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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, A ug us t 23 ,2 01 8 | 12 ABOUT US This newspaper, 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 family of newspapers is comprised f of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper 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/OakvilleBeavfacebook.com/OakvilleBeavf @OakvilleBeaver WHO WE ARE VP, Regional Publisher Kelly Montague Regional Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara Regional Manager Digital Content Karen Miceli Director of Distribution Charlene Hall Circulation Manager Kim Mossman Director of Production Mark Dills Regional Production Manager Manny Garcia Regional General Manager Steve Foreman Halton Media General Manager Vicki Dillane Regional Director of Media Holly Chriss CONTACT 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 for verification purposes. We f reserve the right to edit, con- dense or reject letters. Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail kmossman@metroland.com or call 905-631-6095. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT INSIDEHALTON.COM Canada has built an in- ternational reputation for warmly welcoming new- comers and treating refu- gees and asylum seekers fairly. On July 24, I spent the day in Ottawa at a special meeting of the immigra- tion committee to discuss people seeking asylum in Canada. There is not a crisis at the border. Our govern- ment has a plan and it is working. Our government is committed to protecting public safety while living up to our obligations under domestic and international law. Resettled refugees have been screened abroad and undergo security and med- ical checks prior to being issued a visa to come to Canada. If they cross the border irregularly, asylum seek- ers are arrested and se- cured by authorities. Their identities are determined from both biographic and biometric information. Health checks are done. Their records are exam- ined for any immigration, criminal or terrorist flags against both Canadian and international databases. Those who cannot be iden- tified are viewed as a flight risk, or pose a danger to the public are detained. While some asylum-seekers may enter through irregular means, Canadian and in- ternational law states their entry is not illegal. Asylum claimants and resettled refugees come to Canada through different immigration streams. Canada defines a refu- gee as a person who is forced to flee persecution in their country of origin, while an asylum seeker is a person who has made a claim for protection as a refugee. Those crossing the bor- der irregularly and claim- ing asylum in Canada are not queue jumpers, and are not taking the place of refu- gees who are coming to Canada from abroad for re- settlement. Immigration drives in- novation and strengthens Canada's economy. The number of economic mi- grants, family reunifica- tions and refugees will rise to 340,000 in 2020, bringing Canada's immigration to nearly one per cent of the population. We know that newcomers play a vital role in our society. Pam Damoff is the MP for Oakville North-Bur- lington DIVERSITY IS CANADA'S STRENGTH GOVERNMENT'S IMMIGRATION PLAN IS WORKING, WRITES DAMOFF PAM DAMOFF Column SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT INSIDEHALTON.COM There's a scourge on our streets killing innocent people, and despite the headlines recently, especially in Toronto, little is being done to make our streets safer. Politicians talk a good game about getting tough on the problem, yet solutions remain out of reach and more people die. As of July 25, Toronto recorded 30 gun-related homi- cides, but there's a greater evil lurking in the shadows of our towns and cities than illegal guns - fentanyl and carfentanil. Statistics Canada data shows that in the first six months of 2017, there were 1,460 opioid-related deaths in the country. To put things in perspective, the number of people murdered in Canada in 2016 by guns was 223. In Toronto alone, seven peopled died between Aug. 2-13 after ingesting drugs containing fentanyl or carfentanil, and surely more will die before the month is out. And what do our poli- ticians do? Premier Doug Ford pumps $25 million into fighting gun violence and then abruptly his Min- ister of Health places a moratorium on the cre- ation of overdose preven- tion sites. Ontario "will be review- ing the evidence and speak- ing to experts to ensure that any continuation of Supervised Consumption Services and Overdose Prevention Sites are going to introduce people into reha- bilitation. Until this review is complete, these sites are requested not to open until further notice," states a memo sent to Ontario doctors on Aug. 10. We may not have the logic skills of a Vulcan, but to us it seems the province has its priorities backwards. Illegal gun crime is no doubt a serious issue worthy of our attention, and while the Premier's money targeted for combatting gun crime is laudable, it behooves the province to tackle the fentanyl and carfentanil problem with the same vigor as illegal gun crime. However, it's easier for politicians to jump on the gun crime soapbox than dealing with a drug problem rooted in organized crime, poverty, addiction, homelessness, China and mental health. Fentanyl and carfentanil have opened an evil door- way across our country and it's time our politicians slammed it shut. If not, we may be on the cusp of a national tragedy akin to the crack epidemic that ravaged the U.S. from 1984 to 1990. OPIOID DEATHS A GREATER THREAT THAN GUNS Fentanyl and carfentanil have opened an evil doorway across our country and it's time our politicians slammed it shut. EDITORIAL