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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, January 6, 2012 · 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: C Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member A THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association S Suburban Newspapers of America o Canadian Community Newspapers Association ATHENA Award NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor 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 Quiet, it's Oakville Shhh... Recently a move by the Town of Oakville to quiet the noise made by motorcycles with loud mufflers has garnered opposition from local motorcycle enthusiasts and riders. These riders, as evidenced by a recent letter to the editor, are feeling targeted and have suggested lots of activities and people make noise in town and, if motorcyclists are to be singled out, everyone should come under scrutiny. Have no fear. Noise has been under scrutiny in town for years. All kinds of noise. Anyone remember the national media and tongue-incheek stories that appeared in the mid-2000s when Oakville revamped its noise bylaw? The leads read something to the effect that whistling would be frowned upon after a certain hour.... At that time, the Town updated its noise bylaw. A bylaw commonly used in the GTA was its template and the new bylaw incorporated provincial standards on noise and outlined modern technology by which the Town could measure noise and therefore enforce the rules. Though it drew wide public criticism -- and national media attention -- at the time, it passed quietly in early 2006. By 2009, the Town was back evaluating the noise of f fireworks and better regulating the same. It was all an update to the 1963 bylaw that had already been revamped various times over the years. How about the kerfuffle last summer about ice cream truck music? Oakville councils have been called upon by residents to scrutinize noise of various types -- train whistles, fireworks, snowblowers, lawn mowers and much more. Restrictions actually loosened up on some, allowing lawn mowing to go on until 9 p.m. rather than 7 p.m. It encompassed snow blowing, looked at better regulating commercial/industrial noise near homes, doesn't tolerate barking dogs, and the list goes on. Some rules may seem over the top to some and, let's face it, we all make noise to some degree, but Council's moves to curb noise of one type or another are really only addressing residents' wishes to continue living in a peaceful, family-friendly suburban town. While we can't eliminate all noise, nor should we, it may be that some of these issues are larger than the simple noise factor. Perhaps all involved should pay heed to understanding, tolerance and respect of the wishes of others. Perhaps debate over a particular type of noise is less a debate over the actual noise and more of an ongoing issue that could stand some co-operation from all sides, rather than digging in on polarized behaviour and looking to Town Council to referee civility amongst neighbours. 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 Disappointed, but hopeful The Oakville/Mississauga KAIROS group is not surprised, although deeply disappointed, by the federal government's decision to withdraw from the Kyoto Treaty. Withdrawal from a treaty is a very serious international political step that will undoubtedly bring about corresponding major political consequences. Actions by the government have already been viewed as hostile by peoples in the Middle East because of the government's unqualified support of Israel and by peoples in Africa because Canada no longer considers that continent a priority area for aid. Our withdrawal from the Kyoto Treaty will arouse similar imilar responses from the European Community and the vast majority of needy countries in the world, whose living conditions will, in many cases, be either swamped with sea water or parched by drought. These consequences do not seem to be of very great concern to the government. Rather, it would seem the government thinks, speaks and acts on the basis of both disbelief about the seriousness of climate change and on the necessity of promoting, fully, the development of the Tar Sands. It seems equally unwilling to take bold and serious steps towards supplying the country's energy needs from non-carbonbased resources. To echo the consistent views of the consensus of geophysical scientists, we consider this a short-sighted, unjust and reckless policy. We nevertheless hope, despite a sequence of major disappointments in showing concern for the global environment, the government will, this time, keep its word and make an honest attempt to be a positive member of the international community in working towards a climate change treaty that has bold, legally-binding and verifiable targets and is approved by ,and provides assistance to, the most exposed billions of the world. Mervyn Russell, chair KAIROS, Oakville/Mississauga Letters to the editor The Oakville Beaver r 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 r reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Let down by cell tower call I was disappointed to read that Oakville Town Council has approved modification of the cell tower at Bronte Road and Rebecca Street for commercial use. As there was no public consultation on this issue, I wasn't even aware of it until reading about it in The Oakville Beaver r after the fact. Town Council was fully aware of the recent controversy surrounding a proposed Rogers cell tower at Third Line and Rebecca. It seems unfair to use a loophole regarding "modification" of an existing cell tower, as opposed to building a new cell tower, as a reason to forego public consultation this time around. Why should residents not be given an opportunity to speak to such a contentious issue? Yes, the police need a properly functioning See Why page 13 Pud BY STEVE NEASE neasecartoons@gmail.com