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THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2005 THE NEW TANNER - GRAPEVINE NEW PUB A change in ownership means a change in name and menu for the former Tanners Restaurant, now known as Tanners Pub and Grill. New manager Andrea Clark said chef Rob Watkinson, one of four partners, is returning to England with his young family, and that has meant some changes. "We're more pub style with a big bar at the front and we added a deep fryer, so we have our regular menu as well light pub fare," Clark said, adding the grand opening is sched- uled for St. Patrick's Day. TAX HELP Low-income earners can have their taxes done for free at the Georgetown library, thanks to volunteers from the local branch of the Institute of Ghartered Ac- countants. The service is for people with household incomes of $15,000 without dependents, and $22,500 with dependents. The March 16 and 17 clinics are by appointment only, between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. People can register in person at the Church Street library, or by calling 905-873-2681, extension Zot. Library spokesman Lloyd Duke said they tried to establish a similar program in Acton this year, but, so far, haven't found a chartered accounting firm willing to become involved. TV TIME Acton's Susan McPhail may develop a cult following based on her weekly airtime on CityTV's City Line show for her employer, Purity Life Health Products, and its Vivitas line of premium natural health products. Purity sponsors Wednesdays -- health and relationship day -- and runs three spots on menopause fea- turing McPhail and a small group of women. Purity's marketing director Kathleen Dills said government restrictions make it difficult to do television ads for supplements, but a CityTV producer came up with a way to promote Vivitas, launched two years ago by Purity. "Tt is emotional marketing -- all about meno ~ it's a little series about menopause, menostress and meno- diet," Dills said, adding the TV ads come as Purity launches another Vi- vitas product, Satise, a potato-based appetite control product. McPhail said making the ads was a "very exciting" and "interesting" experience in front of the camera. HIGH-SPEED Acton Computers is one of 12 retail stores in Halton Hills now hooked into a new high-speed In- ternet system. Acton Computer owner Ryan Ridley said they offer service lo- cally to homes and businesses, and have 24-hour technical support ser- vice, and "a little better pricing." The service was launched Tues- day and is a partnership between with South West DSL and Aztec --- Computers in Georgetown. FREE LEARNING Literacy North Halton is looking for people who need help with basic literacy skills -- reading, spelling and writing. The organization offers one-on-' one tutoring and instruction for small groups. Literacy North Halton is also looking for tutors willing to train to help teach literacy skills. Call 905- 873-2200 for information. FREE ENGLISH Newcomers to Canada in Halton Hills can receive free help learning English and basic computer skills through a Citizenship and Immigra- tion Canada program called LINC, or language instruction for newcomers to Canada. Full-time, part-time and evening classes are available and child minding is available at some locations. A home study program is available for those who can't get to class. For details, call 905-875-3851. JUNK DAY? One man's junk could become another man's treasure -- at least for those who are quick to check out what stuff is put curbside for two bulk pickups by Halton next week. The pickup for the area of Acton south of Highway 7 is Monday (March 7), and for north of Highway 7, its Tuesday (March 8.) Halton defines bulk waste as house- hold items -- furniture, carpet, wood -- that won't fit in a garbage bag or container. Metal items and appliances will not be collected with bulk, but you can call 1-866-442-5866 to arrange a pick up. FOLK SELL-OUT Tf you don't already have tickets for Saturday's coffeehouse at Limehouse Memorial Hall, it's too late. The folk music/java night sold out, much to the delight of organizers who chope to make it an annual event to raise money for the hall. VIVITAS® FILL 'ER UP: A Familiar sight during Acton winters, these two "snow cats" were caught in a rare quiet moment at Beaver Gas Station recently. Chuck Tysoe photo. Paul Martin's government brought down their first minority budget last week. Without boring you with the details the biggest laugh in the budget was our sup- posed tax cut. Depending on who you listen to most of us will almost be able to buy an extra case of beer next year thanks to the Liberal's largesse. Unless, of course, the government raises the tax on said beverage. Most of us realize the military needed a major cash investment. Although the $12.8 billion will purchase much needed equipment and recruit new soldiers, I don't understand why they are back end- ing it five years down the road. We have troops in the field now. Still no replacements for the Hercules fleet now older than most of our pilots. Something we should all be out- raged over is the size of the surplus. I don't know when Canadians are going to stop thinking a big surplus is a sign of good government. It's proof the government is cooking the books, underestimating rev- enues and taking more money from us than they need to run our affairs. Then, instead of giving it back, they either institute new programs, which require future program spending for support, or stash it in some foundation or crown corpora- tion which is not subject to scrutiny by the Auditor General. And yet we keep electing them in Ontario. Must be more people here with money to burn than I have. Stephen Harper was quick off the mark to back the budget. He said he wanted to assure Canadians we wouldn't be facing a national election. No kidding; politics 101 is that anyone causing an election now goes down to defeat. Then Mr. Harper tried to sell the idea that this budget was really a conservative budget. While that may in essence be true the Liberals never saw an idea they couldn't steal. Remember P.M. Trudeau ridiculing wage and price controls with "zap, you're frozen." Not six months later the newly elected Trudeau gang ad- opted wage and price controls. I also heard that Mr. Harper moved to downplay the budget and get it off the front page. The thinking seems to be that, with the Sponsorgate inquiry starting up in Montreal this week, and there supposedly is some dynamite tes- at 'Budget smudget -- when's spring? timony coming up, he didn't want the budget hanging around the front pages. I'd like to think Harper is that politically clever but I don't. I think he made another mistake. Speaking of the sponsorgate in- quiry, did you see where a Montreal ad executive was reportedly paid over $15 million in "expenses" over four years? From what I heard, I wasn't sure if the $15 million in ex- penses was over and above the $17 million in sponsorship contracts his company was awarded. If true, this guy makes the NHL players look like pikers. Expect this Mr. Lafluer to replace our outgoing Governor General. He's qualified. Speaking of the NHL and Gover- nor moneybags in the same sentence, did you hear her latest brain shower? The G.G. wants the Canadian and American ladies Olympic teams to play for the Stanley Cup this year. The pitiful part is that many Cana- dians think this is a wonderful idea. C'mon, Ladies Olympic Hockey was entertaining, and it was fun to cheer for Canada, but worthy of Stanley Cup competition? I don't think so. Doesn't the Governor General have a country or two she's missed so far? It's obvious we are going to keep getting these casper milquetoast budgets fed to us until the Liberals or Conservatives figure the time is right for an election. I don't think it will take too long because there are two new spending programs that could blow up in the Liberals' faces. The first is the $5 billion a year for what people are expecting to be a National Day Care Program. A billion a year won't even make a dent in establishing national day care centres. Once people realize that huge chunks of this money will go to administration and consultants they'll either demand more money that isn't there or turn on the pro- gram. I smell son of gun control here. : The other boondoggle is in the Kyoto Accord. We are becoming such suckers for anything ecologi- cal in this country. Mention clean air and the cash flows like Niagara Falls. We all know we have air quality problems especially in our cities. The solution rests in developing new technologies here at home. A good start would be to stop Halifax, Montreal and Victoria from dumping raw sewage directly into the oceans and St. Lawrence River. Much of our airborne pollu- tion comes from the States and the Americans haven't signed onto the Kyoto Accord. We'll probably just enact a law and the Americans will keep their pollution at home. The biggest Kyoto charade is the ability developed countries have to buy "clean air credits" from the developing world. Developing nations, you see, are not required to clean up their act. So Canada, instead of cleaning up the air over Toronto will pay China, one of the most polluted countries on Earth, for clean air credits. The end result is that China will still have pollu- tion, so will Toronto, but hundreds of millions of our tax money will be sent overseas so the government will be able to claim we're making our quota. The real inspiration for Kyoto has to be what the government calls a "polluter pays" tax system. Now initially you might think this is a good thing. Let's hammer those godless corporate gangsters who are fouling mother earth. But cars are big polluters. How do you feel about paying more for gas? Perhaps a special licence to drive into To- ronto. You don't think they'll nail the city of Montreal do you? That might cost a vote. I don't trust the Liberals when they start talking about a "polluter pays" tax. 7 Budget week closed with the Prime Minister officially opting out of the U.S.A. missile defence shield. American bashers are rejoicing. The Prime Minister was quick to say that we are still a sovereign nation and he expects the Americans to consult with us before intercept- ing a potential threat over Canada. Anyone who thinks that will hap- pen is a moron. The Americans will shoot first in a case of self-defence. Jack Layton is claiming credit for this bit of stupidity. Martin should let him have it. A good week for Mr. Dithers. A bad one for Canadians. 4)