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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, June 22, 2012 · 6 Opinion & Letters 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5566 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 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America Canadian Community Newspapers Association ATHENA Award Neil Oliver Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The OakvilleBeaver is a division of David Harvey Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief Daniel Baird Advertising Director ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor Riziero Vertolli Photography Director Sandy Pare Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production Manuel garcia Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution KIM MOSSMAN Circ. Manager Blowin' smoke Smoking is not attractive and as of this past Tuesday it became even uglier. After approving new legislation in 2011 -- on the back of statistics that say graphic images reduce smoking -- the federal government introduced 16 new labels that are required to cover 75 per cent of each cigarette and cigar box. Previously, the images were mandated to cover 50 per cent of each package. The labels depict such images as cancerous mouths, tongues covered in white splotches and an emaciated Barb Tarbox, Canada's prominent antismoking advocate who died of lung cancer at age 42. Her package reads: "This is what dying of lung cancer looks like." It's not a pretty picture. In 2011, one in five Canadians aged 12 and older smoked -- about 5.8 million people. Those numbers represent a decrease to 19.9 per cent today from 25.9 per cent in 2001. Since 2001, teens have seen the largest decrease in smoking, with the number of males smoking between ages 18 and 19 dropping to 19.8 per cent from 33.2 per cent, and male teens aged 15 to 17 seeing a decline to 10.1 per cent from 19.3 per cent. Studies estimate 21 per cent of all deaths in Canada are smoking-related. While the decrease in smoking in the past decade is encouraging, statistics show the numbers have stagnated in the last four years. Hence the need for more anti-smoking measures, such as the new packaging legislation. Just this week, Oakville Town Council is looking at taking the additional measure of a potential ban on smoking in local parks and on all municipal property. It may come with a price-tag, but not the same costs associated with smoking -- for individuals and society. While the government is clearly in a hypocritical position (denouncing smoking while happily taking the tax dollars the habit brings), we contend anything done to discourage people from smoking is fine with us. As to Imperial Tobacco Canada's constitutional challenge to the new labels claiming it infringes on its ability to communicate with customers and violates its Charter of Rights, we're tempted to say: "You're blowing smoke." Happy `art' anniversary Letter to the editor Emergency services well-staffed Re: Dispute was between friends, The Oakville Beaver, Friday, June 15, 2012 I was astonished to read in your article that "Emergency response to the scene was swift and substantial. One student said he counted as many as 12 marked police cruisers and five unmarked police cars, a fire truck and an ambulance on the scene at one point." This was a dispute that involved three students. If the count is true, and if such an incident could so quickly attract 19 vehicles containing who knows how many emergency staffers, what services were they all performing before this incident? It is difficult not to conclude from this that our emergency services are grossly overstaffed and searching for work. I would think an ambulance to treat the victims and a couple of police officers to take into custody the perpetrator would have sufficed. What value added did the rest of the crew bring? This could be a reason our taxes are so high. Geoff Godard, Oakville By Steve Nease neasecartoons@gmail.com 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. Pud 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. Since its incorporation on June 19, 2009, ArtHouse has served more than 500 youths aged seven to 11 with costfree arts programs in Oakville. We are proud of our accomplishments, and we have grown each year thanks to our generous and supportive community. We have been able to hire some of the best instructors and recruit wonderful volunteers who know how to inspire young children, who know that it's more than just the arts -- it's about team building, self-esteem and the opportunity for these wonderful young people to discover their creative abilities, and perhaps ponder a career as they pursue their dreams. Thank you to donors, funders, businesses, service clubs, venue hosts, instructors, Volunteers and ArtHouse festival attendees -- many of you have been with us from the start and this is deeply appreciated. Celebrate our birthday by joining us at one or all of the following ArtHouse Festival Series concerts -- world class performers bring their talents to the Oakville stage: · Wednesday, Aug. 1 -- 7:30 p.m., St. Aidan's Church. Presenting Ireland's 2012 Female Musician of the Year -- Fiddler Niamh Ni Charra and her twosome, and special guest, former Riverdance lead dancer Nora Corrigan. Buy tickets at www.arthouseonline.org/ lakes-of-killarney.php · Saturday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m., St. John's Church, the charismatic Spanish Flutist and Piper Carlos Nunez and the Band · Saturday, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m., YMCA of Oakville, Imagine, launches Peaceweek at the Y Or, celebrate by supporting one of our children's programs, a fully tax-deductible gift from you could change a life. Visit www.arthouseonline.org/howto-donate.php or mail to ArtHouse, 115 George St., Suite 522, Oakville, ON, L6J 0A2. Don Pangman, founder Gemma Hagerman