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* = OPINION PROVINCE BUILDING ON ENVIRONMENTAL 3 SUCCESSES, WRITES ° STEPHEN CRAWFORD Jakville Beaver | Thursday, August 10, 2023 STEPHEN CRAWFORD Column As the Oakville MPP, I'm deeply aware of the urgent need to protect and pre- serve our natural spaces. I'm proud to report on the environmental strides our government has taken since 2018 to ensure future generations have a clean, green Ontario to enj One of our key initia: tives has bee: le Gret ds Conservation Part nerships program, the sin- gle largest provincial fund to support private land pro- tection in Ontario. 167,000 hectares of ecologi- cally significant land, two and a half times the size of Toronto. This includes ma- jor projects like the Has- tings Wildlife Junction and Boreal Wildlands, securing hundreds of thousands of acres 0 of. crucial habitats, pro ial parks and conservation reserves are essential sanctuaries spaces, as a as vital SO r our mental health and well-being. Big- Lake Provincial Park, the province's first new operating park in 40 years, will offer recreation- al opportunities while pro- € mot ‘ironmental 8 preservation ‘and tourism. 8 It is a perfect embod ment of how we can bal 3 ance enjoyment of our ba 2 -WORKING TOWARD A GREENER ONTARIO ural heritage with its pro- ion. We're also pioneering the idea of an urban pro- vincial park in Uxbridge. r York's Central Park, will ensure city dwellers have easy access fe recreational opportunities It will boost local tour- ism and e protection and health of lo- cal wildlife and the envi- ronment. The proposed Alfred Bog bales Park is an- ther important environ- mental in initiative. This nonoperating park will protect the largest bog of its kind in southern On- tario, an area that has seen 70 per cent of its wetlands TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT INSIDEHALTON.COM SNAPSHOT Clive Williams photo ABOUT This newspaper, published every of newspapers is comprise publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the He newspaper and, if not satisfied, ite The National NewsMedia Council, Suite rn i Yonge St., Toror Phone: 416- Sa 961 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca nnc Aocna Funded bythe Govenmont or canad | Canada insidehalton@metroland.com com/OakvilleBeav @OakvilleBeaver WHO WE ARE Vice President, Editorial Lee Ann Waterman Metroland Editor-In-Chief aul Berton lost, sheltering sensitive | A swan takes a dip in 16 Mile Creek, near Hillmer Park. Do you have a great local photo you'd like Hesianal Gor General Manager animal and plantspeciesin | to share? Send it to sleblanc@metroland.com, along with a brief description. jason Pahoa a Content rich area. ee Ann Waterman ly, roposed Regional Managing Editor Monarch ‘Point Conserva- knowing youarecontribut- | Catherine O'Hara tion Reserve underlines ing to the well-being of oth- | Managing Editor our commitment to pro- os. in Miceli tecting biodiversity. RETI REMENT INTERE T Y ? ying active can be | [yrowation Manager This area is a globally sett because of the men- | Director of Advertising significant site for bird di- tal ‘Stimulation. Cindi Campbell versity and an Internation- Director Ci al Monarch Butterfly Re- KEEPING ACTIVE is having diminished men- | Paul Gostlin serve, and the proposed re- HAS MANY tal ability and the advice CONTACT Us serve will ensure these im- given by health profession- portant habitats are BENEFITS, WRITES ast is to keep your brainac- | Qakville Beaver protected. 211 Pritchard Rd., pata, These efforts reflect our PETER WATSON v Throughout your ca- | Hamilton, 's dedication to gove conservation and the pres- rvation of our precious natural ae It is our legacy for future ge tions, a testament to our belief that progress and en- vironmental stewardship can and must go hand in hand. I am proud of our ac- complishments and eager to continue protecting our beautiful province for the benefit of all Ontarians Stephen Crawford is the MPP for Oakville. He can be reached at ste- phen.crawford- Th retire- ment age has b 65 for PETER WATSON reer you might have had een certain goals and aspira- many decades. However, Column tons. Sy youage you might ings hi h cd. find th Life expectancy has in- and other ent construc- _ tions change. creased, and therefore the __ tion project As people enter their number of years spent in inatis woul providecon- 60s, they still have much to retirement could be much longer than in the past. Continuing to work has many advantages. to sail or ski. Some would consider that more of a hobby than a job. exam- ples of eee with office job e who con- vert ‘to mo > physical labour, including building decks me, which could be “useful since life expectancy has increased. There are potentially more years ahead to keep paying the bills. If earning an income is not important, you could consider wore for free fit organiza- tion 1 that provides services to your communit compensation would be satisfaction at give. If you have retired or are planning to soon, con- sider the benefit to yourself and others if you continue to work. Peter Watson, of Watson Investments MBA, CFP®, R.EP, CIM®, FCSI offers a weekly financial plan- ning column, Dollars & Sense. He can be contacted through www.watsonin- vestments.com. ON, La 0 Phone: 1-866-838- 2000 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Advertising: 289-293-0620 For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail kmossman@metroland.com or call 905-631-6095. ie to the editor ineldehatondne troland.col All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification ss. We reserve edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at insidehalton.com Accrédité Accredited.