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•Th e IFP• H alton H ills, Thursday, A pril 3, 2014 7 NATURAL GAS GOING UP BY 28% IS IT TIME TO UPGRADE YOUR FURNACE & WATER HEATER? 905-877-3100 www.BrooksHeatingAndAir.ca • 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 22 times • Visit our showroom COMMENT Region proves itself a great place to work and live Halton Regional Council is committed to ensuring that you are informed about both our pri- orities and the management of your tax dollars. Our Citizens' Re- port 2013 provides a progress report on both. I am very proud of what we have ac- complished over the past year. According to our most recent survey, Halton residents rate the overall qual- ity of life in Halton very high at 99 per cent, which is above the national aver- age. Satisfaction with Halton Regional services is also very high, with 97 per cent of Halton residents satisfied with the job that the region is doing. Halton Region has maintained a strong, sustainable financial po- sition, including a Triple A credit rating while minimizing impacts on you the taxpayer. In fact, on average, we have had a zero per cent tax increase over the past eight years. We have supported the growth and success of innovative busi- nesses, adding new jobs and con- tinued economic success in Hal- ton. Infrastructure has been identi- fied by Halton residents as a pri- ority. In 2013 we invested $289 million in roads alone, a signifi- cant investment. Last year in Georgetown, we improved access to health services by moving our public health clinic to the Georgetown Market Place. Last year, council also ap- proved a Development Financing Plan that ensures growth pays for itself as well as a new Action Plan that sets the di- rection for Halton's agri-tourism efforts. Municipalities receive only 11 per cent of every tax dol- lar. With this small amount, we provide cost-effective and high quality pro- grams and services that touch your life daily. Through our Advocating for a Strong Halton cam- paign, we work with the provincial and federal governments to ensure that they are our funding partners in deliv- ering the programs and services that Halton residents have iden- tified as a priority. You can find more information at www.halton. ca/advocacy. In 2014, we continue to work to ensure that Halton remains a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire. To review the Citizens' Report and our 2014 key actions, visit www.halton.ca/actionplan. As always, if you have any re- gional concerns or comments you would like to share, please feel free to email me at gary.carr@hal- ton.ca. You can also find me on Twit- ter @garycarrhalton, LinkedIn or Facebook. -- Gary Carr is the Regional Chair of Halton GARY CARR The way we were All the signs of spring can be seen with the annual flooding at the dam in Glen Williams from this image from 1930. Image: courtesy of the Esquesing Historical Society Content: Heritage Halton Hills. A sign of spring 'It feels a lot like 1966 around here' --Fred Eaglesmith... see story pg. 16 Diane Gardisch on Gollop Crescent sent this photo of a deer behind her house. There have been about 25 deer looking for snacks in the corn fields near 10th Line/10th Sideroad last week. Gardisch is also a member of the Halton Hills Camera Club. Got a photo you want to share? Email: cgamble@theifp.ca. PICTURE THIS From our readers 'Quote unquote'