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OAKVILLE'S BEST REAL ESTATE SECTION INSIDE! www.oakvillebeaver.com Beaver THE OAKVILLE Voted Ontario's Top Newspaper Four Years in a Row - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Mortgages G R E AT R AT E S Purchases Renewals Refinances Rental Properties Over 40 Lenders Credit Lines Vacation Properties A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 52 No. 79 What Canada means to me By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF They had six words to describe their new country of Canada. "Unity in diversity; that is Canada." It earned Marie Antonette Zamora of the Philippines, first place in the What Canada Means to Me contest for English as a second language students at the Adult Learning Centre (ALC) on Speers Road, "Great Canada; my home, my reward," and ""Peacekeeper, cold weather, hockey, maple leaf," put Khaled Al-Hindi and Wisan Tawfik, respectively, in a tie for second spot. Chanoong Park, of South Korea, earned an honourable mention. The contest was the brainchild of ALC instructor Vicki Dennis, who heard a Toronto radio contest that challenged Toronto citizens to describe their city in six words. "I thought this idea could be adapted to our students at the Adult Learning Centre in Oakville. We challenged them to think about what Canada meant to them and choose six words to express their No Pay for 6 months and Huge Rebates PLUS ­ We guarantee your valuable Manufacturer and Government Rebates and take care of the Paperwork for you. For Deadlines and Complete Details call 905-844-2949 Ask about our excellent Financing and Great Terms. Islanders pick Tavares SPORTS PAUL FOLEY AMP MORTGAGE CONSULTANT M08005472 1500 Upper Middle Rd. Abbey Plaza at Third Line HO: 104 ­ 5770 Hurontario St. Mississauga, ON L5R 3G5 Powered by 905.827.8009 "Using Communication To Build Better Communities" WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2009 · 52 Pages $1.00 (plus GST) Mattamy lobbies for lower development charges By Tim Foran METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP HERB GARBUTT / OAKVILLE BEAVER See Contest page 4 PROUD OF CANADA: Chanoong Park, left, and Marie Antonette Zamora, right, along with Khaled Al Hindi were among the winners of the Halton Adult Learning Centre's What Canada Means to Me contest. The learning centre students had to sum up the importance of Canada to them in just six words. Zamora, originally from the Philippines won the contest, Al-Hindi tied Wisan Tawfik for second and Park, originally from South Korea, received an honourable mention. A public campaign initiated by the CEO of Canada's largest new home builder, Mattamy Homes, for Halton Region to drop a proposed $8,000 hike in what it charges residential developers is a "pathetic and ultimately embarrassing plea for (taxpayer) subsidies," says Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. Peter Gilgan, the billionaire CEO of Oakville-based Mattamy, said his company isn't seeking taxpayer handouts. "If there's one message, it's that we're not asking any existing taxpayer to pay one red cent...to support any new development," said Gilgan. "We're not looking for a bailout -- no bailouts here." Gilgan fired the latest salvo in the ongoing battle between residential developers and fast-growing Halton by sending out e-mails recently to potential Mattamy homebuyers calling for "democratic action." In the e-mails, Mattamy suggests it might have to reconsider building houses in some communities if Halton Region doesn't drop a proposed $8,000 hike outlined in an infrastructure financing plan that received regional council's endorsement in November and which will be going to council July 15 for final approval. The e-mails ask recipients to petition regional councillors to ditch the charge or delay the vote. Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr responded Friday to what he described as an "orchestrated campaign" by sending out his own e-mail warning residents that dropping the charge could result in a 6.1 per cent increase in regional taxes and water rates. Carr called for residents to send him See Regional page 3 · Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed · Serving Oakville with Shop at Home Service SHUTTERS CALIFORNIA & PLANTATION · Wood & Vinyl Shutters, Supplied & Installed · High Quality at Affordable Prices Authorized Eclipse Shutters Dealer Shop at Home Service FREE SHUTTERS ETC. 905.691.4455 www.shuttersetc.ca