The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.independentfreepress.com Editorial......................6 Ted Brown............... 7 Directory .......22, 23 Classifieds ....25, 26 Calendar ...... SL 3, 5 50 Cents (+ GST) Circulation: 22,800 JAGS WIN TITLE Hayden Gasken-Cadwallader leads CtK to football crown SPORTS/LEISURE PG. 1 SONG & RECIPE BOOK Look inside for your favourite carols and some holiday recipes 24-PAGE SECTION 88 Pages Halton Hills' award-winning newspaper THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS THURSDAY, November 25, 2010 Local drivers getting better study shows By LISA TALLYN Staff Writer The driving skills of Halton Hills drivers appear to be improving based on the results of a study released by Allstate Canada. Halton Hills was one of the two most improved communities with a 12.4 per cent decrease in the rate of collisions in Allstate's Ontario Safe Driving Study compared to last year. Guelph was the most improved by 19.4 per cent. Between 2007 and 2010 Halton Hills had four insurance claims per 100 cars placing the town 16th in the study which ranks Ontario communities based on Allstate Canada data. That's up from 24th in the previous study According to the study, Belleville had the lowest frequency of car collisions in all of Ontario, while Brampton had the highest among the 50 communities surveyed with 6.2 collision claims per 100 cars. See ALLSTATE, pg. 3 Region to seek 0% tax hike By CHRISTINA COMMISSO Metroland Media Group Running into winter? Local resident Chris Lawson took advantage of the balmy 14C conditions Tuesday to put in his regular 8.6 km lunch hour run. An all-season runner, Lawson will have to put up with colder temperatures this week and potentially snow flurries Friday. Photo by Ted Brown Halton Region is on a roll. For the second consecutive year-- a year that saw some of the highest capital expenditure on infrastructure-- Halton is looking at a zero per cent tax increase for 2011. While the announcement will formally be made during the December inaugural meeting of council, that cat was let out of the bag early when outgoing Burlington Mayor Cam Jackson mentioned the tax freeze during a committee meeting last week. Regional Chair Gary Carr, who was acclaimed early September, said not having to campaign during the election gave him the time needed to hash out a zero per cent budget with staff. "At the budget direction meeting last July, council asked staff to come GARY in at zero to three per cent (increase). CARR When I was acclaimed, I immediately went back with Pat (Moyle) our CAO and our treasurer and began putting something together." While the budget won't be presented to council for approval until the new year, Carr said he'll be recommending freezing taxes for Regional programs and services. Meaning, if approved, the 2010 trend will continue and there will be no increase next year in property taxes for regional services, which include police, ambulance and regional roads. But the former pro hockey player says he wasn't entirely sure the freeze-streak would continue. The Region's 2010 budget forecasted a 2.6 per cent hike for 2011. See REGION, pg. 9 REFINANCING? PURCHASING? Stop in for Unique Gift Ideas W W W. B E R G S M A S . C A Paint · Lighting · Wall Coverings Window Coverings · Home Decor 3 YEAR VARIABLE. CALL FOR DETAILS. 2.2% BOB WOODS, Broker FSCO #10259 Division of 1490845 Ont. Ltd. GEORGETOWN MARKETPLACE MALL 905-877-4193 (905) 877-1490 360 Guelph St., Georgetown