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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, D ec em be r 6, 20 18 | 6 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper 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 WHO WE ARE Publisher Kelly Montague Regional General Manager Steve Foreman Regional Director of Media Holly Chriss Regional Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara Managing Editor Karen Miceli Distribution Representative Iouliana Polar Classified/Real Estate Kristie Pells Regional Production Manager Manuel Garcia Production Shelli Harrison Halton Media General Manager Vicki Dillane CONTACT 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, con- dense or reject letters. Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail lpolar@miltoncana- dianchampion.com or call 905- 234-1019. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT THEIFP.CA EDITORIAL It would seem the Progressive Conservative govern- ment is attempting to spin gold out of straw when it comes to helping the most vulnerable in the province. Soon after taking office, the government announced it was scrapping the basic Income program, a three-year pilot project being conducted in four communities across the province. The program proposed to examine how people living on social assistance could benefit from a guaranteed income. However, after promising during the campaign to continue the program, once in office Premier Doug Ford announced the innovative project would disappear. Add- ing salt to the wound, the government announced social assistance rates would be lower and the proposed in- crease to the minimum wage to $15 on Jan. 1, 2019 would not happen. Those promises to take more away from the less for- tunate became reality recently when the government approved rolling back hard-won labour reforms that had been passed by the previous Liberal government. Now the PCs are offering a revamped social assis- tance program, to as Lisa MacLeod, the minister of chil- dren, community and social services, said will provide a more streamlined approach to how people can access the programs. The changes makes it harder for people to qualify for the Ontario Disability Support Program. The stream- lined service will force people suffering from mental or physical disabilities off the program and will mean they would have to apply for Ontario Works, which provides less financial support. The monthly maximum for disa- bility is $1,169 compared to $733 on social assistance, forcing people to find a job. In defence, the PC govern- ment said it is handling people with severe disabilities "with dignity." There are also further changes to social assistance such as increasing the earnings exemption from $200 a month to $300. The Liberals had proposed $400. Those people on welfare will see their benefits cut from 75 cents for every additional dollar they earn rather than the current 50 cents. It will mean people on social assistance will be- come ineligible sooner. The PCs also touted how they will exempt low-income people from paying taxes, which in their minds will benefit them more than if they earned $15 an hour. But since the majority of people scraping by on precarious work and other minimum-wage jobs barely earn enough to pay rent, food and clothing, they hardly make enough to pay taxes anyway. No doubt the province's social assistance programs are in need of an overhaul. Too many people continue to live below the poverty line, including in Halton. But instead of using a hammer to continue to beat down people who are already bruised and battered, it is time to adopt meaningful programs - such as the basic income project - that would provide some light at the end of a long tunnel out of poverty. DUMPING ON THE DOWNTRODDEN The Geminids Meteor Shower will peak Dec. 13 and 14. It's often known as the best meteor shower of the year. However, frigid tem- peratures discourage many casual observers. It's called the Geminids Meteor Shower because it looks as though shooting stars are coming form the Gemini constellation. This year, you don't have to stay up all night to see the show. You could glimpse a few shooting stars at 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 13, as Gemini rises above the eastern hori- zon. If you wait a little lon- ger, between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., when the crescent moon sets, more shooting stars will be visible. Here are December star- gazing events, which are listed in the Hamilton Ama- teur Astronomers calendar. The 2019 calendar is current- ly on sale and available at the next meeting. Dec. 14: Hamilton Ama- teur Astronomers meeting 7-9:30 p.m, Hamilton Specta- tor, 44 Frid St. Free admissi- on, door prizes and every- body welcome. An optional food bank donation of non- perishable goods will be col- lected and appreciated. Francois van Heerden will discuss how to use video-as- sisted observing for astrono- my public outreach in light- polluted areas. There will al- so be a Christmas Social. Dec. 14: The Moon is near Mars in the evening sky. Dec. 20: The Moon is in the Hyades star cluster. Dec. 21: Winter officially begins with the winter sol- stice at 5:23 p.m. Mercury is also close to Jupiter, low in the morning sky. Dec. 22: The Full Moon is called the Cold Moon. Christmas Eve: The Moon is close to the Beehive star cluster in the evening sky. For more information, see the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers website (ama- teurastronomy.org) or call 905-627-4323. The club offers a basic astronomy course for members. Mario Carr, the author of this report, is the club's director of publicity and can be reached at mario- carr@cogeco.ca or on Twit- ter (@MarioCCarr). DECEMBER'S GEMINIDS METEOR SHOWER CONSIDERED BEST SHOW OF THE YEAR, WRITES MARIO CARR MARIO CARR Column SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT THEIFP.CA OPINION