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OPINION & LETTERSTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:The Oakville BeaverTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:Canadian CirculationAudit Board Member467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 Recognized for Excellence by(905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571Ontario CommunityCanadian CommunityClassified Advertising: 632-4440 Newspapers AssociationNewspapers AssociationCirculation: 845-9742 Open 9-5 weekdays,ATHENASuburban NewspapersAward5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekendsof AmericaEditorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. NEIL OLIVERVice President and Group ROD JERREDManaging EditorMARK DILLSDirector of ProductionUnauthorized use is prohibited.Publisher of Metroland WestDANIEL BAIRDAdvertising DirectorMANUEL GARCIAProduction ManagerThe Oakville Beaver is a division ofDAVID HARVEYRegional General ManagerRIZIERO VERTOLLIPhotography DirectorCHARLENE HALLDirector of DistributionJILL DAVISEditor in ChiefSANDY PAREBusiness ManagerSARAH MCSWEENEYCirc. ManagerLetter to the editorBill would haveTime to unleashopened the bookabortion debateEd. note: The following wasts hard to fathom why the governing Liberals submitted as an open letter towould reject a bill aimed at bringing more trans-Prime Minister Stephen Harper.Iparency to Ontarios school boards.Growing numbers of CanadiansEarlier this month, the majority government voted want our government to act todown Bill 183 at second reading. The private mem-protect the lives of children in thebers bill would have expanded the power of Ontarios womb.ombudsman to investigate school boards, hospitals, On May 12, 15,000 peoplenursing homes and childrens aid societies.thronged Parliament Hill andIn 2009-10, marched through downtownWOmbudsman Andr suggest the fearOttawa to insist on a law to protectMarin reported his of scrutiny from thethe lives of children in the womb.office had to turn There has been no law since 1988Ontario Ombudsmanaway 1,523 com-to protect life in the womb for allwould act as aplaints and inquiries nine months of pregnancy. deterrent to any against the MUSH This was the 14th annual Marchabuse of power.sector (municipali-for Life and it eclipsed by far theties, universities, numbers of people who hadmarched in previous years. school boards and On the same day, research washospitals).released showing that 59 per centBasically, the governments decision to defeat Bill of Canadians polled believed that183 adds merit to accusations that elected board human life should be legally pro-trustees are accountable to no one.tected before birth: 27 per centWe suggest the fear of scrutiny from the Ontario believed this should be from con-Ombudsman would act as a deterrent to any abuse of ception, 32 per cent at some timepower.during pregnancy. The research,The Ombudsman investigates complaints about The Oakville Beaverwelcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerationsby Abacus Data Inc. for Sun News,Letters toand grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. services provided by the government of Ontario and Letters should be addressed toThe Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via showed that 52 per cent of thoseits organizations.e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. TheBeaverreserves the right to refuse to publish a letter.the editorpolled were not afraid of a publicHe also conducts systemic investigations on debate on abortion.important issues about government services, which In 1988, when the SupremeHopedale not best location for cell towercan affect large numbers of people.Court struck down the previousNotably, the Ombudsman uncovered the eHealth Let's hope Rogers provides alternatewho benefits monetarily from an installation law as unconstitutional (because itscandal and spending irregularities at the Ontario options to Town council for the proposedat this location? was inconsistently applied acrossLottery Corporation.29-metre cell tower suggested beside the BigThere is no question the tower must be Canada), the Justices invitedMany of the boards included in Bill 183 provide Bear at Hopedale. located away from residential areas. Don't tell Parliament to write a new law thatservice to some of societys weakest members would comply with the Charter of Obviously that corporation has given littleme there isn't a more appropriate location in the young and the very old. These are individuals Rights and Freedoms. Protectionthought to the health risks exposed to theHalton for this immense tower.least able to advocate for themselves.of life in the womb, Madam Justicesurrounding residential environment. AndIrene Yersh, OakvilleWhen it comes to school boards, sometimes par-Bertha Wilson wrote, was a per-ents seem to be shut out of the process.fectly valid legislative objective.Taxpayers deserve value for the dollars they invest Most Canadians want a law.Pud BY STEVE NEASEneasecartoons@gmail.comMore and more Canadians are will-in education and other government services.ing to turn out in public to pressEducation costs represent a huge slice of the pub-Parliament to act. Yet, Mr. Harper,lic money pie.you refuse even to debate it.Why not open the door to more accountability? Canadians are not afraid to debateWhat could possibly be wrong with that?abortion.Why are you afraid?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 Tom Kellyon the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space Executive Director,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. Halton Pro-Life,The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.Burlingtonwww.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, May 20, 2011 6