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OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, May 8, 2009 · 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 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 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 Not enough This week's passing of provincial legislation intended to ensure that current and future provincial governments remain focused on the fight against poverty doesn't impress us. Ontario's poor don't need legislation to guarantee what candidates from the Conservative, Liberal and New Democratic parties have repeatedly promised election after election. While it's great that elected officials at Queen's Park unanimously supported the recognition of poverty as a serious concern in Ontario -- especially among children -- this is a segment of society screaming out for action, not more empty promises. Recent history shows that Queen's Park has had a less than stellar track record, including periods of denial about the plight of the homeless, hungry and working poor. Dalton McGuinty's Liberal government boldly claims it will reduce the number of Ontario children living in poverty by 25 per cent -- or 90,000 children -- in five years. While the Poverty Reduction Act 2009 is seen by some as an example of government listening to the electorate, it can also be viewed as an admission that for a very long time, our elected officials in this province have been turning a blind eye to this insidious social problem. It's really quite shameful that our government should feel a need to pass a law that binds successive provincial governments "to maintain an ongoing commitment to the reduction of poverty." As compassionate human beings, shouldn't ending poverty automatically be one our top priorities? While the Liberal government is offering some financial backing, including a proposed increase to the Ontario Child Benefit from $600 to a maximum of $1,100 this July, we still worry that while the well-worded commitment may remain, the financial backing may fade as time and political parties move on. For the sake of Ontario's poor, we hope and pray we're wrong. 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 MPP's column was confusing I am somewhat confused after reading Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh's column Reverse decline to ensure future, Oakville Beaver, April 25. I agree the harmonization of the PST and GST is a major tax grab from the most vulnerable. What confuses me is why Chudleigh, who is a Conservative, failed to mention in his article that the Federal Conservative party in Ottawa gave Dalton McGuinty's Liberals $400 million of our tax dollars to help implement this scam to the taxpayers. Even though the Liberals, with their phony majority of 44 per cent, will ram this down our throats. I will be watching to see how Chudleigh debates the harmonization tax when it comes before the legislature, and when the vote takes place, will he stand up and vote against the harmonized tax? It is one thing to write an article and another to stand up in the legislature and back your words -- I will be watching. KEN ROBERTSON 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. This week's poll This week's question is: Are you concerned about getting the H1N1 flu virus? · Yes · No To vote, visit oakvillebeaver.com Last week's poll: Do you agree with the Ontario government's ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides? · Yes 21.69% · No 78.31% Total votes: 83 votes BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com Thanks for help A very grateful thank you to the kind lady and gentleman who helped me on Saturday, April 25, when I had a bad fall near Tim Hortons at Trafalgar Road near Lakeshore Road. They called the ambulance, and stayed with me until it came. I really cannot thank you enough. The ambulance attendants, the nurses, doctors, and X-Ray technicians at Oakville Hospital, were wonderful. Thank you all. How reassuring to know such goodness really does still exist, in such abundance. My sincere thanks to each and every one of you. EVELYN ABBOTT Pud