THE OAKVILLE BEAVER EDITORIAL â€" Gritty stuff Omario Liberal leader Lyn McLeod would do well to ignore recent public opinion polls. They show that her party is the top choice of 53 per cent of those polled. Following are the Progressive Conservatives at 27 per cent and New Democrats at 14 per cent. Significantly, there has been a four per cent gain in Grit popularity since the October federal election which saw the Liberals sweep the country, leaving the Tories as a spent political force and the NDP with inadequate seats to be given politâ€" ical party status in the House of Commons. Given the federal election results, it‘s little wonder the Ontario Tories saw their provincial popularity fall five per centage points. The NDP is up one per cent since October. And while McLeod might take some solace in these numbers, she suffers from an identity crisis...not enough people are aware of who she is or what party she leads. To try and put and put a face to the leader and the party, McLeod‘s handlers are using the electronic media to try and raise her political profile. She has been making the round of radio and television public affairs shows in an attempt to bring her name before the public. It‘s an old public relations gambit but you‘ve got to question the timing of the iniâ€" tiative. Canadians have gone through a couple of gutâ€"wrenching years politically with the referendum and the federal election and they‘ve had enough. Add to that the fact that municipal elections will be held in November this year and you have the makings of political news burnâ€"out. Mind you Mike Harris, the provincial leader of the Progressive Conservatives is in the same boat. Pollsters say that while only 17 per cent could name or recognize McLeod, only 25 per cent could name Harris as the Grit leader. Not surprisingly, 80 per cent could name Bob Rae as NDP boss. Ontario Premier Bob Rae will call an election next year and he‘s got that length of time to try and pull a political rabbit out of his hat. Rae might be a lousy songâ€" writer and a fair pianist but a magician he‘s not. But McLeod would do well to recall what the polls said and what the mood of the electorate was like in 1990 when then provincial premier David Peterson called an election. He took his massive majority government to the polls more than two years before he had to and the results were even a surprise to the New Democrats. Rae knows all about polls. Before the last provincial election, the Liberals had 55 per cent support and the NDP just 16 per cent. Something to think about Lyn...something to think about. s Ready at Ford The departure of Ford Canada president and CEO James O‘Connor on Feb. 1st marks an end of a four year posting that brought tremendous challenges for the town‘s largest employer. O‘Connor has seen dismal sales rebound in recent times and with the winning of » the Windstar project for the Oakville car plant, the future looks good for the compaâ€" ‘ ny. Some of the positive things we see now were due to the lobbying efforts of his : predecessor Ken Harrigan, but O‘Connor has put his own stamp on the company. In taking on new duties as the executive director for North American Marketing and Plans, O‘Connor will be heading back to his roots. A marketing man first, O‘Connor‘s face was all over the screen recently in promoting the new Mustang and the company‘s involvement in the upcoming Olympics. O‘Connor leaves the company in good shape for his successor Mark Hutchins. Dear Sir: 1993) made a positive contribuâ€" tion to public health with its supâ€" port for Ontario‘s proposed tobacco legislation. Bill 119, the Your editorial "But Out" proposed Ontario Tobacco Act, is (Oakville Beaver, Nov. 24th, landmark legislation and has the Time to protect human interests in planning Dear Sir: While Ms Melhuish takes the suggested walk down the Ford Drive right of way to observe the "reptiles and fresh water turtles", it might be a good idea for Ms Oberndorfer to take a walk down Brookmill some morning at about 8:00 a.m. to see how the present traffic pattern is threatening the human species in the area. No doubt, Ms Oberndorfer is sincere in her conâ€" cern as are some others. However, I understand the environmental assessment has determined that there are no endangered species in the area. We‘re not dealing with the rain forest here! Furthermore, the Town has committed a substantial sum of taxpayers‘ money to include shrubs, walking trails, and a much more expensive bridge than is necessary, in an attempt to satisfy environmental concerns. We are all in favor of preserving our natural enviâ€" ronment to the extent possibly consistent with good Town planning. Oakville has some outstanding examples of which we can all be proud, where our Town planners, allowed to do their job, have struck an excellent balance. Unfortunately, in this part of Town, the planners lost out to the special interest groups. It‘s time to get on with the job! Peter Riediger 467 Speers Road, Oakville, Ont. L6K 354 845â€"3824 Fax: 845â€"3085 Classified Advertising: 845â€"2809 Circulation: 845â€"9742 or 845â€"9743 Unemployment more obscene than skateboards Dear Sir: The recent editorial and related articles concerning the skateboards sold by David Walsh follow a disâ€" turbing trend towards shallow and simplistic social analysis. Are the three offensive skateboards really a significant cause of violence and inequality in our society? Or does the chorus of condemnation simply reveal a cosy smugness that attempts to shift the responsibility for serious social problems onto the shoulders of "bad" people: Walsh and his American suppliers? I find a far greater and more depressing obscenity in this story. In a period of high unemployment, increasing poverty, and rising vioâ€" lence, Walsh can successfully operâ€" ate a store which sells nothing but a single type of expensive seasonal toy. We need to ask ourselves which activity promotes greater insensitivâ€" ity in young people to the needs of others: the sale of a tasteless skateâ€" board, or the expenditure by their parents of hundreds of dollars on a toy, and hundreds more on its use? The recent annual survey of charitable giving in Canada showed that Ontarians donated an average of under $150 last year to charity â€" less than the cost of most winter toys. Perhaps, parents who are conâ€" cerned about the influence of skateâ€" board art on their children should back up their outrage with action. Concerned families could choose to cut their visits to the ski hills in half, and donate the savings in time and money to local organizations which share their views. I guaranâ€" tee that this action will not go unnoticed by young family memâ€" bers. Additionally, young people who have earned their own money from partâ€"time jobs could learn true social responsibility by doing the same. Social evils will never be overâ€" come by the easy suppression of hardâ€"won rights such as the freeâ€" dom of expression. Social change occurs only as individuals within society take personal responsibility for their beliefs and support those beliefs with action. John A. Shuve Social vigilantes miss the mark Dear Sir: Hooray! The evils of skateboard illustration are being promptly addressed by Oakville politicians, community leaders, and the Beaver itself. Even the relatively few youths exposed to this depravity may be protected. Meanwhile, on a daily basis, vast numbers of young people are being exposed to violence, sex, and questionable social values via rock music, movies, and a plethora of inane TV programs. It is reassuring to know that our social vigilantes have their priorities straight. ‘ a ThE Oaxyvrir Beaver I N F O CALL845â€"5585 John A. McCallum _SPEAK YOUR MIND Got a gripe? Give us a call. Readers are invited to express their opinion on a topic of their choice by calling 845â€"5585, box 5250. All callers are allowed 45 secâ€" onds to express their opinion and must provide their name, address and phone number for verification. A cross section of the responses will be published in next Wednesday‘s Oakyville Beaver. The Oakville Beaver welcomes your comments. All letters must be signed and include the writer‘s address and phone number. Letters should be typed, doubleâ€"spaced and addressed to: Letters to the Editor, j The Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, support of the entire Ontario health community. Your editorial shows a misunâ€" derstanding about the nature of addiction and the economics of tobacco control, however. Your readers may have been misled by your concern that, if tobacco conâ€" sumption declines as a result of this legislation, the province may be harmed by a shortfall in tobacâ€" co tax revenues. As a principal involved in the campaign, permit me to explain. First, to refrain from addressâ€" ing to tobacco epidemic for ecoâ€" nomic reasons would be asking to prolonging the Second World War in order to keep the armaâ€" humming. Addicting a generation of kids and prolonging an epidemic to generate taxes would be an exerâ€" cise in moral lunacy. Second, the tobacco industry costs the economy far more in hospital services, lost productiviâ€" ty, and other costs, than it generâ€" ates in tax revenues. The health care savings from reduced conâ€" sumption would offset any losses in tax revenue over time. Third, tobacco taxes are transâ€" fer payments and generate no new wealth in the economy. If consumers do not spend their $2,000 or so a year on tobacco, they will spend it on other goods and services creating, on balance, more jobs than are created in the lowâ€"laborâ€"intensive tobacco industry. Taxation would flow from the sale of the other goods and services, but without the tragic costs caused by the tobacâ€" co epidemic. The bottom line is that Minister of Health Ruth Grier‘s Bill 119 is "winning legislation". It will benefit both public health and serve the economic interests of the province. The Rae governâ€" ment deserves praise for this legâ€" islation. ments industry Garfield Mahood Executive Director Nonâ€"Smokers‘ Rights Association Ian Oliver Publisher Robert Glasbey Advertising Director Norman Alexander Editor Geoff Hill Circulation Director Teri Casas Office Manager Tim Coles Production Manager Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a error, that portion of the 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 the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize and reject advertising. in the event of typographical error, advertising goods or not be sold at a Road to safety and sanity | Jan. 19, 1994 The Oakville Beaver, published every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, at 467 Sl)eers Rd. 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Advertising is posssssssconsssssosses + OF THE DAY Dear Sir: The issue of Joshua Creek has been discussed, debated, and disâ€" sected at the many meetings held by the Town and the residents of southeast Oakwville during the past year. After extensive research and an expensive environmental study, the goâ€"ahead, after 30 years, was given 100% approval by the Town council. Mrs. Oberndofer ask that Mrs. Melhuish "...Open her eyes...she might notice a road called Winston Churchill that connects Lakeshore to Royal Windsor, one that already exists!" Mrs. Melhuish knows that the council found Winston Churchill nonviâ€" able. Why? Because residents of southeast Oakville prefer and use Ford Drive. If this were not the case, we would not have approxiâ€" mately 16,000 cars a day transiting through residential streets. It is ludicrous to infer Joshua Creek will be destroyed. With the long awaited road, will also come a necessary environmental cleanâ€" up area. Yes, parts of the creek are being used for garbage disposal. A 2.5% reduction in the green belt area is a small price to pay for primarily safety and secondary sanity. I feel this to be a far cry of Mrs. Oberndofer‘s perception of "Convenience". Mr. and Mrs. Melhuish have been active supporters of the Ford Drive extension to Lakeshore Road for twenty of those thirty years. Neither have kept their address a secret. However, I feel Mrs. Oberndorfer has missed one key word â€" "Planned". Twenty years ago, the Melhuish‘s bough their home on Brookmill Road. This was a time when Ford Drive was planned to continue up to Lakeshore Road. Mrs. Oberndorfer bought a home near Ford Drive within the last six years and was aware of the plan that started more than 20 years ago. Thanks to the efforts of Nigel and Pat Melhuish, our community has rallied into a voice which was finally heard. Mrs. Oberndorfer, we do not need to take a "...Refresher course in basic biology" because it will not address the problem of 16,000 cars a day and the safety of our children. The completion of Ford Drive to Lakeshore Road will. items for men and women who live alone for 1990â€"91 Item men Pam and Leo Sachs All single ‘ All single women Housing 31.3% 37.9% Transportation 17.5% 13.0% Food . 13.6% 13.0% Personal insurance and pensions 8.6% 5.9% Entertainment 5.7% 4.1% Apparel and services 4.3% 6.4% Cash contributions 4.2% 3.7% Health care 4.0% 7.5% Alcoholic beverages 2.2% 0.9% Personalâ€"care products and services 1.0% 1.5% Tobacco products and smoking supplies 1.0% 0.7% Reading 0.6% 0.7% NEA Graphic