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OPINION If there is one word you will hear often in 2008 it will be this: growth. Whether it be on the local, regional or provincial front, growth and how to accommodate it and pay for it will be front and centre. Halton Hills, as Mayor Rick Bonnette indicated last month in his yearly Christmas address, is at a cross- roads. Both the Province and Halton Region will be looking at our town to accept its share of an anticipat- ed increase in population in coming years, yet the town is facing a water shortage that has already forced the cancellation of one major project (the library expansion). We predict the Region will pressure Halton Hills to take a long, hard look at accepting the dreaded Big Pipe an option the Town has balked at for years in an effort to ease its development crisis. Meanwhile, regional politicians will continue with their Fairness For Halton campaign in a bid to get Queens Park to offer up cash to help with the imple- mentation of the provinces Places to Grow Plan. We predict the McGuinty Liberals will continue to turn a deaf ear to Halton. Other predictions for 2008: The provincial government will push through leg- islation banning people from smoking in cars when children are present even though a year ago it said it had no intention of going down that road. John Tory will step down as provincial Progressive Conservative party leader...but it wont be his choice. Canadians will head to the polls for a federal elec- tion campaign as Stephen Harpers government has far outlived the usual 18-month lifespan for a minority government. Canadians will sometime this year elect... another minority Conservative government. The Canadian dollar will remain at or near par with the U.S. greenback but wont hit the $1.10 mark again. Disgraced media mogul Conrad Black will ask if his prison jumpsuit comes with pleats when he begins doing time in a few weeks. Things to look for in 2008 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, Re: Government on the wrong side of history (letter to the editor Dec. 14). Typically, and unfortunately, the common method of addressing the extremely complicated and politically charged issue of global warming is to spout incoherent data and instill fear of the unknown. It should come as no surprise that Alberta, Ontario, in fact the whole of Canada, will have a minimal contribution in affecting global CO2 levels. Thats a fact. So, why all the fuss? Politics aside, we have money. Kyoto was about wealth redistribution (read: hard caps) pending the developing nations alignment with the devel- oped nations. To truly address global pollution, the next protocol must be about bringing the developing nations, specifically China and India, as well as the U.S., to the table. At that point, real discussions on the true environ- mental and economic impacts can be addressed. Environment Minister John Baird is absolutely doing the right thing by insisting on global inclusion to a global issue. True leadership on the world stage was evident in Bali and Canadians are impressed. Gary Cannon, Georgetown Baird showed leadership at Bali forum 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) Brendan Louth (blouth@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 McEachern 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, I am writing to you regarding the notice for a special meeting put in your paper today by the Georgetown Baseball Association (GBA). I would like to let all parents of GBA players know that this meet- ing was requested by a group of parents to address the unacceptable financial report that was put forth at the annual general meeting in October, as well as the fate of house league for the upcoming year. To the best of my knowledge, no one has yet filled the position of Director of House League for the GBA, which leaves those of us with children in house league wondering if the program will run this year. These are the reasons that this meeting has been requested. It is extremely important that all members of the GBA be informed of this meeting, and plan to attend if possible. The fate of this long-standing program is at stake, and the people running the GBA need to be held accountable for their actions. Regardless of whether you are a parent of a rep or house league player, you should attend this meeting which is to be held at the Georgetown police station on Wednesday, January 9 at 8 p.m. Hope to see you there. Marnie Carey, Georgetown Parents urged to attend baseball meeting Dear editor, I am writing to show my appreci- ation and to thank all those who came to the cottage to view and pur- chase work at the recent Credit Valley Artisans Christmas Show. Thanks, too, to The Independent & Free Press for your support in publi- cizing our event and helping to make it the success it was. We wish to acknowledge and give thanks to Tonys Esso Station for posting our banner, Youngs Pharmacy for the window space for our display, Currys Artist Materials for the bags, and all the stores and businesses that displayed our flyers. Congratulations to Deborah Keefe, Joanne Searle, Helen McLaughlin, and Evelyn Malone. These were the winners of the fundraising raffle which was drawn on November 25. Our thanks to all those, who bought tickets but were unlucky this time. Your ticket purchases help fund the activities of the four guilds of the Credit Valley Artisans whose members produced the wonderful array of artwork displayed for sale during this two-day event. Frank Anthony, Sales Committee , Credit Valley Artisans, Georgetown Artisans say thanks 6 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, January 4, 2008