The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, May 20, 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 David kicks back On the surface, Halton Region's recent resolution calling for the U.S. legislature to repeal `Buy American' requirements in a number of already-passed or proposed bills may appear to be a case of David versus Goliath. Members of the U.S. Congress, which passed the legislation -- including the $787-billion stimulus bill endorsed by the U.S. government and signed into law by President Barack Obama in mid-February -- likely don't know where Halton Region is. They may, however, soon find out. Taking the lead from Halton Hills council, which passed a similar resolution several weeks ago, Region officials last week adopted a resolution that also calls for Canadian municipalities to consider buying goods and materials from companies in countries that don't impose local trade restrictions against products manufactured in Canada (read U.S.). Some may see this as a case of tit for tat. Not so, say Halton's elected officials. "This is not Buy Canadian," said Halton Hills Regional Councillor Clark Somerville of the resolution. "This is (about) fair trade and free trade." Somerville, Halton's representative on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), said the issue will be discussed at the executive committee of FCM later this month and will likely be debated at the organization's annual general meeting set for early June. That could mean municipal leaders across the country jumping on the Halton bandwagon. The matter came to a head when Halton Hills-based company Hayward Gordon found it was being hurt by American content requirements in U.S. federal funding bills for public projects. Specifically, the stimulus bill attached a condition to the $90 billion it provides for infrastructure projects requiring that all iron, steel and manufactured goods used in the project originate from the U.S. Companies, like Hayward Gordon, were losing out on projects in the U.S. because of this new protectionist policy while American companies were still winning contracts in Canada. Company owner John Hayward cried "foul" and he has successfully taken his message across the country via the media -- with the support and blessings of Halton Hills council and Mayor Rick Bonnette. It is hoped these made-in-Canada moves to fight back will capture the Americans' attention and get them to repeal their unfair protectionist legislation. While it may be easy to scoff at Halton's shin-kicking of the U.S. giant, the U.S. would be wise to remember how the tale of David and Goliath turned out. 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 Seniors' housing loses to NIMBY In Seniors housing scuttled, Oakville Beaver, May 8 Town council and the mayor crowed over their achievement of having stopped the building of 125 seniors' housing units so that 14 expensive single detached houses could be built on that site instead. I have no interest in that particular project but, as a retired professional urban planner, who had met many similar situations in his career, I can't help but to point to that example of what is wrong with planning as currently practiced in Ontario. "Public participation" usually means that the only people heard are the NIMBYs (Not In My Backyard), who already have nice housing, thank you, and don't want their neighbourhood sullied with anything cheaper. Wider public interests, such as the growing need for seniors' housing, to say nothing of social housing, are not in consideration. People who need such housing are not asked their opinion, are not represented at planning hearings, and would not carry any weight with local politicians if they were. ANDRZEJ DERKOWSKI 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. A good sign of bad public relations I am a relatively new homeowner and I have not had an occasion to comment on a residential matter until now (although I avidly follow debates about leaf raking, snow shovelling, etc.). Recently, a large sign from a roofing company blew over and landed on my front lawn. As I had no idea where it came from, I called the company and asked if the sign could be picked up by them. First answer: "Can you just throw it out?" I then explained that the garbage/recycling was unlikely to dispose of it. Second answer: "Okay, we'll come pick it up." Two days later, the lovely sign was still there, continuing to boast to my neighbourhood the possibility of a free estimate. Third answer: "Can't you just throw it out? I'm very busy." I repeated my explanation that the garbage/recycling was unlikely to dispose of it, also adding that I didn't appreciate him saying he would come pick it up and then not do it, and essentially leave me with his "garbage." Fourth answer: (dead silence, phone hung up at the other end). Obviously, when I or anyone I know of needs a new roof, I will not be calling or referring to this "sign mafia," but this experience does lead to some interesting questions: Is it a company's responsibility to remove their own client's or other wayward signs? Is it the client's (neighbour's) responsibility? In this economic downturn, should any company so boldly boast that they could care less that their sign is bothersome? And lastly, should I just "shut up and (try to) throw the darn thing out, already?!" In any case, I look forward to any opinions and hearing about other victims of rogue signs, and especially, I look forward to garbage day. (Postscript: The sign now waits, alone, in my garage.) DANIEL HOLLENBERG This week's poll This week's question is: Would you like to see the Phoenix Coyotes: · Move to Hamilton, Ontario? · Move to Winnipeg, Manitoba? · Move to another GTA location? · Remain in Phoenix? To vote, visit oakvillebeaver.com Last week's poll: Who do you believe? · Brian Mulroney 29.63% · Karlheinz Schreiber 3.7% · Neither 66.67% Total votes: 27 votes