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

6 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday,January 11, 2011 OPINION Dollars and sense What is it about ice surfaces that seems to stir the passion of Halton Hills councillors? Mayor Rick Bonnette said last week that the last time emotions ran so high at a budget committee meeting (which involves all members of council) was when the twinning of Alcott Arena was approved in 2000. This year it appears the addition of a twin ice pad at the Mold-Masters SportsPlex (formerly known as Alcott Arena) and the twinning of Acton Arena has inflamed the passions yet again. Leading the charge for the additional arenas is Ward 2 Councillor Bryan Lewis, chair of the Arenas Task Force for the past two years. The former NHL referee has long trumpeted the need for more local ice surfaces, citing the fact that many ice users here go out of town for practices and training. That exodus means other municipalities are getting user fee dollars from Halton Hills-based groups. At the other end of the table is Wards 3&4 Regional Councillor Jane Fogal who last week convinced council to defer the planned arena expenditure which would have forced the town into a $25-million debt situation. While she may not be against arenas per se, she says she was surprised by the cost of the proposed arenas and the fact many items would subsequently be left out of the capital budget-- items such a trails, parks and her beloved master cycling plan. Better that she was aghast at the level of debt than how to spread it around among other projects, we think. With the Town poised to go into debt for capital budget items, we hope councillors spend this deferral period taking a close look at how best they can mitigate the hit local taxpayers are sure to take. 905-873-0301 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) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier 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) WEB POLL RESULTS Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has hinted he may not finish his term if re-elected this fall. How do you feel about this? · If he's re-elected he should finish his term (9%) · He is free to quit any time in his term if re-elected (25%) · If he doesn't intend to finish his term he shouldn't run (66%) Go to www.independentfreepress.com Steve Nease Letters to the editor Landlords must follow the law Dear editor, I am a second year paralegal student, and I am astounded at some of the housing classifieds published. I would like to inform your readers about an important, unlawful act some landlords are doing. A landlord absolutely cannot demand first and last months rent AND a security deposit. In fact, they are the same thing. Pursuant to s. 106(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act, S. O. 2006, c.17, "A landlord may require a tenant to pay a rent deposit with respect to a tenancy if the landlord does so on or before entering into the tenancy agreement." In addition, s. 106(2) states "The amount of a rent deposit shall not be more than the lesser of the amount of rent for one rent period and the amount of rent for one month". This means a landlord can ask for first and last OR a "security deposit", but the amount cannot exceed one month's rent (assuming it is a month to month tenancy). Also, this money is to be used solely for the tenant's last month before moving out of the apartment. If there are damages-- which a tenant is absolutely liable for-- the landlord must file an application with the Landlord and Tenant Board. It is worth the time it takes to read the Residential Tenancies Act before renting! I hope this letter will encourage future tenants to read the Act, and let landlords know they cannot ask for more than the Act allows or they will be breaking the law. Amanda Reed, Acton Patient is grateful Dear editor, I am 45 and for some time have been suffering from aggravating groin and abdominal pains. I have visited many specialists over the past five years and it was discovered I had a small abdominal aneurism, very rare for someone my age. I required CT scans once or twice a year to keep measure of its growth, which was last done less than a year ago. Continuing my search for the cause of my groin pains, I decided to visit Dr. Cranfield, a Norval-based chiropractor to see if he could be of help. After one visit I received a phone call from Dr. Cranfield. He was very concerned with what he and his daughter had discovered in my X-rays. It turned out that not only had my aneurism grown, but it had reached a dangerous size. Dr. Cranfield insisted that I take his X-rays and go immediately to the emergency department at Georgetown hospital. Since then I have undergone major surgery and am in recovery. I would like to say to Dr. Cranfield and Whitney, you have without a doubt saved my life and my family and I will be forever grateful. Andrew Kavanagh, Georgetown Campaign thanks Dear editor, On behalf of the Poppy Campaign for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 120, we would like to thank the citizens of Georgetown for their generous support. The response this year was overwhelming. Thank you to the Army and Air Cadets for their help during the campaign and also to all the comrades who worked to make the campaign a success. Ray Clarke, Branch 120 president Marion Carney, Poppy Chairman Letters to the editor policy Letters must include an address and daytime telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday 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.