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9 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,July 4,2019 insidehalton.com Animal Protection Hotline: 310-SPCA After. Don't make us show you Before. Before. We have worked diligently to protect animals for 145 years in Ontario. And now, more than ever, we are committed to animal well-being in communities across the province with services like mobile spay/neuter clinics, community-based animal wellness days, animal transfer and rescue, adopt-a-thons and humane education. The Ontario government is responsible for enforcing provincial animal welfare legislation, which is the right thing to do. We will support them and law enforcement to make sure animals in Ontario are protected. Last year we resolved over 23,000 calls from concerned citizens, and we will continue to make sure the right resources and professionals are in place and ready to respond. Because we're here for animals. And for you. J.M.C Concrete Interlocking LTD Oakville's Favourite Patios & Driveways! DIAMONDDIAMOND DIAMONDDIAMOND LIKE US ONAsk for John www.jmcconcrete.ca 905-878-8595 • stamped concrete • interlocking • exposed aggregate • flagstone • french curbs • retainingwalls • garage floors • free estimates Pud bySteveNease OPINION Schools are built to prepare students for the future, and at this moment our future is in question due to a climate catas- trophe. Teachers have an obli- gation to not only teach the sci- ence of climate change, but to impart the urgency of this cri- sis to their students as well. I'm a Grade 11 student at Ab- bey Park High School. Not knowing if my children will be able to live on this planet scares me. The United Nations has concluded that we only have 11 years to stop irreversible eco- logical and societal breakdown, yet you wouldn't hear any teacher saying that to their stu- dents. Upon hearing how little time we have, I started to work with the Town of Oakville to aggres- sively reduce our carbon foot- print: I've drawn community support through petitions, worked with local media, and created and debated policy with elected officials in a continued effort to create change. In the process, I've put to use all the skills I've learned in school. I think it proves young people like me already have all the skills needed to make a differ- ence; we just have to under- stand the urgency needed to ap- ply them to create change. A good teacher with the right information can ignite that spark in anyone. And teachers should, because saving the planet as we know it must take priority over any calculus, business or history courses. What good would this knowl- edge even do, if we don't have a world in which we can put it to use? ANDREI ADAM OAKVILLE CARBON TAX IS A WIN-WIN SITUA- TION, READER TELLS MPP So, Effie (Triantafilopoulos, Oakville North-Burlington MPP) says there is no reason to punish individuals and families with a carbon tax. I just wanted to remind Effie that for all of the four provinces affected by the federal plan, the average household will receive back MORE than the money it paid in rebates. Maybe she forgot, but let me remind her - according to ener- gyrates.ca, the average refund in Ontario will be $307 in 2019. Values may change according to the size of each family. A sin- gle adult, for example, will re- ceive $154 in the first year and rebates will increase with time. And, according to the Globe and Mail, May 23, 2019, the aver- age Ontario household will pay $244 in direct and indirect costs for carbon, but will receive $300 under the "climate-action incen- tive" for a net benefit of $56. So, Effie, I'm not really sure why you think people are being punished when the carbon "tax" actually has a positive effect on household economics, plus it helps the environment. Sounds like a win-win to me. RENEE SANDELOWSKY, OAKVILLE HEY TEACHERS, CLIMATE CHANGE URGENCY TOPS AGENDA While doing some yard work on the front lawn of her Mill Street home, an Oakville woman was surprised and a little saddened to discover a robin's nest of eggs in an artificial wreath on her front door. Ginger Quinn photo ANIMAL TALES