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bsusssnronsnsscnnmenansesmsansnesssns BRRC NO UERERSRNEEDEICE . â€" IJINE UARLVLLLILS DLE q oatmnifiediaimenment eemmmees mt eemfent 467 Speers Road, Oakville, Ont. L6K 3S« | 845â€"3824 Fax: 845â€"3085 | Classified Advertising: 845â€"2809 Mireulation: 845â€"9742 or 845â€"9743 & flll.’ Eooo e en en onl As of yesterday, only Lucien Bouchard had been invited to the debates while Mel Hurtig and Preston Manning would be left out of the two debates, one to be held in French, the other in English. As far as Manning is concerned, the PC mandarins have told the networks involved that any participant should be completely bilingual and if they‘re not, they cannot participate in either debate. Yep, only in Canada would you see the television networks conclude that a man dedicated to the break up of Canada and only fielding 75 candidates in one province, should be given a national audience. They would do this while shutting out Hurtig and his National Party which is fielding 150 candidates in all 10 provinces and Manning who is fielding candidates in all provinces except Quebec. This entire issue of leadership debates has now become a farce and unless Bouchard is either dropped from the debate or Hurtig and Manning included, it might as well be scrapped completely. Can you imagine the spectre of Bouchard spouting his separatist rhetoric while an almost legendary nationalist in Hurtig, and alternative party leader is gagged? It‘s shocking stuff and it wouldn‘t go down in any other democratic society. he Canadian Radioâ€"television and Telecommunications Commission has I turned down a bid by Bell Canada to raise local rates by 40 per cent. Good for them. The request by Bell was not only completely outrageous but not based on any kind of sound economic data. Commissioners rightly concluded that Bell has always overâ€"estimated their costs and underâ€"estimated their revenues. Last year Bell had a profit of $931â€"million. Bicycle helmet legislation is progressive Of course the argument put forward by Bell was that it needed the rate hikes to battle competition. That, of course, just isn‘t true. Unitel, its chief competiâ€" tion, still must pay Bell around half of its gross revenue to use its facilities. So even when Bell doesn‘t get you one way, they get you another. Bell also likes to make much of how much it spends in communities to help service its customers. In Oakville that amounted to $5.8â€"million last year. But what Bell doesn‘t say, is that all these ‘improvements‘ are made for one reason only: to allow them to offer expanding services which will add to their profits and to bring in more lines to new areas to accomplish the same thing. Dear Sir: I can‘t believe the letter I just read re: Bike Helmet Law is Silly, by Doug Boocock (Aug. 25th, Oakville Beaver). To state that the passing of Bill 124 (requirâ€" ing cyclists to wear helmets after Oct. 1st, 1995) is "silly"? Really, Mr. Boocock â€" have you any children? To me, it‘s like wearing a seatbelt. It has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that helmets on heads... save heads and what‘s in them. Serious cyclists have worn them for years and never question their need. I wish to convey my congratuâ€" tions in previous eras, and it is lations to the Oakville Fire good to see traditions carried Department for a successful funcâ€" forth. tion marking the official opening Being but a young fellow and of Station 6 in Glen Abbey. As not knowing better, several longâ€" stated in The Oakville Beaver â€" â€" time Oakville residents indicated Old fire pole has solid tradition in Oakville Dear Sir: DOES ANYONE ELSE REMEMBER THE OLD FIREâ€" POLE? Education needed on topic of homosexuality Dear Sir: In answer to the letter from K. Wolfendale (Beaver Aug. 27th) conceming the Shell Park arrests. I would suggest that a little research concerning the issue of homosexuality might be in order before people proffer their opinions in the public forum. _______ _ Only in Canadaâ€"pity _ 1. Having sex in public places is a criminal offence Whether the sex involved is gay or straight is irrelevant. Being gay has nothing to do with illness 2. If being gay is an illness, then why is God‘s punishâ€" ment in order? I would suggest that the lady make up her mind as to whether she considers it illness or sin. Dear Sir: I am amazed at how some peoâ€" ple, like Kelly Wolfendale (Oakville Beaver, Aug. 27th), take pride in flaunting their abominable ignorance in public. If God will punish the sinners, will he not also punish those withâ€" out compassion, tolerance, or understanding? The inability or refusal to understand is no excuse when you get to the pearly gates! Kelly would be well advised to educate herself above and beyond the confines of her religious beliefs if she wants to get on in this strange and diversified world of ours. If indeed "gayness" is an illness â€" how, in the name of God, can one be punished for it? Shouldn‘t we then be punishing all the people EDITORIAL Bell bonged W major parties have had their leaders present. And this won‘t change since all three have sitting members. That m Campbell, Liberal leader Jean Chretien and New saw MeT anohlin will all face the cameras. It‘s once you "The event was a celebration of community". I agree, wholeheartâ€" edly, as firehalls have traditionally been a venue for community funcâ€" tions in previous eras, and it is good to see traditions carried forth. with cancer, heart disease Alzheimers, etc. 7 I would also question the integrity of a newspaper that would PHONE ALONE CALL845â€"5585 ‘HE O But not all parents, or nonâ€"parents for that _ If all the cychi matter, really think about the consequences of â€" then we would a head injury when falling off their bikes. around you. T Since we all can‘t be responsible enough to â€" heads out there ensure that our children, as well as, ourselves "protected" he: are as protected as possible, then YES â€" we Let‘s be re need a law to make us do it. every law pass Is it a bad law? Does it offend a certain â€" ment on our ci group? Does it take away your right and freeâ€" And YES â€" dom as a cyclist to feel the wind in your face? _ sex with more NO! It protects your head, which is a fairly _ SILLY! valuable part of your being, don‘t you agree? F O s 3. "Gay" is not a synonym for pedophilia. The lady might do well to worry more about her children being at risk of molestation from heterosexual relatives and friends. 4. Consensual sex between adults in private is a matter for the individuals concemed. We have no more right to know who is gay and who is not, than we do the details of any heterosexual person‘s intimate life. _Lastly, I would like to know Ms Wolfendale‘s address. I have the right to know as I would hate to move next to anyone possessed of such selfâ€"righteous opinions. ____ _ | SPEAK YOUR MIND . Got a gripe? Give us a call. Readers are invited to express their opinion on a topic of their choice by calling 845â€"5585, box 5250. All callers are allowed 45 secâ€" onds to express their opinion and must provide their name, address and phone number for verification. A cross section of the responses will be published in next Wednesday‘s Oakville Beaver. to me Church hall for Church Street was the village lireâ€" hall for the first half of this centuâ€" ry. It was closed down and sold off by the town upon the opening of the Central Fire Station on Randall Street back in the late sixties. It is now unrecognizable as a firehall, due to tasteful exterior renovation, and presently houses several docâ€" publish such a biased and narrow minded opinion without an oppos ing view to accompany it. 1al The Oakville Beaver welcomes your comments. All letters must be signed and include the writer‘s address and phone number. Letters should be typed, doubleâ€"spaced and addressed to: Letters to the Editor, The Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakvilie, Ont. L6K 3S4 To Classified Advertising: 845â€"2809 Circulation: 845â€"9742 or 845â€"9743 4* "C ns anmeommensennmmesnsonenmmarsusts John Willard THE If all the cychs then we would around you. T heads out there "protected" hea then we wouldn‘t need such around you. There are too m heads out there riding on the : "protected" head in the car an Let‘s be reasonable and every law passed (even quick] ment on our civil and human 1 And YES â€" if you‘re has J. Whaley al t re during later remodelling. I beg to differ that "Station 6 is the first hall in Oakville Fire Department history to include a firepole", as reported in the paper last Wednesday and in the ceremony brochure. This may be a little hasty as so vehemently pointed out to me by my elders. However, the byline that reads "Only Oakville station with a firepole" in the preâ€" sent tense is quite correct I am assured. In previous times, the firehall was a meeting place for the comâ€" munity in several capacities. The late Honorary Colonel of the Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin, and Halton Regiment) John R. Barber told me some years ago that â€" among other public functions â€" 181 Church Street was also the Drill Hall for the local Militia when he was the young platoon commander there back in 1924. r I welcome speaking to anyone who can provide additional details about what a hive of activity the old firehall must have been. And here‘s to hoping the town will strive to preserve all such existing monuments to a past when Oakville was, indeed, a place where "everybody knows your ors for the taine tuque parently if you‘re having unprotected than one partner, then you are ne i the seve nsions 3 SI Downstairs was an p, and the second floor ate apartment that was linked by a firepole that juently been removed r remodelling. I beg to D T n ime T truck the old fire sta mM la w assume that is an infringeâ€" Nn U 1g $ Fred Sherriff unprot Robert Glasbey Advertising Director Norman Alexander Edilor Geoff Hill Circulation Director Terl Casas O[fice Manager Tim Coles Production Manager Peri Tavlor Ian Oliver Publisher €] but look helmet or and LN th Dear Sir: On Sunday, Aug. 15th, my husband and I were enjoying our usual bicycle ride from our eastâ€"end home to downtown Oakville for our morning "muffin and coffee". It was a beautiful day and things were going much as usual until my wheels "spun" along the curb in an attempt to ride onto the sidewalk and I toppled onto the pavement. The next thing I knew, I was sitting up and there was blood all over me, coming from my forehead. My husband rushed to my side, and immediately there were three other people offering their help. One gentleman â€" who was bike riding with a woman â€" went to get his car to take me to the hospital, while another woman offered to take our bikes across to her home. I was at the Oakvilleâ€"Trafalgar Emergency within 10 minâ€" utes of the accident thanks to these kind and wonderful people! And yes, I was wearing a helmet,.thank goodness. I, too, had protested wearing such garb; after all, I got through my childâ€" hood riding a bike without one. did and it saved my skull It was my uncle, a retired physician, who convinced me that accidents don‘t always happen to the young and restless! I shudder to think of what would have happened to my head hitâ€" ting that pavement without a helmet on â€" thank you Dr. Martin. The cut, by the way, was a result of my sunglasses breaking â€" a few stitches, that‘s all! * Turkey â€"_LETTER OF THE DAY â€"â€" Helmet was lifesaver »Italy To all those who protest the "helmet law", think again... 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