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6 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday, March 19, 2003 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax; 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 337-5610 Circulation: 845-9742 T H EO A K V I L L ER E A V E R Recognized for Excellence by i EDITORIALS AMI LETTERS IAN OLIVER Publisher NEIL OLIVER Associate Publisher TERI CASAS Office Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief MARK DILLS Production Manager KELLY MONTAGUE Ath-ertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLJ Photography Director STEVE CROZIER Circulation Director ROD JERRED Managing Editor THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: UetrcttnO ftlrtoQ. PitiM aig & Oertntng I__________ Affeftoam g N m AAvdMr. AM ar H nkSC aiw . k U t E rM jn e N m (ten* Adore* Banys Rjv Thtt Boton Cntvpraa. Brampton GumOm. ft r tiflt r Port, arirp on Shooing Oty Paw*. CoNng«catfMMaga CcrrBctcn f ad 'rrt U na. Em AifcocateQuMy Routat. Ettx x M Giardun. ffentorougfi Pofi. Georgetown h H w t t r t ia r foe P im rtrnjfcn Rm m . m tm Buanen Tfcw. K rg cn Thd Mm*. Infeqr TMi WMk htoVvm Ecanon« & S«A IM M ^ n o r v jtftfie t*rv . M«on Cwwuan Oumpon MJRun Stoppmg News. fan. N o r t h * Jr t »M m * .0**eB e e w r .C M c v d BS v c o p r g News. O W lnw Hockey tows. Ortho Today. 0 5fumttW»«^.Qanng»on Port Pwry Tho MMh. Oam S a n l Tftuw. PMnmton Ocaurvw PMwbcrxtfv T»m M b * P t t r Ca*ty G tffe fkmond t a m o * * * * * K M , ScarttranT S fc i**» U « m p > tu». Gude Newmart*«t/Auron Ira Banner Nonhtirtwttnd Imr * x n &C f yO f't t f ck * rd O r ill H ilt o n Healthcare Y TM ca | oahvllle q all«rles | omf| ^ AGONin » i= K S r s h e w Ontario Community Newspapers Auodrttai < *C N A ^ S S ftS S . TV AUCTION SK» Suburban N n w p a p m ol America UmMWsy riO M l o jy S TVrr © Jfth tn a Oakville ;/ / r S"f»'rrrk\ tM F « BUSINESS EXCEUENCE T t» C NOS R IA L · T A T I B O A RD Pl.'BM C I VH K M Y Staging a budget Nobody can ever accuse Oakville Tory MPP and Speaker o f the Legislature Gary Carr of bowing out of politics quietly. No, our MPP is going to make dam sure his constituents know where he stands on the govern ment's absurd idea o f presenting its budget to a TV audience rather than in the Legislature where it belongs. What the Tories are attempting to do, "quite frankly, is to put the interest of them getting elected ahead of democracy," Carr told the media. And Carr certainly isn't alone in his belief that this decision is not in keeping with recognized parlia mentary procedure. The outgoing MPP said it is stunts like this that is causing him to bid adieu to politics. "I think it's nothing short of absolutely bizarre," said Ted McMeekin. Halton's only official Liberal Opposition representative and MPP for Ancaster-DundasFlamborough-Aldershot Another Grit from that riding was, perhaps, more blunt in his assessment of Eves' plan. "Substituting a staged and manipulated TV spectacle for can did debate in the legislature is unbelievably cynical," says Liberal MP John Bryden. We couldn't agree more Carr believes residents feel they don't have any say in the political process and removing the budget from the Legislature sends the wrong message. While he doesn't believe there are any official reasons to prevent Eves from taking the budget out side Queen's Park, Carr suggests there are plenty of democratic ones. One such reason is that it would prevent opposition MPPs from challenging the government. There is the possibility that Eves will call an election shortly after the budget is released and will not call the Legislature back at all. Perhaps the Tories feel safer producing a budget in a comfortable communi ty setting. Last year the federal government sat 132 days in comparison to 72 days for the Ontario legislature. So far this year, the federal Parliament has sat 28 days whereas the Ontario Legislature has sat none. That com parison speaks volumes. We suspect Carr isn't the only Tory MPP who is dismayed the budget will be delivered outside the Legislature. However, we doubt there will be any as outspoken. captain eves D o N YW o r r y trustus,Y o u r e a b o u th im , I r ig h to nc o u r se/ a j LETTERS TO THE EDITOR E d ito ria l is `grossly m isleading' Re: Editorial " Urban sprawl vs. urban intensification." Your editorial of Feb. 28, in my opin ion, is grossly misleading, distorts the facts, and favours the developers' mantra of " development is inevitable, so follow us." You indicate that the only choice is between two extremes, ie. urban sprawl (north of Dundas) or "radically altered" existing neighbourhoods. 1 would catego rize your approach here as fear mongering. You appear to support opening the floodgates for uncontrolled growth north of Dundas, or alternatively, in existing neighbourhoods. The people of Oakville, not the developers.the planners or the politicians, should be allowed to determine their lifestyle -- and I can assure you their choice would be neither for uncontrolled development north of Dundas nor south of Dundas -- rather it would be for a rea sonable level of expansion that accommo dates some new development and some intensification, but does not radically alter existing neighbourhoods or further degrade our already unhealthy environ ment. and that preserves much of our pre cious, finite and irretrievable greenspaces. You also state clearly that if develop ment north of Dundas is blocked, then we must accept proposals such as Sharkey's. You leave your readers no other choice -- and there are other choices. You don't acknowledge the concern that unbridled development w ill affect the quality of life in Oakville. How many more cars w ill Sharkey's put on the main street of downtown Oakville? Walking and driving in downtown Oakville now is at most times a pleasure, but before long I can see you editorializing about the pos sibility of billing cars as they enter the downtown area in order to control the volume (think London. England). W hy not think ahead, and avoid those issues by honest, frank, and realistic plan ning and control over development? W hy don't you acknowledge and address the issue of managing growth? Instead of allowing the developers to continue their headlong rush to cover the lands north of Dundas with asphalt shin gles and asphalt roads, in order, as they say, to meet the demands of an expanding population for detached homes, why not consider controlling growth? Why take the side of a developer who wants to plant a monstrous building right on the very edge of the shore of 16 Mile Creek in the heart of the Old Town and the harbour? W hy not manage the demand instead of attempting to manage the supply? W hy should we, the people, have to stand aside while the developers and planners and politicians benefit from continuing to satisfy the uncontrolled demand of an uncontrolled expanding population. Shouldn't we be in control of our own own destiny? May I suggest that you raise the level of your editorials to a rational discussion of all of the alternatives, and take a balanced and overall systems approach to address all of the issues of growth, rather than simply jumping on the bandwagon of unfettered growth for growth's sake, and damn the torpedoes RUSSELL KEMP Thanks fo r article on cholesterol and heart disease I am writing to thank you for arrang ing for coverage of the recent seminar on cholesterol and heart disease held in Oakville on Feb. 26. The article by Melanie Cummings entitled Regular blood tests keeps choles terol in check that appeared in the Oakville Beaver on March 8 was very comprehensive and well written. LORRAINE ROHM HEALTH PROMOTION MANAGER HALTON HEALTHCARE SERVICES Like all municipalities, Oakville has been the victim of downloading. This is a process by which the province dumps responsibilities and costs on towns and cities. Oakville has had no choice but to pick up what the province has dropped on our doorstep and we can't fault our local politicians or town staff for the cost implications. But what about downloading where our municipal gov ernment does have a choice ? The pesticide issue has been brought to the municipal level by political activists in our society who do not agree with the decisions that have been made at the other two levels of government. The feds, by registering these pesticides, have declared them fit for use. Reviewing such products and making such determinations is, and has long been, the responsibil ity and the authority of the federal government. Our provincial government, through the ministries of health and environment, could take up the battle with the feds if our provincial government disagreed with the fed eral decision. The scientific resources available to Ottawa and Queen's Park in support of such decision making are con siderable. Oakville has no such resources. I believe we can be proud of our town's government. Decision making is transparent and it is accessible to the public. W hile we should never want to change this, we need to devise some methods of uploading issues that truly belong at the federal or provincial level along with our considered recommendation. What about an Intergovernmental Affairs Committee that would make recommendations to council on the posi tion Oakville should take with the federal and/or provin cial governments on issues that matter to our residents but which do not traditionally fall within our jurisdiction? (This could be a standing committee of council or some thing broader based like the stakeholder committee that was struck to review OPA 198). If such a committee had been in place over the last sev eral years, residents who favour a ban on the private use of pesticides could make their case to the committee which, in turn, might recommend to council that the federal gov ernment be urged to demand more testing to determine the safety of garden chemicals, for example. Please consider the economics. The residents of Oakville are paying taxes in support of our federal and provincial governments. Let's not take on unnecessary, new responsibilities and costs when we are already paying once and when we have the choice. TOM SCOTT letter hi the week Some issues belong with Ottawa or the province Information and support centre helped woman get her life back on track I am an abused woman. 1attend the Women's Information and Support Centre in Oakville. The director, counsellors, and workshop presenters are the most dedicated, loyal, and professional caring women you would ever want to meet. Their goal is to keep the centre open for hurting women like us -- women who need moral support or who just want to learn. They work very hard to help us get our life back and keep it on track. With their help, you become a survivor. Honestly, I am very proud to be a member of this dynamic and out standing group. The $15 membership fee is the best money I ever spent. Two years ago I was a broken woman, mentally, physical ly, emotionally, financially. Today, I stand tall. I'm very proud of myself. I have survived and I am victorious. I 'm able to cope with a lot of life's challenges and deal with relation ships. M y credit goes to the Women's Support Centre for the life skills, and tools, they taught to me. The free, confidential peer counselling, either one-on-one or group is so helpful and uplifting. The reasonably priced workshops and the free workshops are very good for self esteem, coping, and learning. One thing I did learn was that within myself I had a lot of hidden tools and talents, which helped me and w ill in future help others. In my estimation, these women performed mira cles one step at a time. I wish many women could have had these opportunities years ago. What a big difference this could have made on their lives and ours. The hard work still goes on; the path is still very long. I pray and hope that government and municipal leaders, and other benefactors, w ill continue and even increase their sup port to the Women's Information and Support Centre. Remember it will be very beneficial to your wives, daughters and granddaughters in the years to come. So, if you are a woman who is a victim of any kind of abuse and your life's been turned upside down, I encourage you to contact the Women's Information and Support Centre for support. I assure you, your life w ill begin again, and your self-esteem and life skills will soar to the top. You w ill feel great, and carry a wonderful sense of accom plishment. Life somehow gets lighters, freedom is even lighter. Thank you to the extraordinary caring women at the Oakville Women's Information and Support Centre and also the women at other centres. ROSEMARY Pud By STEVE NEASE We welcome your letters The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters w ill be edited for clarity, length, legal considera tions and grammar. In order to be published, letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Road, Oakville, On., L 6 K 3S4, or via email to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish any let ter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The cound ts located at 80 Gould St. Suite 206. Toronto. Ont. M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condftion that in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, togeth er with a reasonable aBowance for signature, wiB 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 dedine. JACK A MUCH LOVED MEMBER OF THE FAM ILY 1995-2003