The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, March 30, 2012 · 8 Liberal and Conservative MPPs analyze budget By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Ontario's budget, released Tuesday, is either a roadmap to a better future or another step in the negative direction the Province has been moving. It depends on who you talk to. Oakville Liberal MPP Kevin Flynn and Halton Conservative MPP Ted Chudleigh weighed in on the provincial budget this week and, not surprisingly, outlined two very different interpretations of what they saw. Flynn said the budget makes the right choices for Ontario, laying out a strong action plan to balance the budget, create jobs and protect education and healthcare. "We are making the right choices to ensure that Oakville families are receiving the best possible services and the best value for their tax dollars," said Flynn. The budget, he said, includes a deficit elimination plan that reduces program spending growth and contains cost. The government hopes to cut spending growth and contain costs by $17.7 billion over the next three years. Through this action, the Province is hoping to see the elimination of Ontario's deficit by 2017/2018. The Province will be dealing with a deficit of $15.2 billion next year. "Ontario's annual deficit is still three times the size of all other provinces combined, so the borrowing problem has not been addressed," said Chudleigh. "A plan to reduce the annual deficit to zero in a few years is as laughable now as it was when they made the same promise in 2005, 2007, 2010 and last year. Their budget projections have never been realized." Chudleigh also slammed the Dalton McGuinty-led In the budget the 11.5 per cent corporate tax level is frozen in place through 2017-2018. "I am concerned that the government has ignored the power of the private sector to create jobs by maintaining the corporate tax rate and doing nothing to enhance confidence in business investments in our province," said Chudleigh. "In addition, the budget fails to address necessary reductions in the size and cost of government, focusing instead on containing cost increases, while maintaining the current high levels of annual borrowing." Flynn said the government will continue to help Oakville families by moving to patient-centred funding models to improve the value and quality of care within Ontario's hospitals; enhancing community-based care to treat patients in alternative settings; and continuing to build the new Oakville hospital. Ted Chudleigh Kevin Flynn "Hard-nosed bargaining with the public sector unions was suggested last year and then the Liberals ignored their own promise. This budget is a farce." Ted Chudleigh, Halton MPP Liberal government's budget for keeping corporate income taxes at 11.5 per cent instead of lowering them to 11 per cent in July and 10 per cent next year as previously planned. "We are making the right choices to ensure that Oakville families are receiving the best possible services and the best value for their tax dollars." Kevin Flynn, Oakville MPP He said Oakville families would also benefit from the budget's support of the government's plan to create the world's best educated workforce by continuing to implement full-day Kindergarten; maintaining small class sizes; and continuing to provide the 30 per cent off Ontario Tuition grant for families. "We are making the right choices to protect the vital gains we have made together," said Flynn. "The budget is focused on creating jobs and protecting education and healthcare." Other highlights to the Ontario 2012 Budget included a wage freeze for 1.2 million public servants and a goal to increase revenues by $4.4 billion without tax hikes. Here, too, Chudleigh sees problems. "Increases to user fees may not be tax increases, but they are definitely added revenue to the government coming out of the pockets of the taxpayer," he said. "Hard-nosed bargaining with the public sector unions was suggested last year and then the Liberals ignored their own promise. This budget is a farce." HOLIDAY INN HOTEL & SUITES OAKVILLE @ BRONTE HalTech Regional Innovation Centre is currently offering Entrepreneur's Toolkit Workshops which are a collection of experiential, hands-on group workshops that will aid technology entrepreneurs in specific areas of business growth. In a small group setting, technology entrepreneurs work with peers and advisors to think through and design essential components of their business. The MarCom Toolkit Part 1 ­ Developing Your MarCom Strategy Explore the importance of a cohesive MarCom strategy by identifying key opinion leaders in your field and planning how to contact them. Deliverable: A marketing strategy that complements your customers buying process. April 11, 2012 8:30am ­ 1:00pm Available Seatings 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. Adults $29.95 · Seniors $26.95 · Children $9.95 (ages 3-12) Reservations Recommended 905-465-4480 · Danish, Croissants, Muffins, Breakfast Breads & Bagels with Toasting Station · Yogurts & Cereals, Sliced Fresh Fruit Platter, Cheese Tray · Scrambled Eggs with Cheddar Cheese, Buttermilk Pancakes & French Toast · Farmers Breakfast Sausage & Bacon, Home Fries with Peppers & Herbs · Made to Order Waffle & Omelette Station · Freshly Baked Rolls & Butter · Assorted Salads with a Variety of Dressings · Tomato Bocconcini, Succotash · Roasted Vegetable with Orecchietti & Feta Salad Easter Brunch · Sunday, April 8th · Marinated Mushrooms, Mussels & Shrimp Tower · Chef's Kettle of the Day · Carving Station with Top Sirloin of Beef au Jus · Glazed Ham with Pineapple Sauce · Butternut Squash Ravioli in Alfredo Sauce · Braised Lamb Shanks, · Atlantic Salmon in Lemon Tarragon Cream · Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Fresh Market Vegetables · Chef's Pastry Table with Assorted Squares, Pies, Tarts and Cakes Part 2 ­ Executing Your MarCom Strategy Identify language you can use to explain your business to partners, customers, opinion leaders and the media. Deliverable: A series of sound bites for use with the media. Part 3 ­ Communicating to Customers Learn the key principles of effective communication by creating a pitch that relies on the basics of storytelling ­ not on PowerPoint slides. Deliverable: A template for talking to potential customers. April 18, 2012 8:30am ­ 1:00pm April 25, 2012 8:30am ­ 1:00pm Register online at http://haltech.eventbrite.ca. Workshops to be held at the Oakville Campus of Sheridan College. For more information contact 905-845-9430 ext. 2761 or email info@haltech.ca. Workshops supported by Ontario Network of Excellence (ONE). Ph: 905-847-1000 Ext: 6200 for Reservations F: 905-847-0032 Toll Free: 1-800-880-3188 www.hioakvillebronte.ca HalTech is a proud member of 2525 Wyecroft Road (at Bronte) · Oakville www.haltech.ca