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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, June 11, 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 Many workers still struggling There's some positive news on the job front in Ontario. The most recent Labour Force Survey released by Statistics Canada shows an increase of 18,000 fulltime positions in Ontario during the month of May. That brings the total employment gains in the province to 127,000 since July 2009 -- an increase of 1.9 per cent compared to 1.8 per cent growth nationally. Across Canada, the number of full-time positions was up 67,000 in the month, but was slightly offset by losses of 43,000 part-time jobs. Gains were reported in transportation and warehousing (26,000), health care and social assistance (18,000), public administration (13,000) and agriculture (9,000). But it wasn't all positive news from Statistics Canada. Despite Ontario's job growth, the province's unemployment rate edged up slightly to 8.9 per cent as the number of people entering the job market and population figures rose. Also, a study of laid-off auto manufacturing employees at three Ontario plants shows only about one quarter are working and most of them earn a lot less since the economy began recovering last year. The Canadian Auto Workers said Monday that preliminary results from tracking the experiences of 260 laid-off members at Chrysler Canada in Brampton and two parts makers reveals almost half of them have also bounced from job to job and are struggling with social problems. Closer to home, Oakville's economy has been shedding jobs by the dozens -- the most recent involving approximately 350 employees of Omron Dualtec Automotive Electronics Inc., who will be out of work next year when the manufacturing section of the auto components producer ceases production in March 2011 and moves to St. Charles, Illinois. Even with modest EI reforms recently announced, it's clear the recession will be felt for years to come by workers -- locally and across our country. What's more clear is the fact that no level of government can declare victory in the battle toward economic recovery. 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 ERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER STILL FLYING: Nigel and Sheila Southway and their replacement flag. Louts steal Canadian flag Respect for the Canadian flag and all that it means especially with our soldiers at war does not appear to be shared by some louts in Bronte. Don't bother bringing back the one you stole from our front door, we have put up another one. In our hearts we know you do not represent all the younger generation. NIGEL AND SHEILA SOUTHWAY, OAKVILLE 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. Moving skateboard park was wrong solution Re: Skatepark moving to Palermo, Oakville Beaver, June 3 My husband and I were deeply disappointed to read the skateboard park (which we urged to be put in our community) is now being relocated due to noise complaints as a result of after-hours park use. Here's the reality: Shell Park has a skateboard park backing onto homes and somehow they have managed to co-exist. The issue here is proper police surveillance of parks after hours and youth education. The park should not be dismantled at the first sign of a problem. Why don't the neighbourhood, Town and police work with the youths to ensure that BY STEVE NEASE neasecartoons@gmail.com Pud they respect this space? Why don't the parks staff and police address the enforcement of park closure hours? We shouldn't be dismantling a skateboard park, which benefits so many respectful kids, simply because of a few. What we need to do is to get the youths and skater community involved to problem solve and take ownership of their space in a respectful way. Make them part of the solution. These kids need a voice and unfortunately it seems as though a few louder adults are overpowering them. See Solution page 10