www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, March 1, 2013 · 6 Opinion & Letters 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5566 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 905-631-6095 -- 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Oakville Beaver THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America Canadian Community Newspapers Association ATHENA Award Neil Oliver Vice President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The OakvilleBeaver is a division of David Harvey Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief, Halton Region Daniel Baird Advertising Director ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor Riziero Vertolli Photography Director Sandy Pare Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production Manuel garcia Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Trying to Wynne New Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne seemed to do everything she could in last week's Speech from the Throne to make everyone happy in the wake of her former boss's acrimonious years. She may have succeeded somewhat, except when it came to the Conservatives, but very little appears to make them happy these days. Halton Conservative MPP Ted Chudleigh said in a press release he believes the speech -- outlining the goals of the provincial government -- was designed to placate Opposition concerns and reassure the public that the government is effective "despite the evidence it is not." Chudleigh said he thinks former premier Dalton McGuinty shut down the Legislature and quit "in hopes the public would forget the mess that is Ontario's economy, politics, public services and future." In Chudleigh's opinion, "Wynne is hoping that a few soothing platitudes, some conciliatory language and signals of concern will predispose the electorate to forget." However, labour unions, teachers unions, doctors and nurses, agricultural federations, transportation groups and business boards all praised the speech for its conciliatory tone. But, all warned that unless real action happens for their various causes, their support will be withdrawn just as quickly. One of the first tests was the issue of returning extracurricular activities. Last Friday, Wynne was on the news saying she favoured a return while Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) representatives were saying the union would no longer advocate that public high school teachers refrain from the activities. However, it was late Friday and not until after many students and parents hearing the news went home for the weekend, did they learn that the return would not likely be smooth, or rapid. The union says it expects 20 per cent of teachers will not return to the activities. Another 20 per cent will, and 60 per cent will mull it over. With sports schedules pretty much shot for this year in many cases, the news was more talk than walk last Friday. This week, while the new premier has coasted over some ups and downs on issues, such as a judicial inquiry into the cancelled gas plants in Oakville and Mississauga and budget woes at the Toronto District School Board, it's likely the real test for the Wynne government will come in April when the budget is released. There's only so much money to go around -- particularly after McGuinty's wasteful years -- and Wynne will quickly find that words are cheap, but actions cost. 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. Send cards to Huseyin Letter to the editor 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 ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Mascot in poor taste: reader Re: Rack up Ribfest, The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013 For those who don't remember this photo, there was a cartoon oversize standup pig with a Ribfest logo apron, chef hat, and barbecue utensils with a rib on a fork. The pig is wearing pants and bowtie with a big grin on its face and thumbs-up gesture. The pig is flanked on either side by the chair of the Ribfest and Sheridan College president. Children are invited to name the `happy' pig. I'm not against the Ribfest or eating meat per se, but what does bother me is the depiction of the pig Ribfestgoers will be eating, as being happy with their lot and even cooking up one of its own. If we're going to eat these animals, I think they deserve our respect and thanks for what they provide us with. This mascot is in bad taste. Abbe Osicka, Oakville On March 1, The Oakville Group of Amnesty International is organizing a birthday card blitz for Huseyin Celil. Huseyin Celil, a Canadian citizen who was born in China, is a prisoner of conscience in China. He was born on March 1, 1969. He was arrested in 2006 on a request from the Chinese police, when he went to visit his wife's parents in Uzbekistan. He is still in prison -- for many years in solitary confinement with only one meal a day. We are not sure of his situation at present because the Chinese authorities will not release any information about Huseyin. He is a member of China's Uighur minority, and was a human rights activist. In the 1990s, he suffered persecution and detention in China for his work advocating for the religious and political rights of the Uighur people. In 1994, he was arrested by Chinese authorities. After his release from prison, he managed to flee China through the mountains. After many years, he was granted United Nations Convention Refugee Status. He came to Canada in 2001 as a refugee. He became a Canadian citizen in 2005 and settled in Burlington, Ont. with his wife and four young children -- three of whom were born in Canada. We hope an influx of greetings might make a difference to his case. Rita McPherson, Oakville Thanks for your stories and your support Re: Childerhose home with second wind/Be a donor editorial, The Oakville Beaver, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 My husband Rob had a double lung transplant last summer. We had the pleasure of first meeting Keith Childerhose and Sarah Taylor at Toronto General Hospital last July. Sarah recognized Rob from The Oakville Beaver article about the spinning fundraiser he was involved in to raise money for the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. We are thrilled Keith received new lungs in time. Not everyone is that lucky. Thank you to The Oakville Beaver for the continuing coverage it has provided of Keith's story and for last week's Be a donor editorial. Raising public awareness about the need to register to be a donor and to discuss the issue with family members is so very important. Because someone made the decision to register as a donor and their family respected their wishes, Rob and I are hopeful that our two little girls will grow up with a father. Words cannot describe how grateful we are for this priceless gift. Katharine Alexander-Carew, Oakville