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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, April 11, 2014 | 6 Sad farewell to a great politician, family man Global economists sought his advice. Canadian politicians sought his support. Jim Flaherty, one of the longest serving and successful federal nance ministers in Canadian history, died yesterday in Ottawa after suffering an apparent heart attack. The news is a shock to us all, particularly since Mr. Flaherty resigned as nance minister just last month with a vow to stay on as MP to serve his local constituents. He emphasized at the time that his health -- he suffered from a painful but treatable skin condition -- was not a factor in his decision to step down. His record as a nance minister during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression was second to none of Canada's global economic partners. As a consequence of his steady hand, Canada's economy avoided the worst of the crisis. Today, the nation's housing market remains strong, jobs are being created, and the federal government will return to surplus next year. In short, Canada's economy and scal position is the envy of the developed world. Mr. Flaherty was also the architect of Canada's Tax Free Savings Account program created to encourage Canadians to save more of their income; he harmonized provincial and federal sales taxes in Ontario and elsewhere; intervened in mortgage markets with some well-timed though widely criticized commentary; and introduced the Registered Disability Savings Plan to help Canadians with disabilities and their families save for retirement. All of these programs will endure and bring bene ts to Canadians for generations and will burnish his already impressive legacy. We salute Mr. Flaherty for his service and acknowledge his leadership and vision and will remain forever grateful that it was him at the helm when the nancial crisis swept the globe in 2009. We also offer our deepest condolences to his wife, MPP Christine Elliott, and his triplet sons John, Galen and Quinn. He was a good father, a good man, and a committed parliamentarian. When he resigned last month -- which came as a complete surprise to many observers -- he put things in clear perspective for Canadians: "As I begin another chapter in my life, I leave feeling ful lled with what we have accomplished as a government and a country during one of the most challenging economic periods in our country's history." There is no doubt that he got the job done. Rest in peace, Jim Flaherty. -- DurhamRegion.com Editorial "Connected to your Community" We received the letter about "trimming" tree branches around hydro wires in our neighbourhood. What we weren't prepared for is the complete devastation that occurred. We are absolutely horri ed with the treatment of these trees. This evergreen has had its complete side sheared off... that is the same tree at the base, not a separate bush. The beautiful tall Linden beside it has also been butchered, including branches that were not nearly touching the wires. Much of the rubble was left behind as insult to injury. We are absolutely disgusted and sick about this. We expect an explanation and though it is too late for these trees, we hope to stop similar destruction. Carol and Rick Vesters Editor's Note: Oakville Hydro Chief Operating Of cer Mike Brown said the company works with the Town to trim trees close to hydro lines every three years. It is obligated to trim branches within three metres of primary hydro lines, which carry more than 750 volts. It's necessary to reduce the risk of branches falling on or connecting with the hydro line. It is done with a view to retaining the tree and its | submitted photo health if possible. Not popular Letter to the Editor 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 52 | Number 44 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Mayor aims to protect Merton lands Rob Burton Mayor of Oakville My View Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member A re you concerned about what will happen to the lands in the Merton Study area, which encompasses all the undeveloped land between Third Line and Bronte Road and from North Service Road to Upper Middle, including the Deer eld and Saw-whet golf courses? I will be proposing to council at its next meeting, Monday, April 14, important steps that will enable us to protect all of the Merton lands. This article explains what they are and how they will work. In 2012, Oakville Council approved staff's plan for a Town-led, comprehensive study of the Merton lands. Without this decision and Town planning staff's work, I know these lands would already be in development. Instead, we now have an evidence-based framework with which we will be able to save all of these lands. The Merton study work is to provide important groundwork for the environmental protection of these lands. I have said success under the Planning Act requires we must make evidence-based, policy decisions and not `just-say-no' or make arbitrary decisions. The Merton studies, will be the foundation for an evidence-based decision at another council meeting later this summer, a decision with which council will be able to protect all the Merton lands. Two vitally important things remain to be done before we can make a sound decision. First, council must specify the additional environmental work that needs to be done before any further work on any landowners' applications will take place. The Town's team of external experts has provided peer review comments on the technical studies done by the landowners. We have see Evidence on p.8 Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: 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, 5040 Mainway, Burlington ON L7L 7G5 or via e-mail to; ablackburn@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.