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6 The IFP · Halton Hills, Thursday, March 29, 2012 OPINION Duncan's donuts Premier Dalton McGuinty and Toronto Maple Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke are a lot alike. They both took over their current positions with grand promises of better days to come, spent foolishly to dig themselves a deep hole and now want the public to believe they can fix the problem if given a bit more time. The budget the Liberals delivered on Tuesday is similar to most of Burke's signings-- much ado about nothing. Sure McGuinty and his finance minister Dwight Duncan proposed a wage freeze for Ontario's 1.2 million public servants, but that move was little more than an attempt to blunt Conservative attacks on the budget. The unions now warn of a `big fight' because of that move which puts NDP leader Andrea Horwath in an interesting position of having to vote against the budget to maintain favour with Sid Ryan and the blue collar bunch. With Conservative boss Tim Hudak already vowing to vote against the budget a similar vote from the NDP would bring a snap election. That's something none of the parties want-- despite any protestations to the contrary. In order to wrestle the $15 billion deficit to the ground the Liberals vow to cut spending by $17.7 billion over the next three years-- a good chunk of that by eliminating "overlap and duplication" that somehow has escaped the Liberals' notice during their nearly nine years in power. So driver's licence renewal fees will rise, health care spending will be capped, planned corporate income tax cuts will have to wait...a little of this and a little of that. All in all, not much of a winning combination for Ontarians. Just like the Maple Leafs. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@theifp.ca) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@theifp.ca) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@theifp.ca) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@theifp.ca) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@theifp.ca) Letters policy Letters must include an address and daytime phone 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 Anonymous letters will not be published.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. Email: jmcghie@theifp.ca Steve Nease Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters to the editor MP thanked for quick action Dear editor, Sometimes people wonder what our MPs do for us. This was my first opportunity to deal with our MP directly and I can honestly say I am so thankful to be a Halton Hills resident and to have such an amazing MP. I would like to send a recognition and huge thank you to Michael Chong and his office. Recently I sent an email to his office asking for help. We have had a problem with the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) for more than two years now in which they had stated we owed a great deal of money, but it was an error that was not being corrected. It was a painful two years trying to get a resolution and honestly by the next day Michael Chong and his office had the situation resolved. The CRA called us to apologize for the way the situation was handled and everything was corrected. The large amount that they stated we owed had been corrected and our refund should be to us within a few weeks. It took one email to Michael Chong and his wonderful support staff (Karen), who dealt with the situation promptly and with urgency. Thank you Michael and Karen for taking the time to help us, you have no idea how much it meant to us and our family. Justin and Sue Lepord Georgetown Jim Fishback did a marvelous job as official photographer of the event. Thanks. Lastly, the support for, and the coverage of this event, by The Independent & Free Press was first rate. Congratulations. Neil Cotton, Georgetown Sale was a success Dear editor, On March 3, the North Halton Kitten Rescue held its second fundraising book sale at the Georgetown Market Place mall. On behalf of our foster families and volunteers, we would like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to all who donated and/or purchased books. The support we received was greatly appreciated and in spite of the weather and a few short power outages, we had more than hoped for buyers. As always, 100% of funds raised go to the care and keep of stray and abandoned kittens within our beautiful community. Without your support we would not be able to rescue kittens in need. What a wonderfully caring community we live in! Elizabeth Bolton, foster volunteer North Halton Kitten Rescue Cotton appreciated Heritage dinner Dear editor, On behalf of my wife Wendy, my family and myself, I would like to thank the Georgetown Hockey Heritage Committee for my wonderful dinner on March 5. I was overwhelmed at receiving the Hockey Heritage Award, and by the class exhibited by the committee in putting on this affair. This was the 35th such night. Thanks also to the many members of our hockey community for taking time from their busy lives to honour me. What a great celebration! Also, thanks go to the Acton Legion's Ladies' Auxiliary for preparing the banquet. WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.theifp.ca) If a prospective employer asked for your Facebook password would you provide it? · Absolutely not. It's private information. (92%) · Sure. I have nothing to hide and if it helps landing a job I'd do it. (8%) 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.