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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, S ep te m be r 5, 20 19 | 8 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised family of newspapers is comprised f of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca editor@oakvillebeaver.com facebook.com/OakvilleBeavfacebook.com/OakvilleBeavf @OakvilleBeaver WHO WE ARE VP, Regional Publisher Kelly Montague Regional Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara Managing Editor Karen Miceli Director of Distribution Charlene Hall Circulation Manager Kim Mossman Director of Production Mark Dills Regional Production Manager Manny Garcia Regional General Manager Steve Foreman Halton Media General Manager Vicki Dillane Regional Director of Media Holly Chriss CONTACT US Oakville Beaver 901 Guelph Line Burlington, ON L7R 3N8 Phone: 289-293-0617 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Digital/Flyer/Retail: 289-293-0624 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at insidehalton.com Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail kmossman@metroland.com or call 905-631-6095. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT INSIDEHALTON.COM In Canada's growing towns and cities where the vast majority of Canadians reside, support for tougher gun controls is strong and growing stronger.It's hardly any wonder. Gun-related crimes including homicides are of great concern in the country's major cities and even in Halton of late. Meanwhile, the shock-waves from what seem to be almost daily mass-shootings in the United States re- verberate across the border, rattling many Canadians while convincing them only drastic action - possibly including a handgun ban - will spare them from Amer- ica's bloody insanity. All these voices, all these concerns should be heard. But there's another perspective that deserves airing and full consideration as Canadians head into another feder- al election where the issue of gun control will be large and divisive. That's the perspective of law abiding gun-owners who have legitimate reasons to own guns. Some of them are hunters. Some shoot targets at ranges or in competitions. Some rely on rifles as an essential farm implement to protect livestock from pred- ators such as coyotes. There's often an urban-rural divide in attitudes to gun ownership in Canada. And that's partly because country folk can need a gun in ways city dwellers sim- ply don't. America's far more permissive approach to firearms often distorts people's understanding of the Canadian reality. It's far easier to get guns of all sizes and capabili- ties there than in Canada. While Americans enjoy a constitutional right "to bear arms," Canadians don't. And unlike people in many parts of the U.S. who can legally carry a concealed hand- gun, Canadian handgun owners face far tighter restric- tions. To be sure, the current federal government has al- ready tightened Canada's gun laws, quite fairly insisting on more rigorous background checks for people wanting to buy a firearm. Recently, Ottawa announced it's giving Ontario $54 million over the next three years to combat illegal gun and gang activity. That's an initiative every- one should be able to support. But where do we go next? We believe reasonably- minded Canadian gun owners accept that firearms re- strictions are absolutely necessary. We also think many of these gun owners are willing to look at evolving legis- lation. Yet while they're willing to do more to enhance public safety, they do not want to surrender the right to own a gun. All this is worth keeping in mind as Canadians grap- ple with a polarizing issue. There are good reasons for us all to be passionate about effective gun controls. But nothing is served in demonizing an entire group of people for their views. The more respectful, informed dialogue that happens in this country, the better will be the laws and policies our governments bring forward. GUN OWNERS DESERVE VOICE IN GUN-CONTROL DEBATE EDITORIAL LETTERS & COMMENTARY BIKING COULD BE SO MUCH MORE AT GLEN EDEN My family recently completed a trip across Canada and brought our mountain bikes along to try the many biking parks and trails along our route. We were quite surprisedWe were quite surprisedW that many areas similar to Glen Eden have far su- perior mountain biking opportunities. For example, Calgary's Olympic Park ski hill, which has a similar verti- cal to Glen Eden, has lift- accessed downhill moun- tain biking trails that were developed by the same people that made the world famous Whis- tler bike park. There are trails for all levels of rider and ages. If something similar was developed at Glen Eden it would be as busy (and profitable) in the summer as it is in the win- ter. Other examples on flatter areas are the Can-flatter areas are the Can-f more Bike Park in Alber- ta, Bike Ranch in Kam- loops and Steve Smith Bike Park in Nanaimo, B.C. All three parks could (and should) be replicated at Glen Eden or elsewhere in Halton Region. Glen Eden has had the same trails for years. The top part of the only long downhill trail is closed due to lack of mainte- nance and the berms on the remainder of the trail are eroding so as to make them unsafe. As Glen Eden is going through a revisioning process I ask that region staff use the above exam- ples as a guide to make mountain biking at Glen Eden as exciting and fun as it can be. SHAWN DARTSCH OAKVILLE CATTLE BENEFIT ENVIRONMENT, READER SAYS In contrast to the Aug. 22 editorial, I would refer you to the Canadian Beef ad in a recent Walmart's LiveBetter publication: Beef cattle belong in Canada's landscape, do- ing their job to maintain healthy ecosystems. The environmental benefits of cattle are a powerful un- told story that needs to be heard. There's a secret life to cattle that doesn't tend to make the headlines ... - Cattle keep grass- lands going. Canada's pasture and Prairie store up to 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon, equal to the emis- sions from 3.62 million cars annually - Cattle are key to healthy soil. Cattle sus- tain soil with the nutri- ents from manure - Cattle help birds. Cat- tle maintain 68 per cent of the wildlife habitat capac- ity that comes from the agricultural land - Cattle are "upcy- clers." Cattle eat and di- gest grasses and crop by- products we can't, turn- ing them into one of na- ture's most powerful proteins With 74 per cent of Can- ada's native grasslands al- ready lost to cultivation, grazing cattle are key to preserving these impor- tant spaces. There are two sides to every story and the truth usually lies somewhere in the middle. MARIAN GRZYBOWSKI OAKVILLE