Beaver THE OAKVILLE Voted Ontario's Top Newspaper Four Years in a Row - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com MORTGAGES Visit our Website for Locations and Times G R E AT R AT E S Purchases Over 40 Renewals Lenders Refinances Credit Lines Rental Vacation Properties Properties Stocking foodbank's shelves Living www.survivorbootcamp.com OUT OF INK? 905.827.8009 REFILL AND SAVE UP TO 60% PAUL FOLEY AMP MORTGAGE AGENT M08005472 1500 Upper Middle Rd. Abbey Plaza at Third Line HO: 600 5770 Hurontario St. Mississauga, ON L5R 3G5 Licence #10801 Powered by Upper Oakville Shopping Centre (Upper Middle & 8th Line) 905-842-5600 A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 52 No. 118 "USING COMMUNICATION TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES" WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 64 Pages $1.00 (plus GST) Bronte bull rider Oakville student admits part in terror plot By Bob Mitchell TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE Power plant opponents take plea to Queen's Park By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Saad Gaya knew his group was making bombs. He even knew buildings would be destroyed in downtown Toronto. But the 21-year-old McMaster University science student from Oakville insists he never agreed or knew he would eventually be one of the drivers hauling fertilizer bombs to a target destination in a rented truck. He also says he didn't know the ringleader of the homegrown Al Qaeda-inspired group hoped people would die in a "Battle of Toronto" that would be bigger than the London subway attacks of July 2005 and recall the horror of 9/11. Nevertheless, he pleaded guilty Monday to participating in a terrorist group -- the so-called Toronto 18 -- that intended to cause an explosion likely to cause serious property damage, bodily harm or death. Gaya said softly: "I plead guilty ... it's the right thing to do." He is to be sentenced Jan. 6 by Justice Bruce Durno, following a three-day hearing slated for Dec. 21-23 in a Brampton courtroom. He is the fourth of the group to NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER See Lawyer page 2 AUTUMN FUN: Four-year-old Riley Bennett was one of the many youngsters to try to stay on the popular bull ride at the Bronte Autumnfest on Saturday. For more photos of this fun family event, see page 17 Opponents of a proposed gas-fired power plant for the Oakville-Clarkson Airshed area brought their concerns directly to Queen's Park Monday morning, even as the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) prepares to announce exactly where the 850-900 megawatt facility will be built. Oakville and Mississauga politi- "If they do belong in cians joined their neighbourhoods, I would residents within think that the premier the media studio of ought to lead by example the Legislative Assembly of and put one in his Ontario, where neighbourhood." they once again told the province Mayor Rob Burton why they feel the power plant is a bad fit for their area. "The simple facts are that the demand (for electricity) has dropped and is continuing to drop and this is a reflection of energy conservation, efficiency and a number of other items," said Doug MacKenzie, leader of the Chartwell-Maple Grove Residents' Association, who has also worked as a senior executive to such oil companies as Petro Canada. "In southeast Oakville and Mississauga, the demand has been down over 14 per cent (since 2006). We also have done a complete study of the trans See Power page 3 No Pay for 6 months and Huge Rebates PLUS We guarantee your valuable Manufacturer and Government Rebates and take care of the Paperwork for you. For Deadlines and Complete Details call 905-844-2949 Ask about our excellent Financing and Great Terms. SHUTTERS · Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed · Serving Oakville with Shop at Home Service · Wood & Vinyl Shutters, Supplied & Installed · High Quality at Affordable Prices CALIFORNIA & PLANTATION Authorized Eclipse Shutters Dealer Shop at Home Service FREE SHUTTERS ETC. 905.691.4455 www.shuttersetc.ca