On Friday August 14, 2009, in collaboration with Halton Hills Hydro, the Town of Halton Hills will once again help increase awareness of the need for energy conservation by participating in the Count Me In! Community Challenge.

This voluntary challenge will occur on August 14th, marking the anniversary of the widespread blackout which occurred in North America on August 14, 2003.

Speaking about the Community Challenge, Mayor Rick Bonnette said:

“Our community has previously demonstrated its commitment to energy conservation through its strong participation in the global Earth Hour events. To continue this commitment, today, we are joining the Count Me In! Community Challenge. To make this event a success, the Town, residents, businesses and all other community stakeholders will collaborate by conserving energy on Friday August 14, 2009 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The Town has taken on a leadership role with respect to energy conservation. For example, we are proceeding with four major capital projects which will be constructed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. These projects are the two new fire stations and the two libraries.”

The Community Challenge is a joint initiative of the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), the City of Woodstock, which has led a municipal Blackout Day Challenge for the past several years, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), and the Electricity Distributors Association (EDA).

The success of the Community Challenge will be measured in two ways:

• The highest percentage drop in electricity consumption on August 14; and
• The highest per capita participation in the Count Me In! pledge drive between now and August 14.

Results will be announced at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s (AMO) Conference in Ottawa this August.

How to Participate?
The objective of the Community Challenge is to encourage energy conservation, reduce energy consumption and increase public awareness of the importance of the electricity supply. To do this and to help the Town win the competition, everyone is encouraged to take the following simple actions:

• Register now. Once registered Town of Halton Hills residents may send an email to jennifers@haltonhills.ca confirming registration and the email will be entered into a draw for 2 prizes donated by Halton Hills Hydro.
• On August 14th, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.:
  • Turn off any unnecessary lights
  • Completely unplug any unnecessary electronic equipment (e.g. TV, DVD, computer, etc)
  • Turn off the air conditioner
  • Avoid using major appliances
  • Take a walk through your neighbourhood
  • Additional energy conservation tips and information on the Community Challenge is available at: www.countmeinontario.ca and on www.haltonhillshydro.com/conservation.asp
• Watch for additional information. Visit www.haltonhills.ca/sustainability.

Please remember to do all of the above without compromising safety and security. In addition, please continue your energy conservation actions throughout the year. Be creative, have fun and stay safe.

On June 18, Halton Region became one of the first municipalities in Ontario to be awarded municipal drinking water licences from the Provincial Government. A municipal drinking water licence is a new approval issued by the Ministry of the Environment to owners of drinking water systems and was developed as a recommendation by Justice O’Connor in response to the Walkerton Inquiry. Halton Region earned licences for each of the municipal water systems that it operates.

“We are extremely pleased to be one of the first Municipalities in Ontario to be awarded the new water licences for all of our drinking water systems throughout the Region,” said Halton’s Regional Chair, Gary Carr. “Halton is committed to providing residents and businesses using municipal water with a safe and reliable water supply 24/7. Receiving the new water licences is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all Halton water services staff.”

The new Provincial licensing program goes beyond looking at the design, construction and operation of water facilities and distribution systems. The new licensing program extends the focus of water programs to incorporate elements of quality management for ongoing improvement, appropriate accreditation and financial plans to ensure that their water systems are sustainable for the future.

In addition, the Chief Drinking Water Inspector’s Annual report (2007-2008) was released this week. All of Halton Region’s water systems received inspection ratings of 100 per cent.

The Halton Regional Police Service is currently investigating a robbery that occurred at The Best Western Motel situated at 365 Guelph Street, Georgetown on July 1st 2009, between the hours of 0415 and 0500.

A lone masked male suspect entered the motel and demanded cash from the clerk. The suspect then proceeded to tie the clerk up and removed a quantity of cash from the cash drawer.

After being tied up the 64 yr old clerk was made to wait in the washroom. As the suspect ran from the scene he was observed by a guest of the Motel. The guest assisted the clerk and called 911.

The suspect is described as Male non – white, approx: 6 feet tall wearing dark clothing. He was last seen running east from the Motel.

A fire on June 23, 2009 in a second floor suite of the McGibbon Hotel resulted in a ticket being issued to the tenant of the suite for intentionally removing the smoke alarm in his suite.

Fire crews responded to a report of smoke conditions and alarm bells ringing in this three level building. When they arrived, smoke was visible on the second and third floors and the building had been evacuated.

Firefighters made quick access into the unit finding smoke in the suite and hallway. Upon entering they found a small burn mark on the floor and the fire had been extinguished. The fire loss is limited to the burnt linoleum floor and burn marks on a fridge door. The cause of the fire is the inappropriate disposal of smoking materials into a plastic bag. There was no working smoke alarm found in the unit. A review of the incident with the tenant found that he had placed cigarette butts into a plastic bag and left it on the floor of his room. He left the room for a short period of time.

Upon returning he found his room filled with smoke and the plastic bag with its contents smoldering on the floor. He subsequently took action to extinguish the fire. When the tenant had opened the door to his room this released the smoke from his room into the hallway causing the building fire alarm to be activated.

Further investigating into the incident found that the tenant had disabled and removed the smoke alarm in his unit prior to the incident and had placed it on the floor. The removal of this smoke alarm prevented early detection of this incident putting the lives of all the other residents at risk. The tenant further revealed he had intentionally disabled and removed the smoke alarm unit because it was activating when he smoked in his room.

This incident had the potential to cause personal injury, loss of life and greater fire damage. The lives of all the occupants of this building were put at risk when the smoke alarm was disabled and removed. As a result, a ticket with a fine of $235 was issued to the tenant.

A subsequent inspection of other units in this building was done to ensure working smoke alarms were provided by the building owner. The owner of this building has been very cooperative with fire department inspection staff to ensure fire safety in his building.

The Ontario Fire Code requires working smoke alarms in every level of a dwelling unit and near each sleeping area. This applies to residential homes as well as rental units. Building owners are required to ensure there is a working smoke and that they are maintained. Building owners who fail to provide a working smoke alarm and anyone who disables or removes a smoke alarm is in violation of the Ontario Fire Code. Violations of the above provisions can result in prosecutions with fines up to $50,000 for an individual or $100,000 for corporations and possible imprisonment.

The Halton Hills Fire Protection and Prevention Services is serious about the installation and maintenance of working smoke alarms. They provide an early warning from fire allowing sufficient time to escape from the building. Building owners who fail to provide working smoke alarms and individuals who disable a working smoke alarm will not be tolerated. The actions of these individuals put others lives at risk and will be dealt with within the provisions of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act and the Ontario Fire Code.

Fire Chief Brent Marshall states, “Working smoke alarms are the single most important life safety tool in your home. For an item that can cost as little as $10 there is no excuse for not have a working smoke alarm. The responsibility to have working smoke alarms is everyone’s responsibility. Home owners, landlords and tenants will be held accountable.”

Chief of Prevention and Public Education Harry Olivieri, would like to invite any homeowner, building owner, tenant or citizen who has any questions or concerns about the smoke alarm provisions of the Ontario Fire Code to contact him at (905) 873-2601 ext 2102.

The Halton Regional Police Service has made an arrest in a theft that occurred at the Ministry of Transportation office at 28 Main Street, in Georgetown.

On June 24th shortly before 2:00 pm 3 males entered the transportation office. The 3 males began to talk with the female attendant, when the attendant turned her back two of the suspects jumped up on the counter and grabbed several Ministry documents.

The 3 suspects fled the office but were pursued by two Ministry of Transportation staff members. The employees managed to catch up to one of the suspects and held him for police.

The two other suspect’s involved in the theft were seen getting into a Silver Sport Utility Vehicle to make their escape.

Some, but not of all of the stolen documents were recovered at the scene. There were no injuries.

Charged is Rafay YASIR, 24 years from Mississauga. YASIR has been charged with Theft Under $5000 and as a result of an investigation after his arrest YASIR has been charged with Possession of Counterfeit Mark and Possession of a Counterfeit Credit Card. He will appear in Burlington court on the 20 July 2009.

The Halton Regional Police Service is continuing to investigate this incident. Anyone with information related to it is asked to contact the Milton Criminal Investigations Bureau at (905) 825-4777 Ext 2415 or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Summer is now upon us. Students will be home from school, and many parents will now be wondering what their children could do for the summer holidays. One option is to have them join the largest youth organization in Canada, Cadets Canada. Cadets is a national program for youth ages 12 to 18 who want to make new friends, while participating in fun and challenging activities. The Cadet Program helps young citizens develop decision making and teamwork skills, while increasing their self-confidence. It also develops citizenship and leadership ideals in young Canadians while promoting physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

The Cadet Program contains three separate elements: sea, army and air. While all three elements share common training, each program also has its own distinct focus. The Sea Cadets focus on seamanship and learning to sail, the Army Cadets focus on outdoor adventure, and the Air Cadets focus on principles of aviation and learning to fly. While cadets will learn about the Canadian Forces, they are not members of the military, nor are they expected to join.

The Cadet Program is locally based, through Cadet units in our area. Cadets Canada also offers summer training courses stationed at a number of centres across the province, like a summer camp. These summer training courses offer a more in-depth experience to Cadets.

Thanks to the support given by the Government of Canada through the Department of National Defence, the Cadets Program is free. There are no registration fees or dues to join the Cadet Program. Upon joining, uniforms and accessories are provided free of charge.

Cadets Canada offers an extraordinary experience for Canada`s youth. The Cadet Program is open to both boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 18. For many, the Cadets are a perfect fit, providing an educational and enjoyable activity for those beyond the age of some camps, while too young for summer employment.

For over 100 years, Cadets Canada has helped prepare today’s young Canadians to become tomorrow’s leaders. Take a look at Cadets Canada. You might find it is the perfect thing for your children to enrol in this summer season.
Carrie and I, and our two boys, wish you and your family a good summer. We look forward to seeing you at many of the local events in our communities.

For more information on the local Cadet units in our area please visit www.cadets.ca or contact me at chongm@parl.gc.ca or (866) 878 5556. Hon. Michael Chong, M.P. Wellington-Halton Hills

An Ontario energy company believes that no matter where you live, you should be able to take advantage of the enormous potential of wind energy.

However, though wind energy is Canada’s fastest growing renewable energy source, several obstacles have limited the use of wind turbines in larger cities.

Finding the necessary space for wind turbines amid buildings, factories and towers can be difficult. Installing turbines directly on rooftops is also challenging. Vibrations caused by a turbine in the building it powers has also been a common complaint. And urban turbines must contend with smog-filled air, litter and debris.

Working with McMaster University and Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE), Cleanfield Energy Inc. has overcome each of these challenges and developed a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) for peak performance in urban settings.

This turbine stands 10 feet tall with three vertical blades, and looks more like an egg-beater than a windmill. Under favorable conditions, a single unit can provide 9,000 kW over a year – that’s 86% of an average Ontario home’s energy needs.

It can be installed on a variety of buildings, from a two-storey factory to a 35-storey high-rise and can be modified for either tower or rooftop installations. The turbine can handle gale-force winds, smog-filled air and can catch any wind without having to face it.

Cleanfield has already installed a dozen systems, with another 78 on order and generated a whirlwind of interest from around the world.

- www.newscanada.com

The winners and participants of the 2009 Halton Region RBC Business Plan Competition were honoured at a special awards celebration held on June 10 at the Halton Regional Centre in Oakville. The competition gave Halton secondary school students the chance to win cash awards for their business plans. The first place winner will now advance to the Central Region Regional Competition, where she will compete with the winners of other local competitions for the regional title.

“I commend all the students who took part in this year’s competition for the thought and creativity they put into their business plans,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr . “We are very pleased to be involved in programs like this that recognize the talent of our high school students and encourage the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”

The top prize of $1,000 was awarded to Elyse Simpson of Iroquois Ridge High School in Oakville for Jangle Records.

Second prize of $800 was awarded to Eric Ganong and Alexander Dissaurer of Abbey Park High School in Oakville. Third prize of $600 went to Carly Hornyak of Nelson High School in Burlington. Fourth prize of $400 was awarded to Neshonda Lowe of Assumption Catholic Secondary School in Burlington. In fifth place, with a prize of $200, was Christine Shermet of Nelson High School in Burlington.

Elyse Simpson now advances to the Central Region Regional Competition, where she will compete with the winners of other local competitions for the regional title and an associated cash prize. In the final round of the competition, each of the four regional winners will compete to determine the Provincial Champion, a title that is accompanied by an additional cash prize.

Each year, the Ontario Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services (MSBCS) offers the Ontario Secondary School Business Plan Competition. Halton Region’s Business Development Centre holds its local Halton Region RBC Business Plan Competition in partnership with MSBCS and invites all Halton secondary school students to submit their best plans, which are then judged by members of the business community. The judges evaluate the plans based on the plan’s complexity, the quality of research, and the student’s ability to demonstrate how research results were used to shape the plan.

“Congratulations to all the winners in the 2009 Business Plan Competition. All the participants should be extremely proud of their accomplishments. The quality of the business plans was exceptional as it reflected the effort put into the plans by the students,” said Sarah Adams Vice President RBC Halton South. “We hope to encourage our youth to be business leaders of the future by giving them the opportunity to turn classroom learning into a real world, hands on, prospective business proposal. We at RBC salute the youth in Halton where we can see the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well!”

For more details on this competition or other youth entrepreneurship programs at Halton, contact Halton Region’s Business Development Centre at www.halton.ca/business.

On Saturday June 20, 2009, in partnership with Halton Region, the Town will once again host a rain barrel sale event. This event will build on the overwhelming demand for rain barrels demonstrated by the community at the Region’s first ever rain barrel sale that took place at Town Hall (Georgetown) on May 23, 2009.

Speaking about the upcoming event, Mayor Bonnette said that: “Our residents are very conscious about the importance of water conservation. During the first rain barrel sale, our community responded overwhelmingly. The community showed its interest and commitment to sustainability, and to taking practical steps to adopt more sustainable practices.

With over 400 rain barrels purchased by Halton Hills residents through the rain barrel sales held to date,, each time that they are filled with rainwater, about 82,000 litres of water will be saved. Thanks to our community’s overwhelming response, we are pleased to host a second rain barrel sale.”

The sales will be held Saturday June 20, 2009, at Robert C. Austin Public Works Yard, 11620 Trafalgar Road, Town of Halton Hills (Georgetown), from 8 am to 12 pm.

Due to the popularity of this event, potential traffic delays may be encountered in the area. Please be patient and abide by traffic direction provided by Police.

Barrels will be sold for only $45 (cash only). One rain barrel per purchase / per household. All purchasers must provide proof of Halton Region residency. Over one thousand rain barrels will be available and if supplies run out, rain checks will be available until 12:00 noon.

Recommendation #37 of the Green Plan speaks about the need to establish a “Rain Barrel Incentive Program” and to provide a rebate to Town residents who purchase a rain barrel.

Rain barrels promote wise outdoor water use during the summer months by allowing for rainwater collection. Rainwater is an excellent source of water for the garden.

The rain barrel fits conveniently in the back seat of an average car. Assembly, mosquito prevention and downspout modification instructions are included with the purchase.

More information on Halton Region’s water conservation programs. Specific questions regarding the rain barrel sale should be directed to Halton Region Access by calling 311.

The Halton leg of the Ontario Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics will pass through many Halton communities on Wednesday, June 10, 2009. This year’s fundraising event will be unique. Three individual runs are to occur simultaneously, covering Milton, Oakville and Burlington.

At approximately 9:00 a.m., the torch will be passed from our Hamilton law enforcement partners at Plains Road and Highway #6, kicking-off the Burlington leg. The Halton runners will then carry the torch into an opening ceremony which will commence shortly after 9:00 a.m., at Holy Rosary School, 261 Plains Road East, in Burlington.

This will initiate the Milton and Oakville portions, which will be getting underway respectively from Robert Baldwin School, at 186 Wilson Drive, Milton and from W.H Morden Public School, at Morden Road and Rebecca Street, Oakville. An opening ceremony is also planned at the commencement of the Milton event.

The participating special Olympians, police service members and community participants; including staff and students from the Halton District School Board, the Halton Catholic School Board and other volunteers, will follow their routes and converge on Fothergill Woods Park, at Amanda Crescent and New Street, in Burlington, where the Oakville and Burlington post-run ceremony and picnic will be held. Milton’s post-run event will be held at Halton Regional Police, division #12, at 490 Childs Drive, Milton.

Chief Gary Crowell will attend the opening ceremony. Participants will then lead the run and walk, eastbound along Plains Road and into downtown Burlington. Spectators are encouraged to cheer on the participants along the route.

The mission of the Ontario Law Enforcement Run for Special Olympics is to raise funds for and awareness of the Special Olympics’ movement. Many athletes reside and train in the Halton region. The Torch Run, in partnership with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, encompasses a variety of fundraising initiatives that benefit the athletes in Ontario with an intellectual disability who are involved in Special Olympics programs.

After weeks of careful consideration, I’ve decided to vote for Christine Elliott for Leader of our Ontario PC Party.

Of all the candidates in the race, I believe she is best suited to lead our Party into the 2011 provincial election. Christine Elliott will be a capable and effective Premier of Ontario.

Ontario needs our Caucus to be strong in opposition for the next 27 months, holding the McGuinty Liberals accountable for their broken promises and lackadaisical leadership. Then, in 2011, we must be prepared to form the Government to restore Ontario to its rightful place as the leading, most innovative and dynamic province in Canada.

I admire Christine Elliott’s thoughtful and reasoned approach to politics. She has been consistent in these essential respects:

1. She emphasizes the need for compassion towards those in our society who, through no fault of their own, are disadvantaged.
2. She believes that we must be responsible stewards of the taxpayers’ money. She recognizes that creating the conditions for a strong and growing economy is our foremost responsibility.
3. She knows that we can’t look backwards to find a way to secure victory, in order to create a better future for all the people of Ontario.
4. She understands that elected public service is a privilege. We earn our opportunity to serve when we work hard, when we show competence, and when we tell the truth.

All of our leadership candidates deserve credit for their campaigns. I look forward to continuing to work with them in the coming months, as we reach out together to the promise of the future.

Ted Arnott is the MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills and serves as Tourism Critic for the Official Opposition. He can be reached at his official website.

Update to article Passenger Airlifted after Accident in Georgetown.

On Friday June 12, shortly before 1:30 pm the Halton Regional Police Service responded to a serious motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Guelph St. and Windsor Road, in Georgetown.

A Freightliner tractor trailer was westbound on Guelph Street when it collided with a Pontiac Sunfire that had been travelling eastbound but was stopped at the intersection of Windsor Road making a left turn into the Supercentre parking lot.

The light at the intersection turned amber and the driver of the Pontiac proceeded to turn and crossed paths with the Freightliner. The Freightliner collided with the passenger side of the Pontiac.

The driver of the Pontiac a 22 year old woman from Georgetown received minor injures as a result of the accident. The passenger, also a 22 year old Georgetown woman, in the Pontiac had to be extricated by the Halton Hills Fire Department. She was later transported via Air Ambulance to Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital in critical condition.

The driver of the Freightliner a 48 year old Toronto man received no injuries in the collision. The intersection was closed for approximately 3 hours. Alcohol and speed were not a factor in this collision.

The Halton Regional Police Service Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a serious motor vehicle accident in Georgetown.

On June 12th, shortly before 1:30 pm a transport truck ran into a car on Guelph Street at Windsor Road in Georgetown.

Emergency vehicles are still arriving on scene but it is anticipated the passenger in the car will be airlifted for emergency care.

Guelph Street between Maple Avenue and Mountainview Road will be closed for an indefinite length of time.

No other details are known at this time.

The Halton Region Museum is proud to welcome local artist, Ann Kloppenburg to the Halton Region Museum Art Gallery, located in the lower level of the Museum’s Visitor Centre. The opening reception is scheduled for Thursday June 18 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The collection of watercolours by the acclaimed Burlington artist will be on display at the Halton Art Gallery until September 7.

“The Halton Region Museum is not only a showcase for the artifacts that tell the story of Halton’s past, it is also a community space showcasing the many talents of the people who live here today,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “We welcome Burlington artist Ann Kloppenburg to the Museum’s Halton Art Gallery this summer and we look forward to hosting many other talented Halton artists in the future.”

The exhibit, named “The Beauty of Halton”, is an impressive collection of watercolours that capture the year-round warmth and colour the region has to offer. This seasoned Burlington artist describes her use of watercolours as “…loose and free…” as painting evokes emotions described as “…a great feeling for the sky and water”.

For over forty years, Ann has been an artistic leader in Burlington’s Art Community and a member of Burlington’s Fine Arts Association. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, Anne studied at the Dublin National College of Art, the Ontario College of Art and McMaster University. From 1983 until 1994 Ann worked as an Art Instructor in Halton and Hamilton-Wentworth schools. She also taught at the Burlington Art Centre where her work is often exhibited. Among Ann’s array of awards is 1998 Burlington Arts Person of the Year. Following a juried art show in Itabashi, Japan, Burlington’s sister city, her award winning painting was chosen to hang in the city Mayor’s Office.

For more information regarding the exhibit, attend the gallery opening or the purchase of Ann’s paintings; please contact Julie Sutton-Yardley, Visitor Services Coordinator at 905-875-2200, ext. 23 or email: julie.sutton-yardley@halton.ca prior to Monday, June 15, 2009. Present a copy of this notice or your invitation to the Kelso Conservation Area entrance gate for access to the Museum.

The Halton Region Museum is located inside Kelso Conservation Area in Milton – the site that was originally settled in 1836 by Scottish immigrants. The Alexander family farmed the 200-acre property through four generations. Today, one of the Museum’s focal points is the Alexander barn with additional buildings to be opened to the public over the coming year. The upper two floors of the historic building feature exhibits and artifacts that reflect Halton’s natural and cultural heritage. Two unique meeting and reception rooms located in the barn are available for corporate or social events, group presentations and educational programs. Visit www.halton.ca/museum for more information.

Responding to a statement yesterday from the Minister of Tourism, PC Tourism Critic Ted Arnott made the following remarks: “Something like 300,000 Ontario workers depend on a strong and vibrant tourism industry. It is, after all, a $22-billion industry, and its importance to our province must never go unnoticed.

“Unfortunately, the McGuinty government has offered little more than false hope to an industry that deserves so much better. Most recently, the McGuinty government decided to hike sales taxes in the midst of this extreme economic challenge we face today.

It would appear that this minister remains oblivious to industry concern, even outrage, over the Dalton sales tax—this, on top of the unrest over their government-knows-best approach to tourism regions, which is already starting to unravel.

“In fact, the minister didn’t even mention the Sorbara report in her statement, and of course for the last couple of years we were told that that would solve all the problems. As for the destination marketing fees, the Sorbara report suggests that $100 million must be raised to sell Ontario as a place to visit. The
budget provided only $40 million, which is actually less than the existing system collects. It’s a cut of some $5 million.

“In short, this government squandered the industry’s goodwill just as quickly as it squandered our opportunity to showcase our great province to the world.
“Today the Minister of Tourism issued a press release touting the “stay-cation.” Obviously, we in Ontario are fortunate to live in a place which has so much to offer right here at home, but we don’t need a press release to tell us that.

“What we need is a meaningful, comprehensive strategy to bring the world to Ontario. We need a strategy to overcome border obstacles to bring Americans back. Above all, we need a government that listens to the industry, the people who know tourism best, instead of one that imposes top-down solutions
and new taxes that won’t help.

“Despite significant challenges, we know that this is a resilient industry. I’m confident that with a change in government in just over two years, Ontario tourism will emerge stronger than ever in 2011.”

Ted Arnott is the MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills and serves as Tourism Critic for the Official Opposition. He can be reached at his official website.

Tuesday June 16, 2009 is going to be a very busy day for organizers of this years’ Risk Watch Summer Safety Blitz. The event, being held in one of the Gellert Centres’ parking lots at 10241 Eighth Line for the first time, will be hosting over 500 grade 4 students. Starting at 9:00 AM until 2:30 students from both Acton and Georgetown Risk Watch Schools will be bussed to the facility, courtesy of First Student Canada and Tyler Transport Limited. Drop-in guests will certainly be
made welcomed as well.

In Canada, injuries are the leading cause of death for children over one year of age. Risk Watch is an injury prevention program for children pre-kindergarten to grade eight developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and endorsed by the Fire Marshals’ Public Fire Safety Council.

Captain David Ford says, “Risk Watch is an educational initiative with age appropriate curriculum that has been developed for all elementary school grades” adding, “This is an excellent opportunity to forward some very helpful information to a lot of people at one time”. If even one injury is prevented by making the right choice, then our efforts have been rewarded. Ford adds, “The tireless efforts and dedication of the Coalition Members is what makes the Risk Watch program the success it has been for the past ten years”.

The day will feature interactive activities including a helmet fitting inspection clinic, bicycle safety, water safety, fire prevention and school bus safety to name a few. Now featuring additional Canadian content, attractions for this year also include ATV’s, farm equipment and boating. Halton Regional Police Services, OPP, CN Police and Halton EMS will also be on site offering a variety of displays and services.

Organized by Coalition Members made up of Catholic, Public and Christian School Teachers, Community Health Nurses, EMS, Police, Fire, Boston Pizza, Recreation & Parks and Ray Johnson & Associates of Co-operators Insurance, this is one more way to proudly advertise that Halton Hills is a Risk Watch Safe Community.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) at their annual meeting in Whistler BC passed by a narrow margin a resolution calling on the United States to review its current “Buy American” policies included in many of the stimulus bills passed by Congress. The Town of Halton Hills has taken the lead on this resolution, in the past two months bringing it forward to the FCM and informing other municipalities and the public of the implications and possible Canadian job losses that this “Buy American” legislation presents.

The Town was approached by Mr. John Hayward, President of Hayward Gordon Ltd., about this pressing issue which threatens 30% of his current business. Hayward Gordon Ltd., a 57 year old Canadian manufacturer of pumps and mixers that are used internationally in water and wastewater plants, recently moved to Halton Hills. They built a new seven million dollar plant which employs over 70 local employees. The company also uses the services of local suppliers, contractors and trades people and is a vital part of the economic strategy in Halton Hills and the surrounding Region.

At a Special Meeting of Council held on April 20, 2009, Halton Hills Council passed a Resolution calling for the United States Government to reconsider a recent Act passed by Congress which requires that steel and other manufactured products be made in the United States.

Mayor Bonnette stated “This is a local company that finds itself in a difficult position and while we support Free Trade we also feel it should be Fair Trade and I fully support this Resolution”. This is not a Buy Canadian Resolution but rather a question of fairness; I think companies in other municipalities may find themselves in the same position and our support is justified.”

Acting Mayor, Councillor Clark Somerville a member of the FCM Board presented the resolution at the meeting asking the delegates to support Halton Hills’ position and provided a passionate presentation to the delegates to support the resolution. This issue will have significant impact on local municipalities and a strong response was required to advance Canada’s position on free and fair trade with the United States.

Unfortunately Mayor Bonnette could not attend the FCM meeting due to Town and personal commitments, however Councillors Somerville, Fogal, Hurst and Johnson
2 attended and all spoke to the delegates. Halton Hills Councillors made their presence known by all addressing the delegates and distributing Fair Trade buttons. Councillor Fogal was the last speaker prior to the vote and passionately defended the resolution, this combined effort resulted in the resolution passing by a narrow margin.

Councillor Fogal stated “I am extremely proud of Mayor Bonnette and Council, Councillor Somerville and the FCM Board for tackling such an important issue and having the courage to act when most would not have dared”.

Since taking this affirmative action in April, Mayor Bonnette on behalf of Council has fielded calls from all the major media in Canada and the United States he has stated emphatically that this is not trade protectionism but rather a question of fairness. While trade negotiations are generally a Federal Government responsibility, job losses at the local level can be devastating to communities and the FCM wanted to send a message to our Federal Government to negotiate on their behalf.

The FCM resolution closely parallels the one passed by the Town of Halton Hills but recommends that no action be taken for 120 days which will allow both the Federal and Provincial Governments to work with their American counterparts to come to a
negotiated settlement.

Jean Perrault, President of the FCM and the Mayor of Sherbrooke, Que. Stated “Today, Canada’s cities and communities joined federal and provincial governments in a common front to try and stop American protectionism.

It was municipalities like Halton Hills that pushed this issue to the top of the national agenda. We did it by pointing to the damage that protectionism can do, not just to trading relations, but to communities and their residents”.

Municipalities across the country from Conception Bay South, NFLD to Surrey, BC supported the resolution as well as our neighbouring communities of Halton Region, Brampton and Caledon.

The Town of Halton Hills is supportive of its business community and this action emphasizes this pro-active attitude in assisting the business community to prosper and expand.

The McGuinty government was unprepared for trade troubles stemming from U.S. “Buy American” policies, says Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott.

In Question Period June 2, Mr. Arnott asked Premier McGuinty if he agrees with the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters that Ontario must take immediate action. Mr. Arnott read that organization’s recommendations from a letter signed by 28 business leaders.

Premier McGuinty seemed unaware of the letter.

“I didn’t find his response satisfactory and I didn’t sense he had even been briefed on the issue,” observed Mr. Arnott. “Now he knows about it, and it’s up to him to do something about it.”

Mr. Arnott raised the case of Hayward Gordon, Ltd.—a Halton Hills manufacturer Mr. Arnott visited last week. The company has already been shut out of U.S. contracts due to the “Buy American” provisions of the U.S. stimulus package.

“The need to take action to protect these jobs has been covered extensively in major Canadian news media, and even the Washington Post,” Mr. Arnott informed the Premier.

After Question Period, Mr. Arnott reiterated his concerns to the Premier and discussed the letter from the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.

In addition to speaking in the Legislature, Mr. Arnott raised the issue nearly three months ago with the former Minister of Economic Development and the Minister of International Trade. He also wrote to a U.S. Congressman he met last year in Washington.

The Town of Halton Hills has recently set up a joint study group to investigate and implement a “Tourism as a Business” initiative. Among the items to be considered will be shared websites, common branding etc. all with the goal of promoting our town as a future “Tourist Mecca”.

Ward 4 Councillor John Duncan is heading up the group with town Economic Development Officer, Doug Penrice assuming responsibility for day-to-day activities. The following groups are leading players in the development of the program. Our goal is to fully develop as many aspects of the various walks of life in our community as possible, potential tourist attractions.

1. Arts and Cultural Group – Beatrice Sharkey
2. Arts and Cultural Group – Laurent Thibault
3. The Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce – Sue Walker
4. The Georgetown BIA – Kay Matthews
5. The Acton BIA – Josey Bonnette
6. The Williams Mill – Simon McDonald
7. Georgetown Little Theatre –Lois Fraser
8. Acton Little Theatre – Kathy Sanford
9. Longtime Halton Hills resident – Jo Lister
10. Town of Halton Hills – Danielle Edwards and Norman Gilley
11. Mayor Rick Bonnette and CAO Dennis Perlin are ex officio participants

“We are fortunate to have so many talented people in our community with a real enthusiasm to work with Councillor John Duncan on enhancing our tourism in Halton Hills.” Mayor Rick Bonnette stated.

Councillor John Duncan states “for the first time we now have all the main groups involved in the Tourism Industry at the same table and working cohesively towards a common goal. We have an amazing array of talent and I look forward to working with this group to enrich Tourism in the Town of Halton Hills”.

The group will be looking at both long term and short term goals to promote and generate Tourism opportunities. In the immediate future you will see “tourism ambassadors” attending such events as The Highland Games, both Georgetown and Acton Fall Fairs, Classics Against Cancer, The Farmers Market, Canada Day in The Glen, and several others. These volunteers will be outfitted in distinctive shirts which will state “Ask me about Halton Hills” and they will be able to answer why tourists including “home town tourists” should stay, and play in Halton Hills.

“If your teeth hurt, we can help.” That’s the message that Halton Region wants to get out to the youth in the community. Youth who are not covered by dental insurance and can’t afford treatment, can apply to receive free urgent dental care available across Halton Region and Ontario.

The service is funded through the Province’s Children in Need of Treatment (CINOT) program and facilitated here in Halton by the Region’s Health Department. If a teen has a specific dental issue and needs a filling, extraction, sedation, preventive dental care like cleaning or fluoride, or just overall dental support and information, these services can be made available at no charge.

“Halton Region has been offering urgent dental care to teens in need for a number of years, but now, with the struggling economy and greater demand for services, we’re pleased that the Province is providing increased funding to municipalities to help even more youth and families access these services,” said Regional Chair, Gary Carr. “Youth in Halton should not go without this kind of basic health care. We want to do everything we can to provide residents at all ages and in all neighbourhoods across the region access to the kind of care they need.”

For more information about the program, or to find out if you are eligible, contact Halton Region by dialing 311 (toll free) or 905-825-6000, or visit our website.

Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott dropped in to Georgetown on his way to Queen’s Park this morning to congratulate the Georgetown Business Improvement Area (BIA). The BIA has been promised a grant of $87,000 from the Government of Ontario to develop a marketing plan to revitalize the downtown area.

“I was glad to support the Georgetown BIA’s rural economic development grant application,” said Mr. Arnott. “We need to encourage shoppers to support our local business and keep our downtown vibrant.”

Mr. Arnott commended Georgetown BIA Manager Kay Matthews and the board for their outstanding efforts to promote the downtown.

“They do a fabulous job, and I’m glad to have the chance to work with them.”

Halton Region hosting rain barrel sales has experienced unexpected overwhelming response by residents and has made changes to the sale.

“As a result of the demand from residents, we have more than doubled the number of rain barrels available for the upcoming events,” said Mitch Zamojc, Commissioner of Public Works and Engineering Services. “I’m extremely happy to see so many Halton residents concerned with the environment and doing their part by conserving water.”

The rain barrels are $45.00 each -cash only, one per household/per purchase. Attendees must provide proof of Halton residency. Other sales are scheduled to take place throughout Halton from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on:

• Saturday June 6, Halton Waste Management Site, 5400 Regional Road 25 (5400 Bronte Road, Milton (also pesticide drop off event).
• Saturday June 13, Oakville Works Yard, 1140 South Service Road West – NOTE: This location may change to accommodate demand. Please check Halton’s website for updates.
• Saturday June 20, new fifth event. At a location to be determined in Halton Hills.

Please check Halton’s website for updates.

The 205 litre capacity (24” diameter) rain barrels fit in an average vehicle and require very little assembly. Residents should note that they are responsible for adapting their downspout to flow into the rain barrel – assembly and mosquito prevention instructions are included.

For more information about rain barrel sales and their locations, please contact Halton Region at 905-825-6000, toll free: 1-866-442-5866, or dial 311. You can also visit the website.

An anonymous tip led the Halton Regional Police Service into an investigation regarding a suspected cannabis marihuana grow operation in the Town of Halton Hills. On the 28th of May 2009, members of the Halton Regional Police Service Guns and Gangs Unit, Drug and Morality Bureau, Emergency Services Unit and the Forensic Identification Bureau executed Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substance Act search warrants on a residence located at 5 Green Street in the Town of Halton Hills (Norval.)

Upon entering the residence police located a sophisticated cannabis marihuana laboratory in the basement of the home. Police also discovered that a hydroelectric by-pass was utilized to divert electricity to the clandestine laboratory, prior to being captured by the hydroelectric meter. Halton Hills Hydro attended the address and assisted the police in dismantling the laboratory. A total of 1375 cannabis marihuana plants were seized with an estimated street value of $1,000,000.00. In addition, police seized a quantity of hydroponics equipment, valued at $4,500.00.

Currently charged with:
• Production of a Controlled Substance
• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Theft of Electricity
• Occupant Injure a Dwelling

Is: Thao PHAM (34 yrs) of Woodbridge Ontario.

This is a second time in two years that the Halton Regional Police Service have investigated and dismantled a large scale clandestine cannabis marihuana laboratory at this location.

Members of the public are encouraged to contact the Halton Regional Police Service or Halton Crime Stoppers to provide information regarding ongoing criminal activity.

The old legend of Scylla and Charybdis has something to say about our current predicament. Two monsters on opposites sides of a narrow strait proved a mortal danger to mythical sailors and were the genesis of our expression, “caught between a rock and a hard place”.

In modern times, we are caught between our increasing use of the automobile and the lack of alternatives, such as public transit. Our government is addressing this predicament by paying for the expansion of GO train service to Halton Hills and Wellington County. A stronger GO train system will provide an alternative to the automobile, shorten commuting times, cut costs for commuters, improve our environment and reduce greenhouse gases. Recently, the governments of Canada and Ontario announced a joint investment of $500 million for the GO Transit revitalization project, which will improve GO Transit service and reliability. Half of this amount will go toward a series of GO station parking expansions throughout the Greater Toronto Area. A portion of the other half of this amount will pay for the expansion of GO train service to Acton, Guelph and Kitchener.

The major impediment preventing GO train expansion to Acton, Guelph and Kitchener is due to the fact that the rail bridge over the Credit River consists of only one rail track, which must be shared with VIA/Amtrak passenger trains, freight trains and GO commuter trains. Of the monies mentioned above $30 milliion will go to widening the bridge over the Credit to expand capacity on this crossing and improve the efficiency of trains.

The improvements to the Credit River Bridge consist of adding a second track and provisioning for a third, which is critical to meet current demand and allow for the expansion of GO train service. Construction is expected to start this summer and finish in fall 2010. This local $30 million improvement to the Credit River Bridge is crucial for allowing future expansion of GO train service to Acton and Guelph, and is just one of the many GO Transit service projects the Government of Canada is funding to improve public transit service.

In addition to helping us navigate the tricky waters between a rock and a hard place, these investments will help increase economic growth and improve service for commuters in Georgetown and Acton who use the Union Station-Georgetown line. It will also help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and improve our environment.

Once the Credit River bridge expansion is completed, the last big bottleneck that prevents an expansion of GO train service to Acton, Guelph and Kitchener will be removed. With this bottleneck out of the way, construction of new GO train stations can commence and expanded GO train service to Acton (in Halton Hills) and Guelph (in Wellington County) could arrive as early as 2011.

Michael Chong is the Member of Parliament for Wellington-Halton Hills and can be reached through his website

The Council for the Town of Halton Hills has authorized Halton Hills Community Energy Corporation (“HHCEC”) to negotiate the sale of Halton Hills Fibre Optics Inc. (“HHFOI”), including its wireless division, Hummingbird Wireless, to Atria Networks LP (“Atria”) for $4,750,000. Should the negotiations be successful and the sale completed then the Town, through HHCEC, will realize a “net profit” of approximately $1,400,000 as a result of the transaction after the outstanding debts owed to Halton Hills Hydro and HHCEC are paid, transaction closing costs are covered, and any Federal and Provincial taxes paid. The approximate $1,400,000 net will be used by HHCEC as the working capital for its core energy business and for the ongoing payment of an annual dividend to the Town.

During the recent restructuring of the Hydro group of companies, it was determined that to stay in the telecom business in the future would require considerable additional investment and more resources. This is due to the stiff and growing competition, corporate consolidations and ever-advancing technology in the telecom field.

Therefore Town Council determined that if a suitable buyer and purchase price could be found, it would be better for HHCEC to sell HHFOI and Hummingbird Wireless to concentrate on the core energy business.

A number of telecom companies were canvassed for their interest. The Atria Proposal was selected due to the attractive valuation it offered, its experience in the telecom sector and its demonstrated commitment to local communities.

“The strategic focus of HHCEC moving forward should be building the core business of electricity distribution and exploring community energy opportunities” said Rick Bonnette, Chairman of HHCEC. “The sale of HHFOI and Hummingbird Wireless at a significant profit would validate the investment the Town has made in Halton Hills’ broadband infrastructure. As well, should the sale be concluded, then it will also be a win for the customers as they will be able to get high quality telecommunication services from Atria, an experienced and respected investor in the telecom sector, that is committed to operating and growing the business.

Indeed, the Town has been assured by Atria that they will maintain the current fibre and wireless network with service levels matching or exceeding thosepresently provided by HHFOI”.

HHFOI is a specialized telecommunications carrier that provides broadband facilities and internet access to the residents of Halton Hills and the surrounding area. The sale to Atria, if completed, will position HHFOI as part of a larger dynamic organization with the capacity to grow the business to realize its maximum potential.

Halton Regional Council has approved the Budget Directions Report for the preparation of the 2010 Budget and Business Plan. As requested by Council at its April 1 meeting, the Report outlines the parameters and guidelines that will be used to implement a zero per cent Regional tax and rate freeze in 2010.

“Halton Region residents are facing some real financial challenges in the current economic recession and do not need the added pressure of a tax increase,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “The strategies outlined in the Budget Directions Report are consistent with the Region’s strong and prudent financial planning principles and will ensure residents continue to receive the high quality services they expect.”

To achieve the zero per cent tax freeze, the Budget Directions Report outlines some of the cost-saving strategies the Region could employ, including freezing staff complement at 2008 levels, the temporary financing of some programs including the increased demand for social services through the Region’s Recession and Stabilization Reserves and other cost containment measures.

“Our main priority is to ensure that service levels are maintained in 2010,” said Chair Carr. “This community is growing, there is a demand for service and we intend to maintain those service levels.”

Over the past three years Halton Region has been able to keep taxes low with the combined tax increase of less than one percent while still enhancing programs and services including;

• Enhanced waste diversion programs such as weekly Blue Box and Green Cart Collections, and Take It Back!
• Introduction of Halton’s Air Quality program in 2008
• Landfill Gas Capture Project which reduces greenhouse gas emissions
• Implementation of 211 and 311
• $2 million for additional subsidized child care spaces
• Addition of 15.6 paramedics to Halton EMS since 2007
• An increase in the amount invested in Halton’s roads program from an approved budget of $53 million in 2004 to a budget of $115 million in 2009

With the budget directions approved, Halton Regional staff will spend the next few months preparing the 2010 Budget and Business Plan which will be discussed at the Budget Review Committee on December 14 and at Regional Council on December 16.

“Over the past three years, we have had one of the lowest Regional tax increases in the province, resulting in an average increase of 0.6 per cent, while still enhancing service levels,” commented Chair Carr. “I am confident that our 2010 Budget will be able to provide the community with the services and programs they expect, while providing our residents with the financial relief they need.”

A video of the Council meeting is available online at www.halton.ca.

The heart-wrenching tragedy that has unfolded in Oxford County since April 8th has shaken parents across Canada, and prompted everyone who cares about the safety and well-being of children to ask what we can do to help reduce the likelihood of another child falling prey to such a heinous crime.

The Halton Regional Police Service would like to remind parents about some ways to street proof their children.

Telling your child to “never talk to strangers” is an excellent first step in keeping them safe from predators. Here are some other tips:

Playing:

• Know who your child plays with and where
• Keep a list of your child’s friends’ addresses and telephone numbers
• Teach your child to play safe, and play together
• Tell your child to never play in remote areas of parks or take shortcuts through the woods
• Encourage your child to use a buddy system instead of walking alone
• Tell your child not to loiter on the way to and from school

Supervision:

• Do not leave your child in unsupervised areas such as cars, parks, public washrooms, arenas and plazas
• Accompany your child to the bus stop and meet them when they return from school
• Ensure your child always notifies you as to where they are going and who they will be with

Strangers:
A stranger is anyone your child has not been introduced to by you.

• Teach your child not to talk to strangers, to never go anywhere with people they don’t know, and to never take anything from them, such as candy or rides
• Coach your child about ‘safe strangers’ such as police officers, firefighters and teachers in case they need help

Getting Help:

• Teach your child where to go and how to get help
• Accompany your child on their regularly traveled routes. Be sure to point out the locations of payphones.
• Show your child how to use 9-1-1 for emergencies

Practice:

• Develop a “what if” game to get your child thinking about how they would respond if they felt afraid

Their Body:
Your child’s body is private.

• Tell your child that no one may touch the area that his or her bathing suit covers
• If someone tries to touch them, they should say “NO” and advise you immediately

Uncomfortable Feelings:

• Teach your child to talk to you immediately if someone says or does something that makes them feel strange or uncomfortable
• Listen when your child is trying to tell you about something that bothers them and provide them with support and understanding

Behavioural Changes:

• Watch for changes in your child’s behaviour that could indicate something is wrong. Examples include hesitation to go with certain people, loss of appetite, withdrawal, depression and aggression.

Planning:

• Make arrangements with your child in advance that if you or their regular caregiver is unable to pick them up, a specific person they already knows will attend instead

The Halton Region Health Department will begin its West Nile Virus (WNV) control and surveillance program on May 19, 2009. While the Health Department’s dead bird surveillance program has been discontinued, as a result of Provincial funding cuts, a comprehensive WNV program will still be carried out in Halton Region.

“Dead crows and blue jays have helped identify the presence of West Nile Virus but mosquitoes provide better information about West Nile Virus activity,” said Dr. Bob Nosal, Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region. “The Health Department will continue to use adult and larval mosquito surveillance to determine the health risk of West Nile Virus as a part of a comprehensive control program.”

Halton residents are reminded to take precautions when outside; avoid being outside at dusk and dawn, cover-up and wear insect repellent with DEET.

Residents can also have a positive impact on the mosquito population by removing or reporting any standing water where mosquitoes can grow. Standing water can be anything that collects water for seven days, such as bird baths, old tires, clogged eaves troughs, plant saucers or toys.

Halton Region will begin larvaciding when staff have identified mosquito larvae in catch basins or other areas of standing water. Locations that have received larvaciding can be found at www.halton.ca/wnv. Sites will also have a sign posted.

In a move to bolster its online presence and make accessing its website simpler and more intuitive, the Halton Regional Police Service announced that, effective immediately, the domain name of its external site has been changed to www.haltonpolice.ca. The move represents the final stage in a multi-month redesign of the previous website, which was located at www.hrps.on.ca.

“In today’s tech-savvy world where individuals rely heavily on the Internet as a source of information, a strong online presence that reflects our commitment to public safety, partnerships and diversity is vital,” said Chief Gary Crowell. “The new website gives our Service a distinct look and unique brand of its own, while offering visitors a number of new features to enhance their online experience.”

Notable improvements to the new www.haltonpolice.ca website include:

• More than 300 pages of fresh content
• Improved navigation, drop down menus and search functionality
• Dedicated pages for each Service location
• Easy access to key information in the Region’s most spoken languages
• Multimedia videos, slideshows and maps
• Redesigned Join Us section with new applicant tracking system that allows potential employees to search and apply for positions directly online

To coincide with the new website domain name, the Halton Regional Police Service has also changed the its email address domain. The transition will be seamless for the public, and email addresses published on the Service website will be updated to reflect the change.

While the Halton Regional Police Service’s original website and email addresses will remain active, members of the public are encouraged to update their Internet browser bookmarks and address books, email SPAM filters and firewall security permissions accordingly to mark www.haltonpolice.ca as a safe site.

This spring, as part of Halton Region’s Water Conservation Program, the Region will be hosting four Rain Barrel sale events to promote wise outdoor water use during the summer months. Rain barrels are $45.00 each -cash only, one per household (limited quantities and available only while supplies last). Attendees must provide proof of Halton residency.

The sales are scheduled to take place from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on:

• Saturday May 23, Halton Hills Civic Centre, 1 Halton Hills Drive, Georgetown
• Saturday May 30, Gary Allen Adult Learning Centre, 3250 New Street, Burlington
• Saturday June 6, Halton Waste Management Site, 5400 Regional Road 25 (5400 Bronte Road), Milton (also pesticide drop off event)
• Saturday June 13, Oakville Works Yard, 1140 South Service Road West (between Third and Fourth Line), Oakville

“Water is a precious resource and we encourage everyone to be water wise both inside and outside their home,” said Regional Chair Gary Carr. “We can all do our part to conserve water and by doing this we can help preserve this limited resource for future generations.”

The 205 litre capacity (24” diameter) rain barrels fit in an average vehicle and require very little assembly. Residents should note that they are responsible for adapting their downspout to flow into the rain barrel – assembly and mosquito prevention instructions are included.

Halton Region established the Halton Water Conservation Advisory Committee to advise and assist the Region to develop and implement a comprehensive water conservation plan for the Region. As part of this committee, Halton Region offers many tips for conserving water inside and outside the home.

Some tips to conserve water outside your home include:

• diverting water from your downspout into a rain barrel, which is an excellent source of water for your garden;
• selecting drought tolerant plants so they don’t require lots of watering; and
• designing your garden and lawn in a water efficient manner.

Tips to conserve water inside your home include:

• installing low flow toilets and showerheads;
• installing low flow aerators on all sinks in your home; and
• check for and repair any leaking toilets or dripping faucets.

For more information about rain barrels or for other water conservation tips please contact Halton Region at 905-825-6000, toll free: 1-866-442-5866, or dial 311. You can also visit the website at www.halton.ca/waterconservationon.

Halton Region, as a member of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, met with the Ontario Government today to present a five point collaborative action plan at the first ever Great Lakes Summit in Toronto.

In the report by the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, “At the Shoreline: A Mayors’ Collaborative Action Plan to Protect the Great Lakes”, Ontario Great Lakes Mayors called for a new collaborative approach involving all three levels of government to tackle long standing problems of explosive algae growth, beach closures, and untreated sewage and stormwater entering the lakes.

In addition to discussing the report at the summit, municipal representatives and Ontario Ministers discussed how best to collaborate to make actions and investments to protect the lakes more effective. All agreed that having the full involvement of the federal government was critical to their success.

“In Halton we recognize the importance of protecting our largest source of water for residents,” said Regional Chair Gary Carr. “It is imperative that the Federal Government come to the table as there is currently no forum where representatives from all three levels of government meet to discuss protecting the Great Lakes.”

Mayors and Ministers also recognized the importance of attracting more people to the Great Lakes’ shorelines, to build support for Great Lakes investments and to promote local Great Lakes economies.

“We in Halton Region are very fortunate to live on the shores of Lake Ontario. Protecting the Great Lakes is essential to attract people to our community, whether to live and work, or to visit,” said Halton Regional Councillor Alan Johnston, who represented Halton Region at the Summit. “A Healthy Lake promotes healthy lifestyles and a vibrant local economy.”

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is an organization of over 60 mayors and other local officials in Canada and the US advocating for the protection, restoration and promotion of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

To see the Mayors’ five point action plan and report, please visit the Cities Initiative website, or contact Halton Region at 905-825-6000, by dialing 311, toll free: 1-866-442-5866.

A survey of Southern Ontario residents conducted over the weekend shows 69 percent support the addition of a new NHL franchise to the region (the number rises to 77% among males). The majority (67%) are also calling for existing Canadian NHL teams to endorse the idea and set aside their concerns about competition. The survey was sponsored by Environics Communications and released to the public.

“The public is calling for a coalition of Canadian interests ahead of competitive interests,” said Bruce MacLellan, President of Environics Communications. “The challenge is for aspiring franchise owners to translate the support of Ontario’s 13 million citizens into the votes of 30 governors and owners. The forum is going to shift from the court of public opinion or court of law to the court of decision.”

Almost a majority said the Government of Canada should intervene in support of another southern Ontario franchise as an economic stimulus (47% versus 39%).

The survey of 200 southern Ontario residents was conducted by Research House between May 9 and May 11.

Hundreds of Georgetown students are bracing for unacceptably long walks to school, unless the Minister of Education steps in with a solution.

Local school boards, said Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott, are not receiving the assurances they need from the Minister that they would receive the funds necessary to continue the bus service from Georgetown South to their schools.

In a statement today in the Ontario Legislature, Mr. Arnott took the Minister to task.

“Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Education is demonstrating indifference to the repeated expressions of concern from hundreds of my constituents in the Town of Halton Hills.

“On March 25th, I received a letter from the chair of the Halton Catholic District School Board, asking me to approach the Minister to seek clarification on a school transportation funding issue.

“The very next day, I spoke to the Minister and told her that the school board needed reassurance that their bus funding would not be cut if they continued to bus students from Georgetown South to Christ the King high school. I continued to follow up with her over the following days.

“But because the Minister refused to respond in a timely way, the board felt compelled to eliminate this bus route for hundreds of students—all in an effort conform to heavy-handed ministry guidelines. If the Minister could still give the board its requested funding assurances, I would hope it could reconsider its decision to cancel the buses.

“On Saturday I attended an event at Gardiner Public School in Georgetown. Julie Rossall, a parent of two students at Georgetown District High School, approached me to say that she had little choice but to sell her house in Georgetown South, and move closer to her children’s school because of the Halton Public Board’s pending bus service cancellation.

“That is the hardship that parents are experiencing, and I’ve received countless messages of concern. There is no public transit alternative for Georgetown students.

“Let’s be clear. The bussing problem in Georgetown South originated in the Mowat Block, in the Minister’s office.

“The Mayor of Halton Hills is asking to meet the Minister to discuss this matter. I urge her to do so, at her earliest convenience. She has the power to solve this problem and, in the interests of our students, she should exercise that power.”

There is nothing more devastating than to read or hear of people dying in a fire. What is most devastating though, is reading that the fire took the lives of two young children. On June 30, 2008 a 34 year old man and 2 young children died in a fire in a trailer park in Essex, Ontario where it was confirmed there were no working smoke alarms found in the trailer. Fire Chief Brent Marshall says, “This tragic incident could have been prevented”, adding “Working smoke alarms have proven time and time again that they save lives”.

The Ontario Fire Code requires every ‘dwelling unit” to have working smoke alarms on every floor and outside all sleeping areas. Dwelling units also include seasonal homes such as park model trailers, cabins and cottages and may include trailers and motor homes.

Camping season is very near and we urge all camper and trailer owners to ensure they have at least one working smoke alarm. While most new trailers and RV’s may already meet a construction standard requiring smoke alarms, older models may not be equipped with any or they may not have been properly maintained. Chief Marshall says, “It is a good practice to install smoke alarms in any recreational vehicle, trailer, camper and even boats equipped with sleeping quarters”.

Smoke alarms are your first line of defense against fire, your early warning device that will alert you to smoke and fire conditions. They will provide you with the precious seconds you need to escape from a fire.

Now that campers and trailers are coming out of winter storage, take a few extra minutes to change the batteries and test the smoke alarms. If the alarms are between 7 and 10 years old, replace them.

Halton Hills has 3 trailer/recreational parks with a variety of almost 350 campers. Let’s make a conscious effort to eliminate any possibility of needless and senseless tragedies in our community.

May 12 – 18, 2009 will mark Canada Road Safety Week, a national campaign to make Canada’s roads the safest in the world.

This week has been strategically chosen, as it is the first “summer” long weekend. More people are traveling and traffic collisions are more frequent. Police vehicles will be stationed at key locations to remind people that safe driving habits save lives and reduce injuries on our roadways.

The focus during Canada Road Safety Week will be on behaviours that reduce risks for drivers, passengers and other road users: sober and alert driving, seat belt use, and refraining from all aspects of aggressive driving. All enforcement agencies across the country have been invited to participate.

“Anyone can become a victim of unsafe driving whether by direct involvement or when a loved one is affected,” says Chief Gary Crowell. “Police agencies across the country are collaborating on this project because they have seen this kind of devastation and because they know that the involvement of the driving public is essential to achieve safer streets and highways.”

Here in Halton, there were 15 deaths and over 1,200 serious injuries in 2008 related to vehicle collisions. These are just numbers, but they represent a lot of pain and heartache for members of our community that could have been prevented. That is why, in support of Canada Road Safety Week, we will have the following initiatives taking place in Halton.

Milton- Georgetown- Acton

• Will be conducting intercept enforcement for the “aggressive driver”.
• RIDE checks will take place on May 14th.

• Scheduled RIDE on May 15 and 16.
• The 911 “Safe Roads Your Call” project is coming out the week of May 18. Regional Initiative
• May 16 – Project ERASE deployment as well

• Burlington Truck Blitz – March 11 & 12
• “Bears in the Woods” is running the entire month targeting rural speeding.

Canada Road Safety Week is sponsored by Transport Canada and endorsed by police and is part of Road Safety Vision 2010, which has a goal of making Canada’s roads the safest in the world by 2010. Now that we are only a year away, we see a need to extend this vision and continue to strive for this goal.

“Dedicated to improving public safety on our roadways.”

Congratulations! By taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and helping implement the Town’s Green Plan, significant greenhouse gas savings are materializing. Recently, the community’s greenhouse gas savings have approached about 624,000 kilograms or 1.4 million pounds. This is equal to:

• 285 homes being taken off the grid for a year; or
• 104 cars being taken off the road for a year; or
• Over 14.3 million plastic bags not being produced.

Since being selected by WWF-Canada as one of just four Ontario municipalities to pilot The Good Life initiative, the collective greenhouse gas savings have grown steadily. As shown in Figure 1, between January and April 2009, greenhouse gas savings have grown from about 67,000 kilograms to 624,000 kilograms – more than a nine-fold increase.

Town of Halton Hills residents, businesses and organizations, including Town staff, Acton BIA, Georgetown BIA, Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce, Christ the King Catholic Secondary School, Georgetown District High School, McKenzie-Smith Bennett Public School, Robert Little Public School, Halton Hills Hydro, Town Environmental Advisory Committee, P.O.W.E.R. and Sustainable Halton Hills, have been key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“In a quantifiable fashion, our community continues to demonstrate that it is possible to take relatively simple actions in order to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and to address climate change.“ – Mayor Bonnette

At a Special Meeting of Council held on April 20, 2009 Halton Hills Council passed a Resolution calling for the United States Government to reconsider a recent Act passed by Congress which requires that steel and other manufactured products be made in the United States.

The Town was approached by Mr. John Hayward, President of Hayward Gordon Ltd., about this pressing issue which threatens 30% of his current business. The Government of the United States, in its effort to provide an infrastructure stimulus package, placed “Buy American” requirements for contracts using stimulus funds, which undermines the intent and spirit of free trade that has existed between Canada and the United States for decades.

Hayward Gordon Ltd., a 57 year old Canadian manufacturer of pumps and mixers that are used internationally in water and wastewater plants, recently moved to Halton Hills. They built new seven million dollar plant which employs over 70 local employees. The company also uses the services of local suppliers, contractors and trades people and is a vital part of the economic strategy in Halton Hills and the surrounding Region.

The United States Federal Government passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) which includes a 6 billion dollar program that provides funds for water and wastewater treatment projects including the construction of new plants and the upgrading of obsolete plants. The ‘Buy American’ provisions in this Act require the contractors to use American made steel and other components. As these contracts are at the municipal level, the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the General Procurement Agreement of the World Trade Organization against protectionism do not apply and therefore Canadian made products will be rejected.

In a presentation to Council Mr. Hayward stated that U.S. firms export over 7 billion dollars of product into the Canadian Environmental market and are being encouraged to bid openly on Canadian projects that are being funded under our own Federal and Provincial stimulus packages. These packages do not contain the protectionist provisions that the American legislation mandates.

Mr. Hayward further stated “If the US does not rescind the “Buy American” provisions Hayward Gordon Ltd. may have to open a facility in the United States”.

Mayor Bonnette stated “This is a local company that finds itself in a difficult position and while we support Free Trade we also feel it should be Fair Trade and I fully support this Resolution”. “This is not a Buy Canadian Resolution but rather a question of fairness; I think companies in other municipalities may find themselves in the same position and our support is justified.”

Councillor Clark Somerville will be presenting this Resolution to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities asking that organization to support Halton Hills’ position and that other Regions and Municipalities direct their purchases to companies located in countries which don’t restrict Canadian trade.

The Resolution was passed with unanimous support and will be forwarded to the Federal, Provincial and Regional Governments as well as other interested stakeholders.

The Town of Halton Hills is pleased to announce that it has hired Mr. Bill Roberts for the position of Town Clerk for a two-year period commencing on May 4, 2009.

Mr. Roberts brings over 25 years of experience with the Town of Hanover and the Town of Milton. His main responsibilities will be to lead the 2010 election process which begins immediately and to mentor staff in the Clerks Section due to the staff turnover during the last year.

Ms. Debbie Edmonds will resume her position as Deputy Clerk and Manager of Standards and Licensing during the two-year period.

The Halton Regional Police Service has concluded their Spring Seatbelt Campaign which began on April 15 and ended on April 26th.

The spring campaign had the Halton Regional Police Service increase their visibility throughout the region to ensure motorists were wearing their seatbelts. The Service also held a clinic to ensure children were properly restrained in their car seats.

The results of this year’s Spring Seatbelt Campaign for the Region of Halton was a total of 675 seatbelt tickets being issued.

“We are very encouraged by the fact that Halton residents had a 95% compliance rate in wearing their seat belts, but it is clear there are still too many people not complying” said Inspector Bill Ford, who is in charge of road safety initiatives for the Region.

A car seat clinic held in Milton on April 18th saw 105 children in vehicles directed through a 6 point visual check of their car seats.

Of the 105 car seats tested, 86 failed the 6 point check.

“The results of the car seat clinic are a strong reminder to parents to ensure their children are properly secured” said Ford.

The Halton Regional Police Service will continue to aggressively enforce traffic safety laws throughout the year.

Ontario homebuyers are set to absorb at least $800 million in higher provincial taxes if the McGuinty Liberals get their way. This was the finding of a recently released report commissioned by the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD).

The report analyzed the McGuinty government’s scheme to create a “harmonized” sales tax, and its potential effect on homebuyers if the new tax kicks in as planned on July 1, 2010. Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott used the report to question Finance Minister Dwight Duncan in the Ontario Legislature.

“I have received scores of emails from my constituents expressing outrage, and the Minister [of Finance] is receiving them too,” he said.

Mr. Arnott also pointed out that the new “Dalton Sales Tax” will apply not only to homes over $400,000, but also to services necessary to purchase a home, like legal fees, appraisals, real estate commissions, home inspection fees, and moving costs.

In a statement on the same day, Mr. Arnott reiterated his pont.

“These families are wondering—when will this government stop breaking its promises to impose no new taxes? When will it start supporting their hopes, dreams and aspirations, instead of standing in their way?”

Complementing Mr. Arnott’s efforts, the Progressive Conservative caucus put forward a motion urging Premier McGuinty “to acknowledge that, due to the current economic downturn, this is the wrong time to move forward with his ill-advised plan to yet again increase taxes on all people of this province.”

The Liberal government used its majority to defeat the motion.

In an awards ceremony on May 1st, 2009, Halton Regional Police Detective Constable Bev Meehan was awarded the “Excellence in Performance” by the Ontario Women in Law Enforcement (OWLE), in recognition of her ground breaking efforts as a member of the Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit.

Detective Constable Meehan has worked in the Provincial Asset Forfeiture unit since January 2007. She has broken new ground in removing the profits enjoyed by criminals as a result of their illicit activity.

Detective Constable Meehan’s assistance to other investigative units has resulted in the courts forfeiting property and cash totaling a value of over $1,000,000. 00. Her continued efforts have resulted in several million dollars worth of real estate, property and money restrained and still before the courts awaiting their ruling.

Recognizing that there exists strength in unity and numbers, O.W.L.E. encourages women from Ontario law enforcement agencies to collectively address their common interests and concerns, including increased access to networking and professional development opportunities. O.W.L.E. was granted official affiliate status with the IAWP in 1997.

Halton was recently named the safest region in Canada by Maclean’s for the second time. The Halton Regional Police Service is actively recruiting women and men interested in a career in law enforcement. For more information, contact (905) 825-4747 ext. 5112 or visit the HRPS website.

As protectionist American trade policy threatens local jobs at Hayward Gordon Limited in Halton Hills, Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott is demanding action from the McGuinty government.

“Good jobs are disappearing at an alarming rate,” said Mr. Arnott, noting that Ontario’s unemployment rate is now higher than the national average. In a statement today in the Legislature, Mr. Arnott criticized the McGuinty government for its lack of any effective response to U.S. protectionist measures.

Mr. Arnott made the following remarks:

“Mr. Speaker, the McGuinty Liberal government is asleep at the switch while a company in my riding is in real trouble. Hayward Gordon Limited, located in the Town of Halton Hills, is a maker and supplier of pumping and mixing equipment for municipal water and wastewater treatment plants.

“Until recently, 75 percent of its pumps have been sold into the U.S. market. But today these exports, 75 good jobs and the company’s future are all at risk because of a protectionist United States Congress and its new “Buy American” laws. This hardly seems like free trade.

“Mr. John Hayward, the company’s president, has been in frequent touch with me since the beginning of March. He has written the Premier many times seeking the help of the provincial government, as have I. I have also spoken directly to the Minister of Economic Development on March 12th. In response, to put it mildly, we have been given the brush-off.

“John Hayward says while he appreciates my efforts on his behalf, he’s very disappointed with the lack of leadership and action from the provincial government. Mr. Hayward says, “Ontario is utterly absent from the issue and are not at all engaged in protecting the interests of its companies affected by U.S. protectionism.”

“Now the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters are joining municipalities, including the Town of Halton Hills, to urge this government to get engaged and see what can be done to help. Let’s hope Premier McGuinty will do just that—before even more good jobs are lost by his lackadaisical approach to leadership.”

Haltonyouth.com, the website for the Halton Regional Youth Advisory Committee–known as RYAC–has a new look being launched at an Open Mic Coffee House Event at C.J.s Café in Oakville starting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12. There is no charge for admission and the Region is looking for any youth (ages 13-24) to attend: both those who wish to perform sometime during the evening, as well as those who just want to chill to the music.

The youth on the committee are hoping the event, along with the improved site, will attract more of their peers to find out about RYAC and show how anyone in high school can be a part of advocating for youth issues in Halton Region.

“All of us on Regional Council agreed with the Youth Advisory Committee when they told us their website needed to better reflect who they represent. We want to improve how we target our services to youth and how we reach them as a key audience, and RYAC has a strong voice in helping us understand the issues that matter most to youth in our community,” said Gary Carr, Halton Regional Chair. “They are an excellent group and I hope they get even stronger. I think this committee is a wonderful opportunity for the youth to have their voices heard, to learn about their community, and to participate in local decision making. They really do make a difference.”

C.J.s Café is located at 2416 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville. All youth from Halton Region are encouraged to come and check it out. Complimentary refreshments will be available to round out the evening.

Those interested in performing can register their act by contacting Nicholle Russell by dialing 311 or 905-825-6000 ext. 2971, or nicholle.russell@halton.ca. More information is also available on the Halton Regional Youth Advisory Committee facebook page, or of course, at www.haltonyouth.com.

Halton Region, Conservation Halton and local Halton Scouts raised environmental awareness and enhanced the landscaping of the Halton Waste Management Site (HWMS) by participating in a tree planting event on Saturday, May 2. Approximately 40 Scouts planted over 100 trees at the landfill site located at 5400 Regional Road 25 in Milton.

“It is the small steps that each of us can take, like planting trees, that make a big difference for the environment,” said Halton Regional Chair, Gary Carr. “I thank Conservation Halton for providing the trees and educational assistance and all of the Halton Scouts who participated for their dedication towards protecting and preserving the environment.”

Chair Carr, and Conservation Halton Chairman Brian Penman took part in a brief opening ceremony at the event. Halton area Scouts and many of their leaders and parents also participated in the tree planting event with trees provided by Conservation Halton. Mr. Bob Collison, Deputy Area Commissioner of Scouts Canada, volunteered his time to recruit and coordinate the Scouts for the day. The Scouts play an important role in the proper maintenance of the Waste Management Site, while helping the environment and making a difference in the community.

“Conservation Halton is delighted to once again continue our partnership with Halton Region and the Halton Scouts in the landfill tree planting, which is a wonderful opportunity for our young people to be environmental stewards,” added Conservation Halton Chair Brian Penman. “Conservation Halton has planted over 2.25 million trees over the past 50 years with thousands of trees and shrubs planted in our jurisdiction every year by our staff and our partners in conservation, and by landowners who participate in our forestry and stewardship programs.”

The Scout tree planting event is part of Halton Region’s ongoing tree planting and maintenance program at the Halton Waste Management Site. Over 1,500 trees have been planted on the Site since it opened in 1992, which is example of the sound environmental practices applied at the HWMS operations. Other practices include collecting rainwater from building roofs for re-use on site for tasks such as garden watering and washing equipment and utilizing over 35,000 passenger car tires in the asphalt used to pave the Site roads.

Halton Region’s Housing Task Force is calling on residents and organizations to share their ideas for the development of affordable housing opportunities in Halton at two public meetings being held on Thursday, May 14 and Thursday, May 21.

Formed in November 2008, at the request of Regional Council, the Housing Task Force is charged with identifying potential development opportunities for affordable housing in Halton, including emergency, transitional and assisted housing. Members of the task force are required to report back to Council later this year with recommendations for developing potential housing projects that can be achieved in the short-term, including costs, potential sites and models of development.

“When it comes to creating more affordable housing options in Halton, we want to consider every approach – no matter how big or small,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “Healthy communities are ones that include a range of housing options to meet the needs of all individuals and I am really encouraging residents to tell us their ideas and share their vision for their community.”

The public meetings for the Housing Task Force will take place on Thursday, May 14 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Town of Halton Hills Council Chambers located at 1 Halton Hills Drive, Georgetown and on Thursday, May 21 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Halton Regional Council Chambers located at 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville.

Residents and organizations who wish to delegate are asked to pre-register by calling Paul Gregory at Halton Region at 905-825-6000, ext. 4423, toll free at 1-866-442-5866, TTY 905-827-9833, or by email at Paul.Gregory@halton.ca.

Halton Region’s popular Spring Compost Give Away returns this year from Monday, May 4 until Saturday, May 9. The event runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day at the Halton Waste Management Site (HWMS), 5400 Regional Road 25 in Milton.

Compost will be available for residents as a result of their success in diverting over 40,000 tonnes of yard waste from the landfill last year. The rich, garden-friendly compost has been produced from all of the leaves, brush and other yard waste material residents have set out for collection in the Region’s yard waste program and from materials dropped off at the HWMS.

“During the 2008 Spring Compost Give Away event, 4,340 residents came to the Halton Waste Management Site and picked up approximately 2,000 tonnes of compost,” said Gary Carr, Halton’s Regional Chair. “Halton residents should be proud that the Compost Give Away program exists as a result of their ongoing dedication to diverting compostable material away from the landfill.”

At last year’s spring event, Halton residents also donated 6,000 kilograms of food and $9,764 which was donated to local food banks. Residents attending this year’s Spring Compost Give Away are again encouraged to bring a donation of a non-perishable food item or to provide a cash donation, which will once again be given to local food banks.

More than 2,000 tonnes of processed compost will be available to residents this spring. Residents must bring their own bags or containers (maximum seven per household) and a shovel in order to bag their own compost. Information on composting and the Region’s waste programs will also be available upon request.

The Georgetown Arenas Task Force is in the final stages of completing their report on arena needs in Halton Hills. The Committee met as recently as April 20, 2009 and has gathered much of the needed information.

In order to allow the Task Force to endorse a Draft Copy of their Report prior to presentation to Council, a request was made to Mayor Rick Bonnette for an extension of the deadline to Council to May 25, 2009. This extension has been granted. The Final Submission date to Council for this Report will now be the Monday, May 25, 2009 Council Meeting.

“We are thankful to the Mayor for permitting a brief delay that will enable the Georgetown Arenas Task Force to make a more formal comprehensive presentation to Council” said Chair Bryan Lewis.

The Task Force has held 10 meetings to date along with a tour of all Halton Hills Arenas.

The needs have been established; the locations discussed, arena design presentations have been made; in-arena needs and amenities indicated and site locations investigated. The Public and user groups have been consulted and their input sought. All information will be made public during the May 25th presentation.

The Mexican Swine Flu or H1N1 is not a pandemic, truly it is not much more than the normal seasonal flu, it has only reached “pandemic” because of the media hype that has surrounded it.

Lets get some facts: According to Wikipedia the Swine Flu is much smaller than the seasonal flu.

I just returned from a trip to Mexico, the Mayan Riviera (south of Cancun) and can say that there were no cases reported in our resort and none of the resort staff/management that we spoke with had heard of a flu case in the area. But the media would have you believe that every Mexican and every traveller to Mexico is infected by the dreaded Swine Flu.

We watched CNN and the BBC at the resort and noted that every new “suspected” case is presented as evidence of the spread of the pandemic, even before it has been properly confirmed. Statistics surrounding this event have been often exaggerated or are completely inaccurate, “probable” death tolls included unconfirmed cases.

The media also claimed that people are in panic, yet the only panic I have seen has been manufactured by the media. In fact a news reporter offered travellers money to wear flu masks in front of the cameras at the Cancun Airport. Upon our arrival in Toronto’s Pearson Airport, we suspected that the media would be looking for ways to pump up the hype, so my wife and I put on flu masks just as we walked out of the arrival doors. Out of a crowd of people getting off that flight, a CityTV reporter tried to get the only two people wearing masks in front of the camera (we declined).

The Real Pandemic is not the Swine Flu but the Fear that the media conjures up to get eyeballs for their advertisers. The media keeps you glued to the program by their spicy use of language, providing global maps tracking the flu or promising the latest numbers in the death toll or the top 10 ways to fight the flu, which is no more than common sense advice like wash your hands and cough into your sleeve. This is the same advice a doctor would provide to avoid the seasonal flu.

The media did the same with the economy, every day the rate of foreclosures or the declining stock prices or newest job losses, they beat every one of these stories to death. But now that the majority of people are immune to the constant bombardment of economic news or simply bored with the whole thing, the media jumps to the next hot topic and hypes the hell out of it.

With the level of hype presented, governments and business are forced to respond, or deal with the lawsuits if someone does get sick. The Head of the The CDC in the US recommends against travel to Mexico and Canadian travel operators suspend packages and flights to Mexico during the Month of May, businesses quarantine all staff (healthy or not) returning from Mexico, the unfortunate losers in this whole mess is the Mexican people. All of the reported deaths have been Mexican and now with restricted travel to Mexico, the Mexican people can enjoy even more difficult economic times over the foreseeable future. Just like the SARs panic in Toronto, it might be quite some time before people start to travel to Mexico in the numbers they once did. Resorts may close some permanently and resort staff that rely on tips are laid off (even temporarily) may not be able to make ends meet.

The media has manufactured this pandemic and the panic that surrounds it and they should be ashamed.

If you are able you should consider a trip to Mexico, when the travel ban is lifted starting in June, there will be some great deals and you will be helping our neighbour to the south.

The new 13-percent “harmonized” sales tax will hurt travel and tourism in Ontario, says Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott.

In a question today to the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Arnott blasted the McGuinty government for failing to consider the harmful effect its new sales tax would have on the province’s hard-hit tourism industry.

“This budget sent a clear signal to the industry that this government just isn’t listening and doesn’t care about tourism,” said Mr. Arnott.

“Does [this Minister] really believe that hiking sales taxes—and in the middle of an extreme economic challenge that we’re in now—will encourage travel and tourism in Ontario?”

In response, the Minister claimed the budget had been well-received by the tourism industry. But Mr. Arnott quoted feedback from three important tourism stakeholders in opposition to the McGuinty government’s desire to further tax Ontario tourism.

“The more tourism advocates learn about the McGuinty budget, the more willing they are to speak out against it,” Mr. Arnott later observed.

Ted Arnott is the MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills and serves as Tourism Critic for the Official Opposition. Read his his official website.

Water levels behind the dam have been reduced to minimize the potential outflow should any further deterioration of the structure occur. The Ministry of Natural Resources is aware of the situation and considers the dam a low hazard dam with no risk to life or property.

Weather forecasts show isolated showers are expected for our area on Saturday that may increase the risk of further deterioration with increased flows. Residents downstream of the dam as well as other citizens are urged to stay away from the banks of the Credit River during this warning period

Under the Provincial Places to Grow Initiative, Halton Region’s population is expected to grow to 780,000 people by 2031. Halton Region launched the Sustainable Halton process to research and plan for growth between 2021 and 2031. This research is now done and Sustainable Halton is at a critical, strategic phase – choosing the best growth concept and land use option. To make the best possible choice, Halton Region needs public feedback – your feedback.

The Region has organized a Public Information Centre, or open house, for you to see the plan, have your questions answered and provide your input. The Halton Hills session will be held Thursday, April 30 from 6 to 9pm at the Mold-Masters Sportsplex & Park, The Hall, 221 Guelph Street (Hwy #7).

“We believe it is critical for residents to come and see the work that’s been done, and have the opportunity to comment on it,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “We believe that public input is essential to help Council identify the best direction so that we can continue to make Halton Region the best place to live, work, raise a family and retire.”

Sustainable Halton is a four-phase process created by Halton Region to meet provincial planning requirements under the Places to Grow Initiative, the Greenbelt Plan and the Provincial Policy Statement. Sustainable Halton also represents a five-year review of the Region’s Official Plan under Section 26 of The Planning Act. During the Sustainable Halton process, the Region commissioned a series of technical studies to identify the preferred growth concept, land use option and associated policies.

The Region of Halton, in particular Oakville and Milton continue to experience an increase in the number of residential break and enters. The following is some key information regarding these crimes:

• The residential break and enters are all occurring during the day light hours.
• The culprits are selecting home that they feel are unoccupied.
• The culprits force open the front doors in order to gain entry while the home owners are away.
• The culprits are predominantly stealing jewellery and electronics.

Residents can take the following steps to minimize their risk of being victimized:

• Store any large amounts of currency or valuable jewellery, particularly family heirlooms, in a safe, secure, and hidden location.
• A safety deposit box is the preferred location to store such valuables.
• Maintain an up to date list of all valuable electronic equipment including the make, model, and serial number for each item. Store the list somewhere other than your home computer.
• Ensure your exterior doors are as secure as possible, with up to date locking systems.
• Ensure that their home does not show obvious signs of being unoccupied, such as uncollected newspapers or mail.

For additional crime prevention tips residents are encouraged to visits the Halton Regional Police website . The Safety and Security Tips can be found under the Community Policing tab on the home page. Residents without access to the internet can contact their nearest police division within Halton Region and ask to speak to the Community Support Officer.

The Halton Regional Police Service would like to thank residents for their extra vigilance in looking for any suspicious people and or vehicles on their street, and ask that this continues.

If you observe anything that you feel might be of a suspicious nature in relation to these incidents, please contact the police at (905) 878-5511. If it is an emergency situation, including a crime in progress, use the 911 emergency telephone system to contact police.

The Halton Regional Police Service is committed to solving these incidents and is continuing to investigate these break and enters. Anyone with information only is asked to contact the Oakville Criminal Investigations Bureau at (905) 825-4777 Ext 2215 or the Milton Criminal Investigations Bureau at Ext 2415 or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

On Saturday April 18th the annual mobilization of hundreds of individuals and organizations will hit the streets, parks, trails, vacant lots, and rural roads stuffing garbage bags with the accumulated trash revealed by the melting winter snows.

Everyone is encouraged to think of a particular part of town that is important to them personally. It may be your own road or perhaps a neighbourhood park or ravine. The town does not have the staff available to clean up all of these areas and we are reliant on volunteers to take an hour or two out of their busy schedules to make a difference we can all appreciate. Families are particularly encouraged to volunteer as everyone regardless of age can make a valuable contribution to the town.

Many locations already have leaders who will be on-site with bags and gloves. Please call the Infrastructure Services- Public Works Division to find clean up sites or to register the location you have chosen. Arrangements can also be made for the town to pick up the collected litter at (905) 873 2601 ext 2610. Those wishing to drop off the collected litter can take it to the Works Yard on Trafalgar Road and leave it in the designated area.

High School students are reminded that they can use their community clean up hours towards their volunteer requirements if their time can be verified.

Free garbage bags and gloves are available for participants at the Robert C Austin Operations Centre, Acton Arena, or McDonald’s Restaurants in Georgetown and Acton. The Town of Halton Hills would like to thank Superior Glove, Tim Horton’s and McDonald’s for once again sponsoring this clean up event.

The Rain Date for Community Clean Up Day is Saturday April 25h.

Halton Region has been rated as one of Canada’s Best Employers for new Canadians by Mediacorp Canada Inc. based on the Region’s commitment to programs and initiatives that help recent immigrants integrate into Halton’s workforce. This special designation recognizes “employers who offer interesting programs to assist new Canadians in making the transition to a new workplace — and a new life in Canada.” Halton Region participates in several mentoring programs and internships to help foreign trained professionals gain Canadian experience and develop the skills needed to successfully enter the labour market.

“Halton Region is committed to responding to the changing needs of Halton residents as the immigrant population increases and we are very proud to have received this important acknowledgment,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “Newcomers contribute to our economic, social and cultural development and it is in everyone’s interest to help them settle into a healthy and prosperous life in Halton.”

Halton’s population is expected to double by 2031 to 740,000 people. Between 2001 and 2006, Halton’s immigrant population increased by almost 30% compared to an overall rate for the Province of 12%. This trend is expected to continue.

“To meet future labour market needs and maintain a competitive workforce, we need to do as much as we can to ensure the success of people who come to us through international immigration,” added Chair Carr. “Being seen as an employer of choice for new Canadians also means that we will be able to attract the best and most talented employees from the widest possible labour pool.”

For the past four years, Halton has participated as a host employer for the Career Bridge program operated by the not-for-profit group, Career Edge Organization. A bridge between industry and immigrants, this program creates paid internship opportunities to employers committed to providing relevant work experience to professionally trained newcomers to Canada. In addition, Halton participates in the Halton Mentorship Program for Internationally Trained Professionals. This program, spearheaded by Job Connect at the Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, matches professional staff from Halton Region with internationally trained counterparts from the same profession. Over a four-month period, the mentors act as a resource to assist recent newcomers to develop the skills needed to find employment in their professions. Halton has been participating in the program since 2005.

Halton Region also participates in placement programs with the Halton Multicultural Council and the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton.

Mediacorp Canada Inc. is a publishing firm that manages the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project. The project aims to identify the companies and organizations that lead their industries in attracting and retaining employees.

Improvements to GO Transit rail service are needed, says Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott. Mr. Arnott plans to continue pushing the issue following last Friday’s funding announcement from federal and provincial government officials. On April 7th Mr. Arnott made the following statement in the Ontario Legislature:

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

“For almost a year, I have been urging the provincial government to extend GO Transit rail service through Acton, Rockwood, Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo.

“On July 17 of last year, I wrote to federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to request financial assistance from the federal government.

“In the fall, I organized a meeting at Queen’s Park with officials from GO Transit and the Town of Halton Hills.

“More than once, I’ve stood in the Legislature to call for progressive action on this file.

“In December, I introduced a private member’s resolution calling on the McGuinty government to complete the environmental assessment, and get the trains carrying passengers to work no later than September 2011.

“And, of course, I’ve discussed the merits of this project with the Minister of Transportation on a number of occasions, and as late as last week.

“It is encouraging that the federal and provincial governments are promising to fund capacity and bridge improvements on the Georgetown line. I want to thank my federal counterpart, the Honourable Michael Chong, for his work on this issue. And I want to continue to urge the Honourable Jim Bradley to do what he can as Ontario’s Minister of Transportation.

“We need to speed up infrastructure projects that will enhance our long-term competitiveness, our environment and our quality of life.

“Friday’s announcement was a good step forward, and I intend to continue pushing the government to keep this train on track.”

Ted Arnott is the MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills and serves as Tourism Critic for the Official Opposition. Read his his official website.

On April 1 the Halton Region Employees United Way Committee presented United Way of Oakville with a cheque for $117,639 representing the amount staff raised during their 2008 fundraising campaign. The cheque was presented to Barbara Burton, CEO of United Way of Oakville by Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr, Halton Regional Police Chief Gary Crowell, and Sally Pincock, 2008 Chair of the Halton Region Employees United Way Committee.

“Regional Staff continue to demonstrate their great interest and enthusiasm, both professionally and personally, in helping to make the region a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr.

In 2008, Halton employees were encouraged to donate to United Way where they live, meaning that Halton’s donations will benefit each of Halton’s communities within the region and beyond. The total raised in 2008 represents an increase of more than $12,000 over the amount raised the previous year.

“Our continued partnership with the Region and United Way is another example of the members of the Halton Regional Police Service working with the community to keep Halton as safe tomorrow as it is today,” said Chief Gary Crowell.

Halton Region was also recognized by United Way of Oakville at its Community Achievement Celebration in December 2008 where they received the Public Service Division Award. This award represents excellence in contributions from staff working in public sector organizations. The award acknowledges donations from employees, special events and the dedication and involvement of their United Way Committee Chair.

Members of Halton Regional Council voted yesterday in support of a motion that calls for a Regional tax freeze for 2010. The motion, which was introduced by Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr, calls on Halton’s CAO and staff to report back to Council with details of the appropriate measures required to implement a tax freeze for the 2010 Regional tax budget.

“Regional Council has shown strong leadership in their support of my motion,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “Halton Region residents are facing some real financial challenges in the current economic recession and I believe we have a responsibility to assist our taxpayers during this difficult economic time.”

The motion passed yesterday directs staff to bring forward the Budget Directions Report for Council approval in May instead of July, to allow adequate time for the preparation and implementation of a Regional tax freeze for 2010. Traditionally, Halton Regional staff has developed the Budget Directions Report for Council approval in the summer of the preceding year. The document outlines the parameters and guidelines used to create the upcoming year’s budget. The 2010 Budget Directions Report will be discussed at the May 11th Budget Review Committee and the May 13th Halton Regional Council Meeting.

“Over the past three years, we have had one of the lowest Regional tax increases in the province, resulting in an average increase of 0.6 per cent, while still enhancing service levels,” commented Chair Carr. “I am confident that our 2010 Budget will be able to provide the community with the services and programs they expect, while providing our residents with the relief they need.”

A podcast of yesterday’s Council meeting is available online at www.halton.ca.

The past 72 hours have seen the combined efforts of Halton Regional Police Service drug bureau and gang officers making an impact on street level drug activity region wide.

On Wednesday April 1st, members of the Guns and Gangs Unit recovered a sawed off shotgun in the Town of Oakville. The serial number on the firearm had been removed and as a result an investigation is ongoing. The weapon is currently being examined by forensic experts.

In March of this year an investigation was launched into a street level crack dealer operating in the Town of Halton Hills. An undercover officer made 3 purchases from the suspected dealer in the Georgetown area. On April 2nd members of the Drug and Morality Bureau along with Guns and Gangs officers arrested the male in the area of Carlingview Drive and Dixon Road in Toronto. A Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant was later executed at a residence on Twin Pine Crescent, Brampton. Police seized approximately 8 pounds of marihuana and over $2000 in cash.

Charged with:
Trafficking cocaine (3 counts)
Possession of marihuana for the purpose of trafficking (2 counts)
Breach Recognizance (5 counts)
Kenroy Smith 28 years old of Twin Pine Crescent, Brampton
Smith will be appearing in Milton bail court on April 7th, 2009

A two month marihuana grow operation investigation concluded today with the execution of four Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrants throughout the region. With the assistance of the Emergency Services Unit, Intelligence Bureau and Canada Border Services officers, police raided addresses on Appleby Line in Burlington, Pine Avenue and 25 Side Road in Milton, and Dublin Line in Halton Hills. From a residence on 25 Side Road, police uncovered the largest indoor marihuana grow operation in the history of Halton region. Investigators seized 12,600 marihuana plants with an estimated street value at over two million dollars. From the Dublin Line residence police recovered approximately two pounds of marihuana and in excess of $45,000 in cash. At the Appleby Line address police dismantled a 780 plant marihuana grow operation. At both the Appleby Line and 25 Side Road properties police discovered sophisticated motion activated security systems.

Charged with:
Production of marihuana
Possession of marihuana for the Purpose of Trafficking
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
Paul Lemiski 25 years old of Dublin Line, Halton Hills

Charged with:
Production of marihuana (2 counts)
Possession of marihuana for the purpose of trafficking
Possession of marihuana
Don Wolf 36 years old of Pine Avenue, Milton

Charged with:
Production of marihuana
Possession of marihuana
Anita Devlin 27 years old of Pine Avenue, Milton

Lemiski and Wolf were held for a bail hearing on April 6th at 9:30 in Milton.

Devlin will be appearing in Milton court on May 5th, 2009 at 2pm.

Residents of Halton Region are encouraged to anonymously forward any information related to drug, gun or gang activity to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS

Halton Hills is once again preparing for its annual spring cleaning. Two events are organized annually by the Litter Free Halton Hills Task Force to mobilize volunteers for a massive litter pick-up throughout the town. The Halton Hills 20 Minute Makeover is scheduled for Friday April 17th and the Community Clean Up is on Saturday April 18th.

Halton Hills 20 Minute Makeover – Friday April 17th

The 20 Minute Makeover mobilizes businesses, institutions and schools on the theory that many hands make short work. This popular event has been very effective in cleaning up numerous areas around town in a very short time. Last year 100% of Halton Hills schools participated resulting in a clean up of all our school grounds by our students.

“Although no one wants to come out and clean up someone else’s litter, those who do are really hometown heroes in my eyes. I would just encourage more people to lend a hand and keep our town beautiful as it can be” said Councillor Jane Fogal

“We really appreciate all the students, neighbours, and groups who come out and help clean up our town. These volunteers have saved the taxpayers a lot of dollars by coming out and cleaning. It’s too bad that there are people out there who still think littering is an acceptable act. Maybe one day they will get it” said Mayor Rick Bonnette.

The Chamber of Commerce is fully supportive of the business community stepping up to the challenge and assists in promoting this event with its membership.

“We hope that business owners will see the benefits of participating. Even one or two people going out for 20 minutes to quickly tidy up makes a business look more appealing and helps the town overall” said Helen MacCormack, Chamber of Commerce President-elect.

Local McDonald’s Restaurant owner Tim O’Connor is throwing his support behind the clean up efforts and is making bags and gloves for the Makeover available at all Halton Hills McDonald’s locations.

Free bags and gloves are also available from the Town. Please contact the Infrastructure Services- Public Works Division for litter pickup.

Participating businesses and schools are asked to register with Infrastructure Services-Public Works Division so that we can acknowledge your efforts and measure our success. Please call (905) 873 2601 ext 2610.

The first day of spring was March 20th – what happened? With this winter push over the past couple of days we could experience high water levels in our neighbouring waterways.

Credit Valley Conservation and Conservation Halton have issued high water bulletins for this week. They are advising that up to 25mm of precipitation could fall over the next 24 hour period.

Due to this precipitation and the melting of accumulated snow, we could see higher flows and water levels with the warmer temperatures towards the end of the week.

The conservation authority says creek banks and slopes along the waterways could become treacherous and culverts and intake structures may become dangerous and should be avoided.

The Halton Regional Police are using a new (and we think unfair) tactic in the fight against speeding, they are using an unmarked cruiser with a taxi sign on top of it!

An in-Georgetown reader forwarded this picture and some information. The sign on top of the car says “Police” instead of “Taxi” and had the phone number of 875-5511, on it.

So beware, the police are not playing nice.

Notification has been received regarding the sale and safety concerns of illegal fireworks which have surfaced in neighbouring communities. The illegal fireworks known as “Sprite Bomb” have been recently discovered in surrounding Region communities, Oakville and Burlington. Hamilton Fire has also received some reports of the illegal product. Made in Taiwan, Sprite Bombs are illegal and are prohibited from sale in Canada.

“Sprite Bombs” are small pea sized balls that are light grey in colour and could easily be mistaken for candy. The fireworks contain a small amount of explosive material which is activated with a hard, sharp throw to a hard surface. There have been cases where they activated simply by opening the package.

Store owners may have purchased these products, not knowing they are illegal in Canada. Owners are strongly encouraged to remove the illegal fireworks from their stock and contact Halton Hills Fire Protection & Prevention Services for safe disposal of the product.

Residents who have purchased this product are asked to return the product to the location where they were purchased and advise the retailer of their concerns. Residents are also asked to contact the Halton Hills Fire Prevention Division at 905-877-1133.

The Office of the Fire Marshal is notifying the public that on March 10, 2009, Maytag Corporation announced a voluntary recall of various refrigerator models. An electrical failure in the relay, which is the component that turns on the refrigerator’s compressor, can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard.

Approximately 65,000 units in Ontario are affected as well as 193,500 throughout Canada. The refrigerators were sold between January 2001 and 2004 by department/appliance stores and various homebuilders.

Two non-injury incidents were reported in Canada. Outside of Canada, Maytag received 41 reports of refrigerator relay ignition, including 16 reports of property damage ranging from smoke damage to extensive kitchen damage.

The recall involves certain Maytag, Jenn-Air, Amana, Admiral, Magic Chef, Performa by Maytag and Crosley brand side-by-side and top-freezer refrigerators that were made in the U.S.A.

Note: Refrigerators with freezers on the bottom are not affected by this recall. Consumers who have one of the recalled Maytag models or who are unsure whether their Maytag refrigerator is one of the recalled models should immediately call Maytag at 1 866 533-9817 (toll free) to obtain more information. You may also visit the Maytag Web site.

As the nicer weather arrives, so do the pot holes on a number of our rural and urban streets. Pot holes are created when moisture penetrates the asphalt surface and is subjected to the freeze-thaw cycle. This condition weakens the asphalt resulting in the formation of a pot hole.

The best approach to repair the pot hole is to grind down the surrounding area and place a new layer of hot-mix asphalt. Unfortunately, hot mix asphalt is typically not available from suppliers until April. The alternative is to place a cold-mix product which adequately fills the pot hole but is not very durable in particular during rain events and with heavier traffic volumes.

So far this year, Staff have placed approximately 122 tonnes of cold mix asphalt. This represents approximately 1,500-2,000 potholes.

Once hot-mix asphalt is available, the Town will begin permanently fixing the pot holes. For some of those areas, this will entail more extensive resurfacing, as budget permits.

If you notice a bad stretch of road or potholes, please contact 905-873-2601 ext.2603 and we will repair it as quickly as possible.

Mayor Bonnette says “We will try to repair as many potholes as possible in a timely manner. Any residents that see a pot-hole please call and report it. We have over 900 km of roads”.

Our goal is to repair a pot-hole within 1 day of notification. We thank you for your patience during this time of the year.

“Once again, the Town, residents, businesses, schools and other organizations collaborated to make Earth HourTM a resounding success! Town-wide, our energy consumption dropped by 13.5%, a significant increase from last year’s 9.4% reduction. Our collaboration continues to show our commitment to fighting climate change and helping to implement the Town’s Green Plan. Well done!” – said Mayor Rick Bonnette.

Earth Hour 2009 marked the second time that Halton Hills participated in the global Earth Hour event.

The 13.5% consumption reduction represents nearly 8,000 kWh or enough electricity to power about 6,500 homes for an hour. It can also be translated into 1,426 kilograms in greenhouse gas savings or the equivalent of not driving 4,755 kilometers.

Halton Hills Earth Hour participants demonstrated their commitment, creativity and interest in Earth Hour by engaging in many creative activities.

Many enjoyed the successful star gazing event hosted by the Town at the Cedarvale Community Centre, and sponsored by Halton Hills Hydro. Others turned off unnecessary lights, unplugged electronics, played board games, camped indoors, enjoyed candlelit dinners with family and friends, and took neighbourhood walks. Local businesses promoted Earth Hour and some held special events.

At Town Hall, to spearhead Earth Hour celebrations, Town staff took action to reduce energy use on the Friday before Earth Hour. By doing this, compared to the morning’s usage, consumption at Town Hall decreased by 34% between about noon and 2pm. In addition, the Town purchased 100% green electricity. Some local schools held their own Earth Hour celebrations on Friday March 27th.

To make every hour Earth Hour and to conserve all year, please join The Good Life, an initiative of WWF-Canada. To join, go to www.thegoodlife.wwf.ca. Next, click on the “Groups” tab, then the “Groups Directory”. Look for the “Town of Halton Hills” group and join.

For the barbecue fans that do not stand out in the frigid temperatures and howling winds to enjoy the char-broiled flavour of hamburgers and steaks, the season is quickly approaching for you to get started. Now is the time to search out this appliance amongst all the previous fall storage of lawn furniture and equipment in the garage or storage shed.

However, before trying to fire up the barbecue, Chief of Fire Prevention & Public Education, Harry Olivieri offers a few simple tips to make your barbecue season a little safer:

1. Clean all the burner discharge ports with a pipe cleaner.
2. Inspect the burner for any rust perforations.
3. Closely inspect gas supply hoses for cracks and abrasions.
4. Turn the gas supply valve on.
5. Check all the connections with a 50-50 soap/water solution. You don’t want to see bubbles.
6. Never attempt to light the barbecue with the hood down.
7. Do not barbecue in an enclosed area.
8. Burns are very, very serious and painful! Keep a constant eye on little children when near the barbecue.

Olivieri says, “While we do respond to a number of barbecue fires over the year, taking a bit of time for preventative maintenance will most likely reduce the chances of coming to your home.”

Just in time for Earth Hour, smart meters will be installed at Mayor Bonnette’s and Councillor Jane Fogal’s residences. Mayor Bonnette, with Council’s support, spearheaded the Town’s Green Plan initiative. Councillor Fogal (Wards 3 & 4) was a member of the Mayor’s Green Plan Task Force which prepared the Town’s first Green Plan.

With smart meters installed at their residences, Halton Hills Hydro will be able to track their individual energy use prior to, during and after Earth Hour. Starting this April, Halton Hills Hydro Inc., an affiliate of Halton Hills Community Energy Corporation, will be installing smart meters in every residence and small business in the Town. Halton Hills Hydro’s Smart Metering Project is part of an Ontario Ministry of Energy initiative and will involve changing approximately 20,000 meters in Halton Hills by the end of 2010.

Smart Meters automatically record how much energy a home uses, every hour of every day and automatically send that information back to the hydro office. Once fully implemented, smart metering will allow for the introduction of Time-of-Use billing. This initiative will provide customers with the opportunity to reduce their energy costs by shifting the times of day when they operate energy intensive appliances such as dryers and dishwashers.

“Smart meters will give our customers the ability to take control of their energy use. This is a major step towards creating a culture of sustainability in Halton Hills”, says Arthur Skidmore, Chief Operating Officer of Halton Hills Community Energy Corporation.

Speaking about the installation of a smart meter on his house, Mayor Bonnette said:
“I am excited to have a smart meter installed on my house. I am especially pleased that it will be possible to monitor my Earth Hour participation by being able to track energy use prior to, during and after Earth Hour.”

Halton Hills Hydro has planned two public meetings to discuss smart meters with its customers. The meetings will be held on March 24th, 2009 at the Cultural Centre Gallery and on March 31st, 2009 at the Acton Arena Hall. Both meetings will start at 7:00pm. There will be a brief presentation about smart meters, smart meter demonstrations and an opportunity to ask questions. Please visit Halton Hills Hydro’s website for more information.

On March 28, Halton Region will join communities around the world when it participates in the 2009 Earth Hour challenge to turn off lights and reduce energy use for one hour. Starting at 8:30 p.m., lights and non-essential electrical equipment at Regional facilities, that do not compromise public safety or interfere with essential services, will be turned off for one hour. Halton Region is also encouraging local residents and businesses to turn out the lights and non-essential electrical appliances to show their support for action on climate change.

In 2008, Halton Region residents saved 33.15 megawatts of power during Earth Hour – enough to power 33,150 homes for that hour.

“Halton Region is committed to the fight against global warming and climate change and Earth Hour is a great opportunity to take action and show that individual participation on a large scale can change our planet for the better,” said Regional Chair Gary Carr. “We are committed to doing what we can as an organization to reduce our impact on climate change.”

Earth Hour is a global initiative led by the World Wildlife Fund, in which cities, communities and individuals turn off their lights for one hour to symbolize their commitment to fighting climate change. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. In 2008, more than 50 million people around the globe participated. In 2009, Earth Hour aims to reach out to 1 billion people in 1,000 cities.

Participating in Earth Hour helps Halton Region address Theme 2 of its 2007 – 2010 Strategic Plan, Protect and Enhance our Natural Environment. Other initiatives being undertaken as part of this theme include:

• Landfill Gas Capture Project at the Halton Waste Management Site
• Waste diversion programs such as the Blue Box for recycling and the GreenCart for organics collection
• Halton’s Air Quality Program
• Halton’s Naturally Green Program
• Smart Commute Program to promote car-pooling for Regional staff
• Forest Management programs and services, and protection of the Region’s 1,645 acres of forest.
• Halton Region’s Land Stewardship Program for Natural Areas
• Halton’s Tree By-law
• Corporate initiatives to reduce energy consumption and use alternative fuels
• Involvement with and support for organizations such as the Halton Partners for Clean Air, the GTA Clean Air Council, and Partners for Climate Protection.

For more information about these and other initiatives, visit www.halton.ca. For more information about Earth Hour, visit www.earthhour.org

Tickets are still available for the 2009 Halton Regional Chair’s Environmental Awards Breakfast, to be held on April 23, 7:00 a.m. at the Burlington Convention Centre. Winners of the Regional Chair’s Environmental Awards will be announced at this event, which features guest speaker Jay Ingram.

Jay is an engaging speaker who can address complex, scientific issues in non-technical terms, making them interesting, relevant and fun for all audiences. He is co-host and producer of the Discovery Channel television show Daily Planet and the former host of the CBC radio show “Quirks and Quarks”. He has also written eight books, three of which have won Canadian Science Writers’ Awards.

“Halton Region is honoured to be hosting Jay Ingram at this year’s Environmental Awards Breakfast,” said Halton’s Regional Chair, Gary Carr. “The Breakfast will provide students, the business community and residents with a chance to support our upcoming environmental leaders and to be inspired from one of Canada’s most well known science popularizers.”

Businesses and residents alike are invited to show support for the environmental efforts of Halton’s youth by purchasing a ticket or a table for the awards event. Tickets to the event are $50 or a table can be purchased for $600. (The purchase of a table includes sponsorship of four students and one chaperone at your table.) To purchase a ticket or a table, visit www.halton.ca or call Halton Region at 905-825-6000, toll-free at 1-866-442-5866.

The Regional Chair’s Environmental Awards program was designed to foster an appreciation for the environment in Halton’s youth and to raise awareness of local environmental initiatives. There are two types of awards that will be recognized at the event awards:

• Halton Youth Awards for Environmental Excellence
• Halton Environmental Scholarship

The 6th annual Environmental Awards Breakfast is presented in partnership with Bell and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and is brought to you by the hard work and dedication of a group comprised of staff from several corporate and community organizations. The group provides direction to the Region for the award program and breakfast event and also reviews all youth applications to determine successful award recipients.

For more information on the Regional Chair’s Environmental Awards Breakfast contact Halton Region at 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-442-5866, TTY 905-827-9833 or visit www.halton.ca

On Saturday, March 28, 2009 between 8:30pm and 9:30pm, Earth Hour will be celebrated around the world. The objective of Earth Hour is to increase public awareness of the need to decrease energy use and to take action against climate change. This can simply be done by turning off unnecessary lights, without compromising safety and security. Earth Hour participation is voluntary, fun and informative.

Everyone’s participation is important to making Earth Hour a success. Below are some simple suggestions for how residents, businesses and groups can participate:

For Residents:

• Register for Earth Hour at www.EarthHourCanada.org. Share your ideas about how you will be participating by e-mailing the Office of Sustainability at damians@haltonhills.ca. Enter into a draw to win valuable energy-efficiency prizes. Maximum of one prize per household, business or organization. The draw will be held at the April 6th 2009 Council meeting. Names will be drawn from the first 100 e-mail entries received by noon on Saturday March 28th, 2009.
• Turn off unnecessary lights and unplug electronic equipment.
• Change your traditional inefficient lightbulbs to efficient CFL lightbulbs.
• Turn down the thermostat.
• Avoid operating major appliances during Earth Hour.
• Enjoy a candlelit dinner with family and friends.
• Play board games.
• Read bedtime stories by flashlight.
• Organize community discussions on environmental issues.
• Take a walk through your neighbourhood. Take advantage of the dark skies and star gaze.
• Commit to energy conservation throughout the year by joining WWF-Canada’s The Good Life initiative. Joining is free, fun and easy. It can be done at: www.thegoodlife.wwf.ca. When joining, please remember to select the “Town of Halton Hills” from the ‘Groups’ menu. The ‘Groups’ menu will appear after the province is selected and an Ontario postal code is entered.

For Schools:

• Organize symbolic Earth Hour events on Friday March 27th because schools are closed on Saturday, March 28 2009. For more information, visit: www.EarthHourCanada.org. Some local schools plan to celebrate Earth Hour roughly between 10am and 11am on Friday March 27th.

For Businesses:

• Register for Earth Hour at www.EarthHourCanada.org. Share your ideas about how you will be participating by e-mailing the Office of Sustainability at damians@haltonhills.ca. Maximum of one prize per household, business or organization. The draw will be held at the April 6th 2009 Council meeting. Names will be drawn from the first 100 e-mail entries received by noon on Saturday March 28th, 2009.
• Turn off or dim any unnecessary lights (including outdoor signs) and major appliances, without compromising safety/security.
• Promote Earth Hour by displaying Earth Hour posters in store windows and on restaurant tables (e.g. menu inserts, table cards). Contact the Office of Sustainability at damians@haltonhills.ca for a copy of a free poster(s).
• Inform your staff and customers about Earth Hour. Encourage them to participate.
• Reduce energy use. Turn down your thermostat.
• Replace inefficient lightbulbs with efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) lightbulbs.
• Ahead of Earth Hour, advertise special pricing on energy conservation items such as CFLs, clotheslines, LED lights, energy meters and thermostats.
• Unplug all electrical equipment (e.g. computers) before leaving for the day.
• Consider purchasing green electricity all year.
• Post information on Earth Hour on your website.
• If you operate a restaurant:
  • Offer a special meal or a day’s special at a cost of $8.30 to recognize Earth Hour which begins at 8:30pm.
  • Offer a special meal composed of locally grown ingredients or a meal that does not require a lot of energy to prepare.
  • Offer candlelit dinner service and a special “Earth Hour Menu”.
• If your business cannot participate on Saturday March 28th, consider taking action on Friday March 27th.

So, don’t be afraid of the dark. Remember to turn off your lights and reduce energy use during Earth Hour on Saturday March 28th between 8:30pm and 9:30pm. Be creative, have fun and stay safe.

On Saturday, March 28, 2009 between 8:30pm and 9:30pm, Earth Hour will be celebrated around the world. The objective of Earth Hour is to increase public awareness of the need to decrease energy use and take action against climate change. This can be done by turning off unnecessary lights, without compromising safety and security. Earth Hour participation is voluntary, fun and informative.

Celebrate Earth Hour and enter into a draw for a chance to win one of three $500 energy efficiency prizes. To enter the draw:

• Register for Earth Hour.
• E-mail the Office of Sustainability at damians@haltonhills.ca with a confirmation that you have registered and how you will be participating.
• Any Halton Hills resident, business and organization can participate.
• Maximum of one prize per household, business or organization.

Each prize package is worth approximately $500 and is generously sponsored by Halton Hills Hydro in support of their energy conservation programs. Each package will help with year-round conservation, and includes solar lights, retractable clothesline, energy meter, digital timer, free programmable thermostat Energy Efficiency Prize and installation to qualifying households, energy efficient CFL light bulbs and a reusable water bottle.

The draw will be held at the April 6th 2009 Council meeting. Names will be drawn from the first 100 e-mail entries received by noon on Saturday March 28th, 2009. So, don’t be afraid of the dark. Remember to turn off your lights and reduce energy use during Earth Hour on Saturday March 28th between 8:30pm and 9:30pm. Be creative, have fun and stay safe.

With unanimous Council support, the Town of Halton Hills will once again join other communities in Canada and around the world in participating in Earth HourTM by turning off any unnecessary lights. The objective of Earth Hour is to have as many individuals, businesses, organizations and governments participating as possible. Earth Hour registration is available at www.EarthHourCanada.org.

Earth Hour 2009 will be celebrated on Saturday, March 28, 2009 between 8:30pm and 9:30pm. Its objective is to increase public awareness of the need to decrease energy use and to take action against climate change. Earth Hour participation is voluntary, fun and informative.

In 2008, approximately 50 million people from across 370 cities/towns and 35 countries participated in Earth Hour. Canadians participated in large numbers, with about 10 million Canadians from over 150 cities/municipalities participating. The goal for Earth Hour 2009 is to involve one billion people from 1000 cities.

In 2008, the Halton Hills community collaborated to make Earth Hour a success. This collaboration demonstrated the community’s commitment to protecting the environment, and showed that it is possible to take meaningful action against climate change. This collaboration resulted in a 9.4% reduction in energy use, ranking the Town fourth among other GTA municipalities.

Speaking about Earth Hour, Mayor Bonnette said: “Last year, our community collaborated to make Earth Hour a success. This year, we hope to do the same by demonstrating that it is possible to take meaningful local action against climate change. The participation of our residents, businesses and community organizations is key to achieving our goal.

Participation in Earth Hour will build on the Town’s Green Plan and continue to move all of us towards sustainability. It is urgent that we all act now.”

This year, the Town will implement several new initiatives for Earth Hour, including:

• Turning off all non-essential lights at all Town facilities during Earth Hour, without jeopardizing public safety and security, and interrupting regular service.
• Hosting a free and fun ‘Star Gazing Party’ at the Cedarvale Community Centre on Saturday March 28th between 8:30pm and 10pm. This will include an indoor presentation titled “Wonders of the Night Sky”, followed by an outdoor telescope viewing session using three large telescopes (weather permitting). In case of cloudy skies, a presentation will be offered indoors simulating a night sky. Space is limited, so please RSVP with the Office of Sustainability at 905.873.2601 ext. 2290 or at jennifers@haltonhills.ca.
• Engaging the business community to participate by promoting Earth Hour to their employees and customers, by offering special Earth Hour menus and advertising special pricing on energy conservation items such as compact fluorescent lightbulbs, clotheslines, LED lights, energy meters and thermostats.
• Encouraging Earth Hour registration by drawing for an ‘Earth Hour Gift Basket(s)’. These gift basket(s) may include such things as a programmable thermostat, energy meter and CFL bulbs.
• Purchasing green power from Bullfrog Power, a green electricity provider, to offset a portion of the Town’s energy use during Earth Hour.

Earth Hour is a symbolic event and it alone will not reverse climate change.
Nonetheless, Earth Hour is a high profile opportunity to demonstrate that people
working together can make a difference on climate change.

Leah Youngblut of the Village Sweet Shop in Rockwood will be demonstrating how to make chocolate goodies in time for Easter. Sampling will be encouraged!

For more information, please contact the Acton Branch at 519-853-0301

In the Acton Branch, the clinic will be held on Thursday, March 19 from 6-8 pm. Please call 519-853-0301 to book your appointment. In Georgetown, the clinic will be held on Tuesday March 17 and Tuesday March 24 from 6-8pm.

Please call 905-873-2681 to book your appointment. For more information, contact your local branch.

The Halton Regional Police Service is investigating a break and enter to a garage on Silvercreek Drive, in Halton Hills, where two cross-bows and numerous arrows were taken.

On March 18th between 12:00 am and 4:30 am culprits entered the attached garage to a home on Silvercreek Drive, the culprits used the garage door opener which they had located in the victims unlocked vehicle parked in the driveway.

Once inside the garage the suspects removed two cross-bows and numerous arrows. Entry into the victim’s home was not gained or attempted.

The Halton Regional Police Service would like to remind the public to lock their vehicles at all times and keep any valuables out of sight.

The Halton Regional Police Service is continuing to investigate this incident. Anyone with information related to it is asked to contact the Milton Criminal Investigations Bureau at (905) 825-4777 Ext 2415 or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Homebuying intentions in Ontario have increased over last year and sit just shy of 2007 levels, according to the 16th Annual RBC Homeownership Survey. The poll found that 30 per cent of Ontarians said they were likely to purchase a home within the next two years, up from 21 per cent in 2008.

The survey, conducted by Ipsos Reid, found that a large majority (73 per cent) believe it is a buyer’s market right now, with less than one-in-ten (seven per cent) saying sellers currently have the advantage. Given current housing prices and economic conditions, most Ontarians (54 per cent) believe it makes more sense to buy now, rather than wait until next year.

“With mortgage rates and housing prices looking more favourable than they did last year, many Ontarians are saying now is the time to buy,” said Doug Crowe, vice-president, Mortgages, Greater Toronto Area, RBC. “Our survey also showed that an overwhelming majority of Ontarians still feel confident that buying a home is a smart, worthwhile investment.”

In fact, according to the survey, 84 per cent of those polled in Ontario said that buying a home is a good or very good investment. On average, Ontario homeowners approximate the value of their home at $247,632. On average, they also estimate that the value of their homes increased 10 per cent over the last two years.

Among those who plan to purchase this year or next, 34 per cent cited the need for a bigger home. Thirty-three per cent will do so because their current home does not meet their needs, and 32 per cent said they will buy because house prices are attractive. Seventy-six per cent said they plan to purchase resale and most (69 per cent) will opt for a detached house.

Future Ontario homebuyers also specified that environmental considerations would weigh on their purchase decision. Almost all respondents (96 per cent) indicated that buying a home with low energy consumption was important to them and 81 per cent said the same about environmentally-friendly features. Further, 91 per cent of those surveyed were interested in having standardized energy ratings for their homes.

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Today Microsoft Corp. announced the availability of Windows Internet Explorer 8, the new Web browser that offers the best solution for how people use the Web today. It can be downloaded in 25 languages starting at noon EDT on March 19. Internet Explorer 8 is easier to use, faster and offers leading-edge security features in direct response to people’s increasing concerns about online safety. A new study commissioned by Microsoft and the National Cyber Security Alliance and conducted by Harris Interactive Inc. shows that 91 percent of adults in the U.S. are concerned about online threats in the current economic climate, and 78 percent are more likely to choose a Web browser with built-in security than they were two years ago.

“Customers have made clear what they want in a Web browser — safety, speed and greater ease of use,” said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. “With Internet Explorer 8, we are delivering a browser that gets people to the information they need, fast, and provides protection that no other browser can match.”

In response to extensive customer research and input from tens of millions of customer sessions, Microsoft developed Internet Explorer 8 to focus on what matters most to people. The security enhancements offer protection against existing and emerging security threats online. It blocks two to four times more malware attacks than other browsers; cuts down on the time it takes to complete common tasks on the Web such as searching, mapping and sharing, including navigating 15 of the 20 top worldwide sites; and blurs the lines between the services they use daily and the browser used to access the Internet.

Helps Protect People From Online Threats

The new study released today reinforces the importance of safety in browsing, indicating that 78 percent of people are more likely than they were two years ago to choose a browser that includes built-in protection against security threats without them having to go online to download additional programs or browser add-ons. It also showed that 91 percent of adults in the U.S. are concerned about online fraud and identity theft in today’s economic climate, and 37 percent are less likely to shop online because they would have to give their personal information.

Internet Explorer 8 offers the best security protections among leading browsers: a study released today by NSS Labs indicates that Internet Explorer 8 blocks two to four times as many malicious sites as other browsers on the market today.

Makes Common Online Tasks Faster and Easier

In addition to offering improved security and privacy protections, Internet Explorer 8 is one of the fastest browsers on the market today, beating other top browsers in page load time on almost 50 percent of the 25 top comScore Inc. Web sites.* It also helps people save time while using the Web with easy-to-use new features, including the following:

• Accelerators. Accelerators make it faster and easier to perform common tasks online by making Web-based services such as ESPN.com, Live Search and Sina available for use directly from the page people are viewing. Users can simply right-click a word or phrase and instantly map, e-mail, or share it.
• Web Slices. Web Slices in Internet Explorer 8 makes favorite information from sites such as Digg, Yahoo! Mail, OneRiot, and eBay instantly available wherever someone goes on the Web.
• Visual search suggestions. The Instant Search Box in Internet Explorer 8 enables rich, real-time search from sites such as The New York Times, Amazon.com and Wikipedia, as well as sites from people’s own Favorites and History, complete with visuals and detailed information that saves time.

“We are excited about Internet Explorer 8 for several reasons, including its ability to provide our customers with updates to eBay products using Web Slices so they can keep track of their buying activity while surfing the web,” said Matt Ackley, vice president of Internet Marketing and Advertising at eBay.

“The new ESPN Web Slices on Internet Explorer 8 make it easy for sports fans to check on the latest news and sports videos in a new and exciting way,” said Jason Guenther, vice president of technology and product development at ESPN Digital Media. “We have a heritage of leveraging technology to deliver the best sports content to fans, and this is another example of our dedication to that.”

Available for Download

Internet Explorer 8 will be available for download at noon EDT in 25 languages, including Arabic, Chinese (Traditional, Simplified and Hong Kong), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese (Brazil and Portugal), Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish. More information and a download of Internet Explorer 8 (as of noon EDT on March 19).

The Town of Halton Hills has recently installed the Vehicle Activated Traffic Calming Signs (VATCS) on Mountainview Road South, north of Summit Lane and south of Sargent Road to address on-going speed issues. The VATCS is being undertaken as a new pilot project in Halton Hills to target speeding motorists. The use of this technology has been successful in other jurisdictions.

“The purpose of this sign is to warn speeding motorists that we take the safety of our children and all residents very seriously, and we need to control speed limits. By letting motorists know that they are speeding, it gives them the opportunity to slow down to the posted limit, thereby making our roads a safer place,” said Ward 4 Councillor John Duncan.

The signs are activated when excessive speeds have been detected to alert motorists to the posted speed limit so that they can reduce their speeds. Through the utilization of LED technology, the signs are much more visible to the public and their effect is increased in comparison to standard regulatory signage.

“The safety of our children, motorists, and residents are important to us all. The signs are a tool, in the quest toward making our roadways safer, by helping drivers realize their actual speeds and allowing the proper adjustments to be made,” said Ward 4 Councillor Bob Inglis.

Through the use of the VATCS technology, the Town hopes to reduce operating speeds on the targeted segment of the road from 7 km/hr to 12 km/hr. Speed studies will be undertaken later this year to assess the effectiveness of the VATCS installation.

The Town of Halton Hills in an effort to attract and retain new family physicians introduced the Physician Recruitment Program in late 2008. When announcing the program stated “As Halton Hills continues to grow it is critical for our community to attract and keep our family physicians, this program will help to bring new doctors to Halton Hills. This is just another example of our proactive approach to our community’s health”.

The program provides incentives for every new family physician who establishes a practice in Halton Hills. The Town under the Program will pay to the physician a $5,000.00 non refundable grant and a $10,000.00 no interest loan repayable over five years. The funds can used for moving expenses, office renovations and capital costs, there is no restriction on the use of the funds. The physician must agree to maintain an active practice in Halton Hills for a five year term, failure to do so will require the grant and loan to be repaid.

Two new family physicians have recently signed the agreements with the Town. Dr. Victor Van recently joined the Family Health Team located on Princess Anne Drive in Georgetown and Dr. Alkadhimi has set up practice on Mill Street in Acton.

Councillor Mike O’Leary a member of the Economic Development Committee that endorsed the program said “This is especially good news for patients in Acton if we are to attract new doctors. Currently our family physicians in the Acton community have practices with almost 3,000 patients which puts a strain on our doctors and their resources”.

Halton Region kicked off its air quality health promotion program for 2009 with the release of two one-minute videos. The new health promotion program aims to educate Halton residents about the links between air quality, climate change and human health, and their links to the built environment.

“Halton Region’s air quality and climate change health promotion program encourages residents to think about their energy use at home and on the road, and to consider making small changes to reduce their own impact on the environment,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr.

The videos are one approach being used to raise awareness and encourage residents to take action. They illustrate how the impacts of energy use may be reduced by individuals. In Joules on Juice, a heavy electricity user learns how to cut down her energy consumption at home. In Nick Goes Nowhere, a compulsive driver trades in his SUV for an energy efficient car and even tries out cycling to work.

An underlying theme in the campaign is that air quality impacts health. “Air pollution in southern Ontario is a significant public health problem,” said Dr. Bob Nosal, Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region. “Short-term peaks in air pollution can aggravate heart and lung conditions, make it difficult to breathe, and increase respiratory infections, while long-term exposure to higher levels of air pollution can increase the risk of heart and lung diseases including asthma and lung cancer.”

Data released by the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) shows that air pollution is a contributing factor in almost 9,500 premature deaths per year in Ontario, with more than 300 premature smog deaths here in Halton.

The videos are posted on Halton’s website and on YouTube, and will be shown at a number of Halton cinemas and local networks over the coming months. Residents may also visit the Region’s website to download a copy of the 20/20 Planner and several tip cards. These resources aim to help people reach a 20 per cent energy reduction goal with easy-to-do activities, progressing over time, into longer-term, greater cost savings actions.

According to Harris/Decima Senior Vice-President Jeff Walker, “Some Canadians appear to be seeing light at the end of the economic tunnel, as both the 1 year and 5 year outlook results have improved this quarter”. “The roller-coaster ride may not be over yet, but the data suggests many feel that we have hit bottom, and will gradually move upward from here”.

“Restored consumer confidence is an important factor in any potential economic recovery”, said Debbie Ammeter, Vice-President of Advanced Financial Planning at Investors Group. “It is interesting to note that Canadians seem to recognize that things could be difficult for most of this year but yet there appears to be more who believe that they will be better off a year from now.”

The overall index of Consumer Confidence in the economy rose in the period from December to February to 67.0, the highest the index has been since August 2008. In the United States, the index did not see the same bounce as in Canada, inching only slightly upward to 61.2

The most significant jump in optimism was on the question of how Canadians felt they’d be doing financially a year from now. Twice as many people feel they’ll be better off than worse off (27%-13%). This is an improvement from December results when 20% felt they’d be better off, while 18% felt they’d be worse off.

Canadians are also more amenable to making a major purchase. In December, 35% thought it was a good time to make a major purchase, while half (50%) thought it was a bad time. Today opinion is virtually even, with 41% feeling now is a good time to make a major purchase and 43% feeling it is a bad time to do so.

Pessimism about the economic outlook for the coming year decreased slightly. While a majority (59%) still foresee bad times for the economy in the coming year, this was down from the 64% who answered in kind in the December survey. One-in-ten (10%) see good times ahead for the economy in the next 12 months.

The number of Canadians who say they are worse off today than they were last year, remained relatively steady at 27%, down a point from the December survey. Once again, people are far more likely to say they are doing about the same financially as they were last year (57%). 13% feel they are better off financially compared to a year ago, relatively unchanged since December.

These days, it’s not easy being a bank. Tight liquidity, large credit write-downs and sagging profitability have plagued the industry across the globe. And of course Canada is not immune to events in the rest of the world. But a new survey compiled by Leger Marketing for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC)‘s Annual Banking Survey shows that 84% of Canadians feel that Canada has one of the strongest banking systems in the world and 85% have confidence in them.

“Canadians are confident in their banks, and they should be,” says George Sheen, leader of the Canadian Financial Services practice at PwC. “They are well regulated, well capitalized and well run.”

According to the survey of 1513 Canadians conducted in December 2008, 92% feel that the strength of Canadian banks is critical to the health of the overall economy. A further 91% feel their deposits are secure with the Canadian banks, and 82% believe they were well run. “How many other countries would score this well?” comments Sheen.

In fact, very few would. A recent survey by the Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research showed that respondents in many major countries rated banks at or below five out of 10 in terms of their stability and solidity, including the UK, Germany, France and Switzerland.

And the strong results in Canada were despite the limited knowledge among Canadians that the country was recently rated as having the soundest banking system in the world by the World Economic Forum. “Canadians don’t need to be told how solid their banks are; they know we’re fortunate,” notes Sheen.

Despite their resiliency though, Canadian banks were impacted by the financial turmoil. PwC’s Annual Banking Survey shows that in fiscal 2008, combined annual profits for the Big Six banks dropped $7.5 billion to just over $12 billion from a record $19.5 billion in 2007. This puts 2008 income on par with the results from 2005. But in these unprecedented times, the Canadian banks are in relatively good shape to weather the difficult downturn.

Creations should be picked up by April 4. The theme for the contest is Outer Space this year, and the size restrictions are 12”x12”x12”. There are two categories: 6 and under and 7 and up. For more information, please call the Acton Branch at 519-853-0301.

Website Address

The Halton Regional Police Regional Fraud Unit has concluded a 7 month fraud investigation that has resulted in charges against an Acton man.

In September 2008, the Halton Regional Police Service began an investigation into allegations that over a two year period of time, two Rockwood men invested over $155,000 dollars into an alleged charitable event run by a company known as “Good Time Events”.

The owner of Good Time Events led the victims to believe that their investment was going towards an event known as a “Cardathon”. A Cardathon was described as a large charity gaming event which promised a 50% return on the investor’s money. The event was to be held at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

When there was no progress in event scheduling the victims brought the apparent fraud to the attention of the Halton Regional Police Service.

Detectives from the Regional Fraud Unit learned that a charitable event called Cardathon had never been booked at the Rogers Centre, nor did the Rogers Centre have any knowledge of Good Time Events.

On March 3rd Halton Detectives arrested a Stephen TURKOSZ 32 years of Acton. He is charged with 2 counts of fraud over $5000 dollars.

To date no money has been paid back and there was never a return on the investments made.

As home sellers across the country adjust to new market realities, RE/MAX is set to launch Fit to Sell, an innovative new program designed to secure home equity in uncertain times.

“The stark reality is that more than 2,000 properties are listed for sale every day in Canada,” explains Michael Polzler, Executive Vice President, Regional Director, RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada, “yet only a quarter of them will be sold. With the creation of Fit to Sell, RE/MAX is intent on helping Canadians get the most out of their biggest investment – their home.”

RE/MAX has enlisted the help of popular staging expert Carla Woolnough, host of the DVD series ‘How to Stage your own Home’ and owner of Nex-Step Design, to develop Fit to Sell. The program encourages existing homeowners to increase their stake in the home-selling process by working with their real estate professional to bring their home to the market. Fit to Sell ultimately rewards their participation by maximizing sale price and minimizing on-market time.

“Sellers are no longer in the driver’s seat but there’s also no reason for them to take a back seat,” explains Polzler. “We know that location, price, and condition are the three major factors that come into play when selling a home – and while location and price are clearly choices made by the buyer at the onset, condition is the one factor that a seller can influence. Sellers who make the right moves in preparing their home for sale can maximize their housing potential and ultimately improve their bottom line. After all, there are still buyers in the market and they are looking for quality product.”

RE/MAX and Carla Woolnough, the national spokesperson for RE/MAX Fit to Sell, have created a checklist of the top 10 priorities for preparing a property for sale, ranging from air quality to furniture placement and lighting. The checklist and tips can also be found on www.fittosell.ca

“By following these simple and inexpensive tips, homeowners across the country can secure top dollar for their properties,’ says Carla. “All it takes is a little upfront planning and some advice from your RE/MAX sales professional.”

Website Address

A new survey of more than 1,000 Canadian youth aged 9-17 by Microsoft Canada Co. and Youthography, provides insight into the way young people use the Internet. The results show that while the Internet is an overwhelmingly positive force in the lives of Canadian youth and most of them are aware of potential dangers, too many children and teens still engage in risky behaviour while online.

“This is Microsoft Canada’s fourth iteration of online safety research and we believe this study offers one of the most comprehensive looks yet at the online activities of Canadian youth including gaming, cyberbullying and social networking,” said Gavin Thompson, Director of Corporate Citizenship, Microsoft Canada. “There are many encouraging results in the research, including the fact that youth rank online safety as a very important issue and that a majority of youth are making smart choices online. Despite this good news, many youth still engage in risky online behaviour. Microsoft Canada has made online safety and security one of our highest priorities and we recognize that as a leader in our industry we have a responsibility to do all we can to make it a safer place – especially for our children.”

For the most part, youth rely on the Internet to communicate with friends and family, research information for homework and play games. They are concerned about Internet safety and more than three-quarters of them are very careful about the personal information they give out online.

Parents are also becoming more engaged in their children’s online activities, compared to previous findings, with 84% of respondents saying they have had a discussion with their parents about the potential dangers of risky online behaviour. Eighty-six percent say their parents have taken measures to ensure they are safe online, such as locating the computer in visible locations like the family room or kitchen, rather than in a child’s room.

Despite this high level of awareness and parental engagement, many youth still engage in risky online behaviour. The survey identified a number of key areas where Canadian youth continue to put themselves at risk, including:

Social Networking

• Youth post personal information for public view, such as a profile picture (39%), home town (16%), name of school (20%), relationship status (22%), and e-mail address (21%) to social networking sites. Sharing more than one of these pieces of data can allow predators to easily uncover someone’s real identity.
• 30% of youth have lied about their age on a social networking site, 15% have pretended to be someone they are not, and more than 30% have accepted a friend request from a stranger.

Adult Content and Sexual Behaviour

• 1 in 4 males use search engines to find adult sexual content.
• More than 20% of youth visit sites that have pictures or videos showing violent acts, fighting, or racist content.

Cyberbullying

• 40% of youth have been bullied online, up from Microsoft’s research in 2004 where 25% respondents reported being cyberbullied. 16% admit to being the bully and of those, 50% say they did it because they were bullied first.
• In general, 67% believe others bully online because they can do it without getting caught and 63% believe that the same kids who bully online usually bully in person.

Online Gaming

• 1 in 5 of those who play games in online communities has made contact (phone, email, in–person) with someone they have only ever met online gaming.
• 1 in 4 youth has been harassed when online gaming.

Online Behaviour

• Forty-five percent of teens and 27% of tweens go to cyberspace to escape their problems, avoid family, deal with stress, relieve anxiety, deal with sadness or depression or feed their online addiction.
• Youth, especially tweens are concerned about online safety, more so than drugs, alcohol, smoking, body image or sexually transmitted diseases.

“It is important for parents to be involved in their children’s lives, which includes their on-line and videogame activities, as much as knowing about their friends, sports, music lessons and other things going on in their lives. It is also important to educate youth about the positives and the pitfalls of the cyberworld – but to do so, adults need to understand it first and to see how it has influenced their own activities, family values and work actions,” said Dr. Bruce Ballon, Head of the Adolescent Clinical Education Service (ACES) for Problem Gambling, Gaming and Internet Use at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

For video commentary please click here.

To read more about the research please see the Fact Sheet.

To read more about Microsoft Canada’s online safety initiatives and Microsoft Corporation’s continued focus on helping to create safe and secure technologies and increasing awareness amongst Canadians, please click here.

Ontario is making the environment a part of every subject in every grade.

To signal its commitment to environmental education, starting in Fall 2009, schools will begin implementing a new policy framework, created as part of the advice of the Curriculum Council and recommendations made by a working group on environmental education chaired by Dr. Roberta Bondar.

“Our goal is to have all students become environmentally responsible citizens by the time they graduate high school. We know that children are already leaders in caring for the earth and I’m proud that our classrooms are supporting environmental literacy across Ontario.” – Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Education

The new framework complements other initiatives in supporting the environment, including:

• Embedding environmental education in all curriculum
• Offering Specialist High Skills Majors related to the environment at over 25 schools
• Offering new courses in environmental science
• Working with Ontario EcoSchools to help teachers plan environmentally-focused classroom programs and schools reduce their environmental impact.

By teaching students about the importance of environmental stewardship from an early age, we are positioning them for success in the green economy of the future.

“By engaging students in our schools at every grade level, Ontario will develop more environmental leaders in the future. We need all our young people aware, involved and taking action to protect our environment and help tackle the challenge of climate change.” – John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment

Quick Facts:

• In 2007-08, 540 schools and education sites in 24 school boards participated in the EcoSchools certification program.
• Last year, more than 925 schools and 29 school boards registered for Earth Hour.

Read more about Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow: a policy framework for environmental education in Ontario schools.

For the second year in a row, Halton is the safest place to live in the GTA and the safest regional municipality in Canada, according to Maclean’s 2009 crime ranking of our nation’s most dangerous cities.

“As police, we’re privileged to work in a region where local residents, municipalities, and business owners want to work collaboratively with us, and they are all keen to do their part to prevent and deter crime,” said Chief Gary Crowell, adding that crime rates can be influenced by many socio-economic factors beyond police control.

“To directly attribute the crime rate in any community, whether positive or negative, solely to the efforts of police would be inaccurate and unfair,” explained Chief Crowell. “What this Maclean’s ranking does do is validate that our officers, civilians, volunteers, local politicians, and community partners are all equally committed to keeping Halton as safe tomorrow as it is today.”

In 2007, the Halton Regional Police Service had 563 uniform and 224 civilian members, and responded to 113,203 calls for service, with a cost per capita for policing of $202.52. The Service is recognized around the world for its excellence in crime prevention and public safety initiatives.

Over the past year, Cst. Sue Bedard won the 2008 International Association of Women Police Award for Excellence in Performance, Sgt. Gary Gold was named the 2008 Crime Stoppers International Coordinator of the Year, and Cst. Al Stennett was honoured with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Lifetime Achievement in Traffic Safety Award.

Maclean’s based its ranking on aggregate results of the 2007 per capita crime rates in six personal and property crimes: murder, sexual assault, aggravated assault, robbery, breaking and entering, and auto theft from the Canadian Centre for Justice Studies.

Open, Free and Fast! Real Estate Pros across Canada are gravitating to PropertyBook.ca the easy to use social website.

PropertyBook.ca is an innovative and capable service for providing and obtaining real estate information by delivering what no other real estate web site has before – a fast, easy-to-use, online real estate listing service.

There is no charge for the service that is geared towards both real estate professionals and individuals.

PropertyBook.ca is a one-stop-shop for all aspects of the real estate market including commercial and residential sales, rentals and leasing. Its powerful combination of comprehensive search capabilities, speed, innovative features and user friendly interface has been enthusiastically received by hundreds of real estate professionals across Canada,resulting in thousands of property listings since going live last September.

The service promotes Real Estate Professionals, offering free home pages and a creative map based Agent Directory. It has no restrictions, allowing others, including property managers, builders, developers and individual owners to add listings in the same high quality format with unlimited photos, text, videos and links. Betsy Eldon of Sutton Group says, “Great tool and exceptional customer service! I love the web related exposure and forms of advertising. Refreshing to deal with the real people behind a website!”

The Web 2.0 startup has now updated the site’s 2008 initial release with revolutionary new features that put powerful tools in the hands of even the most novice user. Anyone with a property to market can take advantage of the sites multi-faceted location-based information.Combine this with area specific marketing, and one can quickly and easily find homes and accommodations countrywide. Businesses can explore commercial opportunities more effectively, and any user has access to local real estate professionals with a focus on their knowledge of specific areas.

“The fact that over 500 professionals are using the site in the first six months indicates we are fulfilling users needs for speed and results.” says John D’Orsay from PropertyBook. “The fact that it’s A LOT faster & FREE makes it appealing!” D’Orsay adds.

PropertyBook is a Canadian company dedicated to providing online real estate listing services that change the way property is marketed.

The Holmes Group is proud to announce the launch of the MIKE HOLMES INSPECTIONS-a full service home inspection company. The pilot project is set to begin in Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph and Cambridge area of Southwestern Ontario.

MIKE HOLMES INSPECTIONS is the direct result of the number of personal emails and letters Mike has received from homeowners dissatisfied with the quality of their home inspections. Thousands of homeowners have purchased flawed homes based on incomplete, inaccurate or incompetent inspections-and these purchases have cost them money and heartache.

MIKE HOLMES INSPECTIONS will offer Essential and Extended Home inspections on resale homes, Energy Audits and Pre-Delivery Inspections on newly built homes. Mike Holmes Approved Inspectors will “Make it Right ^TM“ by providing clients with a comprehensive, high quality and reliable inspection of their home, or potential home. They are experienced, trained, reliable and fully independent professionals who are responsible to the client. Inspections include a thorough visual investigation of the home’s readily accessible features, major systems and their components such as structure, foundation, roof, interior, exterior, heating and ventilation system, electrical, plumbing and more. In addition, inspectors will use the power of infrared, thermal imaging equipment to enhance the inspection. “MIKE HOLMES INSPECTIONS will provide homeowners with the facts, not just an opinion”, says Holmes. “That way homeowners can make an educated decision before they buy their home.”

Mike Holmes, internationally-known as the homeowner’s renovation hero, is host of the award-winning Holmes on Homes ^TM, which has run for 7 successful seasons as HGTV Canada’s No.1 show. Every week Mike uncovers sloppy and dangerous home renovations done by incompetent or dishonest contractors. Then the tears it down and Makes it Right ^TM.

His new series, Holmes in New Orleans, will air as a special broadcast on April 7 and April 8 on Global television, and run as a six-part mini-series on HGTV, starting April 9. This brilliant series documents the construction of the first home in the Make it Right Foundation’s rebuilding of the Lower Ninth Ward. Mike and his team build a home that is LEED Platinum certified, hurricane and flood resistant-right next to where the levee broke during Hurricane Katrina.

Mike is also the author of two successful books-the national bestseller Make it Right—Inside Home Renovation with Canada’s Most Trusted Contractor and Holmes Inspection-Everything you Need to Know Before You Buy or Sell Your Home, as well as a weekly national newspaper column.

At a recent meeting of the Georgetown Arena Task Force (February 18), the Members voted unanimously to end the on-going use of the Memorial Arena, signaling the need to plan for a future replacement.

Many Delegations were heard regarding the need for an arena surface to replace Memorial but not for the keeping of the building itself. It was acknowledged by the Task Force that there is a short-term need to keep the Memorial Arena functioning in the near future, until replacement(s) are established. The poor user effectiveness of a single-pad verses a multi-pad arena; the cost of refurbishing vs replacement; the operating inefficiencies of this arena along with the limited functional value of the undersized surface to the User Groups were all identified as serious deficiencies for Memorial during the seven meetings held to date by the Task Force and led to the Task Force’s conclusion.

Structural Reports indicated the significant refurbishing required. And those Reports along with a tour of the building enabled the Task Force to make an informed decision. It is important to note that Memorial Arena will be maintained as an appropriately functioning arena, until such time as its replacement can be finalized.

The Georgetown Hockey Heritage Council made a presentation endorsing the keeping of a ‘fitting memory’ of Memorial but did not support the maintenance of the current 86 year old structure.

Dave Kentner, Chairman of the Georgetown Hockey Heritage Council stated: “The Georgetown Heritage Council supports the Arena Task Force recommendation to decommission Georgetown Memorial Arena. The Hockey Heritage Council looks forward to being a part of the efforts to create a permanent record of the roll Georgetown Memorial Arena has played in the history of our hockey community.”

“The Georgetown Arena Task Force is appreciative of the position stated by the Georgetown Heritage Council and the many supportive comments made by delegations” said Task Force Chair, Bryan Lewis.

The Task Force now sets out to complete the mandate of the Terms of Reference and conclude, by April 30th, 2009, their recommendations for the number of arenas needed to service Halton Hills.

Halton Hills Gymnastics Centre has continued to produce impressive results at the most recent provincial qualifier held in Oshawa.

The girls showed the following results.

Level 5-Age 9:

• Rachel Detmers – 4th bars, 3rd beam, 4th floor, 3rd overall
• Anna Mazur: 3rd bars,4th beam, 4th overall
• Maya DaSilva :4th bars

Level 5-Age 12/13:

• Anica Chouinard: 5th bars

Level 7-Age 10/11:

• Shannon Daley: 5th vault, 7th floor, 8th overall

Level 7- Age 12/13:

• Rachel Truscott: 8th vault, 7th bars, 5th floor, 8th overall

Level 8- Age 10/11:

• Lauren Rock: 1st vault, 2nd beam, 3rd floor, 2nd overall
• Bridget Irving: 4th vault, 4th beam, 5th overall
• Rachael Karker: 5th vault, 4th bars

Sabrina Leger and Emma Heaps ( Level 5- Age 10-11) also competed in Oshawa.

14 girls competed at qualifiers this season, and the following 10 girls have qualified to go to the Ontario Cup: Anna Mazur, Rachel Detmers, Shannon Daley, Rachel Truscott, Caralyn Hale, Lauren Rock, Bridget Irving, Rachael Karker, Emily Krusky. We wish the girls well in the provincials.

In Budget 2009, our government released our Economic Action Plan for Canada. Part of this plan includes a new Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC). This temporary measure is designed to stimulate growth and encourage investment in improvements to the homes of Canadians. Once the budget passes Parliament, the HRTC will help Canadian homeowners make improvements to their homes while promoting economic activity.

Our government has made it very easy to take advantage of the HRTC. No application is necessary. Simply submit your renovation documentation with your 2009 income tax return. This will result in a tax credit of 15% on expenditures above $1,000 up to $10,000, to a maximum tax credit of $1,350 ($9000 × 15%).

To be eligible, expenditures incurred for a renovation or alteration to an eligible dwelling (or the land that forms part of the eligible dwelling) must be of an enduring nature and integral to the dwelling. Eligible expenditures can include the cost of labour, professional services, building materials, fixtures, rentals and permits. Eligible expenditures must occur after January 27, 2009 and before February 1, 2010 and be supported by acceptable documentation such as agreements, invoices, and receipts. This documentation must clearly identify the type and quantity of goods purchased or services provided, including the following information:

• vendors/contractors name and business address and, their GST number;
• a description of the goods and the date when the goods were purchased;
• the date the goods were delivered (keep your delivery slip as proof);
• a description of the work (including the address of where the work was performed) and the date the work was performed;
• the amount of the invoice; and
• proof of payment.

Examples of projects eligible for the HRTC include:

• the renovation of a kitchen, bathroom, or basement;
• the installation of new carpet or hardwood floors;
• the construction of an addition, deck, fence or retaining wall;
• the purchase of a new furnace or water heater;
• painting of an interior or exterior of a house; and,
• the resurfacing of a driveway or the laying of new sod.

Examples of projects ineligible for the HRTC include:

• the purchase of furniture or appliances, such as refrigerators, stoves or sofas;
• the purchase of tools and carpet cleaning; and,
• maintenance contracts, such as furnace cleaning, snow removal, lawn care or pool cleaning.

More information about the HRTC

For an even bigger payback on your renovation, you may be able to combine the HRTC with grants from our government’s ecoENERGY retrofit program

If you wish to find out more about this new Home Renovation Tax Credit or any other government program, please contact us at chongm@parl.gc.ca or at (866) 878 5556.

Michael Chong is the Member of Parliament for Wellington-Halton Hills and can be reached through his website

Canadian Tire is recalling the Deluxe 12V Heat Seat Cushion manufactured by Elegant. Due to a manufacturing defect, it has been determined the insulation surrounding the heating elements could shift, and in some cases cause the fabric to heat and smolder.

There have been some reported cases of smoldering and as a result customers are asked to discontinue the use of the product immediately. The product can be returned to Canadian Tire for a refund or exchange.

Note that the recall applies only to those manufactured by Elegant from January 2007 to February 2008. This product was manufactured by 2 different vendors. Only the units manufactured by Elegant are being recalled.

How the unit manufactured by Elegant can be identified: UPC CODE: 0 27323 60248 3

Ontario has a range of summer job opportunities for students, through Ontario’s Summer Jobs Programs.

The Summer Jobs Service offers students free self-marketing and job search services, and offers employers a $2-per-hour wage subsidy to encourage them to hire students. These programs are open to students aged 15 to 24 years (up to 29 years for a person with a disability) who are planning to return to school this fall.

“For many people, summer work experiences pave the way to lifelong careers,” said John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. “By helping young people – and employers – connect, we are helping students acquire skills that will stay with them all their lives.”

Through the Summer Jobs (http://www.ontario.ca/summerjobs) programs, working-age students may:

• Search for a job through “Job Connect” agencies
• Improve how they market themselves
• Connect with employers
• Start their own Summer Company
• Work for the Ontario Government

Last year, the McGuinty government helped more than 86,000 young people find employment during the summer break.

• Students work in all employment sectors, including private sector, non-profit, broader public and public sector jobs.
• Through the Ontario Summer Jobs Strategy, the McGuinty government is helping to build the best-educated, best-trained workforce in North America.

Tobacco users in Halton Region can join thousands of people across Ontario in entering The Driven to Quit Challenge. Entrants who quit smoking for the month of March will not only gain a healthier lifestyle, but will also be entered to win a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu hybrid, one of two $5,000 vacation getaways and one of seven $2,000 gift cards to Canadian Tire.

“Halton Region is a proud partner in promoting the Driven to Quit Challenge,” said Gary Carr, Halton Regional Chair. “I encourage smokers to take advantage of this extra incentive. This March, try taking a first step towards a smoke-free lifestyle.”

The Driven to Quit Challenge is a health promotion campaign hosted by the Canadian Cancer Society (Ontario Division), and funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion. All prizes are sponsored by McNeil Consumer Healthcare. Last year, over 26,500 Ontarians were motivated to make a quit attempt through The Driven to Quit Challenge. Close to 1,000 participants in last year’s contest lived in Halton.

“Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death in Ontario,” said Dr. Bob Nosal, Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region. “Smoking is also one of the toughest addictions to break. That’s why challenge entrants and their support buddies are encouraged to obtain additional support while attempting to quit.”

Community services available in Halton to which residents can turn for additional support and counselling, now or any time they are thinking of quitting, include Halton Region’s Stop Smoking Clinics in Milton, Acton and Burlington, available by calling 1-866-442-5866 and the Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333 or www.smokershelpline.ca.

Daily tobacco-users may register at www.driventoquit.ca, by dialling 311 or calling the Halton Region Health Department at 905-825-6000 or Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333. Contest entrants must be age 19 or older. Entrants are required to sign up with a support buddy, who may or may not be a tobacco user. Buddies of winners will each receive a $250 gift card to Canadian Tire. Eligible entrants will be entered into a random draw to take place March 31, 2009. Winners will be urine tested, and their buddies will be consulted to verify their tobacco-free status.

Community leaders and volunteers from the non-profit and voluntary sector, as well as students from Sheridan College, came together to build their leadership capacity at the February 18 Leadership Matters Forum held at Halton Region. Bay Area Leadership, Halton Region, Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions, Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, United Way of Burlington & Greater Hamilton, United Way of Oakville, and Volunteer Halton provided resources and jointly planned the leadership development opportunity.

“Leadership is essential to building strong communities,” said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “We know the non-profit and voluntary sector is an integral part of our community and leadership development for this sector strengthens organizations to help them do what they do best—responding to the needs of the people living in our community.”

The keynote address by Dr. Vince Molinaro, author of The Leadership Gap, provided participants with strategies to bridge their own leadership gap—a gap that prevents many organizations from successfully facing the challenges of today and planning for the opportunities of tomorrow.

“In the non-profit and voluntary sector, building leadership is vital because every leader matters,” says Dr. Molinaro. “In fact, building leadership capacity has become a new organizational capability. That’s just a fancy way of saying that organizations have to get good at building leadership required for their future success. It begins by learning to think about leadership capacity as a business issue. From there, organizations need to implement a disciplined pathway for building leadership for the future.” Following Dr. Molinaro’s keynote address, forum participants attended leadership workshops lead by industry leaders who specialize in leadership best practices. The sessions also provided participants with the opportunity to hear about the ongoing leadership development resources and programs available to Halton organizations.

The workshops covered a wide variety of leadership topics in the areas of personal, organizational and community leadership. Session facilitators provided hands-on tools for addressing today’s leadership challenges, including leading through change, succession planning and evaluation. All sessions shared a common goal—building the leadership capacity of the non-profit and voluntary sector and, in turn, our community. “Halton’s non-profit and voluntary sector touches every aspect of our lives,” says Don McCreesh, Chair, Imagine Canada. “When we build and support strong leadership within our charitable organizations, we, in turn create a sector that is best positioned for change and for opportunity. Our communities are the ultimate winners.”

The forum concluded with a panel discussion on strategies for building a culture of leadership for the Halton community. Panel members included David Collie, President and CEO, Burlington Hydro Electric Inc. and Chair of United Way of Burlington & Greater Hamilton; Larry Duong, Student Council President, Sheridan College; Don McCreesh, Chair, Imagine Canada; and Ann Mulvale, United Way of Oakville Campaign Cabinet Chair.

For more information visit www.halton.ca/leadershipmatters