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6 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, August 17, 2007 OPINION The promised land The official start of the October 10 provincial election actually doesn't begin until next month, but the flurry of announcements, pronouncements and promises heard in recent days from the Liberal government would lead many to believe the campaign is already under way. For example, Premier Dalton McGuinty and his ministers in the past week have promised to: · spend $79 million to plant 50 million trees by 2020 · spend $30 million over three years for an interregional bus terminal in Toronto · spend $309 million in additional education funding over the next two years · build high occupancy vehicle lanes on the QEW between Oakville and Burlington as part of the $88.7 million contract to widen the highway · spend $2 million for an OPP plane and overhead surveillance equipment · spend $30 million to help clean up Hamilton Harbour And those were just some of the promises the Liberals have offered up in the past few days. One can't help but wonder what there will be left for McGuinty to promise when the election writ actually falls Sept. 10 and the campaign begins in earnest. While we have hardly seen eye-to-eye with Sid Ryan, Ontario President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), over the years, we can't help but agree with what he said after McGuinty made his education funding announcement Monday. "Where has the Liberal government been all these years?", asked Ryan. "Why do Ontario families have to wait four years before the Liberals act?" While we're sure the Tories and NDP will soon follow with their pledges and plans to make Ontario better, McGuinty's recent orgy of promises is nothing more than a not-so-veiled attempt at headline-hogging and vote-buying. Ontario voters will be bombarded enough throughout the campaign with party promises, to get such a hefty dose weeks before the campaign starts is simply overkill. History has already shown McGuinty, of all people, should realize the danger in making promises that can't be kept. www.independentfreepress.com Phone: 905-873-0301 Fax: 905-873-0398 Steve Nease STAFF DIRECTORY Publisher Ken Nugent Advertising director Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager Nancy Geissler (distribution@independentfreepress.com) ADVERTISING Advertising co-ordinator Jennifer Christie (jchristie@independentfreepress.com) Retail Sales: Jennifer Spencer (jspencer@independentfreepress.com) Adam Spinney (aspinney@independentfreepress.com) Andrew Key (akey@independentfreepress.com) Amy Sykes (features@independentfreepress.com) Real estate: Sue Spizziri (realestate@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds: Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) ACCOUNTING Rose Marie Gauthier, Michelle Wimmer EDITORIAL Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@independentfreepress.com) PRODUCTION: Mary Lou Foreman, Kevin Powell, Shelli Harrison, Dolores Black, Debbie MacDougall LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Safe driving message lost in `need for speed' Dear editor, How can our governments expect drivers to take their calls for safer driving seriously, when car manufacturers are allowed to design, build, and sell cars which have hundreds of horsepower, and can go several times faster than the speed limit? They are advertised being driven at high speed in an aggressive manner-- just take a look at some of the TV advertising, showing cars drifting sideways, throwing up lots of dust, or racing around corners. Even gasoline is being advertised by a racing car being driven along city streets. Does the government believe that these ads will not affect drivers? We can even buy a lowpowered car and bolt on the extras to increase the power, and this is all legal. Just listen to these cars being driven around Georgetown, with their noisy exhausts making as much noise as possible. The government tells us to pay attention to the road, but they allow us to talk on the phone while we drive-- this is all legal. We are told not to drink while we drive, why then are cars built with cup holders, what are we expected to put in them? Even if we only drink coffee or a soft drink, it distracts us from our driving. As far as I can see, the police are fighting a losing battle trying to keep our roads safe. They get very little support from our governments at all levels. When they start to take this issue seriously, and do something, more than just telling us to `drive safely', then we may see an improvement, but don't hold your breath. Terry Brown, Georgetown Something bugging you? Send us a letter! Letters to the editor must include an address and daytime telephone number. Unsigned letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 200 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1 E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Paper credited with helping pets find homes Dear editor: On behalf the Upper Credit Humane Society, I have to write and thank you yet again for the wonderful exposure you are giving us on Pets Page and in The Independent & Free Press in general. Our feedback has been that people actually look forward to the new articles and one lady even sends them to England! The recent articles which you have run on Trooper and the Trooper Fund are bringing in much needed donations (sad to say we always need more) and the individual dog and cat features usually bring forth a new family for the featured animal. Case in point: Ernie, a lovely serene cat, had been in residence since the end of 2006, although posted on our UCHS website, but once you printed our cat crisis with Ernie as the featured feline on July 27 by the following day Ernie was adopted into a loving home, and had at least five phone calls enquiring about him. We were able to adopt out two other of our residents with the possibility of more to come and all because you were able to feature that particular article. We realize that a community newspaper has to cover so many important happenings in its community and the Upper Credit Humane Society is just one of the many charities you report on. This makes your support even more special and when we see the look in the eyes of these wonderful animals "going home" we know that if they could speak, they would be so grateful for the help you give us on a continuing basis. In sincere appreciation from everyone at UCHS. Judith-Anne Kolu, Volunteer, Media Relations & Promotion UCHS Organizers thanked Dear editor, I want to say thank you to the organizers of the fabulous Homecoming event, and an event it was. It was interesting to look at the maps and see the placing of pins for locations indicating who traveled a great many miles to meet their friends in such a pleasant surrounding. I have never witnessed so many smiles and embraces as I saw while I attended the barbecue. Good feelings permeated the arena and there wasn't a long wait for food-- well done. There was a good loving feeling that is much appreciated in these days. Thank you for all the countless hours of organization and caring. Eileen Sykes, Georgetown THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS The Independent & Free Press is published every Wednesday and Friday at 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown Ont., L7G 4B1. It is one of several newspapers published by Metroland Media Group Ltd. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance for signature will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the acceptable rate. In the event of typographical error advertising goods or services at wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell which may be withdrawn at any time. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. 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