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OPINION The first Family Day (ugh!) in Ontario is now just a fond memory and frankly, we think the McGuinty government deserves a pat on the back for instituting this mid-winter break. However, we understand not everyone was happy with this newly-legislated day off. Many retailers bemoaned the fact that another holiday would cut into their profits and/or pro- ductivity and would create other problems since it wasnt a statutory holiday and not everyone would be enjoying the bonus day off. Some groups, such as Metro Toronto police, didnt like the fact their collective bargaining agreement didnt include the holiday (while con- veniently forgetting the fact they get many float days other workers dont) and lobbied hard, but unsuccessfully, to get the day off. Some businesses simply didnt want the extra day off as it meant one less day of generating rev- enue and, with economists estimating the holiday could cost Ontario between $500 million and $2 bil l ion, there is some justif ication that the already-struggling economy didnt need a hit like this. But, were going to go out on a limb here and suggest that the majority of Ontarians were happy to have Family Day (ugh!) off, as it provided a much-needed break in what has turned out to be one dreadfully long and hard winter. The stretch between New Years Day and Good Friday has, for years, been the longest in the cal- endar year without a holiday often more than three months. Surely a day off in mid-February in the dead of winter will not cripple Ontarios economy. If it does, then the provinces financial footing is far more shaky than were led to believe. That said, by the time next years Family Day (ugh!) rolls around it would be better to see a more across-the-board policy developed so that more Ontarians get the benefit of this holiday. And, hopefully, by that time the government can perhaps come up with a better name. Mid-winter break much appreciated 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, In response to the letters pub- lished in the Feb. 13 edition, with regards to snow removal etc., I would like to send a heartfelt thank you to all the people involved in making our travels as safe as time and Mother Natures blasts allow. Can you imagine your entire household jolted awake any time by a ringing phone and then having to go out into a snowstorm? First you have to clear your personal vehicle and driveway before spending the next 12 hours being patient with both the task at hand and impatient people. If the worst thing a snowplow dri- ver does during a shift is forget to turn the salt spinner off when they are stopped, I pat them on the back for not hitting the parked cars that shouldnt be in their way, for not sliding off the steep icy hill, for not sliding through the stop sign or red light and putting people in danger etc. I am pretty sure that the plow blade was down when there was 10 cm of snow on the road. Everyone in my neighbourhood keeps their portion of the sidewalk in exceptional condition under the cir- cumstances. For those who want to get more exercise there are alterna- tives to walking on the streets. From someone who cares what these people do for a living and understand that this is a skilled pro- fession, I thank you for making me feel safe within a timely manner. I thank you for doing a job many would be terrified to do. Most of all I thank you for not taking a snow day! Keep up the great work, hang in there. We will all be complaining about the heat soon enough. Danielle Terry, Georgetown Snow removal crews deserve thanks 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) Katie Borg (kborg@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 6 Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, February 20, 2008 Dear editor, Recently during the day of a bad storm, I had to go into Toronto for an appointment at 8.30 a.m. Hwy. 401 was backed up, so I went through Mississauga, Clarkson, Port Credit and Etobicoke into Toronto. I would like to congratulate the Georgetown snow removal peo- ple. The Georgetown roads were by far the best cleared. There was no evidence of any sidewalk clearing in any of those towns. Those who whine and complain about sidewalk snow removal seem to think that we live in Florida, as they expect our sidewalks to be in the same condition in February as they are in July. Last weekend I visited friends in Oakville. Their street was almost impassable and there was no sign of any sidewalk clearance at all. I lived for 10 years in Montreal and nobody cleared sidewalks on my street . I think those who like to romp and frolic on our sidewalks in the winter should consider buying a treadmill. Steve Melville, Georgetown Snow clearing here better than other municipalities Dear editor, Im at a loss after reading all the kind words (Feb. 13 letters) from all the grateful townsfolk after all this snow we have had. The last time there was this much snow ex- Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman called in the army. I work for the Town. Im one of the men and women who have been working 12-hour shifts back-to-back for better than a week. Im that guy that you throw your shovel at when we try to clear the roads. Im the guy that you kindly salute with a special finger as we go by. Im the guy you yell profanities to while we try to do our job. We have missed sleep, meals, childrens bedtime stories and so much more to try and keep the roads as clear and as safe as we possibly can for you and your families. And at the end of it all we get to go home and shovel out our driveways that we filled in ourselves. So to my brothers and sisters at the Town...THANK YOU. My family and I appreciate you and all your hard work. Brian Magee, Georgetown Snowplow operator appreciates co-workers efforts