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12 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday February 23, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Input sought on mixing religion and politics Continued from page 5 CABIN FEVER NEWS We have opened our new satellite location at 481 North Service Road West, Unit 25. We are offering Cabin Fever which will run up until March Break, as follows: · Monday, 9:00-11:00 a.m. · Tuesday, 9:00-11:00 a.m. · Thursday, 9:00-11:00 a.m. · Friday, 9:00-11:00 a.m. The Spring session will begin on Monday, March 17th. Please check the Program Guide or drop-in schedule for the scheduled times for Cabin Fever once the Spring session starts. To download our Program Guide, go to www.op-cc.ca today! What is Cabin Fever? Cabin Fever is a drop-in for parents/ caregivers and children, newborn to 5 years old, that offers a fun time out. Our play room offers playdough, great toys, books and puzzles. Drop in and see us! Just a reminder... We gladly accept clothing donations, sizes 0-8, for our "gently used" store at 461 North Service Road. As well, we accept gently used toys and books. No furniture or car seats please. the people throughout the town and not simply mindful of our own needs as councillors, our own desires and our own political ambitions," he said. "It really helps us focus on a daily basis, every time we come before council. I find it quite useful." Those who attended the session brought a variety of opinions concerning the prayer to the attention of Town staff. "I'm in favour of keeping this multi-denominational prayer. I was reading it and it's beautiful," said Charles Gallent. "This is bringing honour to God and helping your fellow man. I don't see anything wrong with it. They're asking for help in this prayer. It sounds like somebody wants us to be ashamed of our God, our creator. We've taken the Lord's Prayer out, let's not go any further. " Laila Eiriksson suggested councillors, who are uncomfortable with the prayer, should be permitted to excuse themselves during that portion of the meeting. "We recognize from Statistics Canada that the majority of Canadians do have faith in a divine being, and so I believe that for the majority of the people of Oakville, opening a council meeting with a prayer would not be offensive to them," said Eiriksson. "Council has, in the past, made efforts to be as inclusive as possible in creating this prayer that offers council and those present a time to reflect and to separate their minds from all the chaos of the world around them." In closing, Eiriksson said that if any change is to be made, the `Amen' portion of the prayer should be removed to accommodate those not of the Judeo-Christian faith. Another resident, who requested not to be identified, noted that enough accommodations have been made already. "This country is really based in Christianity. I don't consider myself a Christian, but I respect that reality. Just because people may come here do we have to give up what we are to accommodate?" he asked. "The further we go from what we are the more we become what people who come here tell us we should be. I'm an immigrant, but I don't want to impose something else on what we have here." Not all of those who showed up at Tom Adams the information session were in favour of keeping the prayer, with Kevin Saldanha of the Halton/Peel Humanist Community pointing out that as inclusive as the prayer is designed to be, it is still alienating a segment of society. "There's probably about 16-18 per cent of your constituents who are not-theistic or don't believe in a God and that's a fairly large percentage of the population who probably don't feel comfortable addressing an unseen deity at the beginning of what is essentially secular business," said Saldanha. "Being inclusive is good, but you're always going to offend someone and a moment of silence is a great compromise." With all opinions heard and recorded by Town staff the task now falls to council to decide whether the prayer will stay, be replaced by a moment of silent reflection or do nothing at all. The subject is expected to come before council again in April. This issue comes as the Ontario Legislature grapples with whether to continue beginning its meetings with the Lord's Prayer. Oakville Town Council moved from the Lord's Prayer to the non-denominational prayer in 2005 after a councillor of a different faith was elected. The House of Commons adopted a non-sectarian prayer four years ago. Anyone who would like to have their opinion on this issue heard can e-mail clerks@oakville.ca or write to the Town Clerk, Clerk's Department, 1225 Trafalgar Rd., Oakville, Ontario, L6J 5A6. Think Green. Breathe Easy. HUGE CENTRAL AIR & FURNACE $ Up to BEST PRICES EVER! 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