OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, October 2, 2009 · 10 Politicians failed residents Continued from page 6 T he Home of Fine Broadloom Since 1952 Open Mon-Wed. 9-5 Thurs.-Fri. 9-7, Sat 9-5 Green Rd. Grays Rd. Centennial Prwy. Beaulieu For Timeless Quality, Service & Price Barton St. E. www.vartanianrugs.com 320 Green Rd. at Bar ton · Stoney Creek · 662-6395 905-560-1166 going to see this plant built in the proposed location. As residents and voters, we all need to ask why. None of the original four proposed locations for this plant are good from a public safety or long-term cost standpoint and Oakville is probably the worst of the four. So why put it here? Our provincial government seems to have quietly embarked on an electricity program to privatize the supply of base generation, subsidize "green" energy at nearly double the U.S. and European rates that focuses on private sector deals over health, cost and energy security. In this case, Trans Canada had an existing site, as did the other bidders, which met their own business needs. Our government, through OPA, appears to have selected a site based on business relationships with these private contractors and ignored the long term cost and environmental impacts for its constituents. From the contractor's standpoint, that is understandable, its business, but from a political standpoint, that is not okay. As for our local politicians: both Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn and Mayor Rob Burton, whom I voted for, have treated us to some great political rhetoric, but they have so far failed completely to protect us. Our federal MP has done no better. Flynn, in particular could, for instance, walk across the floor, join another party or sit as an independent to truly make an issue of this in the house. That would be a significant political action. Burton and his council could, with some zoning changes, try to broker a deal to move the plant north of the city near Hwy. 407. Not a perfect solution, but at least the dispersion factor would move the most intense emissions away from our residential areas. Move it far enough, say eight kilometers, and the health concerns and emissions become a non-issue. As it stands, our politicians' collective promises to "clean up the airshed," without a detailed and executable plan, have little credibility. I hope we all remember that at the next elections. Your vote does matter; so make a statement with it next time. But, for now, please let our politicians, right up to the premier, know that if they are not all willing to put their political careers on the line for this issue right now, then they won't get to represent us next time. They might understand that, and it may be our best hope to move this plant to a safer location. LEE BATTISTON PHD CANDIDATE, RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS Free gift with every mammogram! Mammograms can save lives by finding breast changes in the early stages. Women 50+ need regular mammograms every one to two years. Call in October to book your mammogram at a participating location in Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk, Halton, Hamilton or Niagara and receive a free gift. Call the Ontario Breast Screening Program at 1-800-668-9304 for a location near you. Be sure to mention the Be a Breast Friend Project when you call to reserve your free gift! www.beabreastfriend.ca