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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, February 24, 2 0 1 7 | 6 Editorial Measured gowth While there is much discussion, ultimatums are bandied about and declarations of civic rebelliousness are made over the issue of growth, it is not likely any of it will live up to its intended goal -- to stop growth. We may have to be content with using the modest tools at our disposal -- the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), interim control bylaws, development charges, public opinion, even hnancing clauses in Official Plans, recently cited by Halton Region Chair Gary Carr-- as we welcome respectful growth into our community. We need only look around us, gaze into the future or examine the past to realize this. As we celebrate Canada's 150 th anniversary this year, we will, in the community, country, and pages of this newspaper, be looking back over that 150 years of history and more. Our country was born of a union of provinces and territories, and has grown from the efforts of fur trad ers, First Nations, explorers and settlers, into the multi cultural, free, democratic and accomplished country we now prize. Through efforts of our forebears, like William Chisholm who grew Oakville, First Nations people like Joseph Brant and the Mississaugas of The New Credit here and in our neighbouring Burlington and Missis sauga, and many generations of newcomers, our country and community have been established. Despite much debate over growth in north Oakville, we nonetheless see a wall of housing rising north of Dundas Street. Rooftops greet motorists westbound on Dundas Street as they head home from Mississauga. Large properties once housing smaller homes now support monster homes or townhomes. Airplanes fly overhead, causing older residents, unaccustomed to the phenom enon, to stop and ask, `What's that noise?' Highrises are sprouting up around our harbours. Golf courses like Saw-Whet and Glen Abbey are now the fodder of devel opment proposal arguments at the OMB. Farm proper ties to the northwest, mostly bear signs indicating devel opment is on the horizon. While we speak about it, resist it and rail and rally against it, growth is all around us and it isn't being halted for all our efforts. This edition of the Oakville Beaver car ries information about open houses regarding airplane noise (p.7) and future growth areas (p.2). Driving growth one must realize that from the fed eral government, to the provincial government, to the regional and then local municipality, come mandates to conform. For instance, Ontario's Places to Grow dictates to local government, how much and where growth is to occur. It stipulates housing and job numbers to be met by specffic dates. It' s up to local government to make it happen, as done through Official Plans. Municipalities set the tone and the local rules, but must play the game and saying no isn't necessarily on the table. Canada would not be celebrating 150 if not for growth, but positive, successful progress must be measured and respectful and local government must use all tools at its disposal to ensure that it is. 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 m ust contain the name, address and phone num ber of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 5 0 4 6 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 or via email to ablackburn@ oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. "Connected to your Community " 5046 Mainway Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Classified Advertising: (9 0 5 ) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 55 | Number 15 The Oakville Beaver is a division of ·* m etrolandm edia ·* C o n n ectedtoy o u rc o m m u n ity ® Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. N EIL OLIVER V ice -P re s id e n t and Group Publisher o f M etro land W est KELLY M O N TA G U E Regional G eneral M an a g er D A N IEL B A IRD Advertising Director A N G ELA BLA C K BU R N M a n a g in g Editor RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director LORI A N N G ZO VDANOVIC B usin ess M an a g er M A R K DILLS Director o f Production M A N U E L GA R C IA Production M an a g er CHA RLEN E HALL Director o f Distribution K IM M O S S M A N Keepingourcommitmentstomiddleclass P olitical campaigns are about ideas and vi sion. Competing parties offer their vision for their country's future and outline the priorities they intend to pursue. Once a political party forms government, any legislation it brings forward must refect the real ity of the times and meet a high bar with respect to legal and constitutional requirements. This is the complex and imperative responsibility of any democratic government. I think Canadians would agree there has been considerable disruption globally over the last year with respect to politics, globalization, immigration and foreign relations. Despite the ever-shifting sands of world politics, our fed eral government has met a number of campaign promises and brought forward responsible and signihcant legislation. The Liberal Party of Cana da campaigned on the promise to strengthen and M yV iew C irculation M an a g er The Oakville Beaver is a proud official media sponsor for: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by A W Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association John Oliver Oakville MP LocalM ediaassociation Proud Official Media Sponsor For: H a lto nT ... . j2 Welcom e U^ W & C O N TM create opportunities for the middle class, and this priority has not changed. The federal government has brought forward a number of signihcant policies and changes since the last election, which have improved the lives of Canadians. To reduce the number of children living in poverty, the new Canada Child Benefit was introduced. O PC O n t a r io P re s s C o u n c il D e fe n d in gp rin cip lestoin sp irep u b lictru st see Local on p.9 The Oakville Beaver is a m e m ber o f th e Ontario Press Council. 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