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2- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday September 17, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Arts group forming swing team in Oakville riding Continued from page 1 it is just a government review and they are giving more money than the Liberals did, but on the other hand, it comes out in a memo that the reason for the cuts is because the money goes to people who PROBLEM DENTURES... FULL SERVICE DENTURE CLINIC PROMPT QUALITY CARE SAME DAY RELINES & REPAIRS EVENING APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE NEW PATIENTS WELCOME! BRIAN CARR DD JODIE CARR DD HAYLEY CARR DD Are you a candidate for Permanent Teeth-in-a-Day? CALL 1-877-453-3393 FOR YOUR COMPLEMENTARY CONSULTATION Making a Family Tradition of Creating Smiles for 29 years! are too political," he said. Barbara Gordon, also a Toronto actor, answered the call of the Department of Culture. She held a sign that read, `Mr. Harper, I Don't Trust You With The Future of My Country.' "The older I get, the more I see that the arts is what separate us from the animals and is what make us human," she said. "Art is research and development for life. If we cut money for the arts, we do damage to ourselves and future generations." Although the Department of Culture is largely made up of members of Canada's arts community, spokespeople say they aren't just pushing for better funding. They also want a better Canada, according to Toronto artist Danielle Williams "We're really discontent with the way the current government is being run and we don't want to see that again," said Williams. "Arts is an integrated aspect of being Canadian." The Department of Culture has identified Oakville as a key riding and is amassing what they call a `swing team' to ensure that a Conservative candidate is not elected. Liberal Bonnie Brown claimed victory over Conservative candidate Terence Young by just over 700 votes in the Jan. 23, 2006 election. Members of the arts group say they hope that anyone but Young is elected on Oct. 14. "We're trying to make sure the Conservatives don't win this riding," said Joel Thomson, a Toronto-based student artist. "We're not affiliated with any party. We see all the issues, like healthcare, environment, status of women, and so on, as well as the arts, as being integrated. We're afraid for our country." Although he did not go out to meet the protesters, Young said that he is a strong supporter of the arts. He said the arts are close to his heart, as his daughter, Madeline, is active on the local opera scene. "We're a big arts family," Young said. "If I'm elected, I will fight for funding for the arts." Reports in the media, such as the Globe and Mail and Toronto Star, have calculated that the Conservatives have cut roughly $45 million in arts and culture funding since coming into power in 2006. Young said this is not accurate, citing that as some programs end, others are being created. "The Liberals have twisted things around," he said. "Our government has actually increased the funding for the arts and culture by 19.6 per cent since Harper became prime minister. I support that approach." Although Young said he was receptive to meeting with Department of Culture members, some protesters affiliated with the organization were still skeptical. "It's great he wants to meet with us," said Thomson. "But even if the Conservative candidates say they are proarts, once they get elected, that all changes." The protest was peaceful, although dissidents were restricted by police from crossing property boundaries. This left protesters chanting and waving along the side of the gravel road leading to the centre. While many protesters held signs about arts cuts, there were an abundance of slogans and logos from members of the War Resisters Support Campaign. "There are a number of U.S. soldiers who have come to Canada who refuse to fight in Iraq, and Harper and his government are deporting them and we're here asking that war resisters be allowed to stay," said Michelle Robidoux, a member of the organization from Toronto. Several American soldiers seeking refuge in Canada were also on hand last night to support the cause, including Kimberly Rivera, who served in Iraq for three months. After returning to the U.S. on priority leave, she said she refused to return. The American military said her choices were to go back and serve in Iraq or go to jail, she said. Rivera chose a third option, fleeing to Canada with her husband and two young children in February 2007. They took refuge in Oakville before moving to Toronto. "Canada was my choice," said Rivera, who is expecting her third child. "I wasn't going to jail and I wasn't going to kill people. I'm hoping that we'll get to stay here, so I don't have to leave my family and go to jail. 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