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www.independentfreepress.com Ted Brown............... 7 Sports .................... 13 Directory ...... 16, 17 Calendar ...... 17, 19 Classifieds ... 18, 19 50 Cents (+ GST) Circulation: 22,800 HEALTH CARE Prominent trio find Donated Diet a challenge 8-PAGE SECTION WHEELS.CA Look inside for the latest news and views from the auto world 8-PAGE SECTION 56 Pages Halton Hills' award-winning newspaper THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS THURSDAY, January 13, 2011 Snow is fun for some... not for others Hospital asks Town for $4.5M to fund reno By CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer In what is called an "extraordinary request", Halton Healthcare Services came to Halton Hills council Monday night asking for a $4.546 million contribution to the proposed expansion and renovation of the Georgetown Hospital. The $12.196 million project is required now in order for the 50-year-old hospital to accommodate a new CT scanner, approved but not yet purchased, because they have nowhere to Town put it. "This is quite an extraordibudget calls nary request of town council," for 6.5% said HHS President and CEO hike John Oliver at Monday's coun....see page 4 cil meeting during a 30-minute presentation by hospital board of directors, staff, and doctors. He told council that unless the hospital gets money from the Town, the project won't happen. "It's your decision that is going to trigger this," he said, recognizing that hospitals are usually reliant on provincial money to pay for construction. But Oliver said this is an absolutely urgent project for HHS that must be done now-- not in another decade. He explained it would likely be a seven to eight year wait-- and that's not guaranteed-- before the hospital would get funding from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care on a project of this See TOWN, pg. 3 The recent snowfalls, including the 10 centimetres dumped on us Tuesday/Wednesday, have been a blessing to snow buffs like Jordan Dunec, 3, who was eager to hit the Cedarvale toboggan run. (Left) On the other hand, Ed Wiener of Hillside Drive was among the thousands of residents who were finally forced to fire up their snow blowers Wednesday to clear the driveway. Photos by Ted Brown 7e HANDLE ALL INSURANCE work. Georgetown Volkswagen 203 Guelph Street 9 0 5 . 8 7 7. 5 2 8 5 georgetownvw.com Thinking of buying or selling? sTruck Accessories s5PHOLSTEry s(Eavy %QUIPMENT 'LASS s7INDow 4INTING 354 Guelph Street, Georgetown (905) 873-1655 0.9% Financing up to 24 mo. & 2 year / 40,000 km warranty. Great selection & great value. Dir: 416-991-4247 EFFIEatDIMOU 905-456-1000 at Sales Representative www.georgetownrealty.ca edimou@georgetownrealty.ca at Call Effie Dimou for all your real atneeds. at 905-456-1000 905-456-10 at estate 905-456-1000 Realty Services Inc. Brokerage Independently Owned & Operated SO LD