www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, January 29, 2010 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 --Open 9-5 weekdays, 5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekends Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: NEIL OLIVER Vice President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Senseless crime Some good has come out of something bad, however, it should never have happened in the first place. Vandals trashed a north Halton public school Monday night forcing the board to shutter the school Tuesday for cleanup. Two men face charges of break and enter, mischief over $5,000 and cruelty to animals. The Acton community has rallied around the primary school, helping to ease the pain caused by the vandalism. The outpouring of support, however, doesn't take away from the fact that 25 computers were smashed when they were tossed to the floor, chairs and tables overturned and thrown around, and display cases smashed. Supplies were strewn everywhere. The cruelty to animals charge stems from a fish tank being tampered with that caused at least 10 fish to die. "It was just senseless," the school's principal Bob Tadman told the Oakville Beaver's sister newspaper The Georgetown Independent and Free Press. We have a much stronger word than senseless to describe this crime. Vandalism costs all of our communities in so many ways -- not just monetarily. It is invasive, destructive and a blight on society. But when children bear the brunt of such a stupid act, that's when we hope our justice system takes a much stronger view when it comes to dishing out punishment. School is considered a safe environment. It's a place to learn and be with friends all under the watchful eyes of caring educators. The students' sense of security has been dashed. While computers can be replaced, chairs and tables righted, and supplies stored away, no one can replace the fish. It may seem trivial to some, but children grow to love the `pets' that are in classrooms. Teachers are now faced with the difficult task of having to explain the actions of the accused. School life will return to normal and the vandalism will become a distant memory for the youngsters. We just don't want the justice system to forget. 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 on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of 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 at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Letter to the editor Air quality bylaw not warranted I am astounded by the letters written in support, and the Town's continual blurbs about the need for a Health Protection Air Quality Bylaw, in isolation, for Oakville. What really hit me between the eyes was the comment from the Town's hired solicitor Rodney Northey, not a denial but close, when asked about a linkage between TransCanada's proposed power plant and this new proposed bylaw. Anybody who cannot see that the power plant was the catalyst must be dreaming. With children and grandchildren living in Oakville, my wife and I are longtime residents, and I would be the first to demand action to protect the health and welfare of all Oakvillians. With the egregiously tainted fanfare launched by the Town to obtain residents' approval for the proposed bylaw, a few truths and facts intrude. Much is made of 80 yearly deaths, shocking as they may be, attributable to particulate matter 2.5 microns (PM2.5) and mention of more than 30 studies (studies, not peer-reviewed research) about health effects due to exposure to PM2.5. The primary confounding factor missing in these studies and the report of deaths, and Town blurbs, is the growing concentration of PM2.5 (and other chemical emissions and matter) within the home with recent efforts to reduce draughts and heat loss. When combined with lifestyle changes, particularly in children, where in-home entertainment and occupations have increased enormously -- television, computers, we have created a breeding ground for health hazards that may well relate to reasons for the 80 deaths claimed. Common in-house contaminants include pet dander 0.5-100 microns, pollen and spores from indoor plants 5100 and 6-100 microns respectively, dust mite debris 0.5-50 microns, household dust 0.5-100 microns, and skin flakes, Letters to the editor The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. In support of Oakville MP Terence Young Re: Contrasting styles, Oakville Beaver, Jan. 22 How easily you forget. From 1993 to 2008, Oakville barely had representation. Now we have an MP who meets with constituents, spends time in the riding, holds public consultations and consults the business community. By my recollection of articles published in your own newspaper, Oakville MP Terence Young has managed to secure more than $50 million of federal investment dollars for Oakville. When is the last time we had someone working for our community like this? I am disappointed by your criticism simply because our MP wanted to keep this meeting focused on the topic of the upcoming budget. Setting an agenda focusing on the budget seems entirely appropriate at this time of year. ` I hope he keeps up the good work. N. KETTLE, OAKVILLE Pud BY STEVE NEASE neasecartoons@gmail.com See Bylaw page 8