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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, January 20, 2010 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 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 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. 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 DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Three cheers for public smoking ban It has been a long time coming, but we once again find ourselves applauding Halton Region's forwardthinking stand when it comes to banning smoking in public places. On Feb. 15 -- appropriately Family Day -- smokers will no longer be able to puff away in front of public hockey arenas and facilities, such as pools and public libraries. The ban states that no one can light up within nine metres, or about 30 feet, of municipal facilities. The prohibition applies to all buildings owned or leased by Halton Region or any of the four Halton municipalities. Along with recreation facilities, the list also includes municipal offices, community centres, museums, art galleries, police stations, fire halls, ambulance stations and public washrooms. It would impact about 150 municipal facilities, according to Halton regional staff. While we are sure there will be some residents who will bemoan this policy, we believe the majority of people using these facilities will be pleased they no longer have to walk through clouds of nicotine as they make their way inside -- especially if they have children in tow. Halton Region has yet to decide on what dollar figure the ticket should be, but said it would be in line with fines issued under the Province's SmokeFree Ontario Act. However, you can't put a price on someone's health. The Region is also consulting the municipalities and conservation authorities for feedback on a proposed ban on smoking in parks. Council sought that feedback last fall, following a motion by Burlington Councillor Rick Goldring, who requested such a ban be investigated. Imagine that concept -- smoke-free parks. Again, this is all positive for Halton residents who so desperately want to get away from cigarette smoke. The most recent cancer incidence and mortality statistics for the region should be of concern to all of us. The 2000-04 statistics reveal that despite lower incidence and mortality rates than the provincial average, lung cancer continues to be the third-most common cancer in both men and women in Halton and the No. 1 cancer that kills. That is certainly something smokers should contemplate the next time they fumble for a cigarette lighter. 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. Letter to the editor Speak up for Canada Re: Oakville MP wants your opinion and Day of Action protest Jan. 23, Oakville Beaver, Jan.15. I would like to draw your readers' attention to the fact that in 1997, while addressing a rightwing U.S. think-tank, Stephen Harper referred to Canada as "...a Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term." I suggest that Prime Minister Harper is a Canadian neo-conservative in "the worst sense of the term". His intent is to significantly alter the Canadian democratic system as we know it, as well as to dismantle the social safety programs this country's citizens are so proud of. This deconstruction process was actually initiated by previous Liberal governments as they pursued the `Conservative' agenda of balanced budgets and surplus creation. It is also important to recognize that Stephen Harper's frame of reference for the future governance of Canada is highly influenced by neo-conservative U.S. Republican ideology, which threatens the principal tenets of Canada as a socially just, compassionate society. Let us take note that "The true north strong and free" is only as strong as its participants and as citizens, rather than taxpayers, we are all responsible to ensure that indeed, the `personal continues to be the political' and further erosion of our social system is stopped. I urge like-minded Oakville citizens to attend Oakville MP Terence Young's pre-budget consultation meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 20, as well to participate in the Day of Action protest on Saturday, Jan. 23 to express our views on the recent actions taken by his boss, Stephen Harper. CELIA A. SCOTT 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 email to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Prorogue good for Olympics I have read your anti-proroguing editorials with great interest. I want to thank my Prime Minister for proroguing government, so the antics of "Count" Michael and "Jumping Jack" aren't available for everyone on the world stage. I want the world to focus on the Olympics and us as gracious hosts in our beautiful country. I want partisan politics to take a side-step for awhile, so we can focus on world ahtleticism as a solution for world peace. So take a chill pill. Government will be back, guaranteed and we can fight another day. By the way, if the Opposition is so upset about the prorogue, will they support adding 22 sitting days at the end of the current session? Thank you Mr. Harper, Mr. Young and Ms. Raitt for the time out to get excited about and to enjoy the Olympics. Let's "give peace a chance." DARRYL DEMILLE Aid to Haiti too slow Modern society responds faster to starving cats and dogs than the ravaged people of Haiti. The Dutch were bombed with food in 1944. Urgent allies responded to Nazi starvation tactics with immediate success. Sixty-six years later we have light years in advanced technology and wealth. It just seems that we can go and kill people anywhere in the world faster than saving the starving distraught masses in Port-au-Prince. If we, as Canadians, must lead the world again, then so be it. Our present Commander-in-Chief was born in Haiti. Nothing should stop us. MICHAEL JOHN CHARETTE