The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday January 10, 2009 the Oakville Beaver Commentary 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont
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6 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday January 10, 2009 www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Commentary 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 905-632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 Guest Columnist 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 condi- tion 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. NEIL OLIVER Vice-president and Group Publisher, SANDY PARE Business Manager Getting on with Metroland West MARK DILLS Director of Production DAVID HARVEY General Manager MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution governing Canada ROD JERRED Managing Editor SARAH MCSWEENEY CIRC. MANAGER DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director Terence Young, Oakville MP RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director WEBSITE oakvillebeaver.com Metroland Media Group Ltd. includes: Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, Alliston Herald/Courier, Arthur Enterprise News, Barrie Advance, Champion, Milton Shopping News, Mississauga Business Times, Mississauga News, Napanee Guide, Newmarket/Aurora Era-Banner, Caledon Enterprise, Brampton Guardian, Burlington Post, Burlington Shopping News, City Parent, Collingwood/Wasaga Connection, East York Northumberland News, North York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, Oakville Shopping News, Oldtimers Hockey News, Orillia Today, uring the election, I promised to do the best job pos- Mirror, Erin Advocate/Country Routes, Etobicoke Guardian, Flamborough Review, Georgetown Independent/Acton Free Press, Harriston Oshawa/Whitby/Clarington Port Perry This Week, Owen Sound Tribune, Palmerston Observer, Peterborough This Week, Picton County Guide, Terence Young Review, Huronia Business Times, Lindsay This Week, Markham Economist & Sun, Midland/Penetanguishine Mirror, Milton Canadian Richmond Hill/Thornhill/Vaughan Liberal, Scarborough Mirror, Stouffville/Uxbridge Tribune, Forever Young, City of York Guardian sible representing Oakville in Ottawa. In order to do RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY: D this, I need to hear your views and ideas. Please feel Ontario Community Canadian Community Suburban Newspapers free to call me at 905-338-2008 or e-mail me ([email protected]) regarding any Newspapers Association Newspapers Association of America concerns or issues you have with the federal government. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: I’d like to take a moment to thank those who called or e-mailed me regarding recent events in Ottawa. It has been an incredibly busy time and I have received hundreds of messages from people who care about our country. They were 10 to one United Way of Oakville against the proposed parliamentary coalition that included the Bloc. Putting partisan politics aside, two things are very clear to me as we ring in 2009. The majority of voters in Oakville do not want another election at this time. What TV AUCTION they want is for the political parties to work together to address the world-wide eco- nomic crisis as it affects Canada. I agree. When the House of Commons resumes sitting later this month, a full budget will The sun sets be presented — a budget that’s critical to Canada’s economic future. With this in mind, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has launched a renewed national consulta- tion. The most broadly-based budget consultations in our history began in December when the prime minister talked to MP Michael Ignatieff shortly after his appoint- ment as Liberal leader. Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty met with Finance Critics Scot Brison and John McCallum a few days later. Minister Flaherty has since met with the provincial and territorial finance ministers on Dec. 16 and 17, 2008 in Saskatoon and has travelled across Canada to consult with other groups and indi- viduals before finalizing the budget. For my part, since Parliament was prorogued I have been meeting with con- stituents and government officials, attending events and I have also spoken to, and met with, representatives from Ford of Canada, auto parts manufacturers in town who are major employers and those who work for Honda and Toyota who also man- ufacture cars in Ontario. On Dec. 19, the Oakville Chamber of Commerce co-ordinated an instructive con- sultation on the economy with major employers in Oakville. I’m grateful to Chamber of Commerce members who came out in a major snow storm to provide ideas on how to tackle this economic downturn and help ensure business and employment growth. Their ideas ranged from ways to maintain consumer confidence, establishing new credit facilities to boost business growth, assisting small business, to a short- age of skilled labour and local infrastructure projects, green transportation and lower taxes. Their words went from my ears to the minister of finance’s ears on Monday, Dec. 22, when members of the GTA Caucus met in Mr. Flaherty’s Toronto Regional Office. I am confident many of these ideas will be reflected in the coming budget. In recent weeks, there has also been a lot of talk about the auto ‘bail out’ in the NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER media. I’ve received letters of concern over this issue, the question being: Why pour AT BRONTE CREEK PARK: The Bronte Creek Provincial Park outdoor rink at dusk last Saturday. taxpayer’s money into losing companies? ■ See Communicating page 8 New Year’s resolutions include getting the GOOP on life h, a new year. Out with the old me and in with the lifestyle website powered by Paltrow where- in a post-holiday cleansing to rid ourselves of the “holiday excess” new. It’s one of my innumerable and ultimately in guru Gwyneth offers up sage slices of we’ve inevitably packed on and to clean out our crappy colons. A attainable resolutions. advice a la Oprah, Martha Stewart and Last year she attempted the vogue Master Cleanse she On New Year’s Eve, after a few thimbles of medicinal, I confi- Rachael Ray on everything from parenting described as “hallucinogenic (in a bad way).” dently resolved to repair the broken economy, find an answer for and partnering, spices and spirituality to Included in her posting on this year’s cleanse is some timely global warming and a cure for cancer and, more ambitiously, I baking and, ah, bowel movements. “sluggish bowel” advice — because, as all certified celebrities resolved to become an even more perfect person, if possible. Specifically, it’s a website designed to help know, “bowel elimination is paramount for correct detoxifica- That’s right, I resolved to make 2009 the year of the me- mere mortals live like stars. A website tion.” All of which may be too much information. makeover, the year of the even better me. Naturally, for this to Andy Juniper designed to make us all beautiful, from the While I can’t claim to understand half of what’s on the GOOP occur, I’ll need help. I’ll need the advice of an expert, the guidance colon out. website, from the vague motto (“Nourish the inner aspect”), I do of a guru, the sage insight of a celebrity. I mean who knows more Critics of GOOP — and there’s an ungodly whack of them out know that just reading Gwyneth’s postings, living vicariously about perfecting people than a celebrity? No one, that’s who. But there — say that like most wealthy celebs, Gwyneth is discon- through Gwyneth, basking in Gwyneth’s glow is making me a bet- which omniscient star could best make me better? There’s cer- nected from the real world and that her website is all vapid, New- ter person, if only by association. tainly no shortage of advice-dishing divas out there. In the end, Age hokum, “gobbledy-goop”, inane info that out-Oprahs even GOOP: Make your life real. Work out. Clean your space. Don’t logic told me to get Gwyneth. Logic told me to get GOOPed. Oprah. Critics call GOOP a self-absorbed exercise in celebrity be lazy. Pause before reacting. Don’t spit into the wind. Don’t wear Now, for those of you living under a rock, or at least out of the hubris, and wonder at the pomposity of Paltrow offering ersatz white after Labour Day. readership range of People magazine, Gwyneth is Gwyneth advice on every topic under the sun. Okay, I made the last two up, but the rest is pure GOOP. I feel (Practically Perfect) Paltrow — actress, all-knowing expert, I used to be a critic. But the new me is working feverishly on closer to perfect already. bosom-buddy of Madonna, macrobiotic-dieter, manic-exerciser, being kinder and gentler. Gwyneth recommends we all be kinder Now, about fixing the economy… mother of Apple and Moses, and wife of Chris Martin, leader of the and gentler. — Andy Juniper can be visited at his Web site, www.stran- world’s best U2 cover band, Coldplay. Oh, and GOOP is the new Oh, and in a current posting, she also recommends we partake gledeggs.com, or contacted at [email protected]..