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Pa ge 6 T hu rs da y, Ju ly 2 , 2 01 5 - T he IF P - H al to n H ill s - w w w .th ei fp .c a It is easy to see why the federal govern- ment needs to work with municipalities and debate municipal issues. Municipali- ties receive eight cents of the tax dollar and own over 60% of all the roads, bridges, wa- ter and waste water infrastructure in the country. We need the federal government to partner with our communities to fund transit to reduce gridlock, work on afford- able housing, community safety and infra- structure that will ultimately improve our quality of life. We want to live and raise our families in vibrant and healthy communities. We care about our economy prospering and jobs being created. We believe everyone deserves to have a roof over their head. We want to protect our environment and believe that clean water should not be a challenge for any community in a coun- try like ours. We value the safety of our neighbour- hoods. And we know that, as a country, we can be leaders on the international stage and that we all benefit from connecting globally. These are goals that transcend jurisdic- tion and partisan differences and warrant debate on how we can achieve them. This fall's federal election will be hard The Independent & Free Press is published 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. The Independent & Free Press is a member of the Ontario Press Coun- cil, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For additional information or to file a complaint, contact info@ ontpress.com or call 416-340-1981. The Independent & Free Press Thank you Letters to the editor 905-873-0301 Publisher: Dana Robbins General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca, 905-234-1011) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca, 905-234-1012) Managing editor: Chris Vernon (cvernon@metroland.com, 905-234-1020) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca, 905-234-1019) Classifieds/Real Estate Kristie Pells (realestate@theifp.ca, 905-234-1016) Advertising Sales Jenny Hawkins (jhawkins@theifp.ca, 905-234-1014) Jennifer Spencer (jspencer@theifp.ca, 905-234-1013) Rachael Scutt (rscutt@theifp.ca, 905-234-1015) Classified Call Centre 1-800-263-6480, Fax 1-866-299-1499 classifieds@metroland.com Accounting 1-866-773-6575 Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca, 905-234-1021) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/photographer (emaher@theifp.ca, 905-234-1023) Composing Shelli Harrison (sharrison@theifp.ca 905-234-1017) Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox by signing up for our twice weekly electronic newsletter. Go to www.theifp.ca and click on 'Newsletter sign-up' at the bottom of the homepage. Start the debate now on issues that affect all of us Yesterday (Wednesday), Halton Hills cele- brated Canada's 148th birthday with events in Glen Williams, Acton and Norval. It was a time of fun, friendship and making memories. Without the year-long planning by organiza- tions such as the Glen Town Hall Board Canada Day committee, the Acton BIA, Norval United Church and Acton Fire Fighters Association, plus the aid of service organizations, commu- nity groups, churches and even schools, these events would not happen. Think about it-- Canada Day, without the noon day parade and rubber ducky race in Glen Wiliams, without the entertainment in the park or the fireworks whistling over Fairy Lake. No, it's not something to even contemplate. We thank all the volunteers who spend count- less hours, not only throughout the year, but also on Canada Day to provide such a memo- rable day for us all. Bravo to you all. In early June, nearly 2,000 fellow Mayors and municipal leaders met from all across Canada, from small municipalities to Can- ada's largest cities, and made a united call for a federal leaders' debate on the issues Canadians face in their day-to-day lives. Issues like how to create jobs, make housing more affordable, reduce green- house gas emissions and keep our com- munities safe. These issues are not just lo- cal issues, they are national issues. They are national because they are common to cities and communities from coast to coast to coast. And they are na- tional because the measure of a strong Canada lies in the strength of our home- towns. That is why I am joining voices with other Mayors and municipal leaders from across the country to call on the federal party leaders to hold a debate on how we can work better together as levels of gov- ernment on common goals. OPINION fought. I would like to hear the federal par- ty leaders share their vision for cities and communities. How, if Prime Minister, their govern- ment would partner with municipalities to create jobs and drive growth? Or address local, national and interna- tional challenges like increasing trade and investment and climate change? How will they work with us to make Halton Hills and all of Halton Region more livable, safer and greener? Some of the party leaders have already agreed to a debate but we need to highlight why this is needed. Visit http://hometownproud.fcm.ca/ and sign the petition. We need to be asking the candidates of all the parties where they stand on munici- pal issues. Today's communities are tomorrow's Canada. The debate starts here; where our potential as a country lives, works, plays and dreams. Clark Somerville Halton Hills Wards 1&2 Regional Councillor 1st Vice-President Federation of Canadian Municipalities Let's bike to the moon together As summer official kicks off, we remind every- one to sign up for the Halton Hills Community Bike Challenge. The theme for this year's theme is 384,000kms-- Reach for the Moon. Residents simply have to sign up at the website and then re- cord their summer riding kilometrage. The goal is 384,000-- the distance to the moon-- and since its launch in April, close to 117,000 kms has been recorded by 652 Halton Hills residents. The Challenge is open to residents of ages and riding abilities-- and it's free. Once the goal is met, $61,000 will be donated to the Georgetown Hospital Foundation by Mat- tamy Homes' Peter Gilgan Foundation ($25,000), Canadian Tire ($20,000), PWC EpicTour Hal- ton ($5,000), Georgetown Terminal Warehouse ($5,000), Superior Glove Works ($2,500), Ollies's Cycle and Ski ($1,000), Young Denistry ($1,000), HealthSpan Wellness ($500) and Betty D'Oliveria Realtor Royal LePage ($500). So just grab a bike and go have fun. And don't forget to register your kilometres at www. haltonhillsbikechallenge.ca