Prime minister is no laggard Continued from page 6 7 · Friday, July 23, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Oakville MPP's words ring hollow Re: Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn's letter Harper a disgrace says Oakville MPP, Oakville Beaver, July 21. I can't help but ponder the irony in Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn's comments. He stated that all Canadians in the GTA owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women of our fire services, police services and paramedics who kept Toronto's streets safe during the recent G8-G20. These comments come one day after his Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced that his government proposes to freeze the wages of all public sector employees for the next two years. Is this how you show your gratitude Flynn? As an emergency services worker for the past two decades, I am greatly offended by this apparent hypocrisy. Although at first blush his words appear to be sincere, when viewed against the backdrop of yesterday's announcement they are hollow and patronizing. Perhaps Flynn could implore the finance minister to demonstrate his gratitude in a more convincing manner. MADELAINE TRETTER, OAKVILLE investment worldwide to 3,000 journalists, advertising worth hundreds of millions of free coverage across the world. Our economy will benefit from that promotion for years. In his partisan haste Flynn missed the most important question about summits: Are they worth the cost? On July 7, The Beaver interviewed an unbiased source from University of Toronto, Dr. Ella Kokotsis of Oakville, who was volunteer Director of External Relations at the G8 and G20, asking "What was going on inside the G20? We learned the Prime Minister "led the way," at the G8 and "successfully mobilized $7.3 billion from the G8 and others over the next five years toward maternal and child health," an effort that will help prevent tens of thousands of deaths. There was also an unprecedented agreement at the G20 to cut budget deficits in half by 2013 and to reverse debt loads by 2016, reducing the current risk of a financial collapse and major recession. Other G8 issues tackled include food security, African development, and the rising nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea. These are the most important issues in the world today. That is the context for this important discussion of summit costs, not name calling. The meetings were led and chaired by Prime Minister Harper, who Flynn maligns as a `laggard.' I have watched our Prime Minister work since October 2008. He maintains a blistering schedule both in Canada and abroad, and is the farthest thing from a laggard you could ever imagine. The people of Oakville who have contacted me are of the same mind; they feel that facing an election next year Flynn desperately attacked the Prime Minister in an effort to draw the voters attention away from the three most contentious issues in Oakville today. They were all created by Premier McGuinty and Flynn's government, and are very unpopular: the unhealthy gas fired power plant his government is forcing on Oakville, the unwanted HST tax grab on hundreds of new goods and services, and his party's latest trick -- their new Eco tax grab on hundreds of new consumer goods, which will further erode people's lifestyle and savings. An old saying fits here: When you point the finger at someone else, three fingers point back at you. TERENCE YOUNG, MP OAKVILLE Speak up! You can comment on any story in today's Oakville Beaver at oakvillebeaver.com. COME OUT AND SEE THE PGA Tour Stars of Tomorrow THE 4 TH ANNUAL CLUBLINK JANE ROGERS CHAMPIONSHIP HARDWOOD SAVE! SAVE! SAVE! LIQUIDATION CENTRE ACTORY AUTHORIZED August 12th - 15th, 2010 Greystone Golf Club, Halton Hills, Ontario Adult Admission is $10.00. Free admission for seniors, students and children. Visit our website www.janerogerschampionship.ca or www.cantour.com OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Installation Available Some Quantities Limited ner Garde CELEBRITY FLOORING 416.201.0299 486 Evans Ave, Etobicoke s Ave Evan er Hom e shor Lake For more information contact Landmark Sport Group at 905-949-1910 ext. 304 ng Kipli Mon-Wed 10-6, Thursday 10-8, Friday 10-6 Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday Closed Your local Tim Hortons is happy to bring you Tim Hortons free swim complimentary swimming time at your local pool. For a schedule of times and locations, drop by your local Oakville Tim Hortons location for more details. © Tim Hortons, 2007 427 ns Brow Tim Hortons Free Swim. It's our thanks to you.