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OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, June 10, 2009 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 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: NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. 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 MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Raitt-gate part 2 Two hastily-pulled-together press conferences by Conservative MPs in Halton Region last weekend had all the earmarks of damage control after last week's secret document debacle involving Halton MP/Minister of Natural Resources Lisa Raitt. At the end of the most damaging week of Raitt's brief parliamentary career, the Halton media were invited to separate Saturday afternoon press conferences -- to be hosted by Burlington MP Mike Wallace and the politicallywounded minister of natural resources. While last-minute invitations to government-hosted announcements are hardly unusual, both 11th-hour media advisories reeked of events engineered to divert attention away from the political maelstrom involving secret documents being left behind at CTV's Ottawa bureau. By last Thursday, Raitt's offer to resign had been rejected by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, leaving the natural resources minister's press secretary, Jasmine MacDonnell, the only one to fall on her sword over the misplaced documents fiasco. The story was still making front-page headlines last Friday when local news outlets were approached with a media advisory in Milton and a photo opportunity in Burlington. While Wallace's office was inviting the Beaver's sister newspaper the Burlington Post to cover an infrastructure funding announcement related to Burlington Transit's Operations Centre, Raitt was planning to update the success of Canada's Economic Action Plan initiatives for homeowners at a Rona Cashway store in Milton. Our suspicion that the announcements were little more than political window dressings intended to draw attention away from the misplaced document scandal was confirmed when a source from Wallace's office said Burlington's announcement would not be held if the Post was unable to secure a photographer on such short notice. Meanwhile, at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, a reminder media advisory was issued by Raitt's Ottawa office, confirming the Halton MP's attendance at the 1 p.m. press conference in Milton. Less than six hours later, the Halton MP was a noshow, leaving Wallace alone at a podium, re-hashing details of Ottawa's home renovation tax credit -- previously announced as part of the Conservatives' federal budget package last January. If there had been any hope that these weekend press conferences might steer the media's and public's attention away from Raitt's political problems, it was shortlived. This week came news that the same press secretary `inadvertently' left a tape recorder behind in a public washroom some months earlier. On the tape are unflattering remarks made by Raitt about the federal health minister as well as flippant talk about the current serious medical isotope shortage. We're sure that Halton has not heard the last of the soap opera that has become Raitt's political life. 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 It's ALS Month every day at the Sandersons' It's hard to believe it has been a month and a half since Ian's birthday and our wonderful Celebration of Friendship party. But every phone call, shared photo or meal brings it all warmly back to mind. It has been busy. The main floor bathroom is now barrier free, complete with shower. The firefighters have finished phase one of the ramp and deck, to be completed this month. We have a ramp on the back deck, a jazzy hospital bed on the main floor and a mechanical chair that allows Ian to transfer without having to stand up on his own. June is ALS awareness month ­ well, here, every month is ALS awareness month and we are aware of it every day. The night of Ian's party, it was a choice as to whether to bring the cane or walker. Today, there are no choices. Ian is dependent on the manual wheelchair, which will soon be upgraded to a power chair as his strength diminishes. Biggest changes include respiratory, fatigue, loss of appetite, inability to take care of most bathroom requirements, deteriorating speech skills and loss of manual dexterity. To his credit, he is still able to tell me the best way to do things -- his way. The therapists have shown him a way to keep doing so even when his voice goes. It's amazing what they can do with computers -- maybe I won't get him one. Laughter is still in good supply here. There always seems to be something that puts the boots to our egos when we start feeling sorry for ourselves -- grandkids, each other or someone else's plight. How would you like to be Jim Flaherty these days? There are hard days -- hard work, hard thoughts, hard tongues -- not quite so easy to squeeze out of those without some tears. One night, I railed at God from the balcony of the Sapphire Princess on our way to Anchorage (yes -- we took a 10-day trip to Alaska) ­ good thing no 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. Cyclists need to be courteous After reading an article on cyclists learning the rules of the road, I thought I would write in with some issues on our own cyclists here in Oakville. First off, there was a time when you had to have lights and a bell or horn on your bike as well as some form of reflection so as to be seen when riding after dark. Too many times I've come up on riders at night with no lights and dark clothing peddling along a dimly-lit street, oblivious to the fact that I saw them at the last minute. Fortunately, I was watching the road and not my cell phone. I guess it's no longer "cool" to have lights on your bike. Secondly, when I turn off the street into the driveway of my local plaza I'm looking for pedestrians on the sidewalk, not a speeding cyclist. I've had a few narrow misses on that front. Lastly, (and only to keep my letter short) for those who bike our trails in and around Oakville, I ask that you give some warning when coming up behind me as I, too, am enjoying a walk along these same paths. Those who walk their dogs can relate when both my pet and I are surprised by your sudden appearance as you cruise by. Who can blame the dog that jumps at you when you suddenly appear behind us. A simple "Behind you" would give me time to shorten my dog's leash and control my pet. Please don't take me as "anti bike" as I, too, like to ride. I would just like to see some common sense and courtesy as we all share the roads and paths of this great town we call Oakville. RICK BERGERON See Working page 9