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Wednesday August 25, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A7 COMMENT Political chaos in lotus land just business as usual Don't worry, be happy. That's the congenial message from the ever-affable Glen Clark. Under siege like the two other premiers before him, the former B.C. premier doesn't seem worried about anything at all. Must be that west coast life; that laid back attitude that even finds its way into the vicious life of politics. Weird, or what. Here's the third premier in a row that's had to resign due to scandal. The third, for heaven's sake. And does this man look at all stressed at the thought of being forced out of the top job in the province...another scandal-ridden premier? Not at all. In fact, the guy looks like he's ready for the beach. He's not even angry. And you know what's weirder? Those even-tempered British Columbians don't seem at all upset either....just another veggie burger on the grill to them. Another premier; another scandal. So what. Remember Bill VanderZalm? That former premier got the ball rolling when he resigned amid conflict of interest allegations in the early 90's followed by Mike Harcourt and his bingo scandal in 1996. Now there is Clark, stating categorically that he will be exonerated of any allegations ema­ nating from a casino licence. He's resigned after the provinces Attorney General confirmed he is under a crim­ inal investigation. What is it with British Columbia? I think it has to do with the air out there. Sure, it happens to be a whole lot cleaner than the muck we get to inhale every summer out here in the big bad east, but so what. Look at what that air does to people...it makes them happy. Tanned, rested, the premier of the economically battered British Columbia didn't look a tad upset at his weekend press conference. He even gave one of the best lines I can recall: "I like being the underdog, but this is getting ridiculous." I love it. The man has been pursued since March, under the cloud of yet another scandal for a B.C. premier and DIANE HART he's as upbeat as if he just won an election. Even if your job is toast, your political life is gone like a flash in front of your eyes, it doesn't matter. Nope. Just keep smiling; it will all work out just fine. Yep, it's got to be the clear air out there, the kind of air that makes you want to shut up your office and get the hell out to the golf course. My heav­ ens, it must make you want to almost lose your job just to get a bit of that air. I can't help but think of our own hum­ ble premier in his place. Think of Mike Harris in Clark's shoes. Is there any way he would be grinning his way through the resigna­ tion. Not a chance. He would do it quick, clenched teeth, hatchet-like, and off he'd go to spill a little blood. Or what of the volatile Lucien? The inimitable Ralph Klein? Do you see any of these guys as carefree as Clark? You'd have thought the province was going to hold a going away fete for the guy, he looked so content. Even when he's had his house raid­ ed, captured on television no less; when his popularity is measured at a lame 16%; when a criminal investiga­ tion is launched....it still doesn't faze him. Don't worry, be happy. You've got to hand it to the guy. He's not whining; he's not at all vicious about the whole thing. No, by golly, he goes on to detail all the great things his government has done in his tenure. He talks about boosting the minimum wage, the great strides his government made in health care and education and more parkland set aside. As to the faltering economy, he said little. Upbeat and confident, he remained unperturbed. Incredible. He has vigorously denied the allegations after the search of his house in March. But the infor­ mation released in the warrant for the March search, released just over the weekend, contained other allegations regarding the payment for renovations to his house and cottage; profits from the casino funneled back to his party; and his role in advising his friend through various stages of the casino application. Glen, I have to say, it doesn't look good. But he remains confident that all will work out just fine. He takes a great big gulp of that west coast air and says all will be well. He will be cleared in the casino affair. Whatever happens out there, you can be sure the next scandal-ridden B.C. premier won't be too worried. I mean, it's practically a tradition now. And, in any case, all the new guy has to do is take a great gulp of all that west coast fresh air and babble on about how great he's been. That west coast life...you gotta love it. Good paren ting key to producing good adults Fear is as essential to existence as the air we breathe. When a deficiency crops up, we head for X-Files or Millennium, while the amusement park provides an anxi­ ety boost through death-defying rides like the one where you're dropped sev­ eral hundred metres in a dead fall only to stop inches from the ground. For the more timid, there is participating from a safe distance watching cars hurdling around an oval at over 200 mph or hun­ dreds of skydivers linking up before their chutes open. Even children barely out of their pampers can thrill to road- runner escaping the clutches of the nasty villain. Psychologists tell us its the adrena­ lin rush we crave to lift us out of the humdrum of our daily lives, what with our successful efforts to insulate our­ selves from those things and people that would threaten our well-being. From anti-virus devices to protect our computers to home security systems sporting the latest in heat-seeking sen­ sors, we have degraded fear to some­ thing we see on CNN's second by sec­ ond global coverage. At the same time, remnants of fear fuel the economic engine. Billions go down the drain to keep the military machine well oiled on the outside chance a foe takes a poke, while the healthcare industry gobbles up much of the rest in its headlong attempt to defeat cancer and heart disease. Genetic engi­ neering and cloning, some say, hold the key to bettering life expectancy of Ontarians from the paltry 76 and 81. Despite our best efforts, we are a more fearful bunch than ever before, if we examine the fruits of society. Children take up arms and kill their Letters to the Editor peers for no other reason than they feel rejected, while their adult counterparts bring in the heavy artillery and kill from 30,000 feet, dropping stupid bombs on unsuspecting civilians. NATO explains its actions by citing the inhumane treatment of those in Kosovo, forgetting its method of coun­ tering the threat is little different. The fly in the ointment is that all along we have misplaced our fear, afraid of the cat burglar who would scale our apartment balcony if it weren't for the guard dog or the prospect of death laid to rest by a healthy insurance policy. We battle the impaired driver, the drug dealer and the unscrupulous financial advisers with little success, despite layer upon layer of legislation. Our bulging prisons, runaway divorce rate, and the epidemic of abuse in all its forms testify to the fact that somewhere along the line our par­ enting has misfired. It's easy to blame others and the lousy hand we've been dealt but after all the excuses, it comes down to you and me not doing our jobs when our children were still clay in our hands. Fear inept parenting and the parents who after disaster strikes say they gave their children everything any child could want. The sad reality is that it isn't what we did but what we didn't do that invited tragedy. We must understand that we must strike early before our lit­ tle ones become hard and reject our guidance. We must give them time, ourselves, and loads of love to ensure they come out on the other end as secure individuals. The only thing to fear stares back at us from the mirror, daring others to find fault with the way we've lived. It is the self-satisfied who are to be feared, those who insist they had no part in bruising the fruit. Jim Newton Thanks to some new friends, bike recovered from lake On a blustery, but beautifully sunny Sun., Aug. 8th after­ noon, I was fishing off Bronte harbour pier when my bicycle, 'parked' five feet from the pier's edge, was suddenly picked up by a powerful gust of wind and hurled into the lake. It was blown not just to the pier's edge and over, but improbably, a full 10 feet out into the water. The pier stands about seven feet above lake level. Disconcerted passers-by stood in disbelief, watching, as the harbour's murky waters very very slowly enveloped the bike. During the sinking, some of the crowd urged me to try and hook the bike with my frail fishing line. I declined. I couldn't bear possibly losing a favourite lure on the same day. With absolutely no idea what to do, I set out down the pier looking for some form of local 'Harbour Authority' to assist in retrieval. On my way down the pier, I came across a boat called 'Emerald Bay.' I inquired with the boat's occupants if they knew where the 'Harbour Authority's' office was locat­ ed. Rather than slough me off, Gordon and the other boat occupants inquired what the problem was, and how they could assist. They volunteered a very large and heavy magnet attached to a rope as a solution. I accepted. I then set back up the pier and began unbelievingly tossing, time and again, a 30-40 pound magnet out into the harbour waters while an ever increasing gathering witnessed the unusual undertaking. Naturally, there was an inquisitive buzz among the newcom­ ers as to what was transpiring. I was having very little luck with the magnet when sud­ denly Gordon appeared and offered me a grappling hook as an aid. Putting down the magnet, I then began tossing the hook. Again, little success. We even attracted the attention of some Sea-Doers who, called over by the crowd, shook their heads in chuckling bewilderment as they assisted from their craft. A bystander, Steve, who with his girlfriend, witnessed the sinking and had been offering moral assistance, now got into the act. I tossed the hook and he tossed the magnet. Again and again. Low and behold, all of a sudden, the magnet hitched the stubborn bike, and Steve began to tug it to the surface as I aided with the grappling hook. Within seconds, several local kids perilously scrambled down onto the pier bumper, assisting in hauling the bike around the pier's obstructions. I also jumped down onto the bumper, as the bike was having no part in surfacing without a struggle. While I was standing on the bumper, somebody, I have no idea who, was holding onto my one arm to ensure I didn't slip into the water. My moving about made this gallant gent's efforts difficult. Finally, the harbour waters gave up their catch and up came the bike, which was hauled to safety. I crawled back onto the pier and did my best to thank those involved but how do you really express your gratitude under these circumstances? Steve, his girlfriend, and some of the onlookers offered to carry the magnet and the hook back to the 'Emerald Bay' but I declined. Hadn't they done enough? I am awestruck that these people were so concerned about my predicament and my safety. I am proud to have been asso­ ciated with them. They exhibited pure unselfish community spirit and concern for others. Glenn Donnelly O A K V I L L E 8 4 5 - 6 6 0 1 official opening OAKVILLE SKATEBOARD PARK r \ professional demonstrations give-aways refreshments Friday, September 3, 1999 12:00 noon Shell Park (Lakeshore Road, east of Burloak Drive) p Proper equ ipm ent for ska teboard park partic ipants is strongly recom m ended Road Closure- By-law 1999-137 Closure of Part of Sinclair Road and 0.3 Metre Reserve Lying South Easterly of Wyecroft Road TAKE NOTICE THAT: 1. The Council of the Corporation of the Town of Oakville proposes to pass a by-law pursuant to Section 297 of the Municipal Act. R.S.O. 1990. Chapter M.45. in order to stop up and close for all purposes part of Sinclair Road and 0.3 metre reserve lying southeasterly of Wyecroft Road legally described as: Firstly: Part of Sinclair Road. Registered Plan 949. Town of Oakville. Regional Municipality of Halton. designated as Parts 1 to 6. inclusive, on Plan 20R-13289. being part of PIN 24828-0005. Secondly: All of one foot reserve. Registered Plan 949, Town of Oakville, Regional Municipality of Halton. designated as Parts 7 and 8 on Plan 20R-13289, being all of PIN 24828-0009. 2. Pursuant to Section 300 of the Municipal Act. R.S.O. 1990. Chapter M.45, before passing this by-law. Council or a Committee thereof will hear in person or by his counsel, solicitor or agent, any person who claims that his lands will be prejudicially affected by this by-law, provided that such person makes application in writing to the undersigned on or before September 15. 1999, at 4:30 p.m. This matter will be heard at the Council meeting of October 4. 1999, com­ mencing at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road. Oakville 3. A copy of Plan 20R-13289 is available for inspection at the Office of the Town Clerk at the address shown below, during normal business hours. Judith Muncaster. Town Clerk 1225 Trafalgar Road Oakville. Ontario L6J 5A6 HIGHW AY 407 ETR W EST EXTENSION QEW (FREEMAN INTERCHANGE) TO HIGHW AY 407 (OAKVILLE LINK) A Public Information Centre has been arranged in cooperation with 407 ETR Concession Company Limited and SLF Joint Venture, to provide the public with the opportunity to view the design plans and discuss the upcoming construction phase for the Highway 407 West Extension. The 407 ETR Concession Company Limited (407 ETR) is the private sector entity which has the obligation to develop, design, build, operate, maintain, repair and toll Highway 407 from the Queen Elizabeth Way in the City of Burlington to Highway 7 east of Brock Road in the Town of Pickering. Under the ETR umbrella, the SLF Joint Venture is a separate entity which is responsible for the delivery of the design and construction of the new highway components via a construction subcontract. SLF is proceeding with the detailed design and development of Highway 407 from the Queen Elizabeth Way (Freeman Interchange) in Burlington to Highway 407 (the Oakville Link) in Oakville. This project is being undertaken in accordance with the exemption issued under the Environmental Assessment Act, by Order-in-Council Number 736/81 (MTC-47), Order-in-Council 2487/80 (MTC- 21/2) and Order-in-Council 2865/83 (MTC-52). The Public Information Centre will be held as follows: Location: -Tansley Woods Community Centre, 1996 Itabashi Way, Burlington (South of Upper Middle Road, between Walker's Line and Appleby Line, see Key Plan) Date: Tuesday, August 31,1999 Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Representatives of407 ETR, SLF Joint Venture, the Region of Halton, City of Burlington, Town of Oakville and Town of Milton will be available at the drop-in centre to discuss the project. For further information, please contact: Nick Zervos, CET Region of Halton Tel: (905)825-6161 Ext. 7632 Fax: (905 825-8822 Paul Anderson, CET City of Burlington Tel: (905)335-7600 Ext. 7578 Fax: (905)335-7861 Len M cLeod, P.Eng. Town o f Oakville Tel: (905)845-6601 Ext. 3315 Fax: (905)338-4159 Phil Antoniow, CET Town of Milton Tel: (905)878-7211 Ext. 161 Fax: (905)693-0495 1225 TRAFALGAR ROAD • OAKVILLE, ONTARIO • L6J 5A6 COMMENT DIANE HART Jim Newton official opening OAKVILLE SKATEBOARD PARK professional demonstrations give-aways refreshments Friday, September 3, 1999 12:00 noon Shell Park (Lakeshore Road, east of Burloak Drive) p Road Closure- By-law 1999-137 Closure of Part of Sinclair Road and 0.3 Metre Reserve Lying South Easterly of Wyecroft Road HIGHWAY 407 ETR WEST EXTENSION QEW (FREEMAN INTERCHANGE) TO HIGHWAY 407 (OAKVILLE LINK)