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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: 337-5571ClassiOntario CommunityCanadian Communityfied 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 theOakville 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 editorDebate debaucleRight to protestShame on the broadcast consortium forRe: Women need to have right to a excluding Green Party Leader Elizabeth May choice, Oakville Beaver,March 30 let-from the televised debates.ter to the editor from Helen Brown of Yesterday, a federal court judge declined to the Women of Halton Action Movement hear the partys case for Mays inclusion in next (W.H.A.M.).weeks debates, meaning the decision to exclude I drive patients to and from Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital her by the broadcast consortium stands.on a regular basis and have become Last week, the consortium, whose members familiar in recent weeks with the are CBC/Radio-Canada, CTV, Global, and TVA, women standing on the sidewalk with decided May did not qualify to be included in the anti-abortion signs. debates, scheduled for April 12 (English) and Firstly, I have never seen more April 14 (French). The decision was made in con-than three women with the signs at any one time. Their demeanour is sultation with representatives of the four main quiet and respectful and they do not political parties.attempt to impede anyone, speak to The initial decision to exclude her in 2008 anyone, or even make eye contact. provoked a ground swelling of support in herVirtually everyone visiting the hospital favour. The media consortium that made the drives in and out, and therefore only comes into contact with these women call about this debate flip-flopped in the face of through brief visual contact. the criticism and gave her permission to join.To describe their activity as picket-While the outcry isnt as loud this time ing gives the impression that there around, May deserves the opportunity to par-are a significant number of them who ticipate. Despite the fact, the Green Party still are criss-crossing the entrance and doesnt have an elected member of Parliament, impeding traffic. From my observation their con-it does receive the endorsement of thousands of duct can be rightly described as a Canadians.benign prayer vigil and to suggest In fact, during the last election, this party that they may be attempting to harass, was the only one that actually increased its intimidate and generally make miser-number of votes, receiving 937,613 nods com-able the lives of health care profession-als is ludicrous. All the health care pared to 664,068 in 2006. The Conservatives professionals I have met are made of lost 165,002 votes; the Liberals 835,230 and theThe Oakville Beaverwelcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, sterner stuff than would cause them to Letters NDP saw its number decrease by 74,309.length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must containbe affected by this silent sign carry-the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed toThe growth of popularity of this party is also to the ing.The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to evident in the ridings of Oakville and Halton. Secondly, the writer hopes that editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaverreserves the right to refuse to publish a letter.editorIn 2004, the party garnered only 2,861 this practice does not gain traction in Canada. Since this practice consti-votes in Oakville and 2,889 votes in Halton. tutes freedom of expression and assem-This rose to 3,483 votes in Oakville and 3,843Shameful Earth Hour sightbly in a public place I sincerely hope, votes in Halton in 2006. Two years later sup-as Brown and W.H.A.M. should, that port continued to rise 4,681 votes in Oakville First, let me state that I am fully aware (March 26), my husband and I were out and this practice never loses traction in my carbon footprint is larger than it should found ourselves hurrying home just after and 4,872 votes in Halton.Canada. be. 8:30 to turn off our lights. How ironic that the writer ends her In fact, in the last election, The Green Party I do, however, appreciate the tips offered As we drove down Trafalgar past our letter by congratulating Hanna garnered 500 more votes than the NDP.Donnelly for holding up a pro-choice in editorials such as yours that appeared in Town Hall, I was appalled to see that the Its safe to say May will not be the next Prime sign at the same location. No doubt The Oakville Beaver on March 25.mayor and the Town of Oakville had made Minister of Canada, but as the leader of anher definition of freedom of expression I have also come to appreciate Earth no apparent effort to participate in Earth established, and continually growing, political and assembly applies only to those Hour as an opportunity to do something Hour. party in our country, she deserves a seat at the whose opinions and beliefs match tangible and symbolic for our environ-Our Town Hall was ablaze in lights. As those that she holds.table.ment. we continued south on Trafalgar past If we accept that all women need We can take an hour, shut down our Oakville Place, the shopping centre was in to have a right to a choice then we The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located lights and pause to think of what we can do complete darkness. must accept that, equally, all women at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising to reduce our impact on our earth and how Good for you Oakville Place. is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion have a right to express themselves of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable suggestions such as those you offered can Shame on the mayor and the Town of peacefully, whether we agree with allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement be incorporated into our personal lives. Oakville. them or not.will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize Rob Hawkins, OakvilleAnd so it was, on evening of Earth Hour Lynda Tendijowski, Oakvilleadvertisements or decline.www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, April 6, 2011 6