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14 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, November 17, 2011 A reason to smile Following their week-long Smile Cookie campaign in September, Tim Hortons Georgetown store donated $4,000, the proceeds from the sale of all cookies, to the Halton Chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada. On hand for the recent cheque presentation were (from left) Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada Halton Chapter representatives Greg Skrobar and Penny Weir, Georgetown Tim Hortons owner Mary Walker, and employees Melissa Lane, Julie Korhonen, general manager Peter Brzozowicz, Sarah Dunphy and Tayna Drake. Photo by Ted Brown New minister hears quickly from Bonnette By LISA TALLYN Staff Writer Although he's just getting his feet wet in his new job as Transportation Minister, Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette has already contacted Bob Chiarelli about the potential highway that could be built in the rural area south of Georgetown. "I wanted to get my oar in the water quickly," said Bonnette. The mayor sent a letter to Chiarelli, sworn in as Minister of Transportation, Minister of Infrastructure, on Oct. 20, to ask him to follow through with the previous minister's (Elizabeth Wynne) commitment to further study Alternative 4-3, or better still, put an end to it. "While the Town understands and accepts the need for a GTA West Corridor, the Town adamantly opposes the Alternative 4-3 component as it would dissect and undermine the rural agricultural area of Halton Hills in a very dramatic fashion from the very northeast right down to the very southwest," said Bonnette in his letter. "This area is a very significant rural agricultural area and is one which the Town believes should be preserved for agricultural purposes and particularly for food production for the long term future for the GTA." Bonnette said the Town has had work done and is doing more work to demonstrate that the existing Hwy. 401 Corridor, if built to its maximum potential using an urban standard rather than a rural standard such as in Toronto and Oshawa can meet the need for the GTA West Corridor Transportation system in terms of the 12 lanes required through 2031 and beyond. "The Town believes there are still other alternatives available in addition to the 401 corridor that are better for the GTA West Corridor needs than undermining the rural and agricultural nature of the lands through which Alternative 4-3 would travel." Bonnette asked that there be considerable collaboration with the Town before the next version of the proposed GTA West Corridor Transportation Strategy is released and also offered to meet with Chiarelli.