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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, April 21, 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 Earth Day is every day In the 1970's sitcom Mary Tyler Moore, buffoonish anchorman Ted Baxter once wondered out loud whether the environment was a real concern or just a passing fad. Sadly, 40 years after that statement drew laughs on television, the state of our environment is still a major concern -- if not the major concern -- in our society. Tomorrow is Earth Day's 40th anniversary and definitely one worth observing, if not celebrating. Globally, people in 190 countries are being asked to take action by making one change in their lifestyles that would improve the environment. Locally, there are numerous activities. Tonight, the Town of Oakville is hosting Living Earth Day Every Day in the South Atrium of Town Hall from 6-9 p.m. Events include everything from workshops on cooking local food to hands-on demos of energy-efficient technology and green gardening. Last weekend, the Halton Ecofestival at the Glen Abbey Recreation Centre attracted thousands of visitors interested in learning how to be more environmentally friendly. The Oakville Community Centre for Peace, Ecology and Human Rights (OCCPEHR), which hosted the Ecofestival, is following that up with the 19th annual Earth Week Clean Up at 36 nature sites in Oakville. To find the site nearest to your neighbourhood, visit www.oakvillepeacecentre.org. Forty years ago, Earth Day was not as prominent as it is now. Many are probably surprised it has been around for 40 years. Today, however, it is celebrated in 190 countries by not only environmentalists, but by commerce and big business. Based on all the Earth-friendly companies and products available today, it's clear businesses are aware that consumers are more environmentally aware. Our current government, however, appears a little slower afoot in making the environment a priority. Witness its actions -- or inaction -- at the recent Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen and its reluctance to adopt Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act. In 40 years, many people have learned to live every day as Earth Day. Eventually, governments will follow their lead and govern as if each day was Earth Day. If they don't, they may soon find themselves not only out of touch with the electorate, but out of power, as well. 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 Climate change bill faces local opposition On April 14, Bill C-311, known as the Climate Change Accountability Act passed its first reading in the House of Commons. Bill C-311 sets out firm, sciencebased targets for reductions in Greenhouse Gas Emissions. It would commit the federal government to reduce Canada's greenhouse gas emissions 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, and 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050. It also sets out oversight mechanisms to monitor the government's progress and hold it accountable to these commitments. Passage of this Bill would put Canada back on track towards a sustainable future, and help our country to regain international respect in the global fight against climate change. It is supported by such prominent Canadian environmental groups as Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, the World Wildlife Federation and the David Suzuki Foundation. Introduced by the NDP, Bill C-311 also has the support of the Liberals and Bloc Québecois. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, the Conservative Party chose to vote against the bill. This is just the latest in a series of attempts by the Conservatives to block any progress on climate change. Local Conservative MPs Terence Young, Lisa Raitt and Mike Wallace all voted against Bill C-311, giving Halton region no progressive voice on environmental issues. This Thursday, April 22 is Earth Day. I can only hope that our Halton MPs will take some time on this day to do some serious thinking about the kind of world we wish to leave our children. If they do, I am sure that they will realize that long-term environmental sustainability is worth more than short-term profits for oil companies. JAMES EDE, OAKVILLE FEDERAL NDP CANDIDATE 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. Energy habits must change The proposed power plant in Oakville is an immediate concern to thousands of Oakvillians, who fear for their health, who are concerned about the air quality of an already heavily polluted area, and who think that the power plant would make our residential area much less livable. This is the obvious argument. The more complex analysis should delve into why it is that this proposed plant is needed, here and in other communities, and what we as citizens are going to do about it. If it is accurate that our power consumption levels are so high and are to increase further that we will not be adequately supplied by current power plants - and the critics of this plant argue that these calculations are largely inflated and that demand for power is actually on the decline - but let's just assume that it were correct, and we are in need of more and more power, then we need to stop and think if this is responsible and if it is sustainable. Our need for air conditioning and heating has reached levels where we override outdoor conditions, so that we need sweaters indoors in summer and wear shorts in winter because our heating is pumping, while the five plasma See Energy page 12 Oakville can afford new hospital The potential annual increase in property taxes to fund the new hospital would likely be less than one monthly lease payment for a luxury foreign car. Given the preponderance of these vehicles in Oakville one could conclude that we can afford to pay for the hospital. Oakville is among the wealthiest municipalities in Canada. Let's not prove the old saying that some of the wealthiest people are the cheapest. SHAWN DARTSCH, OAKVILLE