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Cash from province slashes town tax hike-- by $4 A last-minute windfall from the provincial government has dropped the 2006 tax hike from 5.1 per cent to 4.7 per cent. Halton Hills council approved the 2006 operating and capital budget and capital forecast at Monday's meeting. Late last week, the Town received word from the provincial government, it would get $82,000 under the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund. The cash drops the proposed tax hike of $51 for a home assessed at $300,000 to $47-- a 4.7 per cent increase over last year's budget. The total Town, Region and Education 26% Region 43% Education tax increase is $97-- a 3 per cent hike. A homeowner with a home assessed at $300,000 will be paying $3,364 in Town 31% taxes ($1,049 in Town taxes, $1,427 in Region taxes and $888 in Education). Instead of lowering the tax hike, Ward 3 Councillor Mike Davis attempt- ed to spend the $82,000 on a new program-- Monday openings at the Georgetown branch library. But he was forced to withdraw his motion after not even getting a seconder willing to support his cause. "The library (Monday) opening issue should come back when the new library opens (in 2010)," said Councillor Ron Chatten. "Five point one to 4.7 (per cent) isn't huge but it's a pretty strong statement that we're below five and I think the community will appreciate that," he added. --By Cynthia Gamble, staff writer Local MP Chong joins Harper's inner circle Continued from pg. 1 As Minister of Sport, Chong will have responsibilities for Sport Canada which supports the development of the Canadian sport system to strengthen the unique contribution that sport makes to Canadian identity, culture and society. Intergovernmental Affairs is part of the Privy Council Office and deals with policy in such areas as federal-provincial territorial relations, aboriginal affairs and the evolution of federation. Garth Turner was the last MP serving the area (Halton-Peel) to hold a cabinet post. Turner, currently the MP for Halton, served a short stint as Revenue Minister under Prime Minister Kim Campbell from June to November 1993. Prior to Turner, former Brampton-Georgetown MP John McDermid held junior cabinet positions from 1988-93 under former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Halton Hills council offered its congratulations to Chong at its meeting Monday night. "This speaks volumes of this young man and his endeavours. It doesn't matter which political stripes you belong to, I think it's quite a feat at his age to be a rising star that is being recognized," said Mayor Rick Bonnette. --By Lisa Tallyn and Cynthia Gamble, staff writers New doctor plans to open practice in Acton this fall The doctor shortage situation in Acton will improve slightly this year with the opening of a new family physician practice. Dr. Dhanya Jayalath will open a full-time family practice in Acton in September, it was announced Friday by Regional Chairman Joyce Savoline and Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette. Jayalath, the 13th physician to locate in Halton Hills since Halton's physician recruitment initiative was established in 2003, is a family medicine resident due to complete her training at the University of Western Ontario in July. She will join Dr. McWilliam and Dr. Alshakarji at the Acton Medical Clinic and will apply for hospital privileges at Georgetown Hospital. Jayalath learned of the opportunities for physicians in Halton through Halton's Physician Recruitment co-ordinator during a recruitment tour at the university last fall. She visited Halton Hills last October where she met with local physicians, toured the Georgetown Hospital and was shown around the community. "This is terrific news for the Town of Halton Hills," said Bonnette of Jayalath's decision to practice in town. "This is the best of both worlds-- a doctor locating in Acton and taking hospital privileges. This is exactly what we need." Jayalth said she is looking forward to practising in a town where there is a need for more physicians. "I'm happy to be helping to alleviate the situation in this under-serviced community," said Jayalath. "My family is very excited and we would like to thank everyone for the warm reception and assistance that we have already received." Even with the addition of Jayalath in Acton, Halton Hills still remains under-serviced, and five more doctors are needed to change that status. The Ministry of Health does not specifically address the need in Acton or Georgetown, however, Halton's Physician Recruitment Co-ordinator Angela Sugden-Praysner, stressed Acton is most in need of additional doctors. --By Lisa Tallyn, staff writer Top milk man At the annual general meeting of the Halton Milk Producers Association, Limehouse dairy farmer Rob Linham was recognized for his farm's outstanding milk quality with the presentation of the Certificate of Excellence and a gift certificate for having the top quality milk in Halton. Ida Khalife of CIBC Milton (sponsors of the award) presented the award to Linham, who has won it three years in a row. Photo by Ted Brown Volunteer parent treasurer charged after $30,000 stolen from three schools A former volunteer treasurer of three north Halton school councils, including one at Stewarttown School, is facing charges after $30,000 went missing from the accounts of the three schools. Halton Police report they began an investigation following a complaint by the Halton District School Board that irregularities had been discovered in the accounting practices of a parent serving as the volunteer treasurer from Nov. 2002 to March 2005 of school councils at Stewarttown Public School in Georgetown and J.M. Denyes and W.I. Dick Schools in Milton. Charged with three counts of theft over $5,000 and utter a forged document is Brenda Darlene Pickering, 43, of Fourth Line, Halton Hills. She is to appear in Burlington Provincial Court on February 22.