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OPINION Have you hugged your doctor lately? If not, you might want to at least give him or her a pat on the back for a job well done, after all it is Halton Physician Appreciation Week. As we all know, good doctors are hard to come by even though Halton Region has been working feverishly (no pun intended) to attract physicians to this area. The Halton Physician Recruitment Initiative was established in 2003 to address this regions shortage of family doctors. To date, more than 60 new family physi- cians have established a practice here. The initiative is a collaborative effort between Halton Region, local municipalities, physicians, senior area hos- pital staff and the community. Each year during Halton Physician Appreciation Week we encourage residents to join us in reflecting on how much we value the doctors who practise within Haltons medical community, said Halton Chair Gary Carr. The regions physician recruitment co-ordinator Angela Sugden Praysner, said retaining doctors in Halton is just as important as recruiting them here. Like everyone else, doctors appreciate knowing that their efforts are recognized. We want them to spread the word to their colleagues that Halton Region is a welcom- ing and rewarding place to live and to practise medicine, said Angela Sugden Praysner. The Province, too, recognizes the urgent need to recruit more family physicians. A centre set up to help foreign-trained medical profes- sionals land a job here recently marked an important milestone. Since the Access Centre for Internationally Educated Health Professionals opened in December 2006, 67 of their International Medical Graduate (IMG) clients have been accepted to a medical residency pro- gram in Ontario. That number is impressive, since many residents in Ontario face a doctor shortage and far too many highly- skilled immigrants are working in menial jobs. People in this province need better access to physi- cians, said George Smitherman, Ontario health minister. We couldnt agree more. As the baby boomers continue to age, the pressure on the provincial health care system will become even greater. Many doctors are looking toward retirement as well, and we suspect that within the next five to 10 years the need for physicians could reach the critical stage. Thanks, doc Steve Nease LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear editor, As a youth of Acton I feel the May 14 editorial Lowest of the low was an unnecessary write-up about an unfortunate event that happened to the Remembrance Park cenotaph and the Fairview Cemetery. I dont mean to downplay the occurrence because it was wrong, but we need to recognize and talk about more positive things youth have done not just the bad. Your article did show recognition and thanks, but only for a few lines. The rest of the piece put youth down, assuming that without proof the recent vandalism had been committed by young adults. I agree the recent events are dis- gusting, but why so quick to assume youth are the hoodlums responsi- ble when it could have been anyone? Choosing to take this position in your editorial diminished the strengths of youth that the International Youth Week supple- ment was meant to portray. We invite you, your writers and your readers to attend Acton Youths Chance for Change in Prospect Park on May 24. This event is planned to celebrate the contributions that youth make to our community each and every day. Tyara Woodrich, committee member, Acton Youths Chance for Change Editorial diminished strength of youths 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. E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1 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) Andrea Lefebvre (alefebvre@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 Something bugging you? What do you think? Below are the results of our most recent online poll. For the current poll go to www.independentfreepress.com Is the high price of gasoline making you alter your normal driving habits (i.e. causing you to drive less)? Yes (77%) No (22%) The Independent & Free Press is published Wednesday and Friday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS 6 Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Dear editor, Would you like it if global warm- ing damages your town? I sure wouldnt. Here are some of the problems that are going to happen. If we dont stop polluting the environment, the seasons would stop changing. If we would stop polluting and clean up the planet the ice caps wouldnt melt and flood the Earth. I think that we should stop polluting because it will ruin the atmosphere and there will just be piles of garbage everywhere. If we stop using greenhouse gases it would stop destroying the ozone layer. If the ozone layer was gone we wouldnt have anything to protect us from the suns rays. Cleaning or replacing your air conditioner filters increases efficien- cy and makes it run in peak condi- tion. Filters can be found along the length of the return duct in walls, ceilings, furnaces, or in the air con- ditioning unit itself. In window units, filters may lie inside of the air conditioner or they may slide out. Planting trees removes carbon from the atmosphere, filters air, and prevents soil erosion. Its best to plant trees native to your area that dont require heavy irrigation. Handle the gas pump with care and avoid topping off. Spilled fuel evaporates and causes air pollution. Also, try to buy gas during cooler times in the day or during evening hours when there is less evaporation. Parents, we are looking up to you to because you have to make the world a better place. Zach De Sousa, Georgetown Youth provides tips on how to save the planet Dear editor, I read with shared despair the arti- cle about Tim DaSilvas BMX Track at Halton Place and shame on the Niagara Escarpment Commission. I cannot believe that this young mans dream will not live on after his death. I have read about the problems that Halton Place has faced with its neigh- bours. With the constrictions of own- ing a country property in these times, living with the NEC and the Greenbelt, it is hard for all of us to be able to use our land and make a living. Maybe Halton Place should be con- verted back to a pig farm instead of a world class equestrian facility. My guess is that the smell and sounds will not be the picturesque countryside the neighbours want either. We all moved to the country for a different lifestyle but we all still live in southern Ontario where we live in fair- ly close proximity to our neighbours. Kudos to Halton Place for keeping up the fight. Diane McFarlane, Acton Shame on NEC for decision on BMX track