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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, M ay 17 ,2 01 8 | 4 For more information, visit elections.on.ca, email us at info@elections.on.ca or call 1.888.668.8683 (TTY: 1.888.292.2312). Disponible en frfrf ançais Election Day is June 7, 2018. Polls are open from9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.P.PM. ET / 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.P.PM. CT. ToToT vote in this election, youmust be: • 18 years of age or older on June 7, 2018; and • a Canadian citizen; and • a resident of Ontario. ToToT find out where you vote, visit elections.on.ca, check your Voter Information Card or call us at 1.888.668.8683 (TTY: 1.888.292.2312). Each voting location will havemagnifiers, Braille ballot templates and other tools to help you vote. Don't forget to bring your ID and Voter Information Card when you go to vote. VAVAV C, WCB, WSIB, WorkSafeBC, ADP & ODSP accepted. 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Connect Hearing offers modern and discreet technology that's nearly invisible. • Service that puts you first • Canada's #1 physician-referred† hearing healthcare provider Call to book your FREE hearing test* today. 888.408.7377 connecthearing.ca All local bars and res- taurants in Oakville and Burlington have been chal- lenged to go plastic straw- free.free.f The environmental ini- tiative was launched Fri- day, May 11 morning by res- taurant owner John Strati- geas and Oakville North- Burlington MP Pam Da- moff. Stratigeas, who owns Tin Cup Sports Grill in Bur- lington and Oakville and Rust Bistro Bar in Burling- ton, is working toward elim- inating the use of one-time- use plastic straws at all of his restaurants and encour- aging other establishments in Halton to do the same. "Originally, at the re- quest of my daughter, Alex- andria, an SE (special edu- cation) teacher in Burling- ton, we stopped automati- cally offering patrons straws at all of our restau- rants earlier this year and only give them to people who request one," he said. "I am moving toward all of our restaurants being completely straw-free in the future. The damage plastic straws do to the en- vironment is just not worth it." It is estimated 57 million single-use plastic straws are used per daily in North America, according to a media release. That's why they are at the centre of a growing en- vironmental campaign - #RefuseTheStraw - aimed at convincing people to stop using straws to help save the oceans. The campaign states a single-use straw in a pop drink or cocktail remains for centuries - taking morefor centuries - taking moref than 200 years to break down. "Straws don't biode- grade, they're difficult to re- cycle, they leach toxic chemicals into the ground and they end up in oceans, causing irreparable dam- age to marine animals that mistake them for food and choke on them or get them caught in their intestines," stated the release. "Each year, eight to 12 million tons of plastic pollu- tion make it into the world's oceans with straws listed as one of the most widely re- ported plastic items found during beach cleanup ef- forts."forts."f Damoff said Stratigeas is taking an important lead in the movement aimed to stop environmental dam- age. "Like these three local restaurants that are phas- ing out straws, we can all do our part," she said. "Order- ing your drinks without straws is a small sacrifice but a big step to reducing the amount of plastic we produce and waste." But there are critics of an outright ban of straws who say there are people who require them in order to eat or drink - particularly those with physical disabil- ities. "I think what John is do- ing at his restaurants - giv- ing them only to people who directly ask for them - is a great compromise until we have a better solution to plastic straws," said Da- moff, noting she is encour- aging residents to join in what is becoming a global movement to eliminate plastic drinking straws from landfills and bodies offrom landfills and bodies off water. "I have refused the straw for many years and amfor many years and amf thrilled that the movement is gaining momentum. By simply stating on menus 'straws available upon re- quest', bars and restau- rants can be a huge part of the solution." NEWS Local bars, restaurants challenged to go plastic straw-free Oakville Town Councillor Sean O'Meara (at left) and his children, Tiernan (left) and Roisin, were on-hand for the launch of a challenge to eliminate one-time-use plastic straws from all bars and restaurants in Halton, issued by John Stratigeas, owner of Tin Cup Sports and Rust Bistro Bar, and Oakville North-Burlington MP Pam Damoff Friday (May 11). O'Meara's children are part of Earth Rangers, which pledges to protect animals and the environment. Office of MP Pam Damoff photo JOHN BKILA jbkila@metroland.com