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Halton Hills grew by 14.7% Census stats confirm Region's growth concerns MELANIE HENNESSEY Special to the IFP Halton Region is using new Census figures that confirm Halton's population is growing by leaps and bounds as a springboard to once again push its Fairness for Halton campaign with the Province. Statistics Canada released information gathered during its 2006 Census Tuesday that reveals Milton's population jumped by 71.4 per cent over the last five years, making it the fastest growing community in Canada. The Census also shows that Halton Hills grew by 14.7 per cent, or 48,184 in 2001 to 55,289 in 2006. Oakville's population grew by 14.4 per cent and Burlington by nine per cent, resulting in a Halton-wide population increase of 17.1 per cent. For Regional Chairman Gary Carr, the statistics and the fact Milton topped the country's growth list reinforce the importance of the campaign for fairness-- the Halton-wide effort that aims to tell the Province the region can't accommodate the thousands of residents called for in the Places to Grow plan without some hefty funding. "They (the Census numbers) justify our concerns that the Province must deliver the financial tools and funding commitments to accommodate this explosive growth," said Carr. "We already have infrastructure deficits in the areas of schools, highways and hospitals from the growth that has occurred over the last five years." As an example, he pointed to Milton's dire need to either expand its hospital or build a new one. "But this issue isn't even on the radar screen at the Ministry of Health, so Milton won't be receiving any money soon for a new hospital that residents need," he said. "Is this fair?" See CENSUS, pg. 5 Between a rock and a high place As part of the pre-March Break fun at Park Public School Brianne McNiven, 9, climbed the wall set up by Inside Outside Edge Inc. The company gave the kids a chance to climb walls, rope ladders and other physical challenges. Photo by Ted Brown