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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, October 26, 2012 · 6 Opinion & Letters 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5566 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 905-631-6095 -- 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Oakville Beaver 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 OakvilleBeaver 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 KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager A shot in the arm The recent announcement that the provincial government has okayed an expanded scope of practice for Ontario pharmacists should be considered good news for Ontarians. While certainly no one expects the local pharmacist to supersede the role of the family doctor, the new rule changes should help improve the healthcare system and also help reduce the costs of healthcare delivery. The Action Plan for Health Care aims to give Ontarians better access to family doctors, nurse practitioners and other health-care providers to ensure health-care dollars are spent most efficiently. As reported in today's Oakville Beaver (see Pharmacies expand service on page 15) the key changes in the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care's announcement are that pharmacists may now: · Administer flu vaccinations · Provide up to six-month renewals of prescriptions for all non-narcotic medications · Prescribe smoking cessation medication. The Liberal reforms, which took effect immediately, were among the recommendations in economist Don Drummond's February report on streamlining government. Although many local pharmacists contacted have yet to digest the full scope of their new powers, we believe, in time, these changes can only mean better service for residents. Halton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Bob Nosal said Halton's health department has been actively working with interested pharmacies over the last few weeks to make sure they're taking the appropriate measures to be able to vaccinate anyone who's six months and older. While the government hopes allowing pharmacists to administer flu shots will lead to an increase in the number of Ontarians getting the vaccinations, relaxing the rules on prescriptions should be of the most benefit -- especially for many seniors who may find it difficult just getting to their doctor's office. Renewing an ongoing prescription for cholesterol medication or that puffer for an asthmatic child shouldn't require an additional trip to a physician. Our health-care system in many ways needs streamlining and reforms that make sense and don't compromise patients' care. This recent announcement is one such change that should benefit many Ontario residents. 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. Thanks for the honesty Letter to the editor 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 e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Earlier this fall, I changed the oil in my car at Fourth Line Automotive at 559 Speers Rd. in Oakville. After two weeks, something was leaking under the car. Of course, I had no idea what it was, and in the meantime, the lock in my trunk broke so I called the same shop and brought my car in for both problems. They called me and said that during the previous oil change something was done that caused my oil to leak, which they fixed, along with the trunk lock, at no charge. Maybe this is not big deal, but whenever I tell this story, everybody is amazed there are such honest people here. I hope this can be printed with a big thank you to these mechanics. Alicja Jablonski, Oakville St. Vincent students learn to be Earth rangers Students were abuzz waiting for the much anticipated presentation of Earth Rangers on Wednesday, Oct. 3, at St. Vincent's Elementary School. Miss A. Milner, a teacher on staff, extended a request to Earth Rangers for two presentations, one for JK and SK and the other for the remainder of the student body, Grades 1-8. Earth Rangers is sponsored by the Government of Canada. It exists to promote the awareness of endangered species here in Canada. The two young Earth Rangers hosts gave a very memorable presentation to a very enthusiastic, well-mannered audience. It consisted of video clips, live discourse, interactive games and questions for students, and, the best part of all, live animals. The school was visited by a snake, a lemur, an owl and a bald eagle. The presence of the animals and the students' ability to see them interact with lighted the main four animals facing extinction that the organization is concentrating on this year. Earth Rangers chooses different animals each year in order to raise as much awareness as possible about a large variety of species. It encouraged the students to become advocates for these animals by teaching others about the dangers these animals face and giving the students the opportunity to become Earth Rangers themselves. Students and families can show their concern by raising funds to assist the government in protecting the natural habitats for the endangered wildlife. The Earth Rangers have a studentfriendly website offering video clips, information and games. Let us all think twice about our individual impact we have on the Earth and all that the Earth offers us. Tania Hughes, teacher St. Vincent School, Oakville JUSTIN REYNOLDS / GRADE 8 / ST. VINCENT'S people brought home the message loud and clear. Collectively, we are harming the wildlife of Canada. The Earth Rangers explained global warming, pollution, the building of more and more highways and homes, as well as natural predators, are having a negative effect on many animals that now face tough times here in Canada. This particular presentation high-