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OPINION We're not prepared to write off Premier-desig- nate Kathleen Wynne before she's had a chance to right the listing ship that is Ontario. However, we're also not forgetting how she re- cently steered Halton residents off course when it was politically-advantageous to do so. Along with the title of premier, Wynne appears to have won the political equivalent of a stay of execution for her party. While not convinced Wynne will be able to pull Ontario out of the economic mess it is mired in we're hoping for the best. The current political climate in Ontario seems to be about pulling together for the common good over forcing snap elections. That's good. If Wynne can somehow magically deliver jobs to Ontario-- the province that once laid claim to the title of economic engine of the country but currently has the highest unemployment rate west of the Maritimes at 7.9 per cent-- then she might actually fi nish the term Dalton McGuinty started. Still, we are only 18 months removed from then-Minister of Transportation Kathleen Wynne's pre-election promise that no new highway would cross the Niagara Escarpment through Halton. Last year, Halton Regional councillors were shocked and exasperated to learn from a Minis- try of Transportation project co-ordinator that an Escarpment route through north Burlington was still part of a proposed Niagara-to-GTA highway. The same ministry source also confi rmed his de- partment was never formally directed to remove any route options that pre-dated Wynne's 2011 promise. Curiously, Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette also felt the need last week to send Wynne a re- minder that her ministerial replacement, Bob Chiarelli, advised Bonnette last year that the Highway 4-3 option in Halton Hills had been scrubbed. Hopefully Wynne got the memo. While we agree that it is the democratically right thing to do to allow Wynne an opportuni- ty to put Ontario back on the road to economic recovery, we're also acutely aware that when an- other election appears on the political horizon, Wynne is not beyond resorting to that time-hon- oured tradition of expanding the truth to attract more votes. The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Edi- torial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Independent & Free Press Wynne or lose? Steve Nease Letters to the editor Dear editor, In response to Mr. Bastedo's (Jan. 22) letter and your article by Lisa Tallyn on the closing of Mc- Donald's in Walmart. I completely agree with (Mc- Donald's owner) Tim O'Connor to not open a new facility in the new Walmart being constructed. How many businesses do you know that operate at a loss and keep their doors opened? Would you? At least the employees will not lose their jobs. The only rea- son people were able to sit in that location for any length of time was that there wasn't enough customers to start with. If the new location would be cut in half, I doubt very much there would be enough sit- ting area to accommodate people like Mr. Bastedo and his friends. I also think that Walmart sees that area as a waste of space that they can use. So don't blame McDonald's and Mr. O'Connor for what Walmart has decided to do. The Georgetown Market Place has already expanded the sitting area in the food court. Before anyone says that I am bias towards seniors, you should know that I am retired myself, a widower and disabled. That doesn't stop me from going where I want to, or worry about a business clos- ing if it makes sense. We should instead worry about the big picture where we are clos- ing so many industries in our coun- try and relocating them to China, India and other countries because it it cheaper, creating more unem- ployment and part-time jobs with no benefi ts. In this case, all Canadi- ans are on the losing end. Bob Desjardins, Georgetown Letters policy 905-873-0301 Publisher: Dana Robbins 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) Classifi eds Kristie Pells (classifi ed@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) Should local artists be allowed to showcase their works in the Cultural Centre Gallery which now houses the Helson art collection? • Yes (86%) • No (14%) WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.theifp.ca) Closing made business sense New library great CAShh fantastic 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 Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. •T he I FP • H al to n H ill s •T hu rs d ay , F eb ru ar y 7, 2 01 3 6 Dear editor, It was with great pleasure that I attended the evening opening event for the revamped Halton Hills Library and Cultural Centre. This is a magnifi cent facility that will serve the community well for many generations. The building is extremely spacious and functional al- lowing for a broader set of events and engagement with local groups. At the same time, the integration of the exist- ing architectural features of the church creates a building that is a landmark for the downtown area and beyond. I am aware that both Town council and the Library Board had challenging decisions to make in moving forward with the redesigned current location but that's what we look to them for. I commend both groups for their leader- ship and bold vision-- it would have been easy to take a lesser path. I can say that I am extremely proud of the new facility and am confi dent that in the years to come the commu- nity will look back and applaud the leadership of the day. Well done. David Collie, Georgetown Dear editor, Re: The selfl ess Cancer Assistance Services Halton Hills volunteers. This letter is to express how fortu- nate Halton Hills is to have this service made possible by a team of giving volunteers. Recently, a family member had the need to make multiple trips to Prin- cess Margaret Hospital over a six-week period. Making these trips on our own would have been literally impossible. Thanks to the CAShh program, and especially to the volunteer drivers, for making the required treatments pos- sible and for reducing the stress and frustration during this diffi cult time. 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