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OPINION Library expansion project: At second glance, Mondays announcement that the Town is post- poning the $11.5-million expansion and renova- tion of the Halton Hills Cultural Centre and Library really shouldnt have come as the shock it did. The simple fact is, without a new water source (read: the Big Pipe) Halton Hills cannot handle major home development projects. Without these projects there will be no develop- ment charges and without those charges there is no money available for new facilities. More and more its becoming clear that if residents want more arenas, pools, libraries, etc. they may have to change their view of the dreaded Big Pipe or be ready to absorb heavy, heavy tax hikes. Barber Mill project: For nearly four years Victor Boutin, owner of Everlast Restoration Inc. has been trying to move forward with his plans to restore the former Barber Mill site on River Road. Last week, he announced he has had enough of jumping through bureaucratic hoops and has shelved plans that would have seen a small hotel, shops and a 14-storey condo on the site. While Boutins plans may have been a bit ambitious for the area, one cant help but feel an opportunity has been lost for the Town to rid itself of an eye- sore that has existed for far too long. Terry Fox runs: The annual Canadian Cancer Society fundraisers are set for Sunday at Acton High School (8 a.m.-3 p.m.) and Gellert Community Park from (9 a.m.-2 p.m.). Pledge forms are available at banks, schools, variety stores and various other locations. Make a dona- tion or participate just lend your support to fighting this insidious disease. Election 2007: If you are finding it difficult to get excited about the provincial election at the local level you shouldnt feel bad. When three of the five candidates (Hint: they werent Tories or Liberals) wishing to become the representative for Wellington-Halton Hills dont even bother to pub- licly announce they are running, you know its not an election worth staying awake for. Items in the news... 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 sig- nature 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 ser- vices 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. Price: Store copies 50 each; Subscriptions $26 per year by carrier; $92.50 per year by mail in Canada; $130 per year in all other countries. Plus G.S.T. Second Class Mail Registration Number 6869. The Independent & Free Press is a member of The Canadian Community Newspaper Association and The Ontario Community Newspaper Association. Steve Nease THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear editor, The recent theft of the MacSween Memorial Plaque set a new low behavior standard but we should not really be surprised. For years politicians at all levels of government have been declaring their intention to make Canada/the community better. One must won- der, better for whom? So far, it appears that only criminals, neer- do-wells and politicians have it bet- ter. It is certainly not better for those who work for a living, pay the countrys bills and try to maintain a decent value system. There was a time when Canada was a place of safety, freedom and opportunity. It was made so by peo- ple from many different nations who came together, not for their own selfish, personal gain first, but for the good of the country and society as a whole to ensure safety and security for future generations. When politicians set out to make life better (translate: buy votes) society started to come apart at the seams. Fifty years ago a violent crime committed in Canada sent shock waves across the country. Children played outdoors unsupervised. Courts were not overburdened because people were able to settle their differences in a civilized man- ner. In small towns like Acton and Georgetown few people locked their doors. Now after years of making it better there are daily killings. To keep children safe they must be watched every minute. Our court- rooms are revolving doors overflow- ing with a steady stream of offend- ers. Schools and universities seem to have become unaffordable baby-sit- ting services and places of indoctri- nation where high-tech and social awareness rule and the basic 3Rs are ignored. We must lock our houses, cars and garden sheds and install alarm systems if we want to feel safe. Is this better? Still the country is full of people demanding more social justice! Well for those of you who dont remember, we had social justice to the highest possible degree in Canada before people started mak- ing it better. The old form of social justice didnt revolve around money and political power, it worked on living by a value system, using com- mon sense and enforcing the laws that protected society. Do us a favour: stop trying to make it better. Look at where it began to go wrong and start putting the system back in working order. New laws wont make it better but maybe re-instating and enforcing the old laws will. Eileen Hutcheson, Acton Were not making it better, says reader 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 Something bugging you? 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) 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 STAFF DIRECTORY Send us a letter! Phone: 905-873-0301 Fax: 905-873-0398www.independentfreepress.com Dear editor, Some years ago I wrote to this paper about development in Halton Region outstripping our water sup- ply. I guess the Ontario Municipal Board and whoever else is involved in the approval process either cant do math, or were depending on a miracle to provide the region with additional water supplies. There has been no miracle. Now the talk has switched to bringing in water from filthy Lake Ontario to supply the anticipated development. My question now is, Who pays for this scheme? How about the people who want to develop the land this time and not the existing taxpayer base? It aint gonna happen folks. Were in for double-digit tax hikes real soon. Count on your taxes being at least 50 per cent higher in five years and more than double in 10. Continuing unbridled development of Halton will be a disaster for all of us, including the people who will be moving here. And water is only one part of the problem. Do we continue to keep putting the cart before the horse or do we declare a development moratorium until after the support infrastruc- ture is in place to handle it? Darrel MacCrae Georgetown Huge tax hikes around the corner? 6 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, September 14, 2007