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What taxpayers can expect from Region this term Regional Chair delivers inaugural address atfirst meeting Of new regional council By Christina Commisso CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Erce rain barrcls, bus passes for Ontario Works recipients ancd a greater ernphasis on social media arc somne of the things [talion rcsidents can exuci lrorn regional counicîf this tcrrn. During his inaugural spccch Wcdncsday, Regionaf Chair Gary Carr outlined Halions acbievcrnients in the last four y'cars and wbiat he'd like to, sec corne frorn council cbarnbcrs during the next four years. C arr also niade note of a couple new prograîns ibai could hc rolled out with councif's approval. In the finance, cnvironrncnial and safciy categories, tbe Region bas acbievcd top gracdes xx îîfi Cari ai the hefîn of counc if f le reinied those în atîcudance duait for the ibird ycar running, Macleans Magazine bas narned Hialton as the safesi place to live in the GTA and the safesi regional rnunicipality in Canada. With a total residential tax increaise of less than haîf a per cent over four y'ears, Halion bas achieved a AAA credit raiing, wbicb Carr said be hopes to maintaîn. This year saw a zero per cent tax increase and regionaf staff is poîsed to delîver a second consecutîvc zcro increase budget f'or 2011. "Even in the era of taxes freezes. Halton bas stili enjoyed enhanccd prograis and services înclcîding weekly bloc box collc- tion, green cart collection, cnbanccd and new water and wastewater facilities and a ncw air qualiiy monitoring prograin," tbe acclairned chair iold tbc audicnce. Another A carne in tbe enivironincnitaf cfepartient, witi [alion Region baving tbc bigbest waste diversion raie in the (,TA. 'Over 60 per cent of residential waste is nios being dis'eried,- said C arr. 'Wbai ibai ineans is 27,000 fess ions of garbage and 1,700 fewer trucks going to the landfill." [ie said as a result of the prograrns the Hlalion lancîfill bas cxtended uts file expecîancy by nie y'ears. In 2009 ancf 2010 tbe Region rolled oui a pilot ramn barrel prograin, wfiicb saw Il,000 barrels sofd. Tbis trainslates io 1.2 rnillion liters of municipal waîer savec ach ycar. "'is incredible ibai sorneibing as simplce as a ramn barref cari bave such a clramnaiic resufi," be Cair said lie plalis to inirodUcfcc a lie\% pro- grain ihai WOUfcl sec a ramn barrel corne xx iib c'acf iinexs honme i I lalicrn. lie said t ie pro- grain wîll bc furndecl ihrougbi developrneni charges. Ernpfoy'rneni was anoiber topic ( arr toucbcd upon during bis adclress. "VVe'vc been tolc l iai access io irans- portaticon is ofien a barrier in sorne residenîts *see RESIDENTS' on page A4 Mo o~ Krantz <left) and newly elect- ed Local and Regiona Councillor Tony Lambert take the oath "ce_ Hibbert & Associates Foot Clinic " Inqrown Nails " Callous/Coms * Dry Cracked Heels * Warts " Crooked Tées " Fialt Feet dU " Heel Spurs * DÎabeic Foot Care * Custom Orthotics I ~www. mi to nfootc lini C.c a INO REFERRALS NECESSARY *SATURDAY APPOINTMENTS AVAILAB LEI