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6- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday January 3, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: NEIL OLIVER Publisher JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director TERI CASAS Business Manager MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA CALHOUN Circ. Manager THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS A DIVISION OF METROLAND MEDIA GROUP WEST GROUP PUBLISHER IAN OLIVER Metroland Media Group Ltd. includes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, Alliston Herald/Courier, Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance, Brampton Guardian, Burlington Post, Burlington Shopping News, Caledon Enterprise, City Parent, Collingwood/Wasaga Connection, East York Mirror, Erin Advocate/Country Routes, Etobicoke Guardian, Flamborough Review, Georgetown Independent/Acton Free Press, Harriston Review, Huronia Business Times, Lindsay This Week, Markham Economist & Sun, Midland/Penetanguishine Mirror, Milton Canadian Champion, Milton Shopping News, Mississauga Business Times, Mississauga News, Napanee Guide, Newmarket/Aurora Era-Banner, Northumberland News, North York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, Oakville Shopping News, Oldtimers Hockey News, Orillia Today, Oshawa/Whitby/Clarington Port Perry This Week, Owen Sound Tribune, Palmerston Observer, Peterborough This Week, Picton County Guide, Richmond Hill/Thornhill/Vaughan Liberal, Scarborough Mirror, Stouffville/Uxbridge Tribune, Forever Young, City of York Guardian More elections ahead While 2006 may well be remembered for its unusual, often turbulent weather, a gaze into the crystal ball indicates 2007 may bring more winds of change-- those of the political variety. Having just enjoyed (endured?) a year that featured two elections--a federal one last January and the municipal vote less than two months ago-- voters in Ontario can expect to cast ballots twice again in 2007. With the Stephen Harper Conservatives clinging to a slim minority in Ottawa most observers believe it will be sooner, rather than later, that we will head to the polls again for a federal election. Traditionally, minority governments have a shelf life of about 18 months which, by the time June rolls around, should be an adequate amount of time for new Liberal leader Stéphane Dion to decide he's comfortable enough to challenge Harper. While a federal election may be in some doubt, there is no question Ontarians will be asked to decide whether Dalton McGuinty's Liberals deserve four more years at Queen's Park. Thanks to legislation brought in last year, Ontario voters will be asked to cast ballots in October, every four years, beginning this year. John Tory's Conservatives have been champing at the bit for a shot at McGuinty since the premier broke his first of many promises soon after being elected. However, the question remains as to whether Tory has had enough time to let voters forget Mike Harris and Ernie Eves and get to know him. Locally, it will be intriguing to see how new Mayor Rob Burton adjusts from life as a community activist and council critic to running the show at Town Hall. Given some time, we expect he will put his own stamp on municipal politics-- a much different stamp than the one left by his predecessor Ann Mulvale. Regionally, Gary Carr, another exMPP, gets his feet wet in the municipal pool and he too, is expected to run things much differently than former region chair Joyce Savoline did for the previous nine years. Yes, the winds of change are blowing into this area in 2007 and not all of it is the hot air usually associated with election campaigns. The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Critics of save-the-tree campaign can raise money for their own causes The backlash against the money raised to protect the oak tree in Bronte, as displayed in several letters recently published by The Oakville Beaver, surprises me. Whether or not one believes that the cause of the tree is a worthwhile one is besides the point -- say what you will about that, but the group of people that rallied around the tree showed compassion, perseverance, and brought international attention towards their cause. They raised money, and spent their own time and effort for something they believed in, and persuaded others to help out. If you have heard of another cause that could use a similar amount of money, put your money where your mouth is. Nobody is stopping anyone from starting fundraising efforts for other worthwhile organizations and events; likewise, volunteer your own time towards raising awareness for what you believe in instead of complaining about what one group of people chose to lobby for. For example, J. Kus (Better uses for tree money, Oakville Beaver, Dec. 29) believes that the money might have been better spent on longer library hours -- if this is something that people would like, then assemble a group that could volunteer to staff the library for a few hours on evenings and weekends, and raise money to contribute to library resources, maintenance, and utilities. On the whole, the people of Oakville are extremely lucky to be wealthy and educated; there is plenty of money, goodwill and time to be spread around. We are fortunate that we have very little to complain about; that some have to complain about how others took action for a cause in which they believed is sad. MOLLY WILSON Pud BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com Perspective of New Zealand cancer family I perused your article Lozon poised to push back at cancer, Oakville Beaver, Dec. 30. I am amazed at the difference in attitude. My wife has breast cancer, aggressive HER2 type and is one of the few receiving Herceptin in New Zealand as we have to privately fund treatment. Congratulations on your article and your nation and the leaders chosen. The New Zealand government has stated in Parliament through the Minister of Health that breast cancer sufferers were not worth the investment of $30 million NZ per annum. BASIL WALKER, QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND The 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 the condition 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 charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate.The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.