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OPINION While we support increased funding for GO Transit to make it more efficient and affordable, we do not think property taxpayers in the GTA municipalities should be asked to foot the bill. Theres no denying the GTA property taxpayers use GO Transit, but the property tax system is not the best way to finance the necessary improvements. One of the best ways to reduce gridlock on the GTAs highways is to encourage people to get out of their cars and into public transit alternatives. And in the GTA, GO Transit represents the best pos- sible alternative currently available. What we need is a massive transfusion of money into GO Transit to make it one of the best rapid transit systems in North America. GO Transit is trying to meet the demand and has increased its 10-year growth capital budget created in 2001 from $1 billion to $2 billion. But the Province expects the GTA municipalities to fund one-third of this, and local politicians are balking at this amount. And so they should. If Halton is forced to contribute, regional taxpayers would see their share jump from $37 million to $75 million. And thats only a start. What about the future? Halton could recoup $45 million of that amount through development charges, but would still be $30 million short. Relying on property taxpayers to help fund GO Transit improvements is shortsighted. It discourages rather than encourages investment. Instead of relying on municipal governments to fur- ther burden property taxpayers, the Province should be looking at going it alone, or, better yet, forming a partnership with the federal government and putting some of those gasoline taxes to good use. Its high time the federal and provincial govern- ments realized the more money they contribute to rapid transit systems like GO Transit, the less money they need to spend in other areas such as road improvements. Someday, we would like to see a rapid transit system shuttling trainloads of people along the lakeshore from Niagara Falls to Kingston. But that wont happen unless some leadership is shown in changing the exist- ing flawed funding system. No-go for GO 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, Here we go again! How many times have we, the citizens of Georgetown, been asked to give our opinions on growth? As a resident of Georgetown Southeast (Argyll Rd. and 10th Line) we signed petitions years ago to stop the re-zoning of the 10th Line/10 Sideroad lands from light industrial to residential. This petition went to the Ontario Municipal Board and all of our concerns fell on deaf ears as the Town didnt put a stop to the request of the re-zoning in the first place. Our town council gets bullied at every turn. Im sure that the majority of you reading this letter either remained in Georgetown or relocated here for two reasons small town and safe com- munity. However, each time I read The Independent & Free Press Im reading more and more articles of possible future housing and expansion of our great little community (i.e. hydro expansion, new developments.) I know youre probably thinking Shes just moved here from Mississauga or Brampton and doesnt want urban sprawl well, youre wrong. I was born here and I used to love to venture out in our great town. Now Im met with rude people (drivers and shoppers) whose only concern is to get their business done with no regard for others. This change has hap- pened overnight. So now they (Town council) want OUR input on the growth of OUR town? Folks, dont waste your evenings going to their meetings, when you could be spending your precious time with your families and friends. Believe me, youll only receive lip ser- vice from our Town council once again. The all-mighty tax grab that the council benefits from will win out every time. I shudder to think what this town will look like in 10 years, even five. Maybe we will no longer be called Georgetown, but instead Brampton West, Milton East or Mississauga North West? You pick what you want to have printed on your envelope labels. All I know is that what we all came here for, or stayed here for, will be lost. Carolyn MacColl, Georgetown Sharing views on growth a waste of time 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) Katie Borg (kborg@independentfreepress.com) Brendan Louth (blouth@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 McEachern 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 Dear editor, Re: Traffic measures planned for Eaton Street. In 2006, Town council promised they would address the Mountainview Road residents concerns in their 2007 budget. In late 2007 we went to the mayors office to follow up on that promise. Later the next day I was contacted by Town traffic co-ordinator Bob Butrym and was told that council did not address Mountainview Road in the budget. I have had the pleasure of speaking extensively with Bob over the past three and a half years on our traffic issues and found he is a great person. However, it is not his fault his hands are tied because our town has no direc- tion on how to address the growth and on-going traffic concerns in Georgetown. We will see more developers, bus lines, water pipeline and the destruc- tion of our farmlands. There must be leadership in council or we will become known as the GBAGreater Brampton Area. I would like to make it clear that in no way am I putting down Bob or Mayor Rick Bonnette, just giving a heads up to voters that our town will be the GBA if council does not take the growth issue seriously and by the horns. Council needs to employ more innovative ways, including raising rev- enue, not just relying on the old way of raising property taxes. Georgetown should be a leader in innovation, not a follower. Waldo Paquette, Georgetown Town council must show leadership 6 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, February 8, 2008 Dear editor, To all the individuals and business- es that supported the Salvation Army during the Christmas appeal we would like to thank you for your assistance. Your contributions of time, money and toys enabled us to give families of the community a Christmas and will enable us to provide assistance for the coming year. You have made this one of the best years ever. Thank you again from all of us at the Salvation Army. Jack Oesch, Georgetown Sally Ann says thanks