The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

6 - The Oakville Beaver, W ed ne sd ay, D e c e m b e r 11, 2002 ED ITO R IA LS A N D LETTERS THE OAKVILLE REAM 467 Speers Rd,, Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 337-5610 Circulation: 845-9742 IAN OLIVER Publisher NEIL OLIVER Associate Publisher JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief KELLY MONTAGUE Advertising Director STEVE CROZIER Circulation Director TERI CASAS Office Manager MARK DILLS Production Manager RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director ROD JERRED Managing Editor Metroiand Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd.. includes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, Altaian Herald/Courier, Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance. Barr/'s Bay This Week. Bolton Enterprise, Brampton Guardian, Buffington Post. Burlington Shopping News. City Parent. CotlingwoodWasaga Connection. East York Mirror. Erin Advocate/Country Ftoutes. Etobicoke Guardian, Flamborough Post. Georgetown independent/Acton Free Press, Hamston Review, Huronia Business Times, Kingston This Week, Lindsay This Week. Markham Economist & Sun. Midtand/Penetangushme Mirror, Milton Canadian Champion, Milton Shopping News. Mississauga Business Times. Mississauga News. Napanee Guide. Newmarket/Aurora Era-Banner. Northumberland News. North York Mirror. Oakville Beaver. Oakville Shopping News. Okttimers Hockey News. Onllia Today, Oshawa/Whitby/Clarington Port Perry This Week. Owen Sound Tribune, Palmerston Observer. Peterborough This Week, Ptcton County Guide. Richmond Hill/Thomhill/Vaughan Liberal, Scarborough Mirror, Stcuttwlle/Uxbridge Tribune. Forever Ybung. City of 'f ork Guardian THE O A K V IL L E BEA V ER IS PROUD O FFIC IA LM EDIA SPONSOR FO R : Recognized for Excellence by O ntario C om m unity N ew spapers A ssociation A i Halton Healthcare i · c I Y TM ca 'N T l'lV i : m > , > W ELCOM E T V a g o n " " Siwc* 1930 K X V BUSSESSCTHt AJOS C anadian C om m unity J N ew spapers A ssociation i | o a k v i ll e g a l l e r i e s ] Jin g e Ben Fund SKY Suburban N ew spapers of A m erica h JVrm J^wani © O/ir © (DakmtU wards F O RB U S IN E S SE X C E L L E N C E The Oakville. Milton and District G u n re g is try fia s c o The federal Liberal governm ent under Jean Chretien has never been shy at throwing m oney around and not being particularly con cerned where it lands (see H um an R esources D evelopm ent M inister Jane Stewart and her billion-dollar job grant fiasco). Now word com es from A uditor General Sheila Fraser that the federal gun registry, originally pegged to cost Canadian taxpayers $2-million. will now cost a staggering $1-billion by 2004-05. How, exactly, does a 43,000 per cent cost overrun occur? Was no on® m i" d in « the s," e - ! ' , ,t Canadians -- including Liberal back benchers -- have every right to be calling for PM -w annabe A lan R o ck 's head Was no one minding because it was Rock, the current Industry the store? M inister, along w ith current H ealth M inister Anne M cLellan, who oversaw most o f the developm ent o f the gun registry. Both owe it to Canadians to resign their cabinet positions for such a gross waste o f taxpayers' money, but we know that won't happen. The registry, we might add, has been a disaster. F raser's audit revealed the RCM P are so concerned about the high rate o f error in data its own officers put into the system to screen gun licence applicants that it fears it could be sued if a gun falls into the hands of, say, a M arc Lepine-type person. As well, the R C M P's ow n internal review found some applicants red-flagged, who shouldn't have been, while other potentially dan gerous gun ow ners were not flagged. To top it off. according to Fraser, Parliam ent was kept in the dark about the m ushroom ing costs o f the program. C hretien's bid for a lasting legacy is quickly becom ing clearerhe headed a governm ent filled m inisters unable to handle our How, exactly, docs a 4 3 ,0 0 0 per cent cost overrun occur? LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Missed bags not a `disservice' I have been helping with the Century 21 Miller/Salvation Army Food drive for the past 13 years and have organized it for the past six years. I am amazed that every year we always get the couple of phone calls from people who are upset that their bag was not picked up. This year I received a message that really upset me and the person would not leave their name, number or address because they said they had called a few times and their bag had not been picked up by Sunday at 8 p.m. They felt that we had done them a "great disservice" by not picking up the food. My question to this person is, what about the people at the Salvation Army who will not be receiving this food? We delivered bags to more than 43,000 homes and this year we had less than 200 volunteers show up, but we only had calls from 54 homes saying they were missed (which is the least amount of homes we have ever had.) I think that if this person calls the Salvation Army or goes to see the amount of food that was collected, the Salvation Army does not feel that I have done them a "disservice". I would like to apologize for any bags that were missed but I would also like to give my heart felt thanks to all the volunteers who took time out of their busy lives to come and help out with an event that I hope to continue doing suc cessfully for many years to come. M A R Y KAY MCCOY The spirit of Oakville is very much alive I'm very pleased to report that the spirit of Oakville is still very much alive. This is a true story about a very hon est person and the money that refused to get lost. The other day, after withdrawing some money from the bank, I hurried home a few blocks away. In my rush, I accidentally dropped $ 180 in $20 bills -- not exactly penny change. Carefully. I retraced my steps, check ing the sidewalk and anyone who might have found the money. Not unexpectedly -- after all it was cash -- I came up empty-handed. I decided to call the police and regis ter my loss, knowing full well that the chances of someone turning in my small treasure to the police was equivalent to winning the lottery. As the sympathetic officer was taking down the details of my misfortune, a fel low officer interrupted to say that a gen tleman had just handed over $180 he had found on a sidewalk. To my delight, the police we able to supply a name and address so that I was able to show my appreciation and express my gratitude. I would like to think this gentleman's thoughtful act is typical of how we all look after each other in this very special place we call home. Right here in Oakville. JUNE A LET T ER There has been a great deal of information written on the Lighthouse F*roject for the Town of Oakville. To anyone who is unaware, this is the program by the Salvation Army that houses individuals and families who are temporarily without accommodation. To make the public aware of the very real need for this program and to publicize the work that the Salvation Army does in this area and in many other areas of need in Oakville, the organization has been holding public tours of the current Lighthouse. However, none of the individuals who have been most outspoken in opposition to the proposed site in Iroquois Ridge area have taken advantage of the offer to tour the shel ter. The contact person to arrange a tour is Wendy Perkins at 905-339-2370. The address of the Lighthouse is 170 Country Squire Lane off Kerr Street just north of the QEW. This tem porary shelter is still in need of items, a garden hose, rakes and shovels (ask for any other needs). As a gesture of good will you may wish to appear with gift in hand. The staff are welcoming and eager to talk of their work and the very real immediate need for a permanent site for the Lighthouse. I encourage the residents of Oakville to work together towards this goal and to support the Salvation Army. M.J. W H EELER puW ic should t«ir u9hthou>e L E T T E RO FT H EW E E K Retired MD commended for `exceptional' career With the ever increasing shortage of doctors and difficul ty in obtaining the services of good general practitioners, the state of the health-care system has become a subject of sig nificant interest and scrutiny. Physicians hold the key in determining the quality and the effectiveness of a health-care system which has an impact on a patient's security and level of physical comfort. Patients today expect a certain level, not only of profes sionalism and scientific expertise from their physicians, but they want someone who is a trusted advisor and has their best interests at heart. They want a physician who will maintain a human element in that which some perceive as an imperson al and often patronizing system. For every story of dissatisfaction, there is the offsetting example of a general practitioner who possesses the forego ing positive qualities. Just such a physician is Dr. Michael McCulloch, who, a little over a year ago, retired from his Oakville Medical practice and who deserves to be commend ed for leading an exceptional medical career. Mere words cannot express nor convey the deep regard and esteem in which Dr. McCulloch was held. Neither do they echo the deep sense of loss felt by the patients he served so unselfishly and with dedication. Dr. McCulloch was the epitome of professionalism and his integrity was rare and unmatched. Physicians such as he are too formidable and too large a part of one's life to forget. The thoughtful manner in which he dispensed care for the better ment of his patients consisted of integral elements which cre ated that rare recipe for a healthy relationship between doctor and patient. He elicited a faith and trust from his patients which in turn won him their respect and admiration. That every family could be as privileged to have been affiliated with as fine a physician as the medical profession has to. offer! And yet, despite the fact that Dr. McCulloch's retirement left his patients wanting, one. could not but take pleasure, on this the anniversary of his learning, in imparting the warmest and sincerest of regards and wishes to a gentleman who has entered a new phase in his life, a passage which can also be fulfilling, productive, and replete with enjoyable experiences.' The deepest of appreciation and grateful acknowledge ment is extended to a man who will be missed but whose exemplary service in the past will be valued and treasured. A N N E K R Y Z N A R IC Student grateful for cameras Previously, I submitted a letter to the editor (the Beaver, Nov. 27), which voiced my concerns over a course I am currently taking at Sheridan, and a problem arising out of a lack of equipment. I feel it is important to explain what has occurred since that time. I was unaware that the letter had even been published since I was not contacted. In any event, I would like to express my appreciation to Michael Collins, Dean of the School of Animation, Arts and Design, for his pledge of 20 new digital video cameras which we now have access to. At the time I submitted the first letter, there was no plan to acquire the cameras immediately. I was concerned about the fact that our journalism class of 39 students had access to only two video cameras to complete our assignments. Since then, the 20 cameras have arrived just in time to facilitate the completion of the course. Unfortunately, by the time the letter was published, the situation had already been resolved. However, I was still unaware of this development. Although they've arrived a bit late, the cameras are greatly appreciated and will be an asset to the journalism program for several years to come. My original letter stated that the Media Arts Digital Post-Production facility was a $ 1.5-million facility. This is incorrect and should not have been stated in the letter. I greatly apologize for this error. M IK E P E A R S O N We welcome your letters The O akville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and gram mar. In order to be published, letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Road, Oakville, On., L6K 3S4. or via email to editor@ oakvillebeaver.com . The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish any letter. An accident waiting to happen I want to express my concern over the peanut split on Third Line, between Dundas and Pine Glen Road. I used to go down Third Line everyday to and from work but because I felt that driving on this road was dangerous and that any day could be my last one I'm taking another road. I call it the "snake road" because I feel that it's as deadly as a snake. This road is an accident waiting to happen. Many people whom I've spoken with over the past months also use Neyagawa rather than take Third Line. They live off? Third Line but feel uneasy and unsafe on this road. Will it. take a serious accident for someone in town planning to lookmore closely at this design? Third Line has been a disaster since day one. Instead of improving on it to accommodate the increased development in this area, the town planners are continuing their poor design of this road. I'm not very impressed with the way my tax dollars are being spent. H UGH S T O R E Y Pud By STEVE NEASE r WELl, I ADMIT IT CAN <5ET A LITTLE P , CRAZY,, r - B ut there' s just something NICE ABOUT AN OLD-FASHIONED k , T he O ak v ille B eaver isa m em ber of the O ntario Press C ou n cil. T he council islocatedat 80 G ouldSt, S uite 206, T oronto, O nt.. M 5 B2M 7. Phone (416) 340-1981. A dvertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of adver tisingspace occupied b ythe erroneous item , together w itha reasonable allow ancefor signature, w ill not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisem ent w ill be paid for at the applicable rate. T he publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisem ents or dedine.