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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, March 17, 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: 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 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 Keep kids active during March Break Hmmm it's Wednesday -- the third day of March Break. Are you already tired of hearing, "I'm bored... there's nothing to do!" Is your television overheating from the over-use and are the squabbles over who gets to use the computer have you ready to pull your hair out? The Pediatricians of Ontario have a solution-- turn off the TVs and computer and head outside for exercise-- the long-term health of your child depends upon it. A recent report by the docs shows that children exposed to too much screen time is leading to health risks such as obesity, language delays, and attention problems. In fact, a Stats Can reports says the average Canadian child watches nearly 14 hours of television each week, and by graduation these children will have spent more time watching TV than in the classroom. Just two hours of screentime use a day doubles the likelihood of obesity says the Canadian Pediatric Society. "Unfortunately, research shows that children are spending more time in front of television or computer screens and this is leading to a wealth of preventable health and developmental issues," said Dr. Hirotaka Yamashiro, chair of the Ontario Medical Association's Section on Pediatrics. "It can be very easy to drift into a routine of TV watching or computer game playing. We want to help parents and children break out of this patter and start building strategies for a healthier future." The docs are encouraging parents to set a limit on screen time to two hours a day, ensure children exercise daily and eat a healthy balanced diet -- and start by planning a few days of activities during March Break. In this community this week, lots of free activities are planned at the local library branches. The swimming pools and skating rinks are also open. The weather will be conducive for hiking on local trails, playing games in parks or riding bikes. Raising healthy kids doesn't have to cost a lot, but it sure can pay dividends for the children. 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 What are we doing? Are residents of Oakville aware that blocking a power project in Oakville (the S.W. GTA) will almost certainly mean the lights will start going out here and air-conditioners will likely stop working on the hottest days of the summer in three to five years? Are the residents of Oakville aware that forcing the Ontario Power Authority to build a new or different power project many miles west of Oakville will likely mean we need a new transmission line through our town, increasing electrical losses and therefore green house gasses and other emissions beyond those which the TransCanada Project will generate? Is there an understanding that Oakville's new 2.5 particulate matter (PM) bylaw will do virtually nothing to improve air quality here (even though by the Town's own experts admission most of the emissions are caused by residential heating and transportation), but will certainly drive new business away and impose what are likely unacceptable risks to existing businesses causing them to consider moving. This will likely have the effect of driving taxes up to the residential taxpayers from where they otherwise would have been. Are people aware that saying Ford would not comply with the See New page 6 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. Lakeview plant had sufficient setback Re: Retired Ford worker upset with mayor, Oakville Beaver, March 12 As a long term frequent visitor to both the public marina and Port Credit Yacht Club next to the former Lakeview generating plant in Mississauga, I can assure the retired Ford worker whose letter was critical of east Oakville residents living in $1-million homes, that few in (east) Oakville would be objecting to the proposed TransCanada power plant if it were to be built with the type of setback from homes and schools/businesses that was enjoyed by Lakeview residents prior to its closure. A simple look at Google Earth will confirm that the Lakeview power plant was more than one kilometre from the nearest residence along Lakeshore Road and residential areas start 1.5 kilometers east and west of the plant. It is a sad comment on our society when the term "$1-million homes" is being used as wedge issue in our community. PETER KRYSMANSKI, OAKVILLE C4CA wants Ford to fund independent assessment While we certainly understand that Ford is not partnering with TransCanada Energy Ltd. in the development of the power plant, Ford has played an important part by agreeing to sell the land that the plant will be situated on. Residents and supporting organizations has many grave concerns about health, safety and the environment, should the development of the plant in a densely populated neighbourhood that is already over-taxed by air pollution, proceed. C4CA is calling upon Ford to provide funding to support an individual environmental assessment (IEA) of the proposed power plant.. Financial support of an IEA will help ensure that the health and safety of the residents as well as the workers at the Local Ford Assembly plant are not compromised by the development of the Oakville Generating Station Ford has been an important supporter of the Community for over 53 years. Supporting our request for funding and support to an IEA will help ensure that they stay the course with their commitment to health, safety and the environment BRENDA POTTER PHELAN, C4CA