The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

6 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday, January 22, 2003 BIIITIIRIALS AN D liT T I ItS th e iukville lim n IAN OLIVER Publisher NEIL OLIVER Associate Publisher TERI CASAS 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 337-5610 Circulation: 845-9742 JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief KELLY MONTAGUE Advertising Director STEVE CROZIER Circulation Director MARK DILLS Office Manager Pnxluction Manager RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director ROD JERRED Mimaqmy Editor MeOolind Prtnll^j, ItittuiUry A O uiO *»itti»il ltd uiclufcr. Ajiu>1'i*iKNtjHow. /U K w itM H Aleitai l-teiaWTmttar,Arttw tntorpiRe Nmw. O am o AAwca Barry i Bdy ituo vY.wk IWtnn EntnviM ftrott«/ai Ikwriktn BwUnQtor Pont H uflm g ton New, I'Jty Pwrri, ('iflrijvwjxvV.'^.xw Contwctlai Fast V W V Mftw Enn AiMrcjWCouitr^ RqijIib Etctxcoka GiuutJian fumoorouuh Pool, Gacfuauwn rwlnpanrtent'/VUdi Fn» Pima. Huroton Rimhw, rtiwno RtainmB ttnwa. Kingston Rlt» Wm*. L.nOssy 7 1 k V S'm iK MuVtuni Fccnornt'dA Stft, MUb/KlPwuttinjurJicii* Mrrn M ilt e dC a n o d l.v iC h iin x H a iM ilt o nS h o p t w ia M o w n . M u u aj0j O u u iw jn m a .M f e w c a u g nIkm ,M u t u u m t x iiilH ,N t f w r n a f K o C A u m nF r aB .im w f ,N a n im n U t ila m l N u r t hY h r kM * t r »O i* m * bB c j* wlin M h iS h o p p n o M a w s . (Jk lt in w r s ita^ N o w . O n lU nT o d a y . O JK W c i/ W h t t y .'T Jo f in f lt o HP o r tP a r r yR mV t a e k ,C v « n H o u n dT r t x m rP a ln H f it o nO t o u f w .P t H w t x m ijnT h o V i'n o k .P w c n C c t f r t yG u id or u c f w n a t iH f l.T h c m W W a u u M n U io r a l, S a r t x x o u g hM t r c rS * H f f « l« < \ J4 > n d g eW liu n a . f< » i* w V b t if f l.O fy o JV t ihG u m t lo f l THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by t~-- Ontario Community Newspapers Association / 7 / - \ i A Canadian Community Newspapers Association i I Ijl t o n H e a lth ca re Y ym.q a | o a K vllle g a lle rie s | Jinge Be> fw * j W tL C O ) hM h ^ y^/ACfC AGON > n. t*t F o r U fo KmV * 1 MMBK!hf ,«n Z g EEs t ." W W f T f [ i S K Suburban Newspapers of America TV AUCTION h J'W icm J'tnunf (9rlk)'i//rC /nwih IW B liS M S SE X ttU EM C E © `^ ^ tlftf o a tn M .Mmm o .w m (Y u '6/ I u u / III i m m n n o i M ° » » · · ./ / rr. / R £ 1 9 ,"* · ia » · - > » . iC^^wTYFp' * Pt B I.IC I IKKARY A graceful exit It didn't come as a surprise when our M PP decided to call it quits. It really was a matter of when not if Gary Carr would announce his retirement. We certainly don't blame him for deciding the time was right to gracefully bow out of politics. Certainly the last few months at Queen's Park have been trying for the Speaker of the House. Who can forget the incident shortly before Christmas when our MPPs acted more like bullies on a playground rather than elected rep resentatives of the people? It was embarrassing, especially to the Speaker whose job was to keep his colleagues in line. It was left up to Carr to try to control the insulting behaviours of our out-of-control politicians. Perhaps it was his years spent in the sports arena that helped him "referee" with a healthy dose of class and expertise. His level headed approach to his position should be applauded. Can-was never afraid to step on anyone's toes and voice his opin ion - even if it meant not toeing the party line. If he was going to be a back bencher, at least he was going to be heard. The outspoken but affable M PP was once stripped of his position as parliamentary secretary to the Solicitor General for daring to crit icize the hand that fed him. We need more politicians like that. And. during the recent hydro debacle, Carr started a petition on behalf of his outraged constituents. Thousands of names were then delivered to Queen's Park. Again, he responded to the peo ple who elected him and not his party. No matter your political stripe, you have to admire Carr's gutsy, if not maverick, approach to his job. Obviously not all of his con stituents would have agreed with his decision-making or supported the party he represents. However, Carr was never afraid of a chal lenge and was willing to listen to other points of view. His retire ment leaves a large hole on the political landscape. The tumultuous life of a politi cian. is never easy, especially on family members. In that respect, we wish the Carrs well as they move forward on another one of life's paths. Thanks for giving up 13 years Gary, now go have some fun. You deserve it. L E T T E R ST OT H EE D IT O R Development of land of Dundas `act of sheer and utter madness' Urban sprawl, rather than a blight, is a malignancy. OPA 198, which earmarks lands between Dundas and Hwy. 407 for development, embodies ihe sprawl men tality. If implemented, the quality of life will be seriously degraded, not just for the people of Oakville, but throughout the GTA. No matter what pronouncements flow from the Region, the Town and various developers in support of urbanizing these lands, the fact is OPA 198 enhances sprawl. 905 communities are beset with mindnumbing gridlock -- a consequence of both heavy automobile dependency and the absence of effective transit. Oakville is no exception. Associated social, envi ronmental and economic costs are stag gering -- the overall health of our com munity severely debilitated. Everyone suffers the ravages of sprawl, which is why OPA 198 must be stopped dead in its tracks. First and foremost, the principles underlying Smart Growth must be entrenched in public policy, presuppos ing a permanent and co-ordinated com mitment from all levels of government. This process has barely begun. OPA 198 is a watershed. Oakvillians have a golden opportunity to declare enough is enough; that sprawl is dys functional: that development of the sub ject lands is an act of sheer and utter madness. The choice is ours. If a sufficient number of voices are raised in protest, the Ontario Municipal Board will have little choice but to accede to the will of the people, or risk losing complete credi bility. If for no other reason, we owe it to our children. PETER D. PELLIER Who stands to earn the most with OPA 198? The OPA 198 (development between Dundas and the 407 in Oakville) O M B pre-hearing conference was sched uled for Jan. 20. at Oakville Town Hall. If past indications are any measure, developers will continue to have a free hand to sprawl assembly line houses across Southern Ontario. To carry on building low-density housing, where we cannot even buy milk and a newspaper without getting in our cars, where public transport does not work nor ever will, and where SU Vs flourish and walkers and cyclists are an endangered species, shows a complete lack of vision, planning and understanding of the forces that are shaping our future. What happens in 10 years when oil and gas become very expensive and we can no longer afford to drive our SU Vs or heat our homes? A growing number of banks, oil executives and indus try experts are warning of the coming peak in world oil production, yet we continue our disastrous ways, blinded by money and greed. The U SA is becoming so desperate for oil it is willing to ignore global public opinion and sac rifice its own people in a war on the other side of the world. It negotiates free trade agreements with Canada in order to plunder our oil and gas reserves. What happens when they've sucked us dry (according to the B P Statistical Review of World Energy, Canada has 8.8 years of oil reserves left)? The developers and politi cians will be sitting in the back yards of their half-acre mansions drinking margaritas,while the rest of us will shake our heads at the incredible folly of the fields of unaf fordable, unusable two-storey burdens. When energy prices become high and resources scarcer, the time will come when we really need efficient public transport and lifestyles of low energy consumption and w e'll be completely unprepared. I have talked to many people in the community and can find no one who is in favour of building more subdivisions. Yet. when I ask what can be done, most shrug their shoul ders as if to say. nothing -- as if that's simply the way it is. If there is so little consensus for more suburban sprawl, why is it happening? The only plausible answer is that we're living in a dollar democracy -- one dollar, one vote. The developers and politicians who stand to earn the most dollars, have the most votes. Instead of foresight and intelligence. Oakville will be seen as just another southern Ontario community with a water, pollution and traffic mess, bereft of vision and visionaries. Let us hope and pray on this important day that reason triumphs over stupidity. GRAHAM ZABEL Thanks Gary for your `professionalism': Flynn Recently our community was advised of the decision of Gary Carr to formally announce that he was leaving public office and will not be seeking re-election in the upcoming provincial election. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Gary for the dedication and professionalism that he brought to the job on a daily basis over the past years. While the party system of government has been with us for many years, what I sense Oakville truly values is an individual who will pul aside party allegiance and vote in the best inter est of the community. Although Gary and I belong to different political parties 1have always admired his ability and willing ness to stand up and put Oakville first. It is a hallmark of good representation when an individual is prepared to risk the wrath of the party system, put his own constituents first and perhaps jeopardize his own political future within party ranks. To the best of my knowledge. Gary was never invited to serve in cabinet under the Harris/Eves Tories -- not because of his abilities, but rather because he put his community first and broke party ranks. Although he was somewhat ostracized in the first term of Tory government. I was proud when my party recognized his fair-minded reputation and supported Gary's election as Speaker of the House, over other Tory contenders. His conduct as Speaker of the House was well received by most observers and Oakville should be proud. Public office is a calling that has been demeaned in recent years by the conduct of politicians of all stripes and levels. Those few examples, however, should never be allowed to overshadow the dedication that the vast majority of people who seek public office bring to our democratic institutions. Career aspirations are set aside and the toll on family life is often dismissed as simply being `part of the job.' What we sometimes forget is that the spouses and the sons and daugh ters of politicians are real people with the same hopes and dreams as the rest of us. The long hours and the sometimes unfair public criticism are felt as deeply by the families as they are by the politician. I would count our current Member of Provincial Parliament in the ranks of those who are dedicated, and on behalf of the Oakville Provincial Liberal Riding Association wish Gary Carr god speed and best wishes as he embarks on his new endeavours. As Gary takes his leave, it is clear that the next provincial election will define what values that people of Oakville place priority on as we face the challenges of a very uncertain future. We can continue to follow or we can begin to lead. It will be my task as Liberal candidate to make sure that all Oakville cit izens understand what the Liberal Party stands for. I did not want that process to begin without giving Gary Carr due cred it -- from a party perspective and most definitely as an indi vidual who has served our community well. KEVIN FLYNN, OAKVILLE RIDING, ONTARIO LIBERAL PARTY CANDIDATE Interchange expansion not such a great project Councillor Janice Caster calls the expansion of the QEW/Third Line inter change a " great project for Oakville." This project is part of the Q EW widening, which in turn is connected with road expansion plans throughout Halton and beyond. This will lead to: · more smog and air pollution; · higher taxes; ·environmental degradation; · tearing apart the Niagara Escarp ment for raw materials; · demolition of people's homes. The Q EW widening will enlarge the barrier separating north and south Oakville, make it more difficult to achieve Kyoto targets, and cause a fur ther decline in the quality of life in our town. Widening the Q EW will increase the volume of traffic, ultimately leading to even more traffic congestion. This in turn will create more pressure for road expansion, such as is already envisioned for Trafalgar, Upper Middle, Dundas and other roads in our town. There are plans to build a freeway from the 401 through the heart of Halton, pouring traffic on to Neyagawa Road and through the River Oaks area. Is this a "great project" too. Councillor Caster? Our local, regional and provincial governments are on an aggressive course of road expansion with no foreseeable end. Concern for plants, animals and people is being pushed aside to expand a transportation system that is destroying the social and ecological fabric of south ern Ontario. Some projects can have great consequences. BRIAN HOPKINS Pud By STEVE NEASE We welcome your letters The Oakville Beayer welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considera tions and grammar. In order to be published, letters must con tain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Road, Oakville, On., I.6K 3S4. or via email to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish any letter. The Oakville Beaver Is a member of the Ontario Press Coundl. The council 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 adver tising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for. but the balance ot the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.