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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, M ar ch 5, 20 20 | 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 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 Hamilton/Burlington became part of a growing net- work of towns and cities drawn into the largest wave of civil unrest Canada has seen in years when a blockade was set up in late February. Indigenous protesters and their supporters blockaded the busy rail junction near Highway 6 and York Bou- levard near the border of Hamilton and Burlington not long after a Belleville blockade came down. Pro- testers were not only sup- porting the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs in B.C., they were also protesting the removal of that block- ade. Similarly, protesters from the Six Nations area seized and closed the Highway 6 bypass near Caledonia. The group -- one of multiple popping up across the country in support of Wet'suwet'en land defenders pro- testing the planned Coastal GasLink pipeline on their traditional territory -- camped out on the tracks be- tween the Hamilton and Aldershot GO stations. They had tarps, ropes and campfires. The tracks were shut down, wreaking havoc for many travelers. The protesters were served with a court injunction to leave the property by CN Rail on Monday, Feb. 24, sever- al hours after the protest began. However, the group said they burned the injunction and remained on the tracks, with supporters bringing food and firewood throughout the next day. The group left around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Three people were later arrested. In the end, the situation was resolved peacefully. Yes, the blockades are illegal. People have a right to protest legally, but they don't have a right to take over public or private property or block public infrastruc- ture, like rail and transit services. But it's important to remember there is a process in place. First, the people or entity being blockaded need to request an injunction from a court. Once it is granted, responsibility for implementing the injunction moves to law enforcement authorities. When you are feeling impatient about blockades, it might help to remember that police need to follow their own processes and exercise their training and disci- pline. It's not simply a matter of donning riot gear and mov- ing in, nor should it be. We don't need a Wild West ap- proach; we need one that optimizes safety for everyone involved. REMAIN CALM AND LET POLICE DO THEIR JOB It's not simply a matter of donning riot gear and moving in, nor should it be. Changes are coming to how those selling mutual funds are compensated. This affects funds sold using the Deferred Sales Charge (DSC) method. Let's review the DSC ba- sics. A mutual fund company pays a selling commission at the time of a sale. Exit fees are paid if the investor sells the fund within seven years. The Ontario Securi- ties Commission (OSC) is- sued a press release outlin- ing a public proposal to gather input before mak- ing any final decision.Sale of DSC mutual funds would be prohibited to those aged 60 and older, or who have an investment time hori- zon shorter than the DSC schedule. A DSC fund cannot be used to purchase an invest- ment with borrowed mon- ey, or an amount above $50,000.Liquidity is being enhanced for investors. The maximum DSC schedule is limited to three years, allowing investors to withdraw 10 per cent of the value of the fund every cal- endar year. Investor circumstances can change, and the DSC schedule reduction from seven years to three years addresses regulator-con- sidered weaknesses in the current system. If a client suffers hardship like losing full-time employment, be- coming ill or disabled, then withdraws from a mutual fund, they would pay no ex- it fee. The proposed date to im- plement these rules is June 1, 2022. DSC mutual fund sales have been a point of discussion for many years. The Canadian Securi- ties Administrator was proposing all DSC sales be banned. Ontario previously was in agreement to the ban, but after the last provincial election this position was reversed. Investors, however, still have a choice. Many funds are sold on a front end, low load, fee-based and with a DSC option. Individuals should edu- cate themselves on the most suitable options for their needs. Peter Watson is regis- tered with Aligned Capital Partners Inc. (ACPI) to provide investment advice. Investment products are provided by ACPI. ACPI is a member of the Invest- ment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of ACPI. Peter Watson provides wealth management ser- vices through Watson In- vestments. DO YOU BUY MUTUAL FUNDS? HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEW COMPENSATION CHANGES WHEN MAKING YOUR INVESTMENT, WRITES PETER WATSON PETER WATSON Column