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6 EDITORIAL with Frances Niblock THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, JANUARY 26 2012 Talk about shooting the messenger "Misleading, degrading, disrespectful." The frustration and anger harboured by Town councillors for the Ministry of Transportation's handling of the GTA West Corridor plans erupted at Halton Hills Council on Monday. Councillors unloaded and re-loaded the vitriol on MTO rep Jim Wang, whose update on the draft corridor strategy confirmed investigation of widening the 401 to 12 lanes, not 10 through Halton Hills. The Town's consultant said the widening negates the need to build a freeway across a swath of farmland in the south end of town between Five and Ten Side Roads. Regional/Acton Councillor Clark Somerville applauded the promised increased communications from the MTO, and said Wang's promises to do better with politicians and citizens was like him showing up with a nice, new puppy. "But, you forgot about the puppy has already peed on the floor," Somerville said. Carrying on with the dog theme, Ward Two Councillor Joan Robson asked why the MTO didn't "groom the old one (the 401) first," and confirm if 12 lanes on the 401 will meet the future transportation needs before looking at other options. Councillor Mike O'Leary suggested the MTO plans will create "another dog's breakfast" like the 401-407 area. Political correctness and decorum are the norm in the Council Chambers, as it should be, but it is nice to know there is bite behind Town Council's political bark. CULTURAL INSIGHTS: David Prosser (right) the Director of the Stratford festival, was the key note speaker at the opening of the Halton Hills Cultural Symposium at the Acton Town Hall Centre on Friday. He was joined by Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette. ­ Ted Tyler photo Get tough with Youthful Offenders To the editor We spend thousands of dollars a year on insurance, yet cannot even get windshield coverage when someone purposely takes it on with a rock. By the time you pay the deductible, you have paid more than the cost of the windshield. It is time we make a change to the Youthful Offenders Act. We need to make our neighbours aware of who the problem kids are in our town. Friday night, a couple of kids decided to throw a rock at our truck which smashed the windshield. Not only will this cost us over $500 to fix, but my spouse had to take a day off work to have it fixed. The money to pay for the windshield is funds set aside for financial commitments coming due. I hope the police can prove who did it. I heard that cars were egged in different locations across town in the past couple of months. Did parents not wonder where all their eggs went? What else have we not heard about? I think it is time their names and pictures are posted around town ­ this may stops the criminals and their vicious acts on other people and property. It sure would be nice if the parents of the kids made them go out and help other people. These kids should have to pay for the damage they cause. Criminals, not parents, should have to pay their own court costs ­ judges, dictator, and lawyer. Kids need to take responsibility of their actions. It is time they are held accountable for what they do. An insignificant punishment does not work. If parents do not take a stand now to straighten these children out, we will end up supporting them in our jails later on. Name held by request Acton, ON Looking Back Ten Years Ago · Blending kindness with super-human efficiency earned Acton nurse Brenda Ramsden, employed at the Acton Medical Centre, the Employee of the Year award from the Chamber of Commerce. · PharmaPlus opened in the new Sobeys plaza, and Pet Valu and Pizza Pizza are confirmed as tenants in the $10-million development in east Acton. · OPP announce the death of 19-year-old Matthew Virgin of Acton was not a homicide, but that he was lying on the road when he was struck by a vehicle. Five Years Ago · The owner of the Acton Medical Centre on Mill Street told Town Council development of a new facility was not a "do or die scenario" and that approval of a proposed new facility will affect the affordability of health care services in Acton. · Acton's Sandy Chapman scored his first lacrosse goal as a member of the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League. · A 34-year-old Kitchener man was charged with the December 27 robbery of Acton's Bank of Nova Scotia branch. He gave the teller a note that said he was armed, but no weapon was seen, and there were no injuries in the heist, one of 17 over a six-month period that he was charged with. Publisher Ted Tyler Editor Frances Niblock Angela Tyler Distributed to every home in Acton and area, as well as adjoining communities. Every effort will be made to see advertising copy, neatly presented, is correctly printed. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or omissions in advertising, but will gladly reprint without charge that part of an advertisement in which an error may occur provided a claim is made within five days of publication. All articles, advertisements and graphic artwork appearing in The New Tanner is copyrighted. Any usage, reproduction or publication of these items, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the publisher of The New Tanner is a copyright infringement and subject to legal action. Editorial Contributors email: thenewtanner@on.aibn.com 373 Queen Street East, Unit 1 Acton, Ontario L7J 2N2 Advertising and Circulation Marie Shadbolt (519) 853-0051 Fax: (519) 853-0052 Composing Traci Gardner, Iain Brennan Typesetting Melissa Paul