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MPAC `spanking' vindicates residents Last month, Ontario's Ombudsman, Andre Marin, released a report that effectively concluded that the provincial agency charged with assessing homes and business properties doesn't care if you get the shaft at tax time. In tens of thousands of cases annually, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) miscalculates the worth of private property, and municipal taxpayers are paying the price. The Ombudsman characterized the publicly-funded agency as "secretive, manipulative, cloak and dagger, untrustworthy, bullying, astonishingly inaccurate, and cutthroat", along with many more adjectives. Folks, this is a real "public spanking" that Andre Marin gave MPAC. This vindicates many in our community who questioned the ethics of MPAC. Ratepayers across the province were frustrated at appealing assessments. I have to give special thanks to Mac Sprowl and my dad, Lou Bonnette, who formed a citizens' group to try to get answers on behalf of the average guy. Councillor Bryan Lewis and myself presented several resolutions to council over the years questioning the legitimacy of MPAC. All resolutions were unanimously supported by your council. I applaud Premier Dalton McGuinty who commissioned the Ombudsman to investigate MPAC. There are several recommendations to the Province from Andre Marin. Let's hope the Province takes them seriously. ··· Last month, we held a joint meeting with the Economic Development Committee, Ward 2 councillors, myself, senior staff, along with our agricultural community. This was a follow-up meeting to the November Rick Bonnette 17, 2005 meeting. Ideas were exchanged, and there will be recommendations out of this to go to council that we hope will benefit our farmers. Remember, if you ate today, "thank a farmer". ··· The 2006 Citizen of the Year Awards for Georgetown and Acton have been announced. Congratulations to Glenda Benton (Georgetown) and the Acton Agricultural Society (Acton). Halton Hills is proud of you! ··· On behalf of council, I welcome the following new business: The Spa on Main, (Georgetown). ··· Don't forget that April 27 to May 7 is Arts Week featuring a variety of art events throughout our community. The winning artwork in the Mayor's Youth Action Committee (MYAC) art competition is being showcased on the Mayor's Artwall for International Youth Week, May 1-7. Join in the celebration, and discover the many talented artists in Halton Hills. ··· Keeping it real! I can be reached by telephone at 905-873-2601, ext. 2342, or by email at mayor@haltonhills.ca --Rick Bonnette is the mayor of Halton Hills