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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, December 14, 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, Halton Region 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 Good luck, Mea She can't speak, however we are confident that if she could she would offer up a very big `thank you' to all who stepped forward to care for her. Her name is Mea, a Shar Pei/Victorian cross bulldog whose story would melt the hearts of all animal lovers. She was the dog found tied to a string, severely emaciated in a garage in Milton in January 2010. The dog had no food or water. It was a cruelty case that received widespread media attention. Residents were outraged and so, too, was the Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS). Seven counts of animal cruelty were laid against her owners. They were eventually found guilty and received the toughest sentencing in the 75-year history of OMHS. The case made Canadian case law. Although there are many who would probably argue that 45 days incarceration to be served intermittently, two years probation, a 10-year ban on owning, caring for, or residing with an animal didn't go nearly far enough. Earlier this month, Mea was placed in a permanent home. Her fragile state and the need for expert veterinary assistance meant the pooch was in the care of the OMHS for close to two years. The society's quest to educate people about animal cruelty, its ongoing work to protect pets as well as adopt them out to `forever' homes are among some of the reasons why this newspaper so readily supports the organization. Oakville and Milton are fortunate to have an organization able to respond to such dire situations as Mea's. This is the season of giving and we encourage all residents to dig deep into their wallets to help the charities that make Oakville such a great place in which to live. The humane society is one of those charitable organizations that needs our ongoing support. Without fundraising dollars, dogs like Mea wouldn't get the care they deserve. When Mea was adopted earlier this month, the society issued a news release that contained the following: "We are so happy that we were able to speak for her, care for her and find her a new home where she will be loved for the rest of her life," said Kim Millan, executive director of the OMHS. Now, we are speaking for OMHS. When donating to your favourite causes, think of the animals, too. On the front page of today's paper is coverage of a fun fundraiser benefitting the OMHS. This weekend, the society is holding an adopt-a-thon for 37 bunnies recently rescued, nursed back to health and prepared to meet their `forever' families. As Brenda Dushko, OMHS spokesperson is so fond of saying, "all for the animals!" Time for Premier to get it right Letter to the editor Did we mourn or celebrate Dec. 12? Dec. 12 marks a wonderful anniversary in Canada. When it first came to power in 2006, the Conservative government introduced the Accountability Act, "to help strengthen accountability and increase transparency and oversight in government operations." On Dec. 12, 2006, the Federal Accountability Act received Royal Assent. The Act also created the position of Parliamentary Budget Officer to provide objective oversight to the Senate and House of Commons about the estimates of the government, the state of the nation's finances and trends in the national economy. This Dec. 12 was a moment to reflect on what has happened in Canada since the passing of this Act. Since December 2006, the Prime Minister has twice prorogued Parliament to avoid criticism and censure. He has sacked or gagged government-appointed watchdogs, who were carrying out their oversight roles openly and transparently and doing their jobs too well. He has secretly negotiated trade deals with countries likely to sue indiscriminately if Canada's laws interfere with their ability to do business. Using gargantuan omnibus bills, he has rammed through Draconian changes in multiple laws under the guise of a budget. He silenced the Parliamentary Budget Officer, rendering his role superfluous and ineffectual. What has become of objective analysis, accountability, transparency and oversight? On Dec. 12, did we celebrate the existence of the Accountability Act, or mourn its ignominious death? Tina Agrell Reclaim Our Democratic Canada 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. 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. As our friends to the south find themselves at the edge of the much ballyhooed `Fiscal Cliff', families in Ontario are staring over a precipice of their own -- rotating strikes, withdrawal of teacher support for extracurricular activities, a.k.a. the Education Cliff, brought to you by Premier Dalton McGuinty. Teachers in Ontario have announced various job action strategies in response to having Bill 115, the Putting Students First Act, shoved down their throats. This half-baked legislation is nothing more than a public relations stunt gone horribly wrong for the McGuinty Liberals. Banking on public support for fiscal restraint on the backs of our educators to essentially pay for previous government sins (e-Health, ORNGE, power plants, to name but a few) shows how out of touch the Premier is with the citizenry. The government's attempt to tear up collectively-bargained contracts, well prior to their expiration, flies in the face of our democratic principles. Educators have no choice but to use the means at their disposal to highlight their contributions to our children above and beyond the classroom. Participation in extracurricular activities is a major component of our children's education. Unfortunately, the actions of our prorogued Liberal government has put our children in the middle of this completely unnecessary fight. It is time for the Premier to come out of hiding, recall the Legislature and make peace with our educators. Our children deserve nothing less. Richard Baillie, Oakville