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OPINION Ontarians vacationing in the United States are dumbfounded to fi nd, when en- tering one of those liquor outlet stores, that a case of beer or a bottle of rum costs about half the price of what they can fi nd at their local Beer Store or LCBO retailer. Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak is looking to capitalize on an op- portunity. A Niagara resident, he has heard complaints about the cost of alcohol in Ontario and how it is more accessible in the United States. Recently, he promised if the Tories win the next election they will cut taxes and privatize the LCBO, a mon- ey-making giant that has turned over $1.6 billion in revenue to the provincial govern- ment, and $13 billion over the last decade. Hudak is treading in an area former Pro- gressive Conservative Leaders Mike Harris and Ernie Eves and former Liberal Pre- mier David Peterson backed away from. All three promised to allow the private sector to get into the liquor business, something the Costcos, Walmarts, and other retail gi- ants are just salivating to pounce on. Despite the superfi cial appeal, privatiz- ing alcohol sales has experienced a mixed bag of success. Alberta allowed the private sector into the game in 1993 and the public lost big time. The provincial government gave up $1.5 billion in revenue, while the cost of beer, wine and hard liquor in Alber- ta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan remain among the highest around. At a time when Ontario is looking to cut its $14.8-billion defi cit, Hudak and the Con- servatives are promising to cut taxes and provide more opportunity to the private sector. Didn't the previous Tory govern- ment make the same promises when they got rid of Hwy. 407 in what is now regarded as a fi re sale? Wasn't that a good deal? The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Edi- torial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Independent & Free Press Sober talk? Steve Nease Letters to the editor Dear editor, I would like to thank The Inde- pendent & Free Press for sharing the good news of the $730,400 that Georgetown Hospital will receive to improve wait times and effec- tiveness of care in the Emergency Department (ED) (Area ER's get Christmas Gift, Dec. 21). I would remind your readers that while this grant will help fund the operating budget for emergency care at Georgetown Hospital, it will not be used towards Investing in Care--Close to Home, the $6.5 million Campaign for Georgetown Hospital. The recent grant is part of Ministry of Health funding for the operating budget of the hospital through the Local Health Integra- tion Network (LHIN). The ED funding will be used to implement initiatives to maximize both the capacity of the Georgetown Hos- pital Emergency Department and patient fl ow through our hospital. The creation of a Rapid Assessment Fast Track (RAFT) area where staff can assess and fast track low acuity patients was one of the initiatives the ministry funding has helped us to achieve in the past, and continue to implement. The Foundation, on the other hand, raises private community support to help pay for specifi c equipment, construction and reno- vation projects. The Foundation does not fund salaries, supplies, pharmaceuticals, or any other ongoing operational expenses of the hospital. Over the past six years the Foundation has been the largest source of funds for medical equip- ment at Georgetown Hospital and the generous donations we receive are easily the largest source of funds for the expansion now under- way to build a new ED and renewed Diagnostic Imaging Department complete with the fi rst CT scanner in Halton Hills. We still have $1.4 million to raise for the Campaign and we are look- ing to everyone in the community to lend a hand in support of Invest- ing in Care-- Close to Home. Our thanks to everyone for their con- tinued support of their community hospital. We can't do it without you! K.C. Carruthers, Executive Director Georgetown Hospital Foundation Letters policy 905-873-0301 Publisher: Dana Robbins General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@theifp.ca) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca) Classifi eds Kristie Pells (classifi ed@theifp.ca) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@theifp.ca) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@theifp.ca) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@theifp.ca) Which of the following do you think will dominate the headlines in Canada in 2013? • The world's economy (63%) • Canadian politics (both provincial and federal) (17%) • None of the above (12%) • Global military confl icts (4%) • Terrorism (4%) • Environmental issues (0%) WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.theifp.ca) ER funds not part of hospital campaign Teacher thanked Letters must include an address and daytime phone 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. Email: jmcghie@theifp.ca Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters to the editor must include an address and daytime phone number. Anonymous letters will not be pub- lished and letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for con- tent and/or length. Please email your letter to: jmcghie@theifp.ca Send a letter Dear editor, To Julia Mounsteven, owner/ballet teacher at Strictly Dance. I feel blessed to have my daughter at- tend your dance studio. What sets your school apart from the rest is what you teach-- respect for self and others. What you teach is to cheer for every- one-- the other team, too. What you teach is caring about each other. What you experience is girls support- ing each other. Children learn what they live. At Strict- ly Dance they learn kindness, respect, dis- cipline, healthy competition and, not the least of all, joy of movement. Thank you Julia for who you are and your integrity, passion and commitment to our daughters. 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