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Pa ge 6 T hu rs da y, S ep te m be r 3 , 2 01 5 - T he IF P - H al to n H ill s - w w w .th ei fp .c a 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 Another hit for democracy 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) Kelli Kosonic (kkosonic@theifp.ca, 905-234-1018) 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. Seemingly gone are the days of the public and media having quite open access to party leaders on the cam- paign trail. The era of whistle-stop campaigning and milling with the public at local stumping sessions or holding court with local and national reporters seems more and more something that belongs to yesteryear. With new and legitimate security issues, different campaign travel and scheduling than in the past, as well as new tech-based ways to connect with voters and the public, this change was going to come to a certain degree. However, a huge part of this is also strategic. It's a tactic to control the message and to reduce political risk. As Wilfrid Laurier University professor of digital media and journalism, Simon Kiss, suggested days ago, many candidates-- right down to the local level-- are opting to avoid mainstream media and even inquisi- tive voters by using tools such as emailing and website bulletins "simply because it's safer." The tactic that involves being less available for open public events and for open-ended or even single-sub- ject media interviews reduces risk for these vote-seek- ers of being off their party message or somehow being or appearing unready for work as a member of Parliament. There's likely no reversing this trend because infor- mation-control politics is the new norm. And, that's too bad. These changes may make campaigning safer, more efficient and less politically risky for parties and candidates. But it's lousy for democracy. It reduces the chance of voters to get to know candi- dates and parties more richly and to see vote-seekers try to connect with the public and comment on the spot about varied matters of potential voter interest. Being an elected democratic official should come with an obligation to serve and to engage with a range of constituents -- very much including those with varying political views. It should also come with a belief of support for, or at least tolerance of, engaging with the fourth estate, so journalists might work to richly explore policy and political stories of importance and help keep government transparent and responsi- ble. Those seeking to become a democratically elected leader should reveal an openness to accept these things as well. Democratic campaigns should be about meeting people, discussing issues openly and trying to win respect and electoral support. OPINION Beware of monster homes going up through- out our community, most recently on Churchill Cres. What is concerning is that they are al- lowed to be built without the feedback from the neighbourhood or community in gen- eral. These monstrosities are an eye sore and I have to ask the question why are they al- lowed to be built? These houses do not meet the esthetics of the street or neighbourhood that defines our beautiful town. Never mind aspects like taking away sun- shine from their next door neighbours. They appear so close to the property line that the over hang from the roof can impede on the property bordering them. Where is the rationale from a planning prospective and how is this allowed? Is it that a monster home garners more property tax and thus the town would look at this from a financial standpoint? I would like to think not, but it brings to mind the Vision Georgetown workshops I have had the plea- Monster homes ruin town sure in attending. The Vision Georgetown workshops ad- dresses the planning for a new community which will be an extension to Georgetown. The workshops are well organized and informative and they encourage feedback and dialogue along the way. The Halton Hills councillors are very visible in these work- shops as is our exceptional Mayor Rick Bon- nette. The workshop's main objective is (and I quote) "The Vision Georgetown commu- nity is an inspiring new urban community; distinctive in the way it looks and functions, fostering healthy lifestyles, neighbourliness, economic prosperity, and local pride. It is a resilient, sustainable, complete, and compact community, with a thriving natural heritage system. It feels like a small Town and is physically connected to the broader com- munity of Georgetown and the Town of Hal- ton Hills. It honours the rich heritage of the Town, emphasizes people, and provides choices for day-to-day living. Overall, the Vision Georgetown commu- nity is an exceptional, forward thinking and innovative model for new community devel- opment". Now are these monster homes not the antithesis to the Vision Georgetown commu- nity? Or we can just demolish our beautiful bungalows and build monster homes and we can call our beautiful small town Vancouver. Let's walk the talk on our vision town councillors as it pertains to our entire com- munity. Mr. Mayor we need you to weigh in on this to ensure we continue to be the beautiful community we have grown accustomed to. Harry Wicken, Georgetown Letters must include the author's name, address and daytime phone num- ber. 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: cgamble@theifp.ca Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 77, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters policy Wrong email address Due to incorrect information supplied to The IFP, a wrong email address was printed in the letter, 'Kindness and generosity outweight low- life behaviour,' Aug. 20. The correct email ad- dress is stolenbmxbike@yahoo.ca