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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 18 ,2 02 1 | 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 At our last council meet- ing, Coun. Jane Fogal brought forward a resolu- tion that everyone should take note of. Her resolution requests the Region of Halton delay its final report on its offi- cial plan review until there is proper, in-person, in- formed consultation with the public. Also, it asks the region to suspend the timetable for the conformity to the provincial growth plan and the provincial policy state- ment to ensure the public can fully participate in the process of planning their communities. You see, folks, the plan- ning horizon has been moved out to 2051 by the province. Council must ap- prove plans to accommo- date population to this time. This means designating rural land now to provide housing up to 30 years in the future. We haven't even seen a shovel in the ground for Vi- sion Georgetown to take us to 2031. Your council is be- ing asked to make these de- cisions in the middle of a world pandemic as to how much growth we plan to have to the year 2051, with- out -- in our view -- any proper community consul- tation. Sure, we have Zoom meetings, but they are not the same as having in-per- son conversations. I re- member the last go-around where we were getting over 200 people out to public meetings that were held at Christ the King Secondary School, Gellert Communi- ty Centre and other loca- tions. The province has made significant changes to a number of provincial poli- cies, all aimed to assist the development industry. I chaired a citizen/ council committee that brought in a Halton Hills Charter of Public Engage- ment. Now this is being compromised, as the prov- ince has given marching orders to complete the plan in 2022. Needless to say, council unanimously supported Coun. Fogal's resolution. In other news, council is continuing its advocacy ef- forts for local businesses, calling on the provincial and federal governments to further invest in the Dig- ital Main Street Program. This program assisted local businesses to en- hance their online pres- ence. The pandemic has cer- tainly driven home the fact that this is the world we live in now. Our businesses need our help Rick Bonnette is the Mayor of Halton Hills. Follow him on Twitter @RickBonnette1 and In- stagram @rick_bonnette1. PUBLIC FEEDBACK VITAL TO OUR PLANNING REGION'S OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW REPORT SHOULD BE DELAYED UNTIL PROPER CONSULTATION CAN BE DONE, WRITES RICK BONNETTE Many organizations are enduring financial hard- ship with COVID-19. Many will have to adjust to post-pandemic times, and this could include ceasing to exist. Laurentian University just filed for credit protec- tion. The reasons for this are not likely unique to this institution. Laurentian is located in Sudbury, and its president acknowledged having years of declining enroll- ment because of changing demographics in northern Ontario, recurring deficits and a failed attempt to ex- pand with its Barrie loca- tion. Added to the school's fi- nancial challenge was the 2019 decision by the provin- cial government to reduce tuition fees and freeze those fees for two years. Plus, as a result of persis- tent financial pressures, they had built up debt of $90 million. In summary, changing times meant changing fi- nancial stability. This can happen to any organization. That's normal. It is part of the natural evolution of organizations that can re- sult in restructuring, merging and in some cases ceasing to exist. But this is not a normal period. COVID-19 is the most significant event since the Second World War. Its ripple effect on many aspects of current daily life is significant. Consider COVID-19 a catalyst. The rate of change and evolution has been dramatic. I suspect many of the changes in how we live our lives will be perma- nent. Do I think Laurentian will be operating 10 years from now? Yes. Do I think many other organizations will have to make hard adjustments in the years ahead? Yes. Laurentian's current problems could be a signal of what lies ahead for other organizations. Peter Watson, of Watson Investments MBA, CFP®, R.F.P., CIM®, FCSI offers a weekly financial plan- ning column, 'Dollars & Sense'. He can be contacted through www.watsonin- vestments.com. UNIVERSITY'S HARDSHIP A SIGN OF CHANGING TIMES DIFFICULT CHOICES AHEAD FOR MANY ORGANIZATIONS AMIDST ONGOING PANDEMIC, WRITES PETER WATSON Doves find a resting place amidst snow-covered trees in the Glen. Do you have a great local photo you'd like to share? Send it to sleblanc@metroland.com, along with a brief description. Carolyn Van Hinte photo SNAPSHOT RICK BONNETTE Column SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT THEIFP.CA PETER WATSON Column