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w w w .in si d eH A LT O N .c o m O A K V IL LE B E A V E R F ri d ay , A u g u st 5 , 2 01 1 6 467 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 The Oakville Beaver Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver is a division of NEIL OLIVER Vice President and Group Publisher of Metroland West 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 DILLSDirector of Production MANUEL GARCIAProduction Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager 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. How did this happen? 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 e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: ATHENA Award THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member Canadian Community Newspapers Association Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America Pud BY STEVE NEASE neasecartoons@gmail.com How did Ontario become a have-not province? A provincial election is less than two months away and Ontario voters should have a lot of questions for the government of Premier Dalton McGuinty and those vying to take the office. Voters should always ask a lot of questions during an election campaign, however one question, above all others, should be at the top of the list for voters: how is f it possible that Ontario, once the economic engine o the entire country, is now a have-not province receiving federal equalization payments? Ontario first slipped into the have-not status a cou- ple of years ago and things have not improved. Over three years, Ontario is at the point where it receives more in equalization payments than any other province except Quc. f Granted, the severe economic downturn a couple o years ago contributed to the problem. However, the economy is recovering. Experts are predicting healthy f growth. Even Ontario's own finance minister says all o the jobs lost during the downturn have been recovered in Ontario. As European and U.S. markets created havoc on the stock markets this week, financial gurus were advising Canada is among the best places to be and it's no reason for Canadian investors to panic. Considering all of that, one would expect the equal- ization payments to Ontario would be shrinking. That is not the case. Why? Total Ontario government spending has risen from $70 billion in 2003-04 to $109 billion this past year. Ontario's net debt is now closing in on $200 billion. Taxpayers across the province have been hit with several massive tax increases, but the deficit isn't any closer to being under control. Here in Oakville, property taxes are up. Water rates are up. There are not just increased taxes, but new ones. Hydro bills are through the roof. Look around, do you know someone who has lost their job? Are you earning more for what you do or are you doing more for what you earn? Are you paying more, for less? Are our visions for the future affordable or do we have wish lists at which we are just throwing money in the absence of a mapped out financial strategy and realistic time frame to achieve them ? Are we robbing Peter in order to create the false belief that we are achieving progress? Are we envied for our social systems, health system, educational institutions, economy, transportation sys- tems, lifestyle, business acumen, technological know- how, social amenities? f How did Ontario, once the economic engine o Canada, become a have-not province? Town Crier to compete in Brantford As Chair of the Ontario Guild of Town Criers 2011 Provincial Championship Competition, I am pleased to provide you with the attached information. Your Town Crier is a true ambassador and would appre- ciate the support of the community. David V. McKee, Town Crier, Brantford Oakville Historical Societys Official Town Crier, Ian Burkholder will be shouting the praises of this fair community at The Ontario Guild of Town Criers Provincial Championship Competition in Brantford, Ontario on Aug. 13 -14. The competition will be held at Brantfords historic Cockshutt Park, 35 Sherwood Dr., on the main stage of Brantfords Own Rib Fest. In this three heat event, Criers are being asked to audibly and laudably boast about their hometowns motto and/or slogan, pres- ent details about an innovation or innovator and cry out an advertisement for one of the ribbers or crafters plying their wares in the park. Burkholder will be judged on the con- tent of his cries, the clarity and volume of his voice and his physical presentation. Whether attending events at home or in other communities, Burkholder has been a great ambassador for the whole Oakville area and adds a splash of colour and ceremony wherever he goes. Letter to the editor Re: Gradual changes coming about, July 22, 2011, Oakville Beaver I am writing in response to the letter that appeared in your newspaper on July 22, regarding funding for Ontarians with developmental disabilities. Our government proudly stands by its record when it comes to developmen- tal services in Ontario. Through legisla- tion, closure of facilities, targeted spend- ing and working closely with our part- ners in the developmental services sec- tor, we have supported the ability of Ontarians with developmental disabili- ties to more fully participate in their communities. Since taking office in 2003, we have increased funding for developmental services by more than half a billion dol- lars. Our record investment in the sec- tor has made a real difference for Ontarians with a developmental disabil- ity and their families. Before we closed Ontarios last three institutions in 2009, we injected $108 million into our developmental services system to help nearly 1,000 former resi- dents build new lives in communities across Ontario. Weve also created over 1,700 new residential spaces for people who were already living in the commu- nity but needed a place of their own to call home. Individuals with developmental dis- abilities and their families told us they wanted more choice and flexibility in the supports and services they use. We responded by increasing funding to the Special Services at Home program by 51 per cent as compared to 2003 so that individuals can live more independently in the community. This year, we are investing almost $103 million in Special Services at Home to help 25,000 peo- ple. Also, we are investing almost $45 million this year in Passport so that more than 3,700 young adults with developmental disabilities can enjoy meaningful opportunities to participate Minister responds See Minister page 11