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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, January 27, 2010 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 --Open 9-5 weekdays, 5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekends Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Fatal mistakes Halton police recently reported that there were fewer deaths -- 10 -- on area roads in 2009 compared to the previous year. Seven fewer deaths -- or a 40 per cent drop -- to be precise. That is certainly welcome news. However, mixed with that good news was the fact that two disturbing trends remain: some drivers are still drinking and driving and many refuse to wear their seatbelts. Of the 10 road deaths in Halton in 2009, alcohol played a role in three of the fatalities while not wearing a seatbelt was a contributing factor in four deaths. "Responsible drivers have as powerful an influence on improving road safety as do police or engineers," said Chief Gary Crowell. "Buckle up, slow down, don't drink and drive and don't be a distracted driver. These are simple, easy ways you can help ensure you arrive safely at your destination." Early last Sunday morning, Halton recorded its first traffic fatality of the year in Burlington -- a single-vehicle crash that killed a 21-year-old man, left an 18-year-old woman in life-threatening condition and sent another 21-year-old man to hospital before being released. Police believe alcohol and speeding played a role in the horrific crash. Halton police's three-pronged approach of education, engineering and enforcement (in co-operation with Halton Region and other community partners) can only go so far in making our roads safer. Steps are also being taken to deter careless drivers. Fines will be increasing for several serious traffic violations such as failing to wear a seatbelt ($200) or failing to stop for a red light ($260) and a new law prohibiting drivers from using handheld devices while driving comes into effect on Monday (Feb. 1). The ultimate responsibility rests with each and every person who gets behind the wheel of a vehicle. It is those drivers who must somehow understand the seriousness of their actions (or inaction) before they, or someone else, becomes a statistic. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Letter to the editor Business owner supports bylaw Re: Business blasts emissions bylaw, Oakville Beaver, Jan. 21 I attended Tuesday's session (Jan. 19) on the Town's proposed air quality bylaw as an Oakville resident, business owner and Chamber of Commerce member and have found your article quite misleading. I attended the meeting in response to the Chamber's invitation, which was noted as "The Town's emissions bylaw could affect your business." I believe that 1,700 businesses that are all members of the Chamber of Commerce would have received the same invitation. As you noted, approximately 50 attended. This would tell me that a vast majority of businesses who are also members of the Chamber were not concerned enough to attend the discussion. Some of those 50 in attendance, like myself are very happy to support the Town's emissions bylaw as a step in the right direction to protecting human health from airborne fine particulate matter. There are currently standards, but no actual regulations in place for fine PM emissions or ambient levels despite an over abundance of scientific and government studies that show there are valid and serious health effects from airborne fine PM. These studies indicate that with an annual concentration of 10 microgram/m3, there will be approximately 80 premature deaths each year in Oakville, which can be attributed to PM2.5 pollution. We have one of the dirtiest/over-taxed air sheds in the entire province of Ontario. You quoted one attendee as saying, "It's going to make industry think twice about coming to Oakville." I would counter by saying, "It's going to make a lot of residents and business owners like myself reconsider staying in Oakville and also discourage many others from coming to Oakville, if we don't do anything to improve the air quality of our community." What's good for the community is generally good for business. BRENDA POTTER PHELAN, CHESTNUT HILL MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, OAKVILLE Letters to the editor The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via email to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Action needed on air quality I am a resident of Oakville and have worked in Mississauga (Port Credit) for the past 16 years. Over this period, I have noticed a significant deterioration in the quality of air. My family at home and co-workers in Mississauga of all ages, seem to have more longterm coughing, become ill more easily and often complain about an odour outside. When we came to Oakville, children using inhalers was a noteworthy event, now it is commonplace. Meanwhile, no one has done anything about it. If we can't breathe, everything else we do in life becomes irrelevant. I urge the Town of Oakville to quickly put some strong, enforceable, health controls in place to reverse this trend. And please engage Mississauga as well. The foul air doesn't stop at Southdown Road. DOUG WADE, OAKVILLE Stop bad air now Re: Business blast emissions bylaw, Oakville Beaver, Jan. 21 I find it particularly disgusting that citizens have to be legislated through Town of Oakville bylaws to cut down on polluting the environment while earning a living or turning a profit when this idea should have occurred to them without the requirement for a bylaw. Animals will not poop in the area in which they eat, sleep and live. Humans should possess the comprehension to follow suit. Kudos to the Town of Oakville and the mayor for instigating this important municipal legislation in an area that badly needs it for a healthy lifestyle now and in Oakville's future. My hope is this will be the first step in a domino effect that will encompass all municipalities in a continent-wide battle for clean air. Stop the bad air now. DAVID HARRIS, OAKVILLE