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OPINION It appears that Halton Region and the provincial government are headed for a High Noon-style show- down. At one end of the street is the Region, headed by chair Gary Carr who, while heading up the Fairness for Halton campaign, says the Province is being unfair in asking Halton to accommodate thousands of new residents in coming years through its Places to Grow plan without offering enough funding for infrastruc- ture. The Province, through Minister of Energy and Infrastructure George Smitherman, has said the Regions infrastructure deficit pegged at $300 mil- lion is the fault of the Region and precedes the Provinces Growth Plan. Smitherman has called Carrs plea for fairness grandstanding. Its hard to believe this is the same George Smitherman who, four years ago as health minister, helped Georgetown hospital win its fight against the William Osler Health Centre to keep the hospitals obstetrics ward open. That situation is not unlike than the one between the Region and the Province today. In both cases, a more powerful body (in this case the Province) is try- ing to impose its will on the weaker one (the Region) without proper justification. While the Province has provided some infrastruc- ture funding, it clearly falls short of what the Region requires if it is forced to follow the Provinces plan to add 300,000 more people Halton in the next 25 years. On top of that, the Region is now being told to pony up money to pay for badly needed new and renovated hospitals in south Halton. The Region, rightly so, is not inclined to place that huge financial burden on the backs of local taxpayers. Thats why this week regional politicians indicated they will use a loophole in the Regions Official Plan which allows them to refuse sewer and water pipe con- nections to new developments until a more equitable funding arrangement with the Province is worked out. That move will not please developers but its the only hammer the Region has to wield in this battle. Time will tell who blinks first. Showdown Steve Nease LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear editor, Re: Ms. Boleychuks Oct. 10 let- ter, Resident appalled by Towns spraying of parks. It is amazing that the misin- formed and fear-mongering activists are still spreading misin- formation. Weed control products (pesti- cides eg. 24,D) do not cause can- cer. This FACT is supported by in- depth studies from Health Canada, the European Health Organization, the U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization. Unfortunately it seems that politicians, activists, and medical people, think they know better than peer-review science. With their reasoning and theory for ban- ning lawn care pesticides, you would think they work for George Bush. He also used words like linked to, suspected of, and potential threat to declare war. Our political masters and activists are doing the same thing. If someone wants to work with natural products good for them, but to ban and lie about safely-used lawn care pesticides shows igno- rance and a lack of knowledge. Lawn care pesticides can be used safely. Most, if not all, alternatives are less effective, more costly and require more energy. There is no factual proof lawn care pesticides are killing children or animals by casual contact. The Town of Halton Hills used responsible (IPM) methods at the least active time of year. I personal- ly have 40 years of hands-on expe- rience with these products and have healthy children. Bill Van Ryn, Georgetown Lawn care pesticides can be used safely 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. E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1 Publisher Ken Nugent General manager Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@independentfreepress.com) ADVERTISING Advertising co-ordinator Jennifer Christie (jchristie@independentfreepress.com) Retail Sales: Jennifer Spencer (jspencer@independentfreepress.com) Brendan Louth (blouth@independentfreepress.com) Amy Sykes (features@independentfreepress.com) Andrea Lefebvre (alefebvre@independentfreepress.com) Brendon Stevenson (bstevenson@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 Something bugging you? What do you think? Below are the results of our most recent online poll. For the current poll go to www.independentfreepress.com Do you think Canada has aided or contributed to the torture of individuals abroad? Yes (27%) No (73%) The Independent & Free Press is published Wednesday and Friday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS Dear editor, On the morning of Thursday, October 23, a car carrying my daughter and two small grandchil- dren was hit by a silver four-door Cavalier/Sunbird-type vehicle. Due to the drivers total lack of conscience and moral responsibili- ty, he immediately left the scene of the accident without caring about their welfare. The incident took place at the intersection of College and Ontario Streets in Georgetown at 7 a.m. The silver vehicle will have front-end damage on the dri- vers side, and the paint transfer will be midnight grey to black in colour. Anyone with information about a vehicle that fits this description, or the incident itself, is asked to contact the Halton Regional Police, 11 Division in Georgetown at 905- 873-0377. Please people... this is the type of irresponsible behaviour that puts all our insurance rates up and makes it unsafe to be on the road. Lets make responsible choices and help protect our children. S. Pilkey, Kitchener Mother of hit and run victim seeks witnesses to accident Dear editor, I moved to Georgetown two years ago with my husband and we love it here, everyone is friendly and cares about their community. We purchased a hot tub last year from Emerald Isle on Guelph Street due to the glowing reviews we received about their customer ser- vice. I have to tell you that Berts service is amazing, I have been in the retail business for 15 years and you dont see cus- tomer service and after customer service like this anymore. Bert helped us understand the chemicals, helped us set it up and all questions or issues that we have had in the last year, he has returned phone calls and come to our house right away. I cant say enough great things about him and his store and I high- ly recommend anyone who is pur- chasing a hot tub to shop there. Roisin Bennett, Georgetown Local business praised for good service 6 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, October 24, 2008