The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

5 | The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,N ovem ber 19,2020 theifp.ca LEATHERTOWN LUMBER www. 264 Main St. N., Acton 519-853-1970 416-601-1259 .ca 25% OFF25% OFF BLACK FRIDAY HEARING AID SALE *A comprehensive hearing assessment is provided to adults ages 19 and older at no cost. The results of this assessment will be communicated verbally to you. If you request a copy of the Audiological Report, a fee will apply. †This limited-time offer applies to private and ADP sales of select advanced and premium hearing aids and is subject to change without notice. For ADP sales, the discount is after the grant is applied. [1] Reward mile value is non-transferable and depends on select models purchased. Please allow 45 days for Miles to be posted to your Collector Account. [2] While quantities last. Free TV Connector offer valid on purchase of select hearing aids. Value cannot be transferred. No substitutes. Some conditions apply. Please see clinic for details. Offers not valid in Quebec. Offer expires 11/30/20. ®™ Trademarks of AM Royalties Limited Partnership used under license by LoyaltyOne, Co. and HearingLife Canada Ltd. 1-877-786-0575 FREE Hearing Tests call to book your appointment or book online: HearingLife.ca/BlackFriday is in your neighbourhood Mention this code: NSP-BKFD-GIFP We offer personalized hearing solutions fitted to your needs. We've earned a 97% satisfaction rate for our safety measures. Over 300 clinics in our network -- we are where you are! Why choose HearingLife? In the spirit of BLACK FRIDAY we are offering 25% off the price of the latest hearing aids.* This advanced rechargable hearing technology can help you make hands-free calls from your smart- phone and stream audio from your phone, stereo, TV, or other Bluetooth-enabled devices. NOVEMBER 16 NOVEMBER 27 price of the latest hearing aids.* GET 1000 Air Miles® RewardMiles with the purchase of select hearing aids1 Watch TV at your own volume level TV Connector kit with purchase of select hearing aids2 Acton 31 Mill Street E. Georgetown 324 Guelph Street When schools across Ontario were shut down back in March there were, as far as we knew, no cases of COVID-19 in the class- room. Today, according to numbers from the Minis- try of Health, roughly 13 per cent of the province's schools have reported at least one confirmed case, but the education system continues to operate, albeit with a number of precau- tions. Stephen Lecce, the On- tario minister of education, was in Halton on Nov. 12 and was asked what the threshold was for a full clo- sure of schools similar to what we experienced earli- er in the year. "For us right now, the overwhelming priority of government and public health is to keep schools open, because that's a so- cial priority of the govern- ment. In our civil society, we need kids to be learning for their mental health, their development ... Pub- lic Health will provide any direction if we need to change course," said Lecce. The minister credited the improvements, the re- solve of staff and health and safety changes for keeping school infection numbers where they cur- rently are. As of Nov. 13, there have been 3,282 school-related cases of COVID-19 in the province. In neighbouring Quebec, infections among students and staff have reached over 10,000. "When you compare to Quebec, for example, we have almost twice the amount of students and 30 per cent more schools and yet ... I believe Quebec has 100 per cent more COVID. So it's a problem and it's a problem for all of us. Public health is providing guid- ance, and we are following it every step of the way and if they provide recommen- dation to change course, we will adopt it. But to date, they're suggesting the pro- tocols are working," said Lecce. NEWS MINISTER OF EDUCATION ON WHEN TO SHUT DOWN SCHOOLS ROLAND CILLIERS rcilliers@metroland.com Minster of Education Stephen Lecce came to Oakville on Nov. 12 and briefly talked about what it would take for a full shutdown of schools. Roland Cilliers/Torstar