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6 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, June 10, 2010 OPINION Economy is not out of the woods yet There's some positive news on the job front in Ontario. The most recent Labour Force Survey released by Statistics Canada shows an increase of 18,000 full-time positions in Ontario during the month of May. That brings the total employment gains in the province to 127,000 since July 2009-- an increase of 1.9 per cent compared to 1.8 per cent growth nationally. Across Canada, the number of full-time positions was up 67,000 in the month, but was slightly offset by losses of 43,000 parttime jobs. Gains were reported in transportation and warehousing (26,000), health care and social assistance (18,000), public administration (13,000) and agriculture (9,000). But it wasn't all positive news from Statistics Canada. Despite Ontario's job growth, the province's unemployment rate edged up slightly to 8.9 per cent as the number of people entering the job market and population figures rose. Also, a study of laid off auto manufacturing employees at three Ontario plants shows only about one quarter are working and most of them earn a lot less since the economy began recovering last year. The Canadian Auto Workers said Monday that preliminary results from tracking the experiences of 260 laid off members at Chrysler Canada in Brampton and two parts makers reveals almost half of them have also bounced from job to job and are struggling with social problems. Even with modest EI reforms recently announced, it's clear that the recession will be felt for years to come by these workers. What's more clear is the fact that the government cannot yet declare victory in the battle toward economic recovery. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@independentfreepress.com) WEB POLL RESULTS A number of community events and celebrations will be taking place in the coming weeks. Are you likely to...? Participate and enjoy the community spirit (55%) Ignore all and stay at home (45%) Steve Nease Go to www.independentfreepress.com Letters to the editor Mom grateful for CAShh Dear editor, My world changed forever when I was given the diagnosis that I had a astrocytoma tumour on the right side of my brain. As a mother of a six-year-old and four-year-old, I went into crisis mode. My driver's licence was suspended as I have partial seizures. I was told that my radiation treatment would be five days a week for six weeks at The Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Hospital. I called CAShh (Cancer Assistance Services of Halton Hills) after seeing articles and letters in your paper. I spoke to Margaret who arranged everything! I received rides to and treatment since March 11 and I cannot express my gratitude for my volunteer drivers! They are there waiting for me, keeping me company and sharing a laugh or two when I really need it. Losing my independence has been a struggle but my volunteer drivers let me know they are there for me without reservation. I met with Sheila and the other wonderful staff at CAShh and they are such great people. They are truly committed to this cause. On March 27 it was my daughter Martie's fourth birthday which we had at Georgetown Bowl. We asked in lieu of gifts, that friends and family donate to CAShh and we raised over $300. I know for a fact that if it were not for the staff and volunteers at CAShh, I would not be able to do this. Please let people know that when CAShh comes to do their door to ask for a collection, the money is used to give others hope and healing as they battle this awful disease. Kimm Fletcher, Acton Our volunteers this year included students from both Milton and Georgetown high schools, as well as additional volunteers provided by Bahr Saddlery and Recovery House. The volunteers collected more than 300 bags of garbage plus tires, car parts, containers of all shapes and sizes and many other items. At the barbecue after the clean-up Ward 2 Councillor Bryan Lewis took over his usual position as "chef", cooking sausages, hamburgers and hotdogs for the volunteers. We would like to thank Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette and the Town staff for their assistance in planning this event and for permission to use Hornby Park as a staging area. We would also like to thank our sponsors Agram Meats, Metro Georgetown, Hornby Glen Golf Course, Maple Lodge Farms, Pepsi, Superior Glove, and Tim Hortons for their continued support which helped to make Hornby Clean-up Day a tremendous success. Last, but not least, we thank all our volunteers for their efforts to clean up the environment and we extend an invitation to all volunteers to join us April 2011. Peter Vaughan, Event Co-ordinator, H.A.R.P. Letters to the editor policy Letters must include an address and daytime telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Hornby's H.A.R.P. appreciates volunteers Dear editor, Re: Hornby 10th Annual CleanUp Day April 17. April 17 was a bitterly cold day with wind whipping rain and sleet at the hardy clean-up crews of Hornby Association of Rate Payers (H.A.R.P.) Annual Clean-up Day. More than 100 volunteers turned out to clean the garbage from the creeks and roadside ditches of the Hornby area. The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. 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