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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, July 18, 2012 · 6 Opinion & Letters The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 905-845-3824 Fax: 337-5566 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 905-631-6095 -- 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington 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: Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America Canadian Community Newspapers Association ATHENA Award Neil Oliver Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The OakvilleBeaver is a division of David Harvey Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief Daniel Baird Advertising Director ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor Riziero Vertolli Photography Director Sandy Pare Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production Manuel garcia Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution KIM MOSSMAN Circ. Manager Last week's announcement from provincial Energy Minister Chris Bentley that it cost Ontario taxpayers $180 million to cancel the ill-conceived Mississauga gas-fired power plant is a shining example of why politicians, generally, are held in such low regard by the public. The Dalton McGuinty-led Liberals were in a dogfight to hold onto four Mississauga ridings heading into last year's election. The planned construction of the power plant -- like another in Oakville a year earlier -- angered local citizens who likely would have shown their dismay via the ballot box. The Liberals blinked, cancelling the plant just two weeks before the election. It was a major flip-flop that could have proved embarrassing, but in the end was politically successful as the Liberals retained all four Mississauga seats. The Liberals didn't even hide the fact this was a votebuying scheme as they announced the plant's closure through a party campaign press release and not through the usual government channels. Now, either through higher hydro bills or a tax increase, Ontarians will pay the $180 million cost of cancelling the plant and having it relocated to Lambton. There is just so much wrong with this scenario we don't know where to start. How could Mississauga residents allow their votes to be bought so easily and blatantly? The Mississauga-Oakville area is still in need of a power plant to meet growing demand. Where exactly will one be built and at what cost? We still don't have the final price tag for cancelling the disastrous plan for a 900-megawatt Oakville power plant. In March, the NDP Energy Critic Peter Tabuns said the New Democrats were stymied in their attempt to get financial details about the electricity plants from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA). At the time, the Toronto Star reported one estimate has put the cost of cancelling the Oakville plant at $1 billion. Can you imagine? One billion dollars. How can the McGuinty government be trusted again on any energy policy? Why weren't residents' concerns dealt with prior to shovels going in the ground for the Mississauga plant? Who now owns the land where the plant was to go? So many questions and so few answers. Only one thing remains clear. A party in power will do whatever it takes -- or costs -- to stay in power. Editor's note: At the time of announcing the cancellation of the Oakville power plant, the Ontario government stated the demand projections for electricity in Oakville had changed from when the need for the power plant was first identified more than four years previously, "more than 8,000 megawatts of new, cleaner power and successful conservation efforts, have made it clear this proposed natural gas plant is no longer required. A transmission solution can ensure that the growing region will have enough electricity to meet future needs of homes, hospitals, schools and businesses." 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. At what cost? Kudos to Region On Saturday, our sewer backed up into our basement; not a lot of fun. I called Halton Region, within an hour they were on site. They diagnosed the problem, roots growing into the drainage pipe, routed out the pipe and cleared the water. Within an hour they completed the job, a marvellous effort. Alan Brans, Oakville Letter to the editor Is it needed? Re: Residents see red over curbs in heritage area, Oakville Beaver, Friday, July 13, 2012 Oakville seems to be spending money on useless road paving. It has been spending money on repaving some roads in River Oaks that did not need it... i.e. several cul-de-sacs off River Oaks Boulevard that get very little traffic while other older streets have been ignored. Did Mrs. Rockliffe's street need curbs and possibly sidewalks to ruin the look of this quaint area? Does anyone at the Town ask residents if they want these so-called improvements or are they just looking to spend our tax dollars? Keith Simpson, Oakville Come back next year for Canada Day party The feedback to Canada Day 2012 has been tremendous for the quality of the event at Bronte Harbour. Thanks to all who provided feedback. The amazing, spectacular fireworks was considered a new art form. Thanks to Red Boss Pyrotechnics for its care and dedication to making our show one of the best in Canada. Special thank you to major sponsor Mayor Rob Burton for doing the countdown to the many thousands assembled to see this spectacular finale show simulcast to music on 102.9 K-Lite FM. Thank you K-Lite. Kudos to BIA member, Infinity Communications, that co-ordinated the event under the direction of BIA Executive Director Ann Sargent. We thank our BIA member and visitor vendors for the fantastic food and products made available. Thanks to all of our wonderful performers who entertained throughout the day. We especially appreciate the work of all of our wonderful volunteers for their contribution to the success of this special Canada Day festival. Congratulations to BIA Director and Ward 1 Councillor Ralph Robinson on a birthday celebrated onstage. On behalf of the 200 merchants of the Bronte BIA, we wish to thank our partners and sponsors, Heritage Canada, Town of Oakville, Willson International, RBC Royal Bank (Bronte Village branch), Retro Rock Lounge (Roger Lapworth) and first-time sponsors, Lockwood Chrysler and Bio-K+, Media partners: Cogeco, CHCH, K-Lite 102.9 FM, www.oakville.com. Thank you to The Oakville Beaver for front page coverage. 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. An event of this size requires many months of dedicated planning behind the scenes. The BIA sincerely thanks the staff of the Town of Oakville, Roads & Engineering, Parks and Recreation, police, fire and all the Town staff who worked tirelessly to ensure a safe, clean, environment. Without the support of all those mentioned, the Bronte BIA could not provide this wonderful annual free holiday event. Mostly, thank you to everyone who joined us in Bronte Village and harbour to celebrate Canada Day. Please mark your calendar to join us next year (Monday, July 1, 2013) in Heritage Lakefront Park at Bronte Harbour. If you have feedback, please write me. Mary Roberts, chair Bronte BIA Board of Directors