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6 ·The IFP· Halton Hills ·Tuesday, July 3, 2012 OPINION Goal! The debate as to whether Halton Hills needs new ice surfaces has long since passed-- the issue now is for the community at large to help these rinks become a reality sooner than later. Last year Town council decided to go ahead with a three-arena program costing $29.2 million-- the two pads at Mold-Masters and another pad at the Acton Arena. The financing will include a three-year dedicated arena levy on homeowners' tax bills in 2013, 2014, 2015-- $2.45, $12.40 and $12.40 on the average home assessed at $350,000. The majority of funding is coming from the Town of Halton Hills and through increased user fees from the Halton Hills Arena Users Group (HHAUG). However, an additional $2 million is required from the community at large to meet the full cost. Construction on two new additional ice surfaces has begun at Mold-Masters SportsPlex and this project will be completed in the fall of 2013. The Acton Arena and Community Centre expansion will begin in mid-spring 2013 with completion scheduled for the fall of 2014. The HHAUG-led campaign will be approaching corporations, small businesses, individuals, charitable foundations, service clubs and associations and the community at large. The active phase of the campaign has just begun and will continue through September 2013. That means in roughly 15 months $2 million must be raised to meet HHAUG's commitment to the projects. With a hospital expansion fundraising campaign underway and the usual charitable fundraisers that are held locally, this may seem a daunting task. However, we believe the Halton Hills community can help the HHAUG team score on this venture. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@theifp.ca) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@theifp.ca) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@theifp.ca) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@theifp.ca) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@theifp.ca) Letters policy Letters must include an address and daytime phone 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 Anonymous letters will not be published.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. Email: jmcghie@theifp.ca Steve Nease Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters to the editor Tanning laws needed in Ont. Dear editor, The Canadian Cancer Society applauds British Columbia for its plan to introduce regulations preventing young people from using indoor tanning and we urge the Ontario government to follow suit to protect the health of youth in this province. The Society has been advocating for more than six years for provincial legislation to prohibit youth under 18 years of age from accessing indoor tanning equipment. This important health issue needs to be addressed at the provincial level so that all youth across Ontario are protected from the dangers of indoor tanning. Society volunteers and staff have been working hard at the municipal level making deputations to councils across Ontario. As a result, there have been resolutions in support of provincial legislation passed in Prince Edward County, Sarnia, Belleville, Brighton and Petrolia. The Society is sending more than 12,000 letters to MPPs across the province and the three main party leaders currently in a letterwriting campaign calling for action on provincial indoor tanning legislation. We know Ontarians support us. An Ipsos Reid poll conducted in June 2011 and commissioned by the Society showed that: · 83% of Ontarians support a ban on indoor tanning by youth under 18 years · 77% said youth should be prevented from using tanning beds · 73% of Ontarians polled said the tanning industry cannot be trusted to regulate itself and government legislation is needed · 80% of Ontarians support legislation to regulate the tanning industry Research has concluded that using indoor tanning equipment before the age of 35 increases a person's risk of developing melanoma skin cancer by 75%. With such strong evidence as well as public support, why is the Ontario government holding back on legislation that can potentially save lives? Barry Edington, Manager, Georgetown Dufferin Peel Unit Canadian Cancer Society Support appreciated Dear editor, Thank you to the people of Georgetown and Acton and environs for supporting the recent book and toy sale of the Canadian Federation of University Women-- Georgetown. We also thank our sponsors, who include Hey Ray Realty, Emerald Isle Decor, Georgetown Garden Center, LCBO in both locations, Curves in Georgetown, Herbal Magic in Acton, Metro in Georgetown South, Wastewise, Christ the King High School and The Independent & Free Press. The funds will be given to 10 graduates who are continuing on to post secondary education this year from the three local high schools. Scholarship applications are still being accepted at www.cfuwgeorgetown.ca until July 14, 2012. Ruth Taylor, Georgetown WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.theifp.ca) A public fundraising campaign is now underway to raise $2 million to help pay for three additional ice surfaces in Halton Hills. Would you donate to this campaign? · No. Arenas are not a priority (68%) · Yes. There is a severe shortage of local ice time and kids should be able to play in Halton Hills without going out of town (32%) Send a letter The Independent & Free Press welcomes letters to the editor. To submit a letter email jmcghie@ theifp.ca. Include your name, hometown and daytime phone number (for verification purposes). The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.