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•The IFP• H alton H ills, Thursday, A ugust 29, 2013 7 GEORGETOWN'S Best Kept Secret! 416-220-2741 46 Armstrong Road, Georgetown ON MiskasWoodProducts.com • Truck Accessories • Upholstery • Heavy Equipment Glass •Window Tinting 354 Guelph Street, Georgetown 905-873-1655 We handle all insurance work. • your window & door professionals • 341 Guelph St., Unit 3 Georgetown 905.873.0236 www.buy-wise.ca info@buy-wise.ca • awarded readers choice 20 times • Visit our showroom COMMENT An alternative view Last month, I wrote about jobs and the economy, and our PC caucus' ideas to revitalize manufacturing in Ontario. We believe it is the responsibility of the provincial government to create an economic climate where entrepreneurs and companies will want to invest and create new jobs. And we believe it is the responsibility of opposition parties not to simply oppose, but also to present constructive, alternative suggestions for making things better. Our latest discussion pa- per, Paths to Prosperity: Ad- vanced Manufacturing for a Better Ontario, is presented in that spirit. We propose steps to make Ontario's electricity costs more competitive, by replac- ing the subsidy program for wind and solar projects with an energy policy based on what's best for the economy as a whole. A new power rate for manufacturing and resource- based industries should be considered, to restore our traditional competitive advantage. The government could also seek to negotiate trade deals with neighbour- ing states and provinces, so that we're not dumping our surplus power at the lowest possible price. In strengthening the skills of our workforce, we suggest that our public education system has a vital role in pre- paring students for the job opportuni- ties of the 21st century. It is a given that the apprenticeship system needs to be modernized, and we question the need for the costly new bureaucracy of the College of Trades. And we seek greater workplace democ- racy when it comes to the choice to join a union. To better stimulate job-creating in- vestment, we call on the government to articulate a truthful plan to eliminate the deficit in less than five years, accel- erate the tax benefit of major capital in- vestments, and create a new tax credit for start-up companies. We take aim at red tape, the silent killer of jobs, calling for a top to bottom review of Ontario's regulations, with the goal of eliminating the regulatory bur- den by one-third over the three years. Planning to build the regional trans- portation infrastructure that the GTA and Hamilton areas need could be ex- pedited by having one provincial agen- cy that has the clout to make things happen. We suggest building new subway lines in Toronto should be the priority over new surface-level transit. We also see promoting ex- ports as an opportunity, along with greater co-operation with our prosperous provin- cial neighbours. The entire discussion pa- per can be found at our par- ty's website at: http://www. ontariopc.com/policy/ • • • The Georgetown Hospital Founda- tion's ongoing fundraising activities received a big boost this summer from community-based events. On July 29, the President's Cup Golf Tournament, held at The Club at North Halton, raised $76,000 for our local hospital renovations. Thanks and con- gratulations go out to John Duncan and his team for all their hard work. On August 15, we learned partici- pants in the Halton Hills Community Bike Challenge had crossed the 200,000 km threshold, meaning the Georgetown Hospital Foundation would receive $50,000 from Georgetown Canadian Tire, Paul C. Armstrong Insurance and the Peter Gilgan Foundation. Regional Councillor Jane Fogal de- serves enormous credit for organizing this effort, and channeling our love for cycling into something meaningful for the Georgetown Hospital. --Ted Arnott is the MPP for Welling- ton-Halton Hills. He can be reached at 1-800-265-2366. His website is www.tedarnottmpp.com. The way we were Stewarttown was once the capital of Esquesing Township until it was absorbed into Halton Hills in 1974. Many industries thrived in this once-bustling community, the most long-lived being the flour mill. Pictured here in 1907 are members of the Lawson family who owned and operated the mill through four generations. It was sold in 1962 to Master Feeds. Over the years the structure survived numerous fires and was rebuilt before it was finally leveled in 1972. Information: Heritage Halton Hills. Photo courtesy of the Esquesing Historical Society Stewarttown Mills '...we will be cutting on service and that's never popular.' --Councillor Jane Fogal... see story pg.1 Cadet William Murray from 756 Wild Goose Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in Georgetown, (right) receives the Lieutenant-Colo- nel James Gale Award for Top Cadet on the Basic Aviation Technology & Aerospace Course from his course officer Captain Matthew Dierickse (left) and award namesake James Gale. Cadet Murray was one of 48 cadets who completed a three- week basic course which focuses on teaching cadets the fundamentals of aerospace, airport operations, aircraft manufacturing and mainte- nance. Submitted photo Got a photo you want to share? Email: jmcghie@theifp.ca. TOP GUN From our readers 'Quote unquote' TED ARNOTT