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Stouffville Sun-Tribune www.yorkregion.com Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, 6 O 905-640-2612 Fax: 905-640-8778 Class: 1-800-743-3353 OPINION EDITORIAL Publisher Ian Proudfoot General manager John Willems 6290 Main St. Stouffville, ON. L4A 1G7 www.yorkregion.com LETTER OF THE WEEK Who is responsible for making road hazard level again? How wonderful it is to now drive through Whitchurch-Stouffville along Aurora Road from Woodbine Avenue to Hwy. 48. since it was paved last year. That is until you approach the "level" -- or better still "unlevel" -- rail crossing between Warden and Woodbine avenues. Why was this overlooked during the paving process and whose responsibility is it to make it level? I am sure I am not the only person who cares about vehicle damage when driving this route west of Ballantrae. DISTRIBUTION 1-855-853-5613 Editor in Chief Debora Kelly dkelly@yrmg.com Conservatives pick wrong battle with veterans ISSUE: Conservative government closes multiple Veterans Affairs offices. of the illegal claims only after the expenses came to light. Unfortunately, that's not an isolated incident. There's a troubling sense of privilege among elected officials that's exposed regularly. What about the plum pensions they receive? I'm not the only one who cringes every time they approach this road hazard. I'm not the only one who cringes every time they approach this road hazard. Something should be done -- and soon. Director, Business Administration Robert Lazurko Director, Advertising Debra Weller Director, Production Jackie Smart Director, Distribution Tanya Pacheco Director, Real Estate and Classified Gord Paolucci Editor Jim Mason jmason@yrmg.com Advertising Manager Anne Beswick abeswick@yrmg.com Circulation Co-ordinator Daphne Lawrie dlawrie@yrmg.com York Region Media Group community newspapers The Sun-Tribune, published every, Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a whollyowned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. Delivery issues? For all your delivery inquiries, please contact yrcustomerservice@ yrmg.com LETTERS POLICY All submissions must be less than 400 words and include a daytime telephone number, name and address. The Sun-Tribune reserves the right to publish or not publish and to edit for clarity and space. E-mail jmason@yrmg.com Ontario Press Council Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member anadian veterans found themselves in another battle this week, but this time it was against our own government and, this time, they lost. The Conservatives closed eight Veterans Affairs offices -- Kelowna, B.C.; Saskatoon, Sask.; Brandon, Man.; Thunder Bay and Windsor, Ont.; Sydney, N.S.; Charlottetown, PEI; and Corner Brook, N.L -- Friday and then, Monday, voted down a lastditch-effort motion by the NDP that would have kept them open. The Conservatives say the office cuts coincide with a drop in demand. Service Canada centres will offer assistance in affected areas and there will also be Veterans Affairs Canada services online. But veterans argue the service won't be the same. On the face of it, the Conservative government is finding efficiencies and savings, so they're eliminating 100 jobs as a result of a decrease in service needs. But as much as Canadians want a reduced deficit, most of us do not want to see the men and women who fought for our rights and freedoms left out in the cold. It's hard to condone going after our aging war heroes in light of the continued scandals that waste taxpayers' money. Why not go after the expenses of MPs and senators? Bev Oda had her wrist slapped over switching a London reservation from a five-star hotel to an even more expensive accommodation. She also hired a chauffeur to drive her around in a luxury car and signed off on $16 glasses of orange juice. She was forced to repay some C PAUL CANNING BALLANTRAE It's hard to condone going after our aging war heroes in light of the continued scandals that waste taxpayers' money. Even after the most recent changes, which mean MPs will have to wait until 65 to collect their full pension, instead of the current age of 55, they still qualify for the lucrative plan after serving six years in office. And, of course, there's the most recent scandal that saw senators incorrectly claiming expenses. The Veterans Affairs cuts don't have a direct impact on York Region, but it's fair to say this is a bitter taste of the future under this government. In fact, the government is expected to cut 784 Veterans Affairs jobs in the next two years. We don't doubt there will come a time when tough decisions have to be made. But leave our veterans alone and find the savings elsewhere. This government needs to show more respect to the men and women who fought for this country. We like mail, Stouffville WEIGH IN ON THE DISCUSSION ... e-mail your comments/letters to jmason@yrmg.com BOTTOM LINE: Program cuts are a fact of life right now, but going after veterans now is wrong move.