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w w w .i n si d eH A LT O N .c o m O A K V IL LE B EA V ER W ed ne sd ay , S ep te m be r 21 , 2 01 1 6 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 Open 9-5 weekdays, 5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekends The Oakville Beaver Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver is a division of NEIL OLIVER Vice President and Group Publisher of Metroland West DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief 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 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 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. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: ATHENA Award THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member Canadian Community Newspapers Association Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America A few months ago, I was adopted by a stray female cat. As I have an indoor neutered tom, I could not let her into the house, particularly as she still had her claws and fleas, (courtesy of our many local squirrels). So, I con- structed a small kennel, (a new cov- ered plastic cat litter box), which was insulated and lined. This kennel was placed on a plas- tic garden chair close to the patio doors, and although water tight, was also protected by the patio roller awning, which I left partially extend- ed. Early on Sunday morning last, (at 1 a.m.), I suddenly smelled a very strong aroma of skunk, even though all windows were closed with the air conditioning on. I checked on Daisy, (our stray), and she was curled up and asleep in her house. However, when I went out onto the patio, at around 10 a.m., I found large clumps of her fur all over the patio, and no sign of Daisy, who was usually at the patio doors, waiting for her break- fast. Checked her house, and found some blood mixed with her fur around the shelter entrance. There has been no sign of her since. It would appear that she was caught in the open by either a fox or a coyote, and after fighting tried to get back into her house, but was dragged out by the fox/coyote, to be carried off for his/her morning snack. So, please keep your pet(s) safe, because they, even a stray like Daisy, are part of your family. P.S. She was a very affectionate cat, and I did consider taking her to the Oakville shelter, except it said that it was full, as was/is the Toronto Humane shelters. Anthony Browne, Oakville I read with interest the pilot project that Halton was taking on to help low- income individuals and families with transit fares. However, when I read over the fact sheet provided on its website, I was sur- prised and disheartened to find that individuals who receive assistance through Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW) are not eligible for this program. To quote from the web- site, Individuals who receive assistance through the Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Support program (ODSP) are not eligible for the SPLIT because transportation assistance is available through both OW and ODSP. Im not sure where Halton Regional Council got this information from. ODSP, from what I under- stand, only receive assis- tance in transportation for medical-related trips and anyone I know who is on OW has never been able to receive funding for trans- portation. Yet, the council feels it will help financially struggling individuals to find work. How are they fgoing to get to interviews i they cant afford the bus? So the council feels it has done low-income indi- viduals and families a favour. No, it has created a two- tiered system where low- waged individuals and fami- lies are able to access a much-needed service while unwaged individuals and families are left in the cold. Sandra MacKay, Oakville System leaves people out in the cold Stray cat was part of the family and now missed Premier Dalton McGuinty promised an inter- esting election campaign as he walked away from the Lieutenant Governors office after calling the Oct. 6 provincial election. Yet, to date, this campaign has not been the stuff to write home about. Many of the all-candidates meetings have come and gone. They have not been standing-room-only affairs ripe with hot debate and polarized opinion. Election signs are sparse within the communi- ty, be it on public boulevards or private properties. That may be a reflection of environmental con- cern, community aesthetics or apathy. Where is the sizzle, the air of excitement? And why? Did voters decide early on who theyre cast- ing a ballot for? Or is the public too busy to be f bothered yet again with the political rhetoric o which so many appear to be weary? A few local groups are attempting to change that. Numerous local faith communities have band- ed with other social interest groups and have put the issue of poverty in Ontario on the election bal- lot, whether the candidates or parties want it or not. They did so with a press conference last week and at an all-candidates meeting last night. Tomorrow night, another group, this one chal- lenging candidates on issues of democracy and representation as well as the usual fare, will hold a Policy Not Polls all-candidates meeting. Not to be left out, the CAW Local 707 is organizing a debate to get in just under the wire. If you still have questions, of any kind, attend the meetings. Contact the candidates or their campaign offices. Politicians may be often criticized, but at least they have entered the debate by stepping into the ring. It is a voters responsibility not just to cast a bal- lot, but to do his or her homework...to listen, ask, interview who is going to work for the electorate at Queens Park. Its a two-way street and when more than one voice enters the debate, things usu- ally become interesting. Do the homework