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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, Ja nu ar y 28 ,2 02 1 | 10 Movers and Shakers Marketplace To advertise in this full colour directory please call Kelli 905-873-7162 or email kkosonic@theifp.ca WINDOWS & SIDING www.winside.ca 873-0841905 CALIFORNIA SHUTTERS CARPET, HARDWOOD, RUGS & TILE The One Store For Your Perfect Floor 26 Guelph St., Downtown Georgetown www.carpetone.ca http://carpetonegeorgetown.goldbook.ca 905-877-9896 Floor and Home THREE EASY WAYS TO SHOP. WINDOWS & DOORS ■ Rep l acemen t W indows ■ Bay & Bow Windows ■ S t o rm Doo r s ■ Pa t i o Doo r s ■ Sea l ed G l a s s Un i t s Serving Halton Hills Since 1991 905 7 03 -0606 We care about your hearing! Professional Arts Building 99 Sinclair Ave., Suite 210, Georgetown 905-873-6642 Serving the community of Halton Hills and surrounding areas since 1992 The Georgetown Dear people of Halton Hills; During these uncertain times, rest assured we remain open to serve you. We have adjusted services according to the guidance by Health Canada. Please call for an appointment. We are not accepting walk ins at this time. We handle every call on an individual basis to best handle each person's needs. Social distancing in clinic with one appointment per time slot in waiting room. If necessary, I offer mailbox drops as well! Take care, be safe and know this will pass. . . . Lend MeYour Ears Business (not quite) as usual.. By Cory Soal R.H.A.D. It has been over a year since the COVID-19 out- break began. 2020 was a difficult year for many, and the challenges will continue into 2021. Ca- nadians are starting to re- ceive the COVID-19 vaccine -- but we are not out of the woods yet. The federal gov- ernment estimates it will take until September before all Canadians have access to the vaccine. 2020 began with the shooting down by the Irani- an regime of UIA Flight PS752, killing 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents. Rail blockades emerged across the country in opposition to the B.C. Coastal GasLink Pipeline. By March, the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, and key programs were intro- duced to assist Canadians who had lost work through no fault of their own. In late August, the prime minister prorogued Parlia- ment to end the parliamen- tary investigations into alle- gations of wrongdoing con- cerning the WE charity. Par- liament resumed following the speech from the throne in late September, where the government laid out its pri- orities. Since then, Parliament has been meeting to provide oversight and approval of the government's plans. Par- liament has been meeting in a hybrid in-person and vir- tual setting to ensure social distancing. Last September, Conser- vative leader Erin O'Toole asked me to be the shadow minister for foreign affairs. In that role, I introduced a motion calling on the gov- ernment to make a decision on Huawei's involvement in Canada's 5G network and de- velop a robust plan to com- bat China's foreign interfer- ence operations here in Can- ada. That motion was passed by the House of Commons in November; the government has yet to comply. This spring, the federal government will deliver a federal budget, the first since 2019. There was no fed- eral budget last year, only a fall economic statement. The statement projected a record-shattering deficit of $382 billion, largely due to emergency spending and a drop in revenues. Parliament is sitting this month. Responding to COVID-19 remains my priority, as does planning for the economic recovery. My colleagues and I are focused on holding the government accountable on its rollout of vaccines and ensuring a strong economic recovery. Michael Chong is the MP for Wellington--Halton Hills, and the shadow min- ister of democratic institu- tions for the official opposi- tion. He can be reached at Mchael.chong.a3@parl. gc.ca. OPINION AN OVERWHELMING YEAR... TO SAY THE LEAST VACCINE ROLLOUT AND ECONOMY RECOVERY TOP PRIORITIES FOR 2021, WRITES MICHAEL CHONG MICHAEL CHONGColumn SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT THEIFP.CA