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Wednesday May 19, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER COMMENT Politicians & photographers: live by photo-op, die by photo-op Last week, a Toronto newspaper deliberately put a photograph on the front page of Prime Minister Jean Chretien falling on his face during a photo op with basketball players at Camp Borden. Since then, the news­ paper has been vilified by outraged readers, angered that the post of prime minister would be demeaned by such an embarrassing photo. But, really, what's the big deal? Did the photographers wander into the bedroom of Mr. Chretien or stalk him through the streets of Ottawa until they got the perfect shot? Not at all. They were invited to the pre­ arranged photo op with Kosovo refugees at Camp Borden and caught a spontaneous, very human fall by the prime minister as he was playing bas­ ketball. That's what it's all about, trying to glimpse the unexpected in the banal, isn't it? I'd rather see that than an intrusive photograph of bereaved family trying to cope with private grief at a funeral or a shot of what's-her- face in that gold number trying to find a place for a diamond stud in Ottawa of all places. I mean, honestly, think about some of the photos that have graced our newspapers recently. I'd certainly rather open a newspa­ per and see Chretien falling on his face than look at Mike Harris and Ernie Eves dressed up in matching "Mike and Ernie" mechanic's outfits. What, really, is more embarrass­ ing? Take a moment and think about two very different attempts to find the DIANE HART human facets in an often over­ planned politician's schedule. Here was one, a photo of an admittedly awkward moment when the prime minister, wearing his leather shoes, slipped and fell playing basketball. And the other a very planned photo of the men in the top jobs in the province dressed up in matching Mike and Ernie costumes, silly grins on their faces. Again, what's more embarrassing? But you know there was no outcry about that little photo op of Mike and Ernie appearing on page one. It's an election, I suppose, and anything goes. Instead angry e-mail writers believed the page one photo of Chretien was a low, mean-spirited blow on the part of photo editors merely trying to find unexpected moments in a politician's life. But the choice of photo was no more intru­ sive than snapping a photo of a politi­ cian doing something else unplanned - should we also not have our news­ paper photographers snap the obnox­ ious self-styled pastry terrorists in Quebec now in the throes of the pie throwing behaviour....just because it might be embarrassing for the politi­ cian? These pie-throwing incidents are more than just innocent ways to get cheap laughs. The pie throwing inci­ dents - to date mostly federalist sup­ porters like anglo-rights crusader William Johnson, La Presse publish­ er Roger Landry, federal Human Resources Minister Pierre Pettigrew and most recently Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Stephane Dion - are offensive and demeaning. They have no place in the political arena at all. And three, cheers for Dion for decid­ ing to file criminal charges against the Entartistes (pie-throwers). These are not innocent acts. Nor are they funny. But they are embar­ rassing. We must ask ourselves: when does the repression of what might be embarrassing news photos inhibit the publication of a compelling photo­ graph of a news story? The photo of the prime minister falling was nothing at which to be outraged: later even he joked about it, telling a reporter Nike was going to use him in their commercials. The prime minister knows the risk of photo ops: they may not be as pre­ planned a package as you might like. Humans, after all, are very human. And if these same humans sponta­ neously throw away the script, so to speak, as he is known to do all the time, then things are going to hap­ pen. Far better to see an all-too-human prime minister than another pre­ packaged bit of public relations from the Mike and Ernie show. P la n t s . There's No Better Place. CONNON NURSERIES C. B. VANDERKRUK HOLDINGS LTD. WATERDOWN Highway 5, Just east of Waterdown Tel. (905) 689-4631 Fax (905) 689-3554 Hours: DAILY 8 a.m. till Dark Saturdays 8-5, Closed Sundays 1 i l 1 -------------- s 8 « H m | f f o Oakville Beaver Sports • N ews • Entertainment O A K V I L L E 8 4 5 - 6 6 0 1 C o u n c i l & S t a n d i n g C o m m i t t e e M e e t i n g s Tuesday, May 25,1999 Community Services Committee 7:30 p.m. - Oakville Room Administrative Services Comm. 7:30 p.m. - Bronte Room Wednesday, May 26,1999 Planning & Development Council Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 7,1999 Monday, June 14,1999 Council Meeting Planning & Development Council Council Chambers Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. C o u n c i l & C o m m i t t e e T o u c h t o n e P h o n e L in e 8 1 5 -5 9 5 9 THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF OAKVILLE N O T I C E TO PROPERTY OWNERS TO DESTROY WEEDS Notice is hereby given to all property owners, in accordance with the Weed Control Art, R.S.O., Chapter W.5, that all noxious weeds growing on their lands within the Municipality must be destroyed by Monday, June 7,1999, are! throughout the season. The Town of Oakville may enter upon the said lands and have the weeds destroyed and charge the costs against the land in taxes as set out in the Art. * Please note that Dandelion and Goldenrod are not classified as noxious weeds. Your co-operation in destroying noxious weeds, in particular, Poison-ivy and Ragweed, is requested. For further information, please contact Leo Ostner or Rebecca Waldeck, Municipal Weed Inspectors at (905) 845-6601. Judith Muncaster Town Clerk TOWN OF OAKVILLE T O W N O F O A K V I L L E C la s s E n v i r o n m e n t a l A s s e s s m e n t Proposed Central Operations Depot Facility File: B-21-99 Public Comment Invited I The Town o f Oakville Department o f Public Works' road maintenance land patrol yard located at 2274 Trafalgar Road is to be closed due to its I incompatibility with new adjacent property development and land uses, land other current site limitations. The Town o f Oakville is considering I the construction o f an alternative Central Operations Depot Facility to I accommodate the requirements o f our road maintenance and patrol yard I services at a heavy industrial zoned property acquired several years ago atl 11140 South Service Road, combined with lands recently acquired at 777 I Redwood Square. I In accordance with the requirements for Schedule 'C ' projects o f the 1 Class Environmental Assessments for the Road Projects, the Town o f I Oakville is making preliminary study material and plans available for I public review. These materials, together with the Class Environmental ] Assessment may be seen at the Department o f Public Works offices, 2274 I Trafalgar Road during regular office hours (Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 14:30 p.m.) until June 18, 1999. Thereafter comment and input will be (received until June 30, 1999. I For further information, I please contact: I Mr. Dave Bloomer, P. Eng. I Town o f Oakville Department o f Public Works 2274 Trafalgar Road, P.O. Box 310, Oakville, Ontario L6J 5A6 Telephone: (905) 845-6601, ext. 3303 Fax: (905)338-4159 E-Mail: I dbloomer@town.oakville.on.ca I This Notice issued May 14, 1999 D.A. Bloomer. P. Eng., Assistant Director - Operations 1 Department o f Public Works 9 o -, 1 S. SERWCE f I 0 > Dl.fWIBE ioiii or OAKViif cam m m depot she777 REDWOOO SQUARE PROJECT B-21-99 O A K V I L L E TOWN OF OAKVILLE and OAKVILLE HYDRO-ELECTRIC COMMISSION NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING O akville h y d r o On Tiiesday, June 15,1999, the Council of the Town of Oakville will hold a public meeting, pursuant to Section 12 of the Development Charges Act, 1997, to present and obtain public input on the proposed development charge by-law and underlying background study of the Town and Hydro services. All interested parties are invited to attend the Public Meeting of Council and any person who attends the meeting may make representations relating to the proposed by-law. The meeting is to be held: Tuesday, June 15,1999 at 7:30 p.m. Oakville Municipal Building - Council Chambers 1225 Trafalgar Road In order that sufficient information is made available to the public, copies of the proposed by-law and the background study are being made available on or before May 30*. 1999, from the Office of the Town Clerk at the above location between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (905-845-6601). Interested persons may express their comments at the Public Meeting or in writing, addressed to the Director, Finance & Treasurer of the Town at the address below prior to June 4,1999. Consideration o f the Proposed By-Law at Special Meeting o f Council A Special Meeting of Council will be held for Town Council to consider the development charge proposal and whether to enact the proposed development charges by-law on: TUesday, August 10,1999 7:30 p.m. Oakville Municipal Office - Council Chambers For Further Information Any written submissions, comments, questions or requests for further information and reports should be directed to: For information regarding the study and Town of Oakville related services, contact: Michelle Seguin Director, Finance & Treasurer Town of Oakville 1225 Trafalgar Road Oakville L6J 5A6 Ph: (905) 845-6601 ext. 3062 Fax: (905) 815-2019 e-mail: mseguin@town.oakville.on.ca For questions specifically related to Hydro-Electric Services, contact: Gary Parent Manager of Budget & Finance Oakville Hydro-Electric Commission 861 Redwood Square P.O. Box 1900 Oakville L6J 5E3 Ph: (905) 825-4453 Fax: (905) 825-5831 If you wish to appear as a delegation at the June 15th Public Meeting and/or the August 10th Special Meeting of Council, please call Kathy Patrick, Council and Administrative Assistant, at (905) 845-6601 extension 4235. Judith Muncaster Town Clerk TOWN OF OAKVILLE Neil Sandford Managing Director Electrical Services OAKVILLE HYDRO-ELECTRIC COMMISSION 1225 TRAFALGAR ROAD • OAKVILLE, ONTARIO • L6J 5A6 mailto:dbloomer@town.oakville.on.ca mailto:mseguin@town.oakville.on.ca