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OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, September 4, 2009 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 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 Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Flu control begins at home Seeing a child off to school for the first time is never easy for parents. On one hand they want to see them grow socially and mentally, on the other they want to keep them close at hand to ensure their safety and well being. We suspect there will be a lot more moms and dads worried this fall thanks to the constant reminders from various levels of governments about H1N1, now officially considered a pandemic. Dr. Ken Scott, pandemic expert with the Public Health Agency of Canada, wants to remind parents to teach their youngsters about proper health practices. "We are trying to emphasize the importance of handwashing, staying home if you're sick, and sneezing and coughing into your elbow," he said. Since the swine flu vaccine will not be readily available until weeks into flu season, Scott said elementary schools and day cares should be stressing the need for staff and students to frequently and thoroughly wash their hands. In addition to teaching their child how to safely cross a street and ride the school bus, parents should be taking the same amount of time to patiently demonstrate and explain good handwashing practices -- not always an easy feat when you have a rambunctious six year old who would rather be squirting water in someone's face instead of using it on his or her hands. Scott said the symptoms associated with the seasonal flu and H1N1 have typically the same indicators -- sore throat, cough, headaches and sore muscles. However, 25 per cent of those with H1N1 experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. "The younger they are, the more likely they are to have these problems," he said. So, parents please note what the good doctor is saying. School boards can only do so much in preventing the spread of illness. If you know your child is sick, use common sense and don't send him or her to school or daycare. We understand how difficult it is to stay home from work, but in order to stop the spread of this virus, strong measures have to be taken. It is this newspaper's hope that employers, too, will encourage ill staffers to stay home. Coming to work while in the throes of the flu could put an entire business at risk. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health department have long been sounding the alarm about H1N1. It's time everyone paid attention -- even the little ones who will soon be scurrying around crowded hallways in search of their new classroom. 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. Letter to the editor Conservative defeat would benefit environment I was pleasantly surprised to read the Aug. 28, editorial, Revealing Speech, Oakville Beaver, Aug. 28. The remarks on the growing strength of the Green Party in Oakville and in the GTA were so true. However, I have to admit that using the name Oakville Green Party in your editorial in lieu of the Green Party of Canada might be a bit misleading to the majority of the readers. (Editor's note: Oakville Beaver regrets the error.) The Green Party of Canada held its founding conference at Carleton University in Ottawa in the summer of 1983. Therefore naming it after Ottawa or Carleton would be more appropriate. Joking aside, I could not agree more with the content of the editorial. I am outraged and totally disappointed with the continued denial by the Conservatives of the disturbing consequences of fossil fuel use for climate change and other environmental problems. I had hoped that with the change of tone in U.S. politics, the Conservative Party would adjust its outdated course. Alas, the Bush regime seems to have late disciples on the north side of the border. It reminds me of the situation in Cuba, where the Castro communist regime is still fighting the war against world capitalism long after its Soviet mentor ceased to exist. I do not expect Halton MP and Minister of Natural Resources Lisa Raitt to wake up from her illusions soon. The only cure might be for her to face defeat in the next federal election. I hope this happens sooner rather than later, because nature will not wait mercifully for the Conservatives to warm up to global warming. ANDRZEJ CHLOBOWSKI, EXECUTIVE MEMBER OF THE OAKVILLE FEDERAL GREEN PARTY ASSOCIATION Letters to the editor 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. Empty buses pollute the air With all the talk about our airshed and the negative impact the potential new power plant would have, I would like to draw attention to one of the smaller contributors that combined, have quite an effect on our local air quality. And it's about to get even worse down along Lakeshore. I am surprised to hear of a new transit route being added to Lakeshore Road in Oakville. I realize that taking a bus is more environmentally friendly than driving, but only if a number of people do so together. As a resident in the area, one cannot help but notice the large, 30-plus-seat Oakville Transit buses travelling the roads in south Oakville. Seldom do I see more than two or three See Lakeshore page 9 Pud BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com