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A 6 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday, A p ril 2, 2003 E D IT O R IA L SM U LETTER S T ill! WHILE i n n 467 Speers Rd,, Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 337-5610 Circulation: 845-9742 IAN OLIVER Publisher NEIL OLIVER Associate Publisher TERI CASAS Office Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief MARK DILLS Production Manager KELLY MONTAGUE Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLU Photography Director STEVE CROZIER Circulation Director ROD JERRED Managing lulitor THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: I x f r o itf Matrottnd Pruong PuDteftry A Owrbudng Ltd. < t U » AtfMftckortng News AflwtW*. Aillaten HsnfcVCamar, Amur trtorpnse Mew, Bame AO m nx. Barry's Bay This ww*. Bolton ErHorprtse. Brampton Guwtfcan Burt*ngton Post, Bjrtnyttn Stopping Newi Clty Parent C c A rg m o l 'Wasaga Comoctca Fast vtrt fcfrror. Erin AiVxafcv'Cujnery Ftoutos. Etctfoofco Guardan. FkttrtnnxV Pod Gtor^Btow tttc o n d n t'M o n Frw P rta. H rtacn Antow. tv o n a Business Times KjngsJcn The VVte*. Lrda y Tm Week. MurWorn Eccnarist & Sun. U A rttP fs irtrg u e rtn f M rtx Milton Conadan Owmpon. MMton Snooping News. Mflassmjga Bueness firms. Mbalsaaigs News, NBperee Guide. Nowmartat/Aiirora Era Bonner. Northt/nbertand torn*. NcrtH YtrV Minpr. Oaktfto Beuvw Ookvfc Stappng News. OWtlmers HocMy H orn, Qr*a Today. Oshiwa^tntDy/Caanngton Port Pony Tlw Wee*. Owan S ard T rb rt, PafcTwvton Observer Peterborough Tlw Wwk. POcn Carty Qjde. taJm crt m attm htV augfw i Liberal. Scarborough M ith SftxtfMMMrtdge Iftxre Fctmv *w ig . O r or GuarJon Recognized for Excellence by -- 1 Ontario Community Newspapers Association H a lto n H e a lth c a r e > · i · r · v · i · t: · I' · i Y vm ca (+ C N A Canadian Community Newspapers Association S9W H S8 | o a k v llle g a lle r ie s | J iig c B d fu n d "9S xzxrm rcnr S K * 4 Suburban Newspapers of America TV AUCTION i K ^ tn t e n a J/haml W B U SW C SSE X C aU N tt Oakville &/lwarOk O 7* © The Oofcvftr Mlton and Oatrtd PUBLIC IIHRARY Controlling SARS S A R S (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) is more than a scary acronym -- it's a serious and potentially fatal illness. Fortunately the Ontario Ministry of Health and the Region of Halton Health Department have taken swift action to hopefully curtail the spread of this con tagious disease. While at first glance some measures such as quarantines, banning visitors from hospitals and the wearing of surgi cal masks may seem excessive, they are necessary precautions. SARS is a serious illness. Worldwide, more than 1,600 people have been stricken and more than 50 people have died from contracting SARS. There have been 111 cases of SARS in Ontario -- 53 probable cases and 58 suspect cases. While there are no SARS cases in Halton. more than 20 residents are under voluntary quarantine because they were at Toronto hospitals where SARS was first documented. Every effort is being made to control its spread and to that end the Health Department is reminding residents of steps they can take. Individuals at risk of SARS include those who have recently traveled (within the last 10 days) to China. Hong Kong, Vietnam or Singapore; have had close contact with cases of SARS. Close con tact means having cared for, lived with, or had face-to-face (within one metre) contact with, or having had direct con tact with respiratory secretions and/or body fluids of a person with SARS: any one who has visited Scarborough Hospital-Grace Division or York Central Hospital in Richmond Hill in the last 10 days. This includes patients, staff and visitors. One of the best things you can do to protect yourself is to wash your hands frequently. If you develop the symptoms of SARS - which include a fever (over 38 degrees Celsius) cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing - medical attention should be sought. Keep yourself informed by watching the news on television and reading newspapers. Information on SARS can be found on the Halton Region's Web site at www.region.halton.on.ca. People can also call the Region at (905) 8256060. ext. 7825. While panic is not warranted, it's important that the general population follow the guidelines set down by the medical officials. If you find yourself under quarantine, please stay home. Cheating on your quarantine is putting the rest of society at great risk. SARS is a deadly disease, but it can be beaten if we isolate the illness and stop it from spreading. For that, we need LE T T E R ST OT H EE D IT O R Stay out of my backyard So we are going to get a pesticides use ban bylaw on private property in Oakville. If you have not made the connection yet. that means that we will not be able to apply to our lawns weed control her bicides nor weed and feed fertilizers, nor apply insecticides to control grubs. If we are negligent about noxious weeds growth the Town can prosecute us under another bylaw. And if we don't control grubs, raccoons and skunks will plow up our lawns to feed on them. Isn't that just dandy! And. citizens of Oakville, do you not find it disturbing that such a ban would violate our property rights and be a denial of our freedom of choice? At the special Council meeting of March 4, seven of 12 councillors voted for this ban while at the same time vot ing for a Public Awareness and Education Program as well as a Referendum. Isn't that bizarre? Does it not seem to you that some one is determined to ignore the educa tion and referendum outcomes and impose the ban bylaw anyway? It gets better. Our bylaw is to follow the Halifax example. How wonderful. Halifax, that paragon of environmental purity, dumps 150 million litres of raw, untreated sewage into Halifax Harbour every day. Is there any question of where their priorities ought to be? Similarly, we in Oakville are wast ing precious resources on a pesticides issue which should really remain a Federal responsibility. Health Canada, through the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) already ensures that pesticides are among the most rigorously con trolled products in Canada today. In Canada, through the PMRA. and world wide through such agencies as the U.S. EPA. The WHO and the European Union Commission on Health, thousands of regulators ensure that pesticides do not represent an unac ceptable risk to human health and the environment. Without being disrespectful of any one locally, such expertise and resources just do not exist at the munic ipal level. When Health Canada tells us that Tobacco products, when used as intend ed, are harmful to health and are car cinogenic as well, we applaud. When the same agency, through the PMRA registers pesticides which when used as directed, are not carcinogenic and do not represent an unacceptable risk to human health and the environ ment. it is argued that they are incom petent. Do you see something wrong with this picture? Citizens of Oakville, if we remain apathetic we will get a bylaw that we do not want and certainly do not need. It is time to tell our councillors to keep off our front lawns and to stay out of our back yards. DOUG HAUSER Don't sell ORC lands until after election An open letter to Mayor Mulvale, all members of Council, and David Tsubouchi, Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet: We are writing to you in regards to the Oakville Land Assembly -- 1,100 acres of taxpayer-owned land in north Oakville, current ly the responsibility of ihe Ontario Realty Corporation. On March 27, some of us attended an event sponsored by the Provincial Liberals, and were greatly encouraged to learn about the Liberal plan to ensure that the Oakville Land Assembly remains in public ownership. These 1,100 acres of taxpayer-owned land are located on the Trafalgar Moraine. A preliminary siudy done by the Ministiy of Natural Resources shows that the lands: · contain 22 wetlands or possible wetlands that can be consid ered part of a wetland complex and are considered to be very rare; · appear to contain kettle wetlands typical of moraine land scapes, which are possible amphibian breeding grounds; · are the origins of 11 tributary streams; · contain numerous species of rare plants and communities; · includes areas that have been identified by the Province as a regional life science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI); · contain forests that are critical habitat for area-sensitive forest bird species, many of which are considered conservation priority species; · contain 7 1 breeding birds species on the ANSI portion and 48 breeding bird species in the other portion of forests; These lands function as a vital link in the natural system con necting the Trafalgar Moraine to Bronte Creek Provincial Park to the Niagara Escarpment. Oakvillegreen believes that the vision for north Oakville, and the greater vision for the GTA must include this system. We believe that the town's current plan to designate these lands for industrial/commercial development is both short sighted and irresponsible. We believe that the Province's decision to sell these lands for development is not in the public's best interest. We. along with over 3,500 citizens, petitioned last year, expect these lands to be preserved and protected as parkland in perpetuity. We strongly support the Liberal plan to save these lands. We are asking you to ensure that these lands remain in public ownership. The Provincial Liberals have offered a strategy to preserve these lands where none exists today. We believe that no decision to sell these lands should be made, at least until the Provincial election is decided. Anyone can see that Oakville's natural environment has been degraded severely in recent years, and we will all pay the price, going forward. Together we must act on any and all opportunities to protect what little we have left. These are our lands - developers don't own them yet. You are our representatives, our voices, and the voices of our children, whose futures you are deciding. Don't let this opportu nity slip through your fingers. It could be the last one we get. MIKE LANSDOWN, IRIS MCGEE. HANK RODENBURG, RENEE SANDELOWSKY, OAKVILLEGREEN Why wait, spray the bugs now Now let me get this straight. Oakville is the worst infect ed area in North America by West Nile virus and we are going to spray "as a last resort?" What are we waiting for? The disease caused by this virus is extremely dangerous, causing long term debilitating effects or even death. Those with young children should be especially alarmed by the pas sive plan put forth by the health minister and who is going to even try to persuade teens to wear long sleeves and pants dur ing the warm summer evenings? The United States began an aggressive spraying program last year to eradicate these dangerous pests while we were still reporting dead birds all over Oakville. We have tolerated pesticides in our community for many years to keep gardens weed free and I for one would gladly inhale some more for the sake of protecting the children in our area. Get proactive....kill the bug--s! JEAN K0UBA Not ashamed to be Canadian Ford plant closure clarification Following the article in the Oakville Beaver Wednesday, March 5, regarding the closure of Ford Windstar plant, I received a few calls from our members on the information that was provided. The Windstar was scheduled to be shut down during the week of March 10. The reason the shut down was moved to the week of March 5 was partially relat ed to the parts shortage. Some of our members have expressed the need to clarify this article. JOHN TEIXEIRA PRESIDENT, LOCAL 7 0 7 CAW Re: Letter to the Editor, "I'm ashamed to be Canadian" in the Friday. March 28, Oakville Beaver. It was with great disgust that I read this past Friday's letter to the Editor. I am truly shocked that your paper chose to pub lish this letter. The letter voiced an opinion without any argument or evi dence to back it up. One would assume that the letter writer is referring to Canada's decision to not join the U.S. and Britain in Iraq. I would like to remind the letter writer that Canada is a democratic sovereign nation. We are not obliged to act because our neighbours to the south tell us to. Canada has every right to side with the United Nations on this issue, and is entitled to decide on its own accord when to enter a war. The United States has consistently made decisions regard ing foreign affairs against opposition, yet they never doubt their "right" to do so. I am proud of Canada's stance, for this and a million other reasons, I am proud to say I am Canadian. If the letter writer is so "ashamed" then leave. I'll gladly drive you to the border. K. BROWN Vandals d a ng er to selves and others Attention ParenLs: Do you know what your teenage boys are doing late at night in the family car? On March 14 at approximately I a.m.. my husband and I heard the door bell ring several times in a row. When we looked out our window we watched at least two teenage/young adult males pelt our house with brown eggs, then jump in a car and drive away at a high speed. What concerns us the most is the fact they are driving reck lessly through the neighbourhood, posing a threat to them selves and others on the road. Apparently this happens regularly, especially during times when kids are out of school. It has occurred to several of our neighbours in the River Oaks area. 1 have filed a police report with description of the individu als and the car and urge any others to do the same. The police know about this occurrence and we are hoping to get a full license plate number to apprehend these troubling and misdi rected individuals. A CONCERNED RIVER OAKS PARENT. L SMITH The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Coundl. The coundl Is located at 80 Could 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, togeth er with a reasonable allowance for signature, win 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. Pud Wa n n a m e h elp By STEVE NEASE First, takeihet&p £ O F AN O R EO , AND then s q u e e ze PLAY A n A P R I LF b o L S 3 6 K E .D A D ? SSAPE O FF THE 'W H IT E O NWTHPAStE TO P B A « O s AND P U T T H E / J 'N w J Yo u i t , And i Y c .i l eat ") /^ \' . < S , " A P R IL , P o o ls".' stuff: j