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8 THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2007 Acton Skating Club presents our 43rd annual skating exhibition Who are You? Saturday, March 31st 1pm and 7pm Shows Acton Arena Advance Tickets March 30 5pm-9pm or At the door till sold out. BURN PERMIT APPLICATIONS 2007 Burn Permit Applications will be accepted at Georgetown and Acton Fire Stations on Saturday March 31 and Saturday April 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Applications can be obtained at either the Acton or Georgetown Fire Stations, Public Education Kiosk at the Georgetown Marketplace or online at www.haltonhills.ca. For further information call Halton Hills Fire Protections & Prevention Services at 905-877-1133 or check our website www.haltonhills.ca/fire/openAirBurning.php 1 Halton Hills Drive, Halton Hills, ON L7G 5G2 To the editor, I am writing this letter in response to the recent letter sent by D. Craig. First I am not a developer in the sense that his letter suggests. I was born in Acton and I have spent my entire business career working here. I am an entrepreneur who has invested consistently in Acton along with my various partners in building a success- ful manufacturing plant (Frank Heller and Co.) a retail destination point (the olde Hide House) and most recently a land develop- ment (Acton East Housing). I prefer to call myself an Accidental Developer. My development experience grew out of owning a piece of property in Acton which engaged me in the process. This led to involvement in Acton East along with several other local people, specifi- cally through encouragement from then Councillors Bonnette, Elliott and Rennie to help break a 20 year period of stagnation. Outside developers were reluctant to getth- ings moving in Acton. Our developments, to the contrary have been focused on and took place only in Acton. Having said this I respect and welcome the comments made by D. Craig. I have learned a great deal about the planning process in the last ten years and there is a great need for dialogue and fact finding in the process currently going on in Halton Region. The general population needs to know more and to understand more about the issues, the options and the implica- tions. I do not disagree with the sentiments expressed in the Craig letter but my vision does not call for unbridled growth. Instead I am encouraging strategic, well thought out growth that provides for the needs and desires of the Acton community. This is not an either/or situation. The community of Acton is not looking at either rampant growth or no growth. Rampant growth for Acton is not even an option. Right now a virtual freeze is much more likely. However right now we are looking at extreme limitations being placed upon Acton in the midst of dramatic growth all around us. We have only to look at recent history to see the implications of that scenario. In the 1980s and 90s Acton was the only urban area in the GTA to lose population. Superficially this was attributed to the clo- sure of the Beardmore tannery. The reality was that there were servicing constraints placed on the Town and as a result there were no new housing options available to service the changing needs of the popula- tion. As a result people who wanted a better house with all of the current amenities often had to leave town to find it. The population numbers actually went down. The growth and change of the past four years resulted from the pent up frustration from artificial constraints over a 25 year period. Now we are facing a similar situation again a virtual freeze and as the popu- lation ages there will not be enough good lifestyle options available for people to choose. There has been an ongoing struggle to attract new doctors. The most recent growth finally brought Acton some basic amenities, particularly a good quality food store and even a McDonalds which most other communities had the choice of having 30 years earlier. There is a need for Acton like any other community to have a mini- mal critical mass to attract much needed commercial and professional services. The Town can and should protect its identity but at the same time, it must protect its options to address changing needs. The answer lies with a proper vision for the Town and with controlled growth. It is important that residents of Acton understand that they are being frozen with no flexibility. At the same time the rest of Halton is literally facing a tsunami of population growth. This particular tsunami originates in Ottawa and is already under- way. The underlying issues are the aging population, the low birth rate and the result- ing need to import people to ensure that we have an adequate work force in Canada. The federal government is planning to bring in over 300,000 people per year into Canada to deal with this very real need. The Province of Ontario had been directed to plan and absorb a large percentage of this population influx. Based upon that require- ment, the Province has given Halton Region very clear direction on what they must plan for and that is virtually doubling the popula- tion of the Region in the next 25 years. There is limited or no capacity in Mis- sissauga or Brampton. Burlington and Oakville will be built out quickly which has led to a focus on Milton and Georgetown. In spite of recent political objections at the local and regional level, this is a tsunami that will not be stopped. The negotiations are ultimately about how and who pays, not what happens. The money will be there and the development community will pay a large chunk of it. Between the Town and the Region they receive approximately $18,000 in develop- ment charges on every lot developed to pay for future infrastructure needs. I agree that Acton should be outside this landslide. Staying outside does not mean sacrificing our real needs. Our vision for our own property which is on the current urban boundary of Acton includes a sig- nificant commercial component focused on adding more services for the Town, a larger Lifestyle community roughly along the lines of the Arboretum in Guelph, providing a range of housing alternatives for seniors and a substantial recreational aspect at the south end in what was once known as the Three Sisters. This vision relies on real perceived Acton needs. All of this growth in Halton Region surrounding Acton is going to create oppor- tunities. Acton cannot afford to be frozen for another 15-20 years. In closing, Halton Hills and specifically Acton, cannot totally control change. We have to adjust and we have to manage, but we cannot afford to ignore it. This is a time for the citizens of Acton to research all the issues, look at their future needs and speak up to ensure that we maintain our fundamental nature and identity as well as providing for our needs for a long time to come. That is what the rest of the Region is doing right now. Sincerely, Fred Dawkins. Acton cannot afford to be frozen for another 20 years OLeary... Continued from page 7 that it would be irrespon- sible for the government to increase the minimum wage by 25% overnight. Excuse me but how much did provin- cial M.P.P.s vote themselves an increase of just recently? The Liberals claim a 25% increase in minimum wage would cost 90-100,000 jobs. Funny thing is, I didnt notice any catastrophic decrease in the number of M.P.P.s did you? I realize this piece has been rambling and somewhat dis- jointed. The whole concept of federal and provincial budgets causes my head to spin, as Im sure it does to most of you. Because the bottom line in these documents is to ensure the current regime retains power. Meanwhile not a bridge is repaired or a road plowed. NEW BELT: Recently, this sign was erected on Hwy 7, just east of Crewsons Corners indicating the Acton area had been frozen for growth by the Ontario Liberals. ??? ?? ??????? ???? Call Betty Ann 853-1944