www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday March 7, 2007 - 7 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Where are the birthday celebrations? It is not always willingly that the intimate world, which is in us, crosses the limits of us. But a persuasive voice convinces me that it would be a form of grateful affection to Oakville to talk about its 150th birthday. This birthday should exalt the imperishable greatness of Oakville, but I do not see anyone to hurry with great eagerness to celebrate. Under the fronds of White Oaks many good and illustrious people have lived and live. What is this indifference? Has this town no treasures to show? As far as I am concerned this birthday should be a healthy olive in the meat, simple, and good things that Oakville has to offer which regenerate the heart. In the ups and downs of life there are moments to celebrate and the flame of the lamp of the 150th birthday of Oakville should be shining because simple things and essential values live under the limpid sky of Oakville and should be exalted and coloured during 2007. I am sure there is a piper ready to open the dances. GIUSEPPE FAVA Income trust changes were necessary Continued from page 6 petitive edge has slipped noticeably as the gap between Canada and United States' Standard of Living and Productivity levels have widened significantly, over the past decade. John McCallum and Bonnie Brown's assertion that Canadian income trust investors have lost $25 billion of their savings is truly an unfortunate misnomer. Who actually lost their savings on Nov. 1? For most of the investors, this paper loss simply represented a reduction in their paper profits. Most seniors would not have had to panic and sell immediately. The majority of sellers were professional traders, hedge and investment funds who were forced to sell immediately, via margin calls, as they found themselves in a highly leveraged position. Seniors with properly diversified portfolios should not have been more than 20 per cent in income trusts. That means that a loss of 10 per cent translates into only a 2 per cent loss of a total portfolio. Hence, this issue cannot possibly be the hottest issue in Oakville. Flaherty's immediate decision to eliminate this tax gimmick was necessary to avoid a potential financial crisis as Telex, BCE and even banks were all being compelled to play this idiotic tax scrambling game. Flaherty's March 19 budget should include effective tax cuts, overdue tax reform, streamlined government programs, along with a potentially creative GST points transfer to the Provinces, in order to eliminate the currently defunct equalization formula. It's all about strengthening Canada's economy in order to sustain healthy budget surpluses to support future social service needs. D. GARY MACMILLAN Skewed logic Continued from page 6 a majority government. Our troops in Afghanistan, and many others, would undoubtedly be dispatched to Iraq (and, if Bush has his way, Iran) before you could say "body bag." No? Before Harper zippered his lip on such matters in the hopes of doing better in the next election, he was on the record as favouring Canadian troops in Iraq. It was Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien (for all his faults) who kept them out. I am not a member of any political party and, in the past, I have voted at one time or another for candidates from each of the three major parties, so this is not a partisan opinion. I just don't like to see political wannabees try to bring down their opponents with skewed logic. TOM DOUGLAS Canada's up to or choose up to Choice $ in a Bonus Cash Rebate Get A Great New Vehicle At A Great Price... Then Choose One Of Three Bonus Offers: $ in Mopar Accessories* 1500 1000 $ in Free Gas** See Lockwood Chrysler for details. '07 CHRYSLER SEBRING '07 CHRYSLER PACIFICA '07 CHRYSLER 300C '07 DODGE CALIBER 750 '07 JEEP COMPASS or choose up to The Choice is Yours! '07 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED '07 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN '07 DODGE RAM RVAL DRIVE I Financing Provided By WYECROFT RD. 175 Wyecroft Road, Oakville 905.845.6653 www.lockwoodchrysler.com RR ST. AFALGAR R THE LOCKWOOD REWARDS CARD INCLUDED WITH EVERY PURCHASE QEW