OPINION & LETTERSTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:The Oakville BeaverTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:Canadian Circulation467 Speers Rd.,Audit Board Member Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 Recognized for Excellence by(905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571ClassiOntario CommunityCanadian Communityfied Advertising: 632-4440 Newspapers AssociationNewspapers AssociationCirculation: 845-9742 Open 9-5 weekdays,ATHENASuburban NewspapersAward5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekendsof AmericaEditorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. NEIL OLIVERVice President and Group ROD JERREDManaging EditorMARK DILLSDirector of ProductionUnauthorized use is prohibited.Publisher of Metroland WestDANIEL BAIRDAdvertising DirectorMANUEL GARCIAProduction ManagerThe Oakville Beaver is a division ofDAVID HARVEYRegional General ManagerRIZIERO VERTOLLIPhotography DirectorCHARLENE HALLDirector of DistributionJILL DAVISEditor in ChiefSANDY PAREBusiness ManagerSARAH MCSWEENEYCirc. ManagerLetter to the editorTurn off lightsStop Toryfor Earth HourdoubletalkingRe:Ontario Tories committed to Many of us will manage to go without having our lights nuclear energy policy, Oakville on at home or work for 60 minutes tomorrow (Friday) Beaver,March 17evening starting at 8:30 p.m.Now hold on, Jim Wilson, However, organizers of the annual Earth Hour event are Conservative MPP. You say we have encouraging people to think beyond the symbolic gesture for environmentala safe reliable nuclear fleet, and change by finding other ways of making our world a better place everyday.yet Stephen Harpers Conservative Not only does it make good sense for the planet, but it government in Ottawa, less than also makes cents for homeowners with monthly utility bills two years ago, fired the head of the to pay.Nuclear Safety Commission because If youre already planning to spare an hour without she refused to restart the reactors at lights on tomorrow night, ask yourself have you:Chalk River until safety pumps ? replaced all your energy-sapping lightbulbs with more could be repaired. He overruled the efficient technology that uses about one-third the energy;head of an independent regulatory ? walked or ridden your bicycle to the corner store, the body because political expediency neighbourhood park or with your child to school, instead of was more important to him than taking the car, van or SUVsafety.? washed clothing in cold water instead of hot or Then you criticize the Ontario warm;Liberal government for its plan to ? installed low-flow toilets to help conserve the planets build a gas-fired plant here in most precious resource;Oakville. ? added a layer of clothing in colder months in order to Yet you dont mention that this remain warm after reducing your homes thermostat set-planned power plant might never ting a degree or two;have been necessary if the Harper ? been using both sides of sheets of paper before recy-clinggovernment had not prevented the them in your blue box;TheOakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations Letters to? finally decided to scrap your old automobile, lawn-and gOntario governments plan to pur-rammar. 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 viamower or any other gas-guzzling, pollution-spewing device chase new CANDU nuclear facili-e-mail toeditor@oakvillebeaver.com. TheBeaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter.the editorfor a more energy-efficient, eco-friendly model;ties. ? avoided leaving various home electronic chargers The purchase was halted by plugged in and ensured other equipment is not left on Harpers announcement that Atomic Overnight parking ticket complaintstandby mode for extended periods of time;Energy Canada was going to be sold. With Smart Meter technology introducing the concept IRequests by Ontario to work out a find it hard to believe that a commu-rewarded with a $30 ticket. of time-of-use billing to consumers across Ontario this year, procurement deal have been refused nity with a vibrant downtown with restau-I dont see how this would encourage ENERGY-STAR rated appliances with the ability to be pro-by Mr. Harpers government since rants and bars hands out tickets to cars left people to not take the chance and drive grammed for a delayed start can help keep hydro bills and this decision to sell was made in overnight in the parking lots. when they shouldnt. the peak use periods of the provinces hydro grid in check.2009.Most of those cars were probably left by There needs to be some kind of leeway Earth Hour seemed to lose some of its impact in The provincial Conservatives Oakville, last year, as fewer residents turned off their lights.patrons being smart enough to find alterna-here, especially when parking is free after 6 cant have it both ways. According to Oakville Hydro, Oakville residents tive ways home after perhaps having one p.m. on Saturday and free on Sunday.They cant maintain Canadas reduced their energy consumption by 1.7 per cent, or too many yet returning on a Sunday are Gord Taylor, Oakville nuclear plants are world leaders 2,851 kilowatt-hours.when their federal counterparts However, two years ago the town managed to reduce overrule safety concerns by experts. its energy consumption by a comparatively massive 13.3 Pud BY STEVE NEASEneasecartoons@gmail.comAnd they cant criticize Ontario for per cent, which amounted to a savings of 22,233.73-kilo-planning to build gas-fired plants watt hours. Three years ago, Oakville dropped its energy when the federal Conservatives consumption by 8.2 per cent.make decisions that prevent expan-Let's hope last year's poor showing was an isolated sion of the provinces nuclear power occurrence and not a sign that more people are turning generating capacity.off Earth Hour rather than their lights.I hope Ontario voters will look behind the Stop Dalton signs at the 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 double talk the Conservatives are event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together trying to hide.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. Geoff Rothwell, Oakvillewww.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, March 25, 2011 6