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6 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday,February 1, 2011 OPINION Storm tips With another `great storm' predicted for the Greater Toronto Area Tuesday/Wednesday it's time for a refresher course in How to Survive a Snowstorm. Frankly, we know this is getting a bit redundant, but there is always someone out there who doesn't understand that snow-covered roads mean it is more difficult to stop a vehicle. Okay, class to refresh: When driving in bad conditions the first rule to follow is: don't drive. If it is at all possible don't venture out on area roads. If you must, make sure you have an emergency road kit that includes an ice scraper and snow brush, jumper cables, flashlight, flares, blanket, extra clothes, candles/matches, bottled water, dry food snacks and needed medication. Also let loved ones know where you are going and what roads you possibly could be using. Other driving tips include making sure your windshield wipers are in good condition, your vehicle's windshield washer fluid tank is topped up, the gas tank is at least half full and your vehicle is in general good working condition. If you do insist on driving, make sure you drive with extra caution and reduce your speed. If you find your vehicle in a skid, steer in the direction of the skid. Again, if it all possible avoid going out in a storm. The Town also reminds residents that Townwide parking prohibition on streets between 2-6 a.m. is in effect until April 15 for nighttime snow-clearing operations. Residents should make sure fire hydrants near their homes are kept clear of snow and residents are reminded shovelling snow onto roadways is in violation of Town bylaws. We also encourage residents to help out neighbours for whom snow shovelling is difficult. Working together we can lessen the impact of a snowstorm. Class dismissed. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier 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) WEB POLL RESULTS A current funding plan would see the Town of Halton Hills go $25 million in debt to finance the construction of three new ice surfaces. As a Halton Hills taxpayer do you support this spending plan? · Yes (32%) · No (68%) Steve Nease Go to www.independentfreepress.com Letters to the editor Readers speak out on hospital funding The following are excerpts of letters received regarding Halton Healthcare Services request of $4.5 million in funding from the Town of Halton Hills for a CT scanner and expansion of Georgetown Hospital's emergency department. Dear editor, J. Knight (Jan. 20 letter, Apply user fees on Peel patients) has hit the nail on the head. I think Peel Region should be asked to help with the funding for the extension at our great hospital. The need for a CT scanner and new waiting room are a musthave as the waiting room for the diagnostic department is the main entrance to the hospital. Let's not be subsidizing Peel patients as they have a brand new facility to look after them. Robert Marshall, Georgetown ··· As seniors on fixed income I don't know how you think we can pay any more taxes. Where in hell do you think we on fixed incomes get all this extra money from? If the hospital needs money let them take pay cuts to find it. We see some of the salaries of hospital administrators, etc. and they could certainly contribute far easier than we can. The answer you are seeking on this issue is a resounding NO WAY. Local development was supposed to help reduce our taxes so why am I now being expected to pay for more arenas and bigger libraries? When are we going to show some fiscal restraint or is this impossible with a council that seems to have no real business experience in financial matters? J. and J. Sanders, Georgetown ··· I recently attended the public meeting held by our Town council to discuss matters related to the local council being asked to fund the expansion of the Georgetown hospital using our property tax dollars. No one disputes that we need to expand the hospital. It must be done. What is amazing is the willingness of our community to allow double taxation to, in fact, pay for a service twice. And worse, to allow this to drain financial resources away from much-needed municipal obligations. Every working person in the town and the province has paid provincial taxes to the Ministry of Health which is mandated to build hospitals for all the people of this province. We should not be asked to pay again through property taxes. If this happens we are setting a dangerous precedent. I, for one, want a serious second opinion on this matter and so should ever single resident of this town. Increased property taxes is not the cure for our ailing hospital. Ken Key, Georgetown ··· Out-of-towners use our hospital, its staff, and our limited resources all because they are too impatient to go to their local hospital. They have a brand new fancy hospital on Bovaird Drive in Brampton-- so use it. The fact they come here to our small town irks me to no end. The past two years in a row, the New Year's babies were both from either Brampton or Mississauga. If I wanted to support hospitals for Brampton or Mississauga patients, I'd move and pay taxes there. Matt Penny, Georgetown Letters to the editor policy Letters must include an address and daytime telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday 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.