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•Th e IF P• H al to n H ill s • Th ur sd ay , A ug us t 2 1, 2 01 4 6 OPINION The robocalls scandal that played out during the 2011 federal election is well known-- several voters in nearby Guelph, largely Liberal supporters, were contact- ed by an automated system and provided misleading voting instructions. Last week, former Conservative staffer Michael Sona was convicted of prevent- ing or trying to prevent voters from cast- ing a ballot. It's not yet known if Sona will appeal; sentencing is set for next month. The Liberal candidate in Guelph still won, but the riding was viewed as vulner- able to the Conservatives and someone, or some group, pulled out all the stops in an effort to dodge democracy and manip- ulate their way to a win. This type of tactic sets a new low in po- litical wrangling and further erodes the often tenuous public trust in the electoral system and our representatives them- selves, with heavy suspicion about a "wiz- ard" behind the green curtain. Voter turnout was up, slightly, during the recent provincial election, but the quantity of people engaged in the politi- cal process is generally trending down- ward. It's vitally important anyone and ev- eryone involved in the robocalls case is sussed out and charged to the fullest ex- tent possible. Restoring faith in democracy is of ut- most importance, as this scenario could easily happen again if not judiciously curtailed. The Independent & Free Press is published Thursday and is one of sev- eral Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copy- right. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Independent & Free Press is a member of the Ontario Press Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For additional information or to file a complaint, contact info@ ontpress.com or call 416- 340-1981. The Independent & Free Press Besmirched Letters to the editor To the unscrupulous person(s) who stole my mom's wallet in the Georgetown Walmart-- you don't know or care that my mom just lost her life partner of 65 years, how she struggles to get through each day and put on a brave face, saying my dad would want her to carry on. I hope whatever you do with the money you stole from her wallet and her bank account, along with the advance and charges you put on her credit card render you with sleepless nights. If you have her wallet, please return it to us - the pictures and cards inside are priceless. Think about what you have done, dig down deep and have a conscience. Remember what goes around comes around. Julie Freemantle, Georgetown Will you be attending the CNE? • No (81%) • Yes (19%) WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.theifp.ca) Karma will get you Editorial was appreciated Further, I'd like to remind folks about Equilibrium-Georgetown (www. equilibrium-oakville.com/georgetown), a peer support group for individuals and families who are affected by a mood disorder, specifically depres- sion and bipolar disorder. Meetings take place the fourth Wednesday of each month, September to November and January to June at Norval United Church, 486 Guelph St., Norval. Doors open at 7 p.m. There's usually a guest speaker from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. and then discussion groups until 9:30 p.m. Meetings are free. Let's continue the conversation that was sparked by Robin Williams' tragic death and help those struggling to regain good mental health. I'm certain Robin would approve. Elaine Van Doorn, Equilibrium-Georgetown I was so pleased that last week's editorial was devoted to the topic of mental illness, specifically depres- sion. It's a topic that has been more prevalent in the media in the last few years, with campaigns like Bell's Let's Talk and Clara's Big Ride. Yet there's so much more that needs to be done to break down the walls of silence, to make it okay for people to admit and acknowledge they're struggling and to ask for help. There needs to be more funding for mental health services and especially for research in the area of brain science. In addition to the CMHA/Peel Branch mentioned in the editorial, there's also the Halton website (halton. cmha.ca). In our area we're fortu- nate to have good mental health care through the North Halton Mental Health Clinic (Georgetown Market Place) and a new CMHA office at 211 Guelph St., Unit 5. Yet there are still long waiting lists for those seeking help. Letters must include the author's name, address and daytime phone number. Anony- mous 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: cvernon@metroland.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 77, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters policy 905-873-0301 Publisher: Dana Robbins General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca) Managing editor: Chris Vernon (cvernon@metroland.com) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca) Classifieds/Real Estate Kristie Pells (classified@theifp.ca or realestate@theifp.ca) Classified Call Centre 1-855-415-8237 haltonhillsclassads@metroland.com Accounting 1-866-773-6575 Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@theifp.ca) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@theifp.ca) Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox by signing up for our twice weekly electronic newsletter. Go to www.theifp.ca and click on 'Newsletter sign-up' at the bottom of the homepage.