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

OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, September 30, 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 Regional 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 Pre-election campaigning While this month's attempt to force another federal election few Canadians want fell short, there is every sign the minority government Conservatives and Opposition Liberals are keeping their political daggers out for when that inevitable day comes to battle for the right to govern. Last week, the two parties used south Halton as the backdrop to engage in a chess game of mostly political rhetoric. The Conservatives fired the first salvo in the form of an Oakville visit by Prime Minister Stephen Harper who, while sipping hot chocolate credited his government with providing the economic climate that attracted the venerable Tim Hortons to relocate its corporate headquarters back to Canadian soil. Not to be outdone, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff -- plus high-profile wingman Gerard Kennedy -- arrived at the site of a proposed Burlington park to slag the Conservatives for dragging their feet on projects targeted by their own federal infrastructure stimulus package. About an hour later, Conservative Infrastructure Minister John Baird stood at the busy construction site of Burlington's new Transit Operations Centre in an obvious attempt to quash the Liberal propaganda. Later that afternoon, Industry Minister Tony Clement was in Burlington touting an agreement in which locally-based L-3 Wescam would supply parts for Boeing CH-147 Chinook cargo helicopters, including 15 purchased by Ottawa for the Canadian Forces. It's funny how governments always take credit for signs of economic stimulus, but then pin the blame for job losses on the other guy. Opposition parties frequently use the same tactic. The Conservatives and Liberals certainly aren't shy about the fact they've hitched their future campaign wagons to the one issue all Canadians can agree will remain uppermost in their thoughts this fall, winter and next spring -- economic recovery. If last week's demonstration of political spin and counter-spin by the Conservatives and Liberals is any indication, the electorate can expect frequent drop-ins by a who's who of both parties -- especially once a date for the next election is known. In the meantime, someone needs to explain to both parties that so much hot air before the real campaign starts will only make global warming worse. 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 New Loyola field waste of money What a waste of taxpayer dollars. For the past several weeks, St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Secondary School has replaced the sounds of kids playing football and soccer on their fields with heavy construction equipment. It's hard to believe, but the Catholic board has approved replacing the oval track and soccer field with a new facility that will include artificial grass, a new track and better seating to view events at a cost of $1.7 million. What where they thinking? I can understand a better track to replace the asphalt and a bigger and better viewing stand. But the grass field was in excellent shape. The Knights of Columbus contributed about $100,000 to have the original field constructed on a sandy base with excellent drainage and a sprinkler system. It has served the community well for more than 10 years. Why spend hard-earned taxpayers dollars to replace a natural surface with an artificial one? Does the board have any understanding of Sustainable Development and the importance of helping to green the community at all levels? I feel sorry for the kids. Their field has been torn up. Their season has been lost with respect to any play on the property this year. In addition, artificial fields have been known to cause a greater number of sports-related injuries. Lighting is also being proposed to extend the playing time. The lighting option has frustrated the neighbours in the area. While all this is going on the Town of Oakville has constructed a wonderful combination of fields and parks at Palermo close to the Dundas and Bronte Road intersection. Regretfully, the Catholic Board did not work with the Town on this one. All in all it looks like a lot of poor choices. Let's hope in the future the decision makers at the Catholic board use better judgment and greater community involvement when making these types of decisions. FRUSTRATED LOYOLA NEIGHBOUR. FRANK LENARDUZZI 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. Field lights good investment for students I vote yes to support the new sports field at St. Ignatius of Loyola Secondary School that is in development. I believe that it is most important for the youths in our community to see that Oakville is investing in them and actively promoting healthy living. I hope the few home owners that are against it will be outnumbered by families like my own who care for investing in our community's youths and to realize that they are living in a family-oriented neighborhood. K. CURTIS School board disrupting neighbourhood I have just found out that the Halton District Catholic School Board intends to petition the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) in order to put lights on the St. Ignatius of Loyola Secondary School field. Apparently the board doesn't think the Town of Oakville, and its residents deserve a say in what happens in their community. I will say up front that I do not back on to this sports field, or the other lighted field you are trying to get at St. Thomas Aquinas. However, I think it is important, as Oakville homeowners, to stand up and say we will protect our interests. It is simply not right to change the rules and disrupt both the enjoyment and value of existing homes -- usually the single-biggest investment and also one of the biggest sources of pride people have. Forcing these lights on existing homeowners is just wrong. Going to the OMB shows an incredible disdain for the people of your community. Shame on the board. CATHERINE TAUGH