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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, Ju ly 19 ,2 01 8 | 6 The Oakville Beaver, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca editor@oakvillebeaver.com facebook.com/OakvilleBeav @OakvilleBeaver ABOUT US Oakville Beaver 901 Guelph Line Burlington, ON L7R 3N8 Phone: 289-293-0617 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Digital/Flyer/Retail: 289-293-0624 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 200 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail kmossman@metroland.com or call 905-631-6095. CONTACT US VP, Regional Publisher Kelly Montague kmontague@metroland.com | 289-293-0614 Director Advertising Daniel Baird dbaird@metroland.com | 289-293-0624 Regional Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara cohara@metroland.com | 289-293-0615 Regional Manager Digital Content Karen Miceli Director of Distribution Charlene Hall Circulation Manager Kim Mossman kmossman@metroland.com | 905-631-6095 Director of Production Mark Dills Regional Production Manager Manny Garcia WHO WE ARE OPINION • EDITORIAL • Their names should be familiar to any community in North America that has a newspaper. They are reporters, editors, and sales people cajoling, engaging and questioning politicians, business owners, teachers and steelworkers about their lives, beliefs and dreams, holding people accountable and delivering fair and balanced reporting to the public. What happened to those five people working for the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland who were merci- lessly gunned down epitomizes the state of North America's journalism. Those people are us, a dwindling number of dedicated reporters and editors committed to upholding the pillars of democracy. Since the rise of United States President Donald Trump, the attacks insults, and threats against journalists have continued to escalate to a near crescendo. The calls of 'fake news" and "enemy of the people" have even transcended the border into Canada where reporters are denigrated for doing their jobs of holding people, government and busi- nesses to account for their actions. Those Capital Gazette employees: Rob Hiaasen, 59, assis- tant editor, Wendi Winters, 65, special projects; John McNa- mara, 56, sports reporter; Gerald Fischman, 61, editorial page editor; and Rebecca Smith, 34, sales assistant, toiled in a community for their local daily newspaper doing the jobs that they love while upholding the principles of journalism. For that they were gun down by a crazed person upset atFor that they were gun down by a crazed person upset atF the paper's coverage. Talk to any reporter and they will have a story about a threat from a disgruntled person that they have reported on, or they can recount being in a threatening situation. In the time of social media, those threats have multiplied, becoming more widespread with the language exceedingly chilling. And yet reporters soldier on. After 12 journalists were killed in January 2015 at the French magazine Charlie Hebdo the survivors regrouped and published their next issue. The same scenario played out in Annapolis, with Capital Gazette reporters in makeshift offices scrambled to put out the next day's edition, describing in sobering detail how their friends and comrades were killed. But it isn't just the physical violence journalists have had to contend with over the years, but more widespread fear of losing their jobs through budget cuts, layoffs andfear of losing their jobs through budget cuts, layoffs andf even closings. What happened at the Capital Gazette is not just a trage- dy but a harbinger of North America's future where accu- racy, truth, fairness, democracy and giving voice to the voiceless is not only as disposable as toilet paper but is asvoiceless is not only as disposable as toilet paper but is asv much about the loss of trust with the community it serves. Shooting indicative of threats to journalism Ensuring that all Cana- dians have an equal oppor- tunity to succeed is one of my key objectives. It is very gratifying to hear from Oakvillians whose econom- ic well-being and quality of life have been improved by new federal programs. It is good policy, both so- cial and economic, for the government to help Canadi- ans lead successful lives and contribute meaningful- ly to our economy. I would like to highlight two recent announcements that will have a lasting im- pact on the ability of hard- working Canadian families to succeed: an increase in the Canada Child Benefit and the launch of the Con- necting Families initiative. Starting July 20, the Canada Child Benefit will be increased to reflect the cost of living and help eligi- ble families afford necessi- ties for their children. The Canada Child Benefit has lifted hundreds of thou- sands of Canadians out of poverty. Locally, it supports over 15,000 children, putting more than $48 million, tax free, into Oakville families'free, into Oakville families'f hands. I am exceptionally proud of this program and the dif- ference it makes for theseference it makes for thesef families and, through theirfamilies and, through theirf spending, our local busi- nesses. The Connecting Fami- lies initiative is an innova- tive new program that will bring affordable internet access to low-income Cana- dian families. Home inter- net is priced out of reach for too many families, curtail- ing their ability to search for jobs, access governmentfor jobs, access governmentf services, book important appointments and find in- formation. It also meansformation. It also meansf that their children are at a disadvantage academically against children from wealthier families. That's not fair. Connecting Families will make high-speed inter- net available for $10 per month, enabling low-in- come Canadian families to participate in the digital world. This five-year, $13.2- million federal program will be launched later in 2018. Supporting Canadian families has always been es-families has always been es-f sential to our government. The Canada Child Benefit is truly making life more af- fordable for Canadian fami-fordable for Canadian fami-f lies. Low-cost internet ac- cess through the Connect- ing Families initiative will give lower-income families equal opportunity to partic- ipate in the digital economy. These programs will im- prove the social and eco- nomic well-being of Canadi- ans seeking to join the mid- dle class. - John Oliver is the mem- ber of Parliament for the Oakville riding. Visit joh- noliver.mp or contact him at john.oliver@parl.gc.ca. Creating equal opportunities for all to succeed Initiatives will have lasting impacts: MP JOHN OLIVER Column