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OPINION & LETTERSTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:The Oakville BeaverTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:Canadian Circulation467 Speers Rd.,Audit Board Member Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 Recognized for Excellence by(905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571COntario CommunityCanadian Communitylassified Advertising: 632-4440 Newspapers AssociationNewspapers AssociationCirculation: 845-9742 Open 9-5 weekdays,ATHENASuburban NewspapersAward5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekendsof AmericaEditorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright.NEIL OLIVERVice President and Group ROD JERREDManaging EditorMARK DILLSDirector of ProductionUnauthorized use is prohibited.Publisher of Metroland WestDANIEL BAIRDAdvertising DirectorMANUEL GARCIAProduction ManagerThe Oakville Beaver is a division ofDAVID HARVEYRegional General ManagerRIZIERO VERTOLLIPhotography DirectorCHARLENE HALLDirector of DistributionJILL DAVISEditor in ChiefSANDY PAREBusiness ManagerSARAH MCSWEENEYCirc. ManagerLetter to the editorS.I.D.E. step inEngaging votersWith the exception of the 2010rong direction municipal election in Oakville, peoplein general, are lessening their engage-ment at the ballot box.When faced with a choice between following Catholic Could it be the spin with num-teachings and the welfare of gay students who attend its schools, it was no contest for the Halton Catholic District bers; creative presentation verses theSchool Board.facts highlighted in both letters to theThis weeks unveiling of a weak substitute to the boards editor and recent editorials?previously archaic equity and inclusivity policy is evidence The perception, real or not, of the school board remains mired in a state of denial.declining influence of MPPs and MPs,The boards (churchs) stubborn refusal to formally especially backbenchers?offer support to gay and lesbian students who are bullied, That the mold really was brokenfeel isolated and need somewhere to turn for support after the late Fred Oliver was born,seems, well, cold to us.with the majority of elected folk play-The newly-proposed student support and discussion ing politics, caring firstly about theirgroup Safety, Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity (S.I.D.E.) Spaces re-election or party interests, versussounds like one-stop peer support.serving the people?The board has carefully excluded the terms gay or Always seeing the glass half-fulllesbian when discussing its S.I.D.E. Spaces proposal. let me say there are positive signs. One board official preferred to call it, a more inclusive Editorials and Letters to the Editorformat that is for any student who feels they are not are holding council membersaccepted.accountable, despite an imperfect sys-Its clear to us that the school board wants to distance tem people are seeking nominations,itself from last months ugly incident when its chair equated gaywith community leaders stepping for--straight alliance (GSA) groups to Nazis.How else do you explain that the same school board ward to open discussions about dem-TheOakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations that claimed to want to make all of its students feel ocracy. Adjustments to ward bound-Letters toand grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. included and safe last month, refuses to allow school-based aries locally are under review,Letters should be addressed toThe Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or viaGSAs that promote understandinge-mail toeditor@oakvillebeaver.com. TheBeaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter., tolerance and the cul-the editorWellington-Halton Hills MP Michaeltivation of self-worth?Chong continues to speak about theBoard officials had us believing they might be prepared need to return importance to the roleMoving towards transparent impenetrabilityto entertain a modern solution to this 21st century soci-of the MP. I invite you to read 'Time toYour editorial,Get serious, Oakvilleget and, of all things, water and sewersetal problem. Boy, did we get fooled.Reform Question Period' on his webBeaver,Feb. 11 gladdens my heart when you(which at one time were a smidgeon of theThis weeks introduction of S.I.D.E. Spaces gives the site www.michaelchong.caexplain, in detail, property tax and cost inmill rate) as they all impact on Oakville andimpression the board cares about all of its students, but In 2011 we have a provincial elec-offers nothing remotely close to a GSA.Oakville. When combined with the letterRegional residents by increasing our yearlytion, with speculation about a springThe board effectively continues to ban GSAs without from Janice Wright, it sets confused resi-property cost.federal one, too. Suppose residents,actually putting it in writing as it had last fall. In practical dents on the right path to an understanding,We appear to have entered an era of small, large business and entrepre-terms gay/lesbian students are just as isolated today as if they wish to protest. "Transparent Impenetrability," the intentionneurs really engaged in both; drivingtheyve ever been.I was tickled by Halton Regional Chairthat the documents, or what is issued bya meaningful difference. I wonderIt's clear the Catholic school board staff and trustees Gary Carr's response to your prior editorialTown or Region should not be understood.what could happen with MPs andjust don't understand the issue. along the same path "I am not amused"On protest, we are told that the figures wereMPPs playing a fuller role within theWith GSAs, Haltons Catholic school board had a although I notice he works hard to offsetrevealed and in the public domain all theparty structure to represent thechance to offer an effective solution to a real societal prob-the Regional property tax increase with ref-time so what are we complaining about?people versus being communicationlem. According to one of its own trustees, who happens to erence to the Regional Police Services bud-Ivor Davies, Oakvillebe gay, it failed miserably to deliver.channels for the spin of their par-Theres no hope being offered to the gay student who ties? Pud BY STEVE NEASEneasecartoons@gmail.commay be considering quitting school, or worse, contemplat- Submitted with gratitude to thoseing suicide, and thats just wrong.raising the need to care about andJust last month, the Halton Catholic boards education engage in the democratic process. Idirector acknowledged the need to listen to the voices of do believe their sincere attempt toour students.increase voter turnout and engage-While the students message was successfully delivered, ment, while lessening the spinthe recipients have elected to S.I.D.E. step it.advances democracy and service toThe Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suitethe people thus stronger commun-206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in theities and Canada.event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, togetherwith a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will Ann Mulvale, Oakvillebe paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, February 18, 2011 6