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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, O ct ob er 31 ,2 01 9 | 2 Share your vision for sustainability The Town of Halton Hills and CVC invite residents and community groups to help create the Hungry Hollow Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan (SNAP). Share your ideas and work with experts on a plan for this unique neighbourhood. Open House Hungry Hollow SNAP Thurs., Nov. 7, 2019 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Mold-Masters SportsPlex, Alcott Room 221 Guelph St, Georgetown Register: cvc.ca/hhsnapevent or 1-800-668-5557 ext. 445 CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC SS GRADE 8 PARENT INFORMAT ION N IGHT THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH , 2019 6 : 30 PM- 8 : 30PM The Staff and Students of Christ the King Catholic Secondary School Cordially invite all parents of Grade 8 students to our: Grade 8 Parent Information Night Come and discover our range of programs and course offerings. Staff and students will be present to provide detailed information and answer questions about the school and school life. Learn more about our: Registration Process Course Selection Information Program Demonstrations Student Voice and Leadership Opportunities CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC SS 161 Guelph Street Georgetown, ON 905.702.8838 www.ctk.ca Please join us. All are welcome! The amalgamation of Oakville, Burlington, Mil- ton and Halton Hills will not be taking place and the mayors of these communi- ties along with many resi- dents are celebrating. The Ford government announced Friday (Oct. 25) during an update on its re- gional government review that it had decided not to impose changes to size or structure to municipal gov- ernments. Instead, it will provide $143 million to lo- cal municipalities to help lower costs and improve services for residents over the long term. Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette said he thinks everyone is re- lieved there won't be any City of Halton or any other scenarios. "Minister Clark listened to our concerns along with similar concerns from the 82 municipalities and re- gions that were being re- viewed," he said. "I want to thank Premier Ford and Minister Clark for recog- nizing that municipalities are the closest to the people and for committing addi- tional resources to support local decision making." Milton Mayor Gord Krantz says he's happy with the outcome. "I'm pleased with re- gards to Halton being left alone because in my opin- ion it has been working reasonably well," he said. "I'm a firm believer that big government is not neces- sarily better or more effi- cient. If anything, it is probably just the opposite. That's one of the things that I have always been op- posed to is huge bureaucra- cies. They don't work effi- ciently as far as I'm con- cerned." The news was well re- ceived by Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. "The announcement that the province will not proceed with any amal- gamation or other interfer- ence in local municipal af- fairs is exactly what Town council and Oakville resi- dents have been working towards," said Burton. "Our residents made al- most 4,400 submissions to the province in opposition to the amalgamation of Oakville with Burlington, Milton, Halton Hills or to changes in our municipal representation, and their opposition was heard. We thank all those residents who wrote letters to Pre- mier Doug Ford, the Minis- ter of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark, our MPP and others re- garding regional review and amalgamation and congratulate them for making a difference. We al- so thank the Province for listening to council and our recommendations." Burlington Mayor Mari- anne Meed Ward took to so- cial media to applaud the province's decision to lis- ten to the feedback they re- ceived from the municipal and regional governments and local residents. "Deciding not to over- haul the regional govern- ment system with a top- down approach and pro- viding up to $143 million in funding over four years to all Ontario municipalities will allow us to continue to self-govern and continue to find our own ways to lower costs and improve our ser- NEWS MAYORS CELEBRATE END OF AMALGAMATION THREAT DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com RESIDENTS' GROUP CREDITS OPPOSITION CAMPAIGN WITH CHANGING GOVERNMENT DIRECTION THE ISSUE: MUNICIPAL AMALGAMATION LOCAL IMPACT: HALTON HILLS WILL REMAIN AS-IS NOW THAT THE PROVINCE HAS TAKEN AMALGAMATION OFF THE TABLE Torstar file photos The Province has taken amalgamation off the table. See PROVINCE, page 3