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The Oakville BeaverLetters to the Editor467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5566Classified Advertising: 905-632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742The 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 thecondition 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 chargedFamilies need political supportfor, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of theOakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.I am concerned about the future of the retirement security for not only myself NEIL OLIVERVice-President and Group Publisher,MARK DILLSDirector of Productionbut the majority of all Canadians. Metroland WestMANUEL GARCIAProduction ManagerWith reports that only one in five private sector workers belong to an employ-DAVID HARVEY Regional General ManagerCHARLENE HALLDirector of Distributioner plan; that most people cant save let alone afford an RRSP; that seniors, singleJILL DAVISEditor in ChiefSARAH MCSWEENEYCirc. ManagerROD JERREDManaging EditorWEBSwomen, first nations and those living with disabilities are living in poverty; andITE oakvillebeaver.comDANIEL BAIRDAdvertising Directorthat our children wont have access to the same job market that we once did, itThe Oakville Beaver is a division ofRIZIERO VERTOLLIPhotography Directormakes one think how is this sustainable?SANDY PAREBusiness ManagerElection talk is swirling around and I think its time Canadians opened theireyes. The federal government decided to support a program called PRPP (PooledRECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY:Ontario Community Canadian Community Suburban NewspapersRegistered Pensions Plans) a super-sized version of RRSP employers can buy into.Newspapers AssociationNewspapers Associationof AmericaWho does this benefit? I, for one, cannot see any Canadians other than the insur-THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:ance companies and banks who lobbied for it?The provinces have a role to play and with an election coming Ill be support-ing politicians who support me and my family. United Wayof OakvilleI want an expansion of the CPP benefits on a fully-funded, go-forward basisATHENAstarting right now.AwardThis would bring equality and dignity for all, not just a privileged few. Thiselection I will be asking whos on my side. I hope that all citizens of this greatcountry of ours also take the same approach. Dave Millar, presidentOakville and District Labour CouncilVeterans need new charterWhere is the legislation?The government of the day, through the Minister of Veterans Affairs has madeseveral announcements and promises on Bills C-55 (New Veterans Charter),which has received first reading in the House of Commons, but has not pro-gressed to the Committee level. Similar announcements and promises have beenmade on Bill-480 by the Minister of Finance (Removal of GST from poppies andwreath purchases) for which no legislation has yet been tabled.As your readers know, the tabling and passage of these bills with Royal Assentwill not be possible should the government decide to call an election. The RoyalCanadian Legion has written to both ministers on the matters of legislative pro-cedure and has received assurances that these matters are being looked into. These bills, however, may die on the order paper if an election is called andleave Canadas disabled veterans, their families and The Royal Canadian Legionwithout the legislation they all need. The Royal Canadian Legion writes this letterMICHELLE SIU / OAKVILLE BEAVERbecause we care.GIFTS FOR FARESHARE: From left, Jenny Jovanovic, Kim Bernier, and Heather Dickson of Oakville PlacePatricia Varga, Dominion Presidentpresented Dudley Clarke of the Fareshare food bank a total of $3,000 raised over the holidays $1,000 throughRoyal Canadian Legionthe mall's Breakfast with Santa event and $2,000 from the sale of paper Christmas bags.Reaching the age of exhaustion and parking lot power napsife, according to author Samuel Butler, is a long process of my aforementioned battiness). Which to pick up my daughter at her dance class. When she emerged, I wasgetting tired. Well, Sammy, I can honestly say that in my means that for his 5:30 a.m. shifts, the gen-in the car, in a deep sleep or what she called a coma. Admittedly, thisLworld, the long process of getting tired has reached some sort tle, peaceful prodding of my alarm actu-was not my first parking lot power nap. Typically, when my son comesof exhaustion apex. Which is to say that Ive never been this bushed. ally, it sounds like an air-raid siren rousts out of work, he finds me socializing with the Sand Man.Im more tired now than a single parent with a coterie of colicky me at 4:30.Ill tell you what I could use in lieu of a good nights sleep: a goodkids.Further, as all of you are aware: Im not a afternoon nap. Alas, in our Type A society, we feel guilty whenever weThe source of this fatigue is no great mystery Im not rushing very smart guy. I havent completely com-take time for unimportant, unproductive things such as personaloff for blood work or adding iron to my diet. prehended that, for survivals sake, I need to pleasure or, Heaven help us, our own health and well-being. So, noNo, Im dead on my feet because Im not getting enough sleep. adjust my sleep schedule: head to bed early matter how badly were losing altitude in the afternoon, we are reluc-Andy JuniperI know, I know, most of the Western world is not getting enough sleep. when I have to rise early.tant to close our eyes for 20 minutes and recharge our burned-outBut Im taking sleeplessness to whole new levels.Nope, I stay up as usual and then just batteries.This personal experiment in sleep depravation began three months hate myself the next day. Its all making for a rather bleary-eyed, cranky Even though medical moguls tell us that afternoon napping isago when our second son secured a job that afforded him the oppor-version of me.good for our hearts and health. Even though we know that Einsteintunity to work untold odd shifts, but did not pay him enough to get Last week I had a particularly rough patch. napped daily, and old Al wasnt exactly a sloth. Even though a wise manhim back behind the wheel of an appropriately insured motor vehi-A few 4:30 a.m. wake-up calls back-to-back.once noted: Sometimes the most productive thing one can do iscle.Then, mid-week, there was a Maple Leafs game that had me in sleep. Which meant the job was perfect, so long as I could get him to-and-Toronto way beyond my bedtime (although the game ended early, it And, an exhausted columnist added, the most unproductive thingfrom work (I agreed, unaware that by driving him to work I would be took us an hour to exit the parking lot and another two to drive home). one can do is be overtired.driving myself batty).Four hours after my head hit the pillow, my head was (painfully) rising Andy Juniper can be contacted at ajjuniper@gmail.com, found You may be aware that we live in the middle of nowhere, 35 min-off the pillow.on Facebook http://www.facebook.com, or followed at www.twitter.utes from my sons job (its these 70-minute round-trips that triggered That night, still going on 240 whole minutes of shuteye, I arrived com/thesportjesters. www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, March 10, 2011 6