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•Th e IFP• H alton H ills, Thursday, A ugust 14, 2014 7 • your window & door professionals • 341 Guelph St., Unit 3 Georgetown 905.873.0236 www.buy-wise.ca info@buy-wise.ca • awarded readers choice 22 times • Visit our showroom • Truck Accessories • Upholstery • Heavy Equipment Glass •Window Tinting 354 Guelph Street, Georgetown 905-873-1655 We handle all insurance work. Making Digital Work for You! How can it h elp my busin ess? Where can I get help? Is it expensive? Do I need a website? What are the benefits? more than just your community newspaper! Do you have questions about your digital effectiveness? Do you know how to reach customers who don't know you have a website? Are you using social media effectively? Is a video important to your company? We're here to help! We'll show you how to make it ✓Affordable ✓Easy to Use ✓Effective 30-45 minute presentation followed by Q & A Seating is limited, pre-registration required, please call (905) 873-0301 Ask for Cindi Campbell Thur.,August 21st, 2014 • 2:00 pm The Independent and Free Press Office 280 Guelph Street unit 77 Georgetown Ontario (At the back of the mall - close to the Food Court entrance on the outside of the building.) www.theifp.ca COMMENT On the road to clean air Air quality is critical to our health. Research from the Ontario Medical Association concludes that over 9,500 Ontarians die prematurely each year due to smog. During the hot humid days between April and September, air pollution becomes increasingly dangerous to humans, penetrating the lungs and even the blood stream. Although we may not see it or smell it, the build up of air pol- lution affects even the rural residents of Wel- lington County and Hal- ton Hills during the hot summer months. In an effort to protect Canadians against the health effects of pollu- tion, the government of Canada introduced mandatory reductions in emissions to combat pollution and green- house gases in our at- mosphere. As a result of these mandatory reductions, annual emissions of greenhouse gases and pollution have dropped by five per cent, from 737Mt in 2005 to 699Mt in 2012 (the most recent year for which data is available). This drop in emissions is due to a number of actions the federal govern- ment has taken. In 2010, the govern- ment announced new fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars and light trucks. As a result, the average fuel effi- ciency of cars and light trucks sold in Canada will increase 25 per cent by 2016 and 50 per cent by 2025, com- pared to 2008 levels. In 2011, new fuel efficiency stan- dards for heavy trucks were an- nounced. Beginning this year, "big-rig" trucks sold in Canada will see a 23 per cent reduction in emissions by 2018. The transportation sector accounts for a quarter of all annual emissions and is the largest source of emissions in Canada, so these fuel efficiency gains are having a real impact on re- ducing pollution and greenhouse gas- es. These gains are especially notice- able in shopping for a new car. The average vehicle sold today is much more fuel-efficient than vehicles sold as recently as five years ago. In 2012, the government introduced tough regulations to reduce emissions in Canada's coal sector, becoming one of the first major economies to ban the construction of tradi- tional coal-fired electric- ity generation plants. Even though the Cana- dian economy grew about 32 per cent between 2005 and 2012, annual emis- sions have dropped five per cent for the same pe- riod. More impressively, and contrary to popular per- ception, per capita emis- sions in the last several years are at their lowest levels since tracking be- gan in 1990. However, more needs to be done, especially in the area of scientific re- search and development. That is why, on June 4, 2014, the federal govern- ment announced $1.4 million for seven universities across Canada, including the universities of Toronto and Waterloo, to undertake research in combating greenhouse gases and pollution. Through the federal government's continued action, scientists and pol- icy makers are working together to achieve Canada's economy-wide 2020 target of a 17 per cent reduction in emissions from 2005 levels. This will result in reduced pollu- tion and fewer smog days during the hot, humid days of a southern Ontario summer. That's good news for all of us. --Michael Chong is the MP for Wellington-Halton Hills MICHAEL CHONG The way we were Here is an aerial shot of the Beardmore Tannery in 1919 showing why the celebrations in Acton are named the Leathertown Festival. Photo courtesy of the Esquesing Historical Society; text provided by Heritage Halton Hills Industrial roots 'Everyone can be an #Everyday Superhero!' --Sarah Scarlett... see story pg. 13 Zlatko Milenkovic is very proud of his cayenne pep- pers, which grew to be more than a foot long, saying "Everybody says they've never seen such long peppers." Neighbour Rita Bairstow calls them Foot-long Green Hots. Photo by Rita Bairstow Got a photo you want to share? Email: cgamble@theifp.ca. HOT STUFF From our readers 'Quote unquote'