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

OPINION During last falls provincial election campaign Premier Dalton McGuinty was quick to criticize Progressive Conservative leader John Tory for his sup- port of funding for faith-based schools. In retrospect, it could be argued that McGuinty won the election on this very issue as the voting public widely rejected the concept. While it was too late to salvage his campaign, even Tory backed away from his foolish plan which would have seen public tax money go towards faith-based schools. McGuinty, at the time remember this was less than four months ago boasted about his belief in a publicly-funded Ontario education system. My thinking certainly has reached a point where I believe that the most important thing that we can do for Ontario and for Ontario's children is to further strengthen public education," McGuinty said last fall. So why, in the wake of the Toronto Public School Boards decision Wednesday to open an alternative Africentric school to fight a high dropout rate among black teens, has McGuinty quietly sat on the sidelines? Stating he is not personally comfortable with the boards decision, but would abide by it, is not good enough. McGuinty, whose government is looking hyp- ocritical, at best, and gutless, at worst, should be front and center on this issue and vehemently vowing to fight it anyway the Province can including consider- ing changes to the Education Act. We agree with Loreen Small, the mother of Jordan Manners, a teen killed at a Toronto school last year, that this idea smacks of segregation. Such a school will only open the door for other race-based schools and does nothing to help race rela- tions and, we argue, will only make matters worse. This is a very slippery slope the Toronto board is on. Toronto school trustees let their community down with their decision. Just as Ontarios premier has let down all Ontarians by choosing to show a backbone only when it was politically expedient to do so. Province, premier show lack of fortitude The Independent & Free Press is published every Wednesday and Friday at 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown Ont., L7G 4B1. It is one of several newspapers published by Metroland Media Group Ltd. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance for sig- nature will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the acceptable rate. In the event of typographical error advertising goods or services at wrong price, goods or ser- vices may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell which may be withdrawn at any time. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Price: Store copies 50 each; Subscriptions $26 per year by carrier; $92.50 per year by mail in Canada; $130 per year in all other countries. Plus G.S.T. Second Class Mail Registration Number 6869. The Independent & Free Press is a member of The Canadian Community Newspaper Association and The Ontario Community Newspaper Association. Steve Nease THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear editor, I refer to your article Dec 21, Rural mayors join Bonnette in ques- tioning growth plan, and would like to compliment Mayor Bonnette for having the courage to take the posi- tion he has in respect to the Ontario governments Places to Grow plan and its potential impact on the Region of Halton and specifically Halton Hills. Clearly, other municipalities have seen the risks and costs associated with the program but have not, till Bonnette spoke up, had the willing- ness or audacity to openly question or challenge the higher level of gov- ernment, which in itself is deeply concerning. That elected officials are simply prepared to toe the provincial line unquestioningly and not rock the boat on matters that have a far- reaching impact for their regions/municipalities and their citi- zens reflects a very sad state of affairs in this province. The Places to Grow plan has desig- nated lands south and west of Georgetown as a primary study area. This area consists mainly of active agricultural properties, farmland, used to produce food and agri-prod- ucts that sustain Ontarians. Only approximately 6 percent of the total Canadian land mass is suitable for this purpose and yet the Ontario gov- ernment continues to insist that regional and municipal governments pave over what little remains in this province in order to satisfy the need for growth of the Greater Toronto Area. Why must the abysmal planning policies and models adopted by the likes of Mississauga and Brampton continue unchecked through Halton? Why must the taxpayers of Halton be confronted with higher assessments to satisfy the costs for new infrastructure related to growth when we dont have the funds to maintain what weve already got? At a time when, as a nation, we are all striving to reduce pollution and reliance on oil, why do we con- tinue to plan major residential devel- opment further away from major employment areas? With climate change now being more readily accepted and the prospect of longer growing seasons a reality; with wildlife habitat being increasingly under threat and species decline more noticeable, why are we so will- ing to bulldoze tree lots, raze open spaces and remove from existence the farmland that should be used for Places to Grow Ontarios food for today and agri-fuels for tomorrow. Mayor Bonnettes question, Why..? is well-founded and I am sure supported by a large majority of Halton Hills residents who care about where and how we live today and in the future. Tony Taylor, Glen Williams Why must Halton follow poor growth plan? Letters to the editor must include an address and daytime telephone number. Unsigned letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 200 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1 E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Something bugging you? Publisher Ken Nugent Advertising director Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager Nancy Geissler (distribution@independentfreepress.com) ADVERTISING Advertising co-ordinator Jennifer Christie (jchristie@independentfreepress.com) Retail Sales: Jennifer Spencer (jspencer@independentfreepress.com) Adam Spinney (aspinney@independentfreepress.com) Katie Borg (kborg@independentfreepress.com) Amy Sykes (features@independentfreepress.com) Real estate: Sue Spizziri (realestate@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds: Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) ACCOUNTING Rose Marie Gauthier, Michelle Wimmer EDITORIAL Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@independentfreepress.com) PRODUCTION: Mary Lou Foreman, Kevin Powell, Shelli Harrison, Dolores Black, Debbie MacDougall STAFF DIRECTORY Send us a letter! Phone: 905-873-0301 Fax: 905-873-0398www.independentfreepress.com 6 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, February 1, 2008 Dear editor, In the Jan. 4 Independent & Free Press there was an article, Speeds to be monitored at Oak/Argyll intersec- tion. About a year ago I sent a letter to the Town suggesting they make the intersection of Argyll and Huffman a three-way stop. My rationale was/is that there is currently no safe way to cross to the Gellert park or to the recreational centre. I did receive a response that indicated the sugges- tion would be investigated, but have not heard anything since. The next intersection when going west on Argyll is the intersection of Oak/Argyll. Speed is always an issue on Argyll and I frequently, with my family and dog, have to make a mad dash across Argyll to avoid the igno- rant drivers who appear devoid of pedestrian respect or the posted speed limit. My suggestion would have the impact, of not only making a safe place to cross, but would also slow the traffic down in both directions past Oak and Argyll. I hope Ward 4 Councillors Bob Inglis and John Duncan and the Town staff take this suggestion to heart before someone is hurt or killed on Argyll. Michael Vincent, Georgetown Resident wants three-way stop at intersection More letters page 7