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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, F eb ru ar y 22 ,2 01 8 | 6 The Georgetown Independent & Free Press, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corpora- tion. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. The Independent & Free Press is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@theifp.ca IndependentAndFreePress @IFP_11 ABOUT US The Independent & Free Press 280 Guelph Street, Unit 77 Georgetown, ON L7G 4B1 Phone: 905-873-0301 Classifieds: 905-234-1016 Fax: 905-873-0398 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 200 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail ssoles@metroland.com or call 905-234-1019. CONTACT US Publisher Neil Oliver General Manager Steve Foreman Retail Advertising Manager Cindi Campbell Regional Managing Editor Chris Vernon Regional Managing Digital Editor Robyn Wilkinson Distribution Representative Iouliana Polar Classified/Real Estate Kristie Pells Regional Production Manager Manuel Garcia Production Shelli Harrison WHO WE ARE OPINION • EDITORIAL • • LETTERS & COMMENTARY • Toronto started the new year with a certain comfort. For the first time in recent memory, voters in the 416 area code were facing an unlikely feast - at least in the provincial election. The governing Liberals, unpopular as their leader Kathleen Wynne has become, seemed to be offering a direction that was decidedly urban-focused and politically progressive: a higher minimum wage, policies to cool the unaffordable housing market for renters and homebuyers, and investment in both public housing and public transit. The Progressive Conservatives gathered behind their leader Patrick Brown offered an agenda not all that different, at least in its direction. Brown's PCs would have undone very little of what the Liberals had provid- ed, and also offer up an ambitious boost to public transit infrastructure in this city. The future looked rosy, whichever of the two leading parties won the June election for we Torontonians. As it turns out, Toronto shouldn't have gotten too comfortable. The momentum of the #MeToo movement recently carried Brown swiftly from the Tory leader- ship, over allegations of sexual improprieties and pos- sible assault, leaving not only the party in disarray, but also raising a question about just what sort of party platform will emerge over the next four months. There is an excellent chance that the platform won't change. Interim leader Vic Fedeli has made it clear that the policy book stands, and indeed it would be a monu- mental risk to change a researched and costed platform for any party this close to an election - let alone one that is in such public disarray as the PCs. But an excellent chance is still a chance, and once a new leader is selected, the odds could change. It is for instance difficult to imagine Doug Ford, the red-meat conservative former councillor and brother to the late mayor Rob Ford, embracing this centrist agenda whole cloth, or even in part. It is, after all, the agenda assem- bled by the "elites" within the party, against whom Ford railed as he launched his first-out-the-gate campaign in late January. If that elite platform does change to something fur- ther to the right, then Toronto voters will have a more dramatic choice than the one facing them earlier this year which, for many, might have simply been a referen- dum on Kathleen Wynne's unpopular leadership and the long-in-tooth Liberals' very blemished tenure. Having that choice may not be a bad thing. But it sure won't make for a comfortable spring. Provincial election could get uncomfortable Pink Pyjama Party a success The tenth annual Our Sister's Pink Pyjama Party was held on Jan. 19 at Nash- ville North with more than 500 women in attendance. This fundraiser has raised more than $90,000 over the past 10 years in support of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Cancer Assistance Ser- vices of Halton Hills (CAShh). Event organizers Julie Liddle and Alyson Findlay would like to thank all of the women who have come out to support the event over the years, as well as Nashville North, Genera- tions Physiotherapy Cen- tre, Allison Clark Photog- raphy, Lori Martin, and all of the local businesses that generously donated. Special thanks to Rober- ta Kent and her team for starting this awesome event 10 years ago, and to all of the amazing volun- teers who have helped this great tradition continue. Julie Liddle, Alyson Findlay Minimum wage increase long overdue Regardless of what you think about Wynne, the minimum wage increase was long overdue and the tactics used by Tim Hor- tons are inexcusable forms of bullying. Most businesses that are employing minimum wage workers in Ontario are big businesses. Many of them, like Tim Hortons, are raking in billions of dollars in profits. The CEO of Tim Hortons' parent company, RBI, made $8,183,504 last year and Tim Hortons generated $3 bil- lion US in revenue for RBI. To own a Tim Hortons, any potential franchise owner needs a net worth of at least $1.5 million. Mean- while, when minimum wage workers were work- ing full-time last year, they were still living below the poverty line. So I say Tim Hortons is a bully. Navi Aujla Aboriginals deserve better Indulge me please. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promises to give indigenous people more rights. They already have more rights than I do. We (Cana- dian taxpayers) have spent billions on indigenous peo- ple over the last few years alone, and yet many still live in poverty. What is wrong with this system? Politicians live in splendour while aborigi- nals suffer. I am sick and tired of un- fairness and incompe- tence. Ian Fairley Letters to the Editor See what our readers are saying about the issues that matter to them. www.theifp.ca/letters