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OPINION & LETTERSTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:The Oakville BeaverTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:Canadian Circulation467 Speers Rd.,Audit Board Member Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 Recognized for Excellence by(905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571COntario CommunityCanadian Communitylassified Advertising: 632-4440 Newspapers AssociationNewspapers AssociationCirculation: 845-9742 Open 9-5 weekdays,ATHENASuburban NewspapersAward5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekendsof AmericaEditorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright.NEIL OLIVERVice President and Group ROD JERREDManaging EditorMARK DILLSDirector of Production Unauthorized use is prohibited.Publisher of Metroland WestDANIEL BAIRDAdvertising DirectorMANUEL GARCIAProduction ManagerThe Oakville Beaver is a division ofDAVID HARVEYRegional General ManagerRIZIERO VERTOLLIPhotography DirectorCHARLENE HALLDirector of DistributionJILL DAVISEditor in ChiefSANDY PAREBusiness ManagerSARAH MCSWEENEYCirc. ManagerLetter to the editorMaking the cutsIn search of quietWe dont envy the task of the Halton Catholic District School Board this month.I would like to add some comments The board needs to chop some $2 million from its operat-to the letter writers who have labelled ing budget for the 2011-12 school year.some Oakville residents as anti-kids Thats because the boards expenditures for the fiscal year and grumpy snobs and hopefully intro-are expected to outpace revenue by about $3.2 million.duce another perspective to the noise Added to that financial strain is another $1.26 million issues that seem to be problematic in worth of new initiatives and programming the board had Oakville.hoped to offer students next year.How would you react if, like me, By provincial law, a school board is not permitted to carry after working all my adult life, saving for a deficit of more than one per cent of the operating grant a home for my golden years and earn-revenue it receives from the province. Haltons Catholic board ing some tranquility, my life is now anticipates receiving about $312 million for next year, which dominated by the noise of other people's means a minimum $2 million has to be slashed from its pro-children screaming, screeching, yelling jected expenditures for next school year.for hours.While at first glance, it would seem a school board with an I was so careful to select the town-operating budget of more than $312 million should have little house condo I bought for my retire-difficulty finding $2 million in savings. Its important to ment. I avoided any complexes that had understand that approximately 85 per cent of the boards designated play areas as my needs are operating costs are fixed salaries and benefits of employees.quite different. I bought based on advice The remaining 15 per cent is spent on things like class-this specific complex is geared to mature room resources, transportation, utilities and custodial con-working couples, young career singles tracts.and retirees like me.We are confident we will be able to bring forward a com-As you may know the common ele-pliant budget at our next (board) meeting, said senior admin-ments are paid for by the owners and istrator Stacey Zucker who admitted, however, that depart-collectively owned. Last year a family ment budgets are already pretty lean.arrived. Since then the common ele-According to Education Director Michael Pautler, this ments have become a play area. My wont be the end of the boards budgetary woes.complaints for the parents resulted in a We are going to have to make tough decisions on (future) shouting match.budgets. We have to talk to the public and see what are the My subsequent formal complaints The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, priorities, he said.Lettersto the condo board were agreed this length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must containDeferring some maintenance projects may be one way to the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed toplaying on the [private] street was dan-to the The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to realize savings but, from the way senior Catholic board offi-gerous and a letter was sent pointing editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaverreserves the right to refuse to publish a letter.cials are describing it, the cuts that will bring its budget in line editorout there are numerous parks, play with provincial requirements are probably going to be felt by areas offering many children's facilities students, staff and families in Halton.less than four minutes away. There is Hudak should not be speaking for OntarioWhat goes and what stays is likely to become a subject of no way this is fair for people like me.All joking aside, after eight years of Conservative victory is a sign for him winningmuch debate and a source of frustration for anyone affected by Yes we have a visit from the ice Liberal government, Ontario Oppositionthe upcoming provincial election. It would beproposed cuts that impact classrooms.cream van, and I have no objections, he Leader Tim Hudak says, Ontario desperatelya miscalculation though, because CanadasThe Catholic boards budget must be finalized and submit-stays a few minutes only.needs a change. Mr. Hudak is not in a posi-post-recession positive outlook, whichted to the provincial Ministry of Education by June 30.I like children, but do I have to listen tion to speak for Ontario. brought in the Conservative majority, wasWe are moving into a different era in our history, said to them for hours when I can't read or It is evident from his cheap rhetoric andlargely determined by the relatively goodPautler, referring to the days of the board being among the listen to music because of their noisy expensive promises, that it is he who desper-health of Ontarios economy. Mr. Harperhighest-growth boards in the province are in the past.(natural) playing?ately wants to become premier.should be thankful to Premier DaltonEstimated enrolment figures for the next school year see a I blame the parents and wonder why Our energy decisions will be based onMcGuinty for this political gift. It would benet increase of less than 60 new students spread over 50 they bought in this complex? They providing reliable and affordable energy togentlemanly, but obviously politically suicid-schools across the region.effectively make mean angry lady who homes and businesses and not on politicalal, if Hudak acknowledged this fact.With a provincial election coming this fall, now may be the resents their presence in my life.correctness or the latest polls. It sounds likeIt is obvious Hudak is desperately trying tobest time for supporters of Catholic education in Halton to So I would ask some Oakville resi-Mr. Hudak considers the Ontario Liberal gov-buy votes. I know for sure I wont sell himstart asking, 'Wheres the money for my childs education dents to accept that anti-noise com-ernment's energy and environmental policiesmine. First of all I like clean air, not becausegoing to come from?'plaints are justified and hope when you that reduce air pollution, as political correct-it is politically correct, and I am willing toreach your retirement you are not told The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite ness, and he is opposing them. No wonderpay for it. And secondly, I do not like back-206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the 'you have too much time on your he is promising a lot more healthcare spend-ward governments. Hopefully, Ontarians willevent of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together hands'.with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement ing.vote wisely on Oct. 6.will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or R. Gardiner, Oakvilledecline.Mr. Hudak may think the recent federalNicholas Varias, Oakville www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, June 15, 2011 6