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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, S ep te m be r 26 ,2 01 9 | 6 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@theifp.ca IndependentAndFreePress @IFP_11 WHO WE ARE Publisher Kelly Montague Regional General Manager Steve Foreman Regional Director of Media Holly Chriss Regional Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara Managing Editor Karen Miceli Distribution Representative Iouliana Polar Real Estate Kristie Pells Regional Production Manager Manuel Garcia Production Shelli Harrison Halton Media General Manager Vicki Dillane CONTACT US The Independent & Free Press 280 Guelph Street, Unit 77 Georgetown, ON L7G 4B1 Phone: 905-873-0301 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-873-0398 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at theifp.ca Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail lpolar@miltoncanadianchampion.com or call 905-234-1019. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT THEIFP.CA EDITORIAL LETTERS & COMMENTARY Well, this doesn't sound good. Earlier this year, the prov- ince appointed a team to study the way Halton and seven other regions around Ontario are governed. It's still ongo- ing and not expected to be completed until later this fall. Locally, it could end with municipal maps being re- drawn. Halton might or might not retain its regional gov- ernment, and the four local municipalities could be amal- gamated in some way to end up with a smaller number. Or not. It's all in the mix, we are told. However, a report published last week by our sister paper The Brampton Guardian says the studies' results might never be made public. For Queen's Park to impose changes on Halton without revealing the findings from the months of study would be absolutely wrong. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown - a former leader of the Progressive Conservative party now led by Premier Doug Ford - and Peel regional Coun. Michael Palleschi say they got the word straight from Steve Clark, Ontario's minister of municipal affairs and housing. Palleschi provided the newspaper with a video clip from last month's Association of Municipalities of Ontario con- vention. In it, Clark is asked whether the findings of the study would be released publicly before or after the provincial cabinet chooses what to do. "I want to take my time. The recommendations will be presented as confidential advice to cabinet," Clark says on the recording. "I'm going to take my time, as I've said many times in the past, to review it with my cabinet colleagues." As Clark describes it, this sounds like absolutely the wrong way to go. Leaders of the studies - former deputy minister Michael Fenn and ex-Waterloo Region chairman Ken Seiling, both highly respected in municipal affairs - toured the province, hearing comments from the public and local politicians. The proper way to go about this is to allow Fenn and Seiling to have time to put together a full, fair report. Don't rush. But in the end, it needs to be made public before cabinet decides what to do. If it's presented first as a cabinet document, though, it might never see the light of day as a matter of cabinet confidentiality. It's unclear what part of its contents would need to be protected from public viewing. But surely if there are some, those could be redacted while the rest of the report is released. It's our right to see the results of a study we paid for and were invited to take part in. We might not like the out- come, but if it is fair and well thought out, we can live with it. What we can't accept is our community being rein- vented via decisions imposed on us from behind locked doors. MUNICIPAL REFORM STUDY SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC HALTON HILLS NEEDS READER BOARDS FOR MOTORISTS Concerning rush hour traffic on our country roads: Now that school is back and with more and more homes being built in the ar- ea, more and more people are commuting. It is adding to the stress- es of rush-hour traffic. Our road systems are not de- signed for the volumes we now experience, sometimes leading to more stress, road rage and even the occasion- al accident. Like on Sept 11. When the road accidents happen, wouldn't it be nice if Halton Hills had reader boards stat- ing where the traffic snarls are. Eastbound on 5th Side- road and 10th Line the road was closed due to a traffic accident. Halton Regional Police Service could have in- stalled a temporary reader board at 10th Sideroad and 10th Line advising as such. Thankfully, I'm getting closer to retirement and I won't have too many more years to tolerate the traffic. YVONNE BENSON HALTON HILLS RECORD NUMBER IN TERRY FOX RUN IN GEORGETOWN Terry Fox ran through snow near St. John's, rain in Sault Ste. Marie and blister- ing heat just about every- where else. In Georgetown, the skies opened up this year for the 39th annual Terry Fox Run, but it did not dampen the spirits or generosity of those who turned up at the Gellert Centre. Thanks to the help of a record number of volun- teers and the presence and donations of a dedicated group of runners, walkers, rollers and skaters, we cele- brated a very successful event and pushed our total dollars raised in George- town in the fight against cancer to just under $500,000. Domino's Pizza and Ter- ra Cotta Cookie Co. provid- ed free goodies, while hun- dreds gathered to honour Terry Fox and put yet an- other dent in the armour of this disease. Next year will mark 40 years since Terry Fox ran through Georgetown. On Sept. 20, 2020, we will push past half a million dollars raised in his name. I want to extend a very sincere thank you to all who braved the rain and volun- teered or attended the 2019 Terry Fox Run. See you next year! STEPHEN DAME LEAD ORGANIZER, GEORGETOWN TERRY FOX RUN PROMOTE IT TODAY FOR FREE THEIFP.CA/EVENTS HOSTING A THANKSGIVING EVENT? MAKE IT A SUCCESS!