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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, March 31, 2010 · 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 --Open 9-5 weekdays, 5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekends 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: Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America Canadian Community Newspapers Association ATHENA Award 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 Easter eggs for all No matter how many times a pundit proclaims the worst of the recession is over, the sheer volume of clients at local food banks says differently. Despite the fact most Oakville residents have likely never experienced the need to visit a local food bank, the agencies exist because the demand exists. Fareshare food bank hopes its Easter Food Drive, which began March 27 and continues through Sunday, April 11, will help it make ends meet as it is the Easter food drive that will primarily stock its shelves for the spring, summer and early fall. There is not another food drive until Thanksgiving. Over the past year, there were worries food bank shelves may go bare and clients would struggle. Generosity in the community put the fear of running out of food to bed and Fareshare hopes the same giving spirit will present itself at Easter. The statistics say more people have turned to the food bank than ever before. Last year -- and so far in 2010 -- an average 377 visits are made to Fareshare each month. With more than half of those visits by families with kids, Fareshare puts food on the table for approximately 1,200 people a month. The faces who line up for monthly rations are typically those of young to middle-aged people, mostly singles, couples or families with children. Their reasons for visiting are many -- from job loss to low income, from exhausted income benefits to disabilities like mental illness that prevents clients from breaking the cycle of poverty. Not many are seniors and it is hoped that's not because of pride or mobility issues, but rather that they at least have a steady pension income. All non-perishable donations are welcome with the following in high demand: canned fruit, canned vegetables (except corn), cookies and crackers, vegetable oil, canned stew, junior baby food, baby formula and desserts. Cash donations also help the food bank buy items should it run low, to purchase fresh foods like milk, meat and produce. Donations can be dropped off at the food bank located at 1240 Speers Rd., Unit 6, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday to Saturday, all Oakville fire stations and in all Oakville supermarkets where collection bins have been provided. For information, call 905-847-3988. This Easter season, please give what you can spare so that no one in town will go hungry. 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 416-3401981. 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 Will Liberals defy leader? For the OPA-approved power plant in southeast Oakville to be stopped, either Premier Dalton McGuinty has to do an about face, or Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn's private member's bill, calling for a 1,500 metre buffer zone, has to be approved. Though stranger things have happened, it appears unlikely the Premier will kill the plant at this late stage, given his unqualified support to date. As for the passage of Flynn's bill, it begs the question will Liberal colleagues risk defying their leader? Failing a political solution, that leaves the courts. Should TransCanada be thwarted by our elected representatives, rest assured, it will seek judicial recourse, in which case, may justice prevail. PETER D. PELLIER 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 email to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Private member's bill too little, too late Re: Oakville MPP introduces private member's bill, Oakville Beaver, March 24. This article states that Kevin Flynn has introduced a private member's bill to introduce regulations specifying that gas power plants must be at least 1,500 metres away from residential areas. The key phrase in the article is "if passed." Kevin Flynn was ineffectual 10 months ago with regard to the proposed gas-powered plant in Oakville; nothing has changed. The current government will modify the bill to make it effective only for power plants where a location has not been decided or Mr. Flynn's colleagues will simply not pass the bill. The caucus members vote they way they are told to vote by their party leader. Dalton McGuinty has stated his position and he is not willing to listen to the people of Oakville claiming "nimbyism." Oakville residents are not gullible. If Flynn had introduced this bill 10 months ago, I would accept it was intended to benefit Oakville constituents and other Ontario communities. Mr. Flynn, you made your stand, your lack of position and lack of support was known 10 months ago. At this late date, a private member's bill is mere grandstanding. JANE YOUNG, OAKVILLE Clearview school deserves name that reflects community Re: Name doesn't fit new Clearview school, Oakville Beaver, March 26 Along with Mike West, I, too, am amazed that this name was selected. This American slave resided in Eastlake not Clearview and it is not part of Clearview's history. The board requested names from the local community, but chose to select a name that was not submitted by the community and does not pertain to the neighbourhood in which the school is located. This name had support for only one person -- the Grade 5 student from West Oak Trails, no one else. This does not make sense. The board needs to review its decision. There were other choices much more appropriate and names that directly reflect the Clearview community, after all the theme of the school is Innovation in the 21st Century. M. SALVETTI, CLEARVIEW RESIDENT