Beaver THE OAKVILLE Voted Ontario's Top Newspaper Four Years in a Row - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 52 No. 51 Region Better than an action flick eyes plan to freeze taxes By Tim Foran METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP A zero per cent increase in regional property taxes and water rates in 2010 could be achieved through a combination of a hiring freeze, refinancing capital programs and using reserve funds, according to a staff report that will be reviewed by regional council at its meeting today. The report, endorsed by regional council's budget review committee Monday, outlines high level budget directions for 2010 in line with council's previous request to examine the impact of a possible tax and rate freeze for regional residents and businesses next year. The report states it is possible to achieve the freeze without cuts to service levels, but some new programs would have to be postponed, including the expansion of the Region's Sexual Health Clinic, several new waste diversion programs and the expansion of Halton Region's headquarters. Without a rate or tax hike, regional staff need to find approximately $23 million in its 2010 budget. The report recommends finding $15 million of that money through a cost containment and SERVING OAKVILLE FOR 25 YEARS! 175 Wyecroft Rd. Oakville 905.845.6653 Between Kerr & Dorval VISIT OUR ALL NEW WEBSITE See Tax page 4 OAKVILLE'S BEST REAL ESTATE SECTION INSIDE! www.oakvillebeaver.com Look who's playing at the Oakville Waterfront Festival ARTSCENE www.aplushomes.ca Mortgages G R E AT R AT E S Purchases Renewals Refinances Rental Properties Over 40 Lenders Credit Lines Vacation Properties Adam Campbell 905-844-4444 I N D E P E N D E N T LY O W N E D A N D O P E R AT E D Broker of Record MORTGAGE CONSULTANT M08005472 1500 Upper Middle Rd. Abbey Plaza at Third Line HO: 104 5770 Hurontario St. Mississauga, ON L5R 3G5 PAUL FOLEY AMP Powered by 905.827.8009 B R O K E R A G E "Using Communication To Build Better Communities" WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2009 · 32 Pages $1.00 (plus GST) Japanese students may have caught H1N1 flu during Oakville exchange By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF DEREK WOOLLAM / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER POLICE DAY DEMONSTRATION: Sean Underhill and his father, Rob, watch the Tactical Rescue Unit (TRU) in action during a live demonstration at the 10th annual Police Day held at Halton Regional Police headquarters on Saturday. A group of Japanese exchange students may have taken home a little more than just memories after a recent visit to Oakville. The group of around 36 was quarantined at a hotel just outside Tokyo, last week, after a teacher and three students allegedly tested positive for the H1N1 virus more commonly known as swine flu. The students, who arrived in Oakville on April 24, were participating in an exchange program that saw them housed by the students and families of St. Ignatius of Loyola Secondary School, Mother Teresa Catholic School, T.A. Blakelock High School and White Oaks Secondary School. The Halton District School Board has recently confirmed two cases of H1N1 at T.A. Blakelock High School, but pointed out that is not the only possible place the exchange students could have come into contact with the virus. "These students were also at the CN Tower. They went to a Blue Jays game. They were in Ottawa for a few days. They were in Niagara Falls for a day," said Marnie Denton, communications manager, Halton District School Board. "So, they were travelling around." The Halton Catholic District School Board is also working with the Ministry of Health to determine whether the exchange students' swine flu diagnosis has been confirmed. Regardless of whether the students were infected here, the H1N1 virus has made an appearance in Halton with 11 cases confirmed to date. Besides Blakelock's two cases, the Halton District School Board has confirmed five cases at Lorne Skuce Public School while the Halton Catholic District School Board has confirmed one case at St. Luke Catholic School. See H1N1 page 3 Optimize Performance (Adults and Children) · Attention span is short · Difficulty organizing & completing work · also helpful for Asperger's · also Psycho-educational testing ADD Centre YOUR FRIEND IN THE BUSINESS! Neurofeedback and learning strategies can provide a lasting improvement. Co-author with Pediatrician William Sears of The A.D.D. Book: New Understandings, New Approaches to Parenting Your Child. www.lockwoodchrysler.com Director: Lynda M. Thompson, Ph.D., 905-803-8066 www.addcentre.com