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|OAKVILLE BEAVER |Thursday, November 5, 2015 |8 It's the atmosphere that keeps us alive: Suzuki continued from p.5 live on this planet, they require clean air, clean water, healthy food and clean soil, among other things. What makes sense, said Suzuki, is for these key building blocks of survival to be protected and then people to figure out how to make a living without impacting them. Instead, Suzuki said, people have it backwards. "We create things that we take more seriously than our biological needs. We just got through 10 years of Mr. (Stephen) Harper saying, `We can't afford to do anything about global warming. It will destroy the economy,'" said Suzuki. "He elevated the economy above the very atmosphere that keeps us alive." Suzuki said the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, which runs Nov. 30 to Dec. 11, is critical. He said he is hopeful the outcome will yield some positive change, but voiced concerns it will be an exercise of countries again trying to squeeze nature into their economic agendas when it should be the other way around. He said change is essential as the planet has exceeded its carrying capacity and humanity is surviving now by undermining the future of our children and grandchildren. Suzuki had harsh words for the outgoing Harper government and said he was relieved to see it go. "We've had 10 very bad years," he said. "In the name of the economy, Mr. Harper has been kk We create things that we take more seriously than our biological needs... We've had 10 very bad years. In the name of the economy, Mr. (Stephen) Harper has been wilfully blind to the reality of the impact of climate change on Canada. f f David Suzuki environm ental activist www.insideHALTON.com wilfully blind to the reality of the impact of climate change on Canada." Suzuki was met with applause. Suzuki' s scathing critique of the Conservative government met with applause from his audience. He ended his talk by drawing attention to his Blue Dot Campaign, which calls for a citizen' s right to a healthy environment to be enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. "This is going to be fought tremendously," said Suzuki. "Everyone wants a healthy environment until they realize that means you can't clear-cit that forest or dam that river." Oakville Town council voted to endorse the campaign in July, joining the 95 Canadian municipalities and 87,540 Canadians who have made "Blue Dot declarations" in some form since the campaign started in September 2014, G> OAKVI LLE www.oakville.ca BE. Calling all student artists! Enter the M ayor's Student Holiday Card Contest Enter your original artw ork for a chance to be featured on M ayor Rob Burton's 2015 Holiday Card. Two w inning submissions w ill be chosen - one from the Grade 1- 5 level and one from the Grade 6 - 8 level. Your holiday artw ork should represent the Town of Oakville and can be illustrative o f a scene or event in town. Submit your artw ork in person at the Serv/ceOakville counter at Town Hall or by regular mail to Hillary M cKenzie, Mayor's Office, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON L6H 0H3. M ailed entries must be received prior to the submission deadline. Contest details: > Original entries must be subm itted in the form o f a drawing, sketch or painting >Artw o rk size should be between 4 "x 6 " and 8.5"x 11" » Acceptable materials include paper or canvas * Please do not bend or fold artwork » A rtw o rk must be accom panied by a signed entry form (available online at oakville.ca/mayor or in person at the Se/v/ceOakville counter in Town Hall) Submission deadline is Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 4:30 p.m. Visit oakville.ca/mayor for details. O ffic ia l Plan R e v ie w Growth Areas Oakville As part o f the town's official plan review, we're taking a closer look at how Bronte Village and Kerr Village will grow and change in the future. W e w ant your input on our draft directions! ; N ovem ber ! 3 . 3 0 ' » P-^- 3 - 8 p .m °P en House " err V,,|age November 19 For m ore inform ation visit oakville.ca or email us at plan@oakville.ca. mmm J -iQ Jo n es Plan O A K V ILLE Drop-in at one of our open houses to learn more and tell us w hat you think! I ·I This open Oakville Arena Kmsmen Pine Room Rebecca Street This o p e n h o use P o licie s th a t d ire ct n °n P°IICin K^ r ° nte \/illage change in 3090 in K ^ r Driveway Snow Windrow Clearing Program Registration is now open! If you are 65+ or have a physical disability or medical condition, you may be eligible for the Town of Oakville's driveway snow w ind ro w clearing program. Our w inter service w ill clear the snow pile left at the end of your driveway after the road has com m unity or seniors' centre. You can also dow nload a form at oakville.ca Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road - Register in person until November 20 Service Oakville counter M onday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Only $96.05 ($85 plus HST) for the season! For more inform ation, contact Sem ceO akville at 905-845-6601 H jr been plowed. Pick up an application form at Town Hall, any Oakville library. or visit oakville.ca.