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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, N ov em be r 5, 20 20 | 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 70 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 Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara Managing Editor Karen Miceli Distribution Representative Iouliana Polar Real Estate Kristie Pells Regional Production Manager Manuel Garcia Halton Media General Manager Jason Pehora CONTACT US The Independent & Free Press 280 Guelph Street, Unit 77 Georgetown, ON L7G 4B1 Phone: 905-873-0301 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-873-0398 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at theifp.ca Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail lpolar@miltoncanadianchampion.com or call 905-234-1019. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT THEIFP.CA On Remembrance Day, Halton residents and Cana- dians across the country will honour our nation's veterans for the great sac- rifices they made in ser- vice. Although we are not gathering physically this year, it's important that we continue to recognize Can- ada's veterans. Throughout history, Ca- nadian soldiers have brave- ly protected our rights and freedoms. Their efforts have helped protect civilians around the world, and they ensured freedom and secu- rity for Canadians at home. On Remembrance Day, we remember these sol- diers and all those who gave their lives in the First and Second World War, Ko- rean War and the war in Af- ghanistan, as well as in on- going peacekeeping missi- ons and exercises. This year, we also recog- nize 75 years since the end of the Second World War and remember the sacrific- es made during this time. Today, current members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) continue to bring aid to areas in con- flict, in addition to provid- ing support during times of crisis at home. In 2020, the CAF provid- ed essential support for Ca- nadians during the CO- VID-19 pandemic. At the Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, Ont., members of the CAF and the Canadian Red Cross helped care for repatriated Canadians re- turning from high-risk lo- cations as they quaran- tined on the base. Members of the CAF al- so supported residents in long-term care homes in Quebec and Ontario by providing essential assis- tance with operations, co- ordinating medical care and supporting staff and residents. We are grateful for their efforts and dedica- tion to keeping Canadians safe and healthy during the pandemic. On Nov. 11, we will ho- nour and recognize the ser- vice of Canada's veterans, and we will never forget the price they paid so we could build the strong, in- clusive and peaceful soci- ety. I encourage you to wear your poppy to honour the bravery of Canada's Armed Forces, both past and pre- sent. To find a location that's safely selling poppies dur- ing COVID-19, or to pur- chase a non-medical mask or other items from the Royal Canadian Legion's online Poppy Store in sup- port of Canada's veterans, please visit www.legion.ca. Thank you to our veter- ans and soldiers for help- ing keep Halton a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire. Gary Carr is regional chair of Halton Region. To contact him, email gary.carr@halton.ca. TIME TO HONOUR CANADA'S HEROES WE MUST CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE OUR VETERANS' SERVICE AND SACRIFICE, WRITES GARY CARR Things you purchase are often priced in a man- ner that is too good to re- sist. That is a significant fi- nancial risk. Buying a car is a perfect example. Assume you are in the market and find a car you like, and the selling price is $35,000. Perfect, except for one thing. You do not have $35,000. You know that and so does the company trying to sell you the car. This is where our mod- ern world of commerce is quite creative. The sticker price is too high; however, the monthly payments seem much more reasonable. Considering what the cost is every two weeks and suddenly, the idea of buy- ing a new car seems like a bargain. The fact that you al- ready own a perfectly good car that has many years left is not a consideration. A bargain is hard to resist. This type of pricing log- ic on cars, the newest and latest cellphone, and hun- dreds of other things that you can purchase, is the equivalent of a financial sinkhole. Often what you pur- chased was not necessary or there were less expen- sive options. Financial planners of- ten encourage clients to use a monthly purchase plan to their long-term benefit. Not to the advan- tage of the company that wants to sell you some- thing. Each month, an amount of money is automatically taken from your bank ac- count and invested. That money can com- pound and grow and even- tually be used, for example, to assist with the post-sec- ondary education of your children or plan for a finan- cially comfortable retire- ment. Beware of the tempta- tion of building up monthly payment obligations that could harm your financial security. Peter Watson, MBA, CFP®, R.F.P., CIM®, FCSI, of Watson Invest- ments offers a weekly fi- nancial planning column, Dollars & Sense. He can be contacted through www.watsoninvestment- s.com. BEWARE OF THE FINANCIAL SINKHOLE PETER WATSON Column GARY CARR Column SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT THEIFP.CA