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6- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday March 29, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 905-632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 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. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Commentary Guest Columnist NEIL OLIVER Publisher DAVID HARVEY General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager Metroland Media Group Ltd. includes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, Alliston Herald/Courier, Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance, Caledon Enterprise, Brampton Guardian, Burlington Post, Burlington Shopping News, City Parent, Collingwood/Wasaga Connection, East York Mirror, Erin Advocate/Country Routes, Etobicoke Guardian, Flamborough Review, Georgetown Independent/Acton Free Press, Harriston Review, Huronia Business Times, Lindsay This Week, Markham Economist & Sun, Midland/Penetanguishine Mirror, Milton MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA ANCHOR Circ. Manager WEBSITE oakvil ebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver is a division of Investing in people Kevin Flynn, Oakville MPP n March 25, the McGuinty government presented its 2008 Budget, Growing a Stronger Ontario, which outlines its investments in people. Ontario's edge -- its competitive advantage -- is its people. Ontario is at its best when its people have the opportunities Kevin Flynn and tools they need to reach their full potential. Since taking office in 2003, our government has invested in vital programs and services to help all Ontarians -- publicly-funded education, public health care, modern infrastructure, support for vulnerable citizens and a greener Ontario. The government has been able to support these priorities because of its disciplined and prudent fiscal management and its investments in skills and knowledge, infrastructure, competitiveness, innovation and key partnerships. These strategic investments, combined with the efforts of Ontario's hard-working people, have strengthened the economy and created jobs. Since October 2003, the Ontario economy has created 456,800 net new jobs, including 101,100 in 2007. Although the Ontario economy continues to grow, a number of external factors -- including a slower U.S. economy, higher oil prices and the stronger Canadian dollar -- have caused growth to moderate. These factors have proven to be particularly challenging for Ontario's manufacturing and forestry sectors. The government cannot completely control the external changes affecting Ontario's economy, but it can seize the economic opportunities they create and help make these changes positive ones for families and businesses. The government's goal is to ensure that Ontarians have good, well-paying jobs that help them to succeed and support their families. That's why this budget proposes: · A $1.5 billion, three-year Skills to Jobs Action Plan, including: · $355 million for a Second Career Strategy to help 20,000 unemployed workers get long-term training for new and better jobs · $75 million to increase apprenticeships by 25 per cent · $385 million to provide a $300 grant to every full-time college and university student by 2010 to help them with textbook and technology purchases · $500 million to expand and upgrade colleges, universities and training centres · $1 billion in 2007-08 for new municipal infrastructure investments, including $400 million for roads and bridges, $497 million for public transit in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Hamilton, and $100 million to rehabilitate social housing units · $750 million in business tax relief over four years. Measures include eliminating the Capital Tax, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2007, for businesses primarily engaged in manufacturing and resource activities, entitling them to $190 million in rebates. The government is committed to improving the quality of life for families and vulnerable citizens. Early initiatives under the government's poverty reduction strategy proposed in the budget include $135 million to provide better dental care for lowincome families and $32 million to double funding for the Student Nutrition Program. Low and moderate-income senior homeowners would benefit from a proposed new property tax grant of almost $1 billion over five years that would provide up to $500 a year by 2010. The budget also proposes several initiatives to improve student achievement, expand access to health care and fight climate change. The McGuinty government is on track to achieve its third consecutive surplus and post six consecutive balanced budgets between 2005-06 and 2010-11. In this budget, the first of our second mandate, the government continues to invest in the things that matter most to Ontarians. Through its investments in people, the government will further strengthen economic growth, create new jobs and continue to enhance the quality of life for all Ontarians. IAN OLIVER Group Publisher Media Group Ltd. O Canadian Champion, Milton Shopping News, Mississauga Business Times, Mississauga News, Napanee Guide, Newmarket/Aurora EraBanner, Northumberland News, North York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, Oakville Shopping News, Oldtimers Hockey News, Orillia Today, Oshawa/Whitby/Clarington Port Perry This Week, Owen Sound Tribune, Palmerston Observer, Peterborough This Week, Picton County Guide, Richmond Hill/Thornhill/Vaughan Liberal, Scarborough Mirror, Stouffville/Uxbridge Tribune, Forever Young, City of York Guardian RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY: Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: United Way of Oakville TV AUCTION When it comes to competence, he's a giant (leftover) ham T he problem, I contend, is untethered expansion. Although others may be inclined to construct a case for gross mismanagement, or utter incompetence, my sage daughter, all of 12 years old, says the problem, plain and simple, is ham ­ too much ham. My family, you see, was coming to our house for Easter. These days my family is in flux. Indeed, the Juniper clan is undergoing rapid expansion as our offspring reach an age of maturation where they have boyfriends and girlfriends (with whom they are naturally reluctant to part). Trouble is, when it comes to get-togethers, we rarely know until the last minute which of the offspring and their assorted allies will be able to attend, given the complexities and vagaries of work and life commitments. So, when my wife became overwhelmed at work and sent me in her stead to the local food emporium to round up some ham, her take on how much ham I should purchase was somewhat vague. You see! The problem is obviously untethered expansion. Ah, but when my brother arrived for the party with his wife, three daughters and their boyfriends, he took one look at the two hefty hams I'd procured, and he laughed. Actually, he questioned my sanity ("Are you crazy?"), and then he laughed. This very scene played itself out all over again when my sister and her family arrived. If asked, I'm sure that in this particular debate, both my brother and sister would take the side of gross mismanagement, or utter Andy Juniper incompetence. But, then, they weren't in the grocery store with me when I threw myself at the mercy of one of the kind ladies in the meat department, begging her for help in purchasing an unspecified quantity of ham for an indefinite amount of people -- oh, and with further instructions that we were also desirous of leftovers so my wife could make her famous ham-and-leek soup. The look the (trying-to-be) helpful woman gave me has come to haunt me. Have I mentioned that I left the store with two hefty hams, or what my daughter has sagely determined to be, well, too much ham? So, we served my family ham for Easter. And boy was it good. I mean, we received raves. Trouble is, when the whole crew had left and the massive cleanup began, we slowly came to the realization that we had ham coming out the ears. Put it this way, if we'd gone with just one of the hams I'd purchased, we'd still have had loads of leftovers. Ham sandwiches. Leek-and-ham soup. Ham omelet. Ham casserole. Ham and cereal. Cookies and ham. On the third day of ham leftovers, I gave the family a break and cooked up one of their favorites, homemade macaroni and cheese. Our daughter rushed to the table, and was about to heartily dig in, when she glanced at me with apprehension. "Tell me," she said, suspiciously, "That you didn't put ham in this." Ah, just a little. It was then that she told me how she used to think of chocolate when she contemplated Easter, but now all she associates with Easter is ham. "Ham," she said, "is the new chocolate." Well, honey, eat your chocolate, er, ham. Untethered expansion? Gross mismanagement, or utter incompetence? At this point, it's all ham to me. Andy Juniper can be visited at his Web site, www.strangledeggs.com, or contacted at ajuniper@strangledeggs.com.