The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

•T h e IF P • H alto n H ills, Thursday, July 31, 2014 7 • 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 Arleen got 10 car insurance quotes in just a fewminutes. Who knew it could be that easy? The simple way to shop for insurance. COMMENT It's an honour to serve The Ontario Legislature began a (sometimes sweltering) summer sitting on July 2, with the election of a Speak- er for the 41st Provincial Parliament. After the third ballot, we learned that Brant MPP Dave Levac would again take the Chair as Speaker. The next day's agenda included the "swearing in" of Members of Provincial Parliament and the Speech from the Throne. On that morning of July 3, for the first time ever, MPPs pledged allegiance to the Queen en masse in the Legis- lative Chamber. Lieutenant- Governor David Onley pre- sided. While the ceremony was over quickly, I again reflected upon the amazing privilege I have been granted by the people of Wellington-Halton Hills, and my gratitude to my campaign team and supporters across our riding. In the afternoon, the House was called back into session for the first Throne Speech of the re-elected Liberal government led by Premier Kathleen Wynne. It is often said that Throne Speeches are vague and vacuous, but this one left no doubt as to the direction the govern- ment intends to take. They intend to "lead from the activ- ist centre," the Speech indicated. They "will put evidence before ideology and choose partnership over partisanship." They acknowledged "that trust is hard-earned, but easily lost." Only time will tell… ***** As the Official Opposition, it is our role to hold the Liberal government ac- countable in the Legislature, pointing out the flaws and drawbacks of their agenda and their policies. I also believe we have an obligation to offer positive alternatives. But first and foremost, we must speak on behalf of the people in our ridings. As the Liberals had promised, on July 14 the government tabled the same budget as the one that triggered the election this past spring. I remain very concerned about the key numbers in the budget, as I said many times during the election cam- paign. The projected deficit this year is $12.5 billion, up from $11.3 billion last year. The net provincial debt will be $289 billion this year, up from $269 billion last year. Provincial govern- ment spending is ex- pected to be $130 billion, up from $127 billion last year. The net debt per cap- ita, in effect, the amount owed by each Ontario resident, will be $21,019, up from $11,339 in 2003. Interest payments on the provincial debt are $11 billion. This is the third largest expenditure in the budget, be- hind only health and education. Inter- est costs are expected to rise by almost 8 per cent per year for the foreseeable future and will be the fastest growing expense item in the budget going for- ward. ***** On July 4, I was honoured to be named our Party's Critic to the Minister of Economic Development, Employ- ment and Infrastructure by PC Leader Jim Wilson. A few days later, I was appointed by a motion of the House to be the First Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole House (an assistant Speaker position). While these roles will be de- manding, as always, my commitment to the people of Wellington-Halton Hills comes first. - Ted Arnott is the MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills TED ARNOTT The way we were How times change as seen in a photo from 1930. Here is the Glen Woollen Mill from Main Street looking up the flume. The ditch is still there. The mill burned in 1954. The property is now owned by the Random Car Club. Image courtesy of the Esquesing Historical Society; Content Heritage Halton Hills From mills to cars 'Entrepreneurship plays an integral role...' --... see story pg. 30 Redford seems to take an interest in the Real Estate section of The IFP. Redford is a three-year-old brindle Great Dane. Reader Bente McKenna shared the photo. Got a photo you want to share? Email: cgamble@theifp.ca. AN AVID READER From our readers 'Quote unquote'