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The Oakville BeaverLetter to the Editor467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5566Classified Advertising: 905-632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742The 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 theOakville must be liveable for allcondition 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 chargedfor, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of theOakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.Two articles appearing inThe Oakville Beaverlast week paint a disturbingNEIL OLIVERVice-President and Group Publisher,MARK DILLSDirector of Productionpicture of our community at both the national and the local level. Metroland WestMANUEL GARCIAProduction ManagerThe first is the article by Peter Watson applauding the removal of per-voteDAVID HARVEY Regional General ManagerCHARLENE HALLDirector of Distributionsubsides as good for democracy. JILL DAVISEditor in ChiefSARAH MCSWEENEYCirc. ManagerHe argues this will force parties to have more financial literacy. ROD JERREDManaging EditorWEBSITE oakvillebeaver.comIn reality, if your supporters happen to be struggling financially, as moreDANIEL BAIRDAdvertising DirectorThe Oakville Beaver is a division ofand more Canadians are today, there is simply no amount of financial literacyRIZIERO VERTOLLIPhotography Directorthat will enable you to raise more money. SANDY PAREBusiness ManagerIn contrast, parties that offer tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations willRECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY:do the best under such a system. Ontario CommunityCanadian Community Suburban NewspapersNewspapers AssociationNewspapers Associationof AmericaThe political influence of marginalized groups in our society will further belessened, as parties shift their attention to wealthier donors or face beingTHE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:drowned out by the larger advertising budgets of their rivals. Mr. Watson assumes that what is good in the world of business is good forUnited Wayof Oakvilledemocracy, but government exists for different reasons than corporations. A democratically-elected government exists to look after the interests of allATHENAAwardits citizens, not just those capable of making big political donations.The second article is more disturbing in that it hits much closer to home. I live quite close to the former DND lands, now scheduled for redevelop-ment. To hear that a crowd of local residents actually cheered the denial of afford-able housing is terrible. While I respect the right of residents to have a say in local development, Iam amazed by the utter lack of compassion.Housing costs are the single biggest factor in poverty rates in Ontario today,and housing in Oakville is particularly unaffordable, making it difficult forlower-income households, including young people, to live in our community. Both these articles highlight an unfortunate recent trend in Canada. Instead of a country where all citizens enjoy equal access to health care,education, pensions and a decent standard of living, our country is becomingone where a persons fate in life is determined solely by their wealth. Instead of a shared commitment to the common good of all Canadians, wehave become a nation of everyone for themselves. Democracy requires not only a basic level of equality, but also a sharedsense of identity and concern for the well-being of our fellow citizens. What we are seeing instead is the creation of a system where the rich andpowerful enjoy disproportionate influence over our political system, and whereMICHELLE SIU / OAKVILLE BEAVERour very communities are segregated along class lines. If Canada is to remain a healthy democracy, there must be mechanisms inCELEBRATING SENIORS: Louise Melvin reacts as cartoon artist Bob Sherwood presents her with his place to ensure that all voices are heard. sketch during the annual Seniors Picnic at Oakville's Coronation Park on Wednesday, June 1. The picnic kicked off If Oakville is to truly be a liveable town, it must be liveable for all.Seniors Month in Oakville. Seniors Month is an annual provincial celebration that recognizes the contributionsseniors make to their communities. The number of Ontarians aged 65 and over is projected to hit 4.1 million byJames Ede, Oakville2036. For more information on the towns services for seniors and seniors centres, visit www.oakville.ca.All about the kids, the Canucks and a super Sweet CharityIn 1965, The Who released My Generation, which included the particular aversion to musicals (Motto: If namesake father albeit, a misnomer for a guy who stands 6 3,classic cut,The Kids Are Alright, an anthem for an era of genera-theyre breaking into Glee Flee). All of and weighs in at 225 pounds took a circuitous route to thetional upheaval. The songs title opened up debate that divided the which makes my one-word review more NHL, a route that actually witnessed him losing all zeal for thegenerations, with elders certain the kids were anything but alright. telling: Wow!sport and retiring for two years at a time when most prospects areAnd kids convinced that they were doing just fine.Seriously, wow! I mean, compared to busy honing their game.And so it has been with the ushering in of every generation. The youth theatre of my day, this production When the passion returned, his subsequent comeback tokids continue to think theyre just fine, thanks, while the oldsters was amazing. Honestly, compared to any hockey and rise to the NHL was as meteoric as it was improbable.are convinced the world is going to hell in a handbasket, and theatre production, this was amazing. Of Seemingly in the blink of an eye, he found himself on the roster of theyre fairly certain the youngsters are fully to blame.course, the lead role was handled with the lowly Florida Panthers. Then, an off-season trade took him toAndy JuniperI get it: some kids are rude, lazy, unmotivated, obnoxious, and seasoned confidence and cool the lofty Vancouver Canucks. Not bad: overnight, from lowly tothey wear their pants funny (down way too low). But, then, some Kathleens got a wealth of talent but lofty.adults are rude, lazy, unmotivated, obnoxious, and they wear their the entire show was executed with precocious professionalism. And while its obvious that Vic has a ton of talent, and has Ladypants funny (up way too high). Still, its been my experience, that At the same time I was at the theatre, Oakvilles own Victor Luck smiling on him, its his drive, determination and tirelessthe kids of today are way more than alright theyre intelligent, Oreskovich the son of close family friends, Victor and Diane work ethic that has him poised to get his name etched on theinsightful, entertaining, engaging and, when compared to the way Oreskovich was in Vancouver playing in Game Two of the coveted Cup.we were as kids, well, they make us look like a bunch of under-Stanley Cup Finals. Seriously. Playing for Lord Stanleys Cup. At As a proud father of three great kids, I need no convincing thatachieving rubes fresh off the old turnip truck. the tender age of 24, in only his second season in the jersey of a the kids are alright. But for anyone who does, well, just take aLast Saturday, we took the old turnip truck into North York to National Hockey League team, Victor is living a dream as a winger moment, truly open your eyes and take a good look around.see a Childrens Theatre Project production of Sweet Charity that with the Vancouver Canucks that is, the dream of any kid who Andy Juniper can be contacted at ajjuniper@gmail.com, found featured my niece, Kathleen Kelly, in the lead role. Regular readers has ever held a hockey stick.on Facebook http://www.facebook.com, or followed at www.twitter.of these musings know that Im not a big theatre guy, and I have a Little Vic, as hes sometimes called to avoid confusion with his com/thesportjesters.www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, June 9, 2011 6