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dentistoakville.com den 905-842-6030 90 SNA NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR 2010 ONTARIO'S TOP NEWSPAPER - 2005-2008 Cherub Choir Artscene 353 IROQUOIS SHORE DRIVE, OAKVILLE A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 49 No. 141 "USING COMMUNICATION TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES" FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2011 48 Pages $1.00 (plus tax) Police take RIDE 101 to school By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Iroquois Ridge High School students took RIDE 101 Tuesday when Halton Regional Police Service kicked off this year's RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign at the school. The police have again partnered with local students, businesses and community organizations to offer RIDE 101, a program designed to educate drivers, particularly young future drivers, about the importance of responsibility while driving and the consequences associated with mixing alcohol or drugs and operating a vehicle. RIDE 101, which will be presented to high schools across Halton, was officially launched at the high school located on Glenashton Drive. RIDE 101 officers have teamed up with Iroquois Ridge students to distribute RIDE 101 educational information, provide students an opportunity to test roadside screening devices and put all students through a series of simulated roadside sobriety tests. The program consists of daytime and nighttime components. The daytime segment was held at the school Tuesday morning. The evening portion included student council members assisting officers at an actual RIDE spot-check that ran from 6-9 p.m. in front of the high school. CHANTAL AYOTTE / OAKVILLE BEAVER The program is supported by Halton's school boards, Mothers Against Drunk CROSSING THE LINE: Halton Regional Police officer Paul Proteau wears on his belt the Fatal Drivers (MADD), McDonald's Restaurants Vision Simulator Glasses that simulate visual impairment caused by drugs or alcohol. For more photos of RIDE 101 at Iroquois Ridge High School, see page 16. and Tim Hortons. Region eyes 2012 tax freeze By Christina Commisso METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP Halton is eyeing a third consecutive year of f freezing taxes for regional services. Wednesday, regional council got a glimpse of the 2012 budget, which anticipates a zero per cent change in property taxes for regional services such as waste management, public health and transportation, a 3.5 per cent increase in the water and wastewater rate and a 3.4 per cent budget increase for policing. With the regional services and police services budgets combined, residents are looking at 1.3 per cent tax increase on the Halton portion of their tax bill in 2012. Regional CAO Pat Moyle said keeping regional property taxes low gives municipalities more wiggle room in their own budgets for increases. "We receive a significant amount of money from the Province of Ontario to deliver downloaded programs and cost-shared programs. We run our water See Region page 3 Town sets budget talks By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Before Oakville tables its proposed 2012 budget in January, the Budget Committee wants to know how satisfied residents are with town programs and services and how important those services and programs are to taxpayers. "This pre-budget consultation exercise was See Consultation page 5 OAKVILLE'S REBATE EXPERTS! Relax and Let our Licenced Staff Look After All the Government Paper Work, So You Don't Have To! Don't get Hooked! If an offer seems to good to be true... it probably is! At A1, we believe in straight forward pricing with no strings attached and our no-hassle installation and quality service always makes the bottom line look better. So before you bite - give us a call. We'll get you off the hook! 905-822-0933 905-844-2949 Maintenance Specials on NOW! Excellent Financing and Great Terms. inancing at Terms.