much trust in strangers than where they happen to live. 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 416-3401981. 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 Two hospitals better than one We would like to comment on the proposed new hospital planned for Oakville/Halton Region. As long-time residents in Oakville our family has had the privilege of being cared for in our excellent existing hospital. We rode past the hospital on Reynolds Street on our bikes yesterday. We were struck with the fact that this beautiful facility was to be demolished once a new hospital was built. We then thought back to the articles in our local papers discussing this matter in which it was revealed that the new hospital would provide only a few extra beds for the region and carries a price tag of half a billion dollars with a huge tax burden attached. Not only do the numbers not make sense, dollars vs. beds and tax load, which still is unknown, but to demolish a perfectly good functioning hospital that has had the support of the community for years is wasteful. See Large page 7 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. Why do we need a new Oakville hospital? In recent weeks, much has been written in The Oakville Beaver about the proposed new hospital. First, let me say that no one in Oakville asked for this hospital before it was announced. The residents of Oakville were quite happy with existing facilities and many people have worked hard to make it what it is. It has a large new parking garage, an MRI, and other diagnostic equipment, an excellent maternity facility and a very caring palliative care department. The hospital is staffed by respected doctors and nurses and people are happy with the services received. The future of health care is not in bricks and mortar; the future lies in research into noninvasive treatments and cures not bedpans. Years ago, people languished in hospitals with TB, diabetes and polio; those days are gone. Hospital stays are now generally very short term so the turnover is much higher. This community does not need a hospital with 457 beds regardless of the population growth. Thirty years ago, a woman stayed in hospital for seven days after giving birth. Twenty years ago that number dropped to four days. Now, the stay is 24 hours. Yes, the population is aging, but elderly people prefer to be treated at home. Home care is the future. In some cases a terminally ill person may be in hospital for a week or two in the palliative care unit. Our existing hospital meets that need exceptionally well. The current location is ideal for an emergency department in that it is close to the QEW where accident victims can be taken within minutes. For serious operations, people go to a specialized facility such as McMaster. An Oakville hospital cannot be all things nor should there be an attempt to be. The government keeps announcing this new hospital that no one asked for. Now they want us to pay for it at the municipal level with an additional tax levy. It states that 90 per cent of the construction costs will come from the province. Well the province gets its money from the taxpayers so the government is not funding anything. This government has a dreadful track record when it comes to building hospitals; cost overruns that can go to triple the original estimates are not uncommon. It is highly unlikely that the proposed Oakville hospital will come in on budget. It has been stated total local share is $530 million, but 90 per cent of the building costs will come from the province. The government already has a $24.7 billion deficit; why commit to more money and further burden taxpayers when the existing facilities meet the needs of the community and will continue to meet the needs of Oakville residents for many years to come? Instead of discussing a municipal levy, we should be discussing why the hospital is even being considered at this time. MARGARET TUPPER, OAKVILLE