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Region against 'Transparency in Public Matters Act' proposai Savoline cails it 'excessive measure' Ms Savoline also too)k exception 10 the fact the proposed bill doesn't apply to the other levels of govemnmeni. She noted while counicil sometimes bas to go in canniera, or meet bebind closed doors. it's 110E because the Region is trying to bide something. Oakville Mayor Ann Mulvale pointed out ît's provincial legislation tbat sets out wben munîcîpalities are supposed to meet in camera, such as for bumait resource or property inatters. It was speculated ai tbe couxîcil table tbai the bill bas been brougbt forward due to an issue tbe Province may bave witb one municipality. Ms Mulvale said if ibaî's the case. the Province "already bas more tban adequate tools 10 deal witb those issues." Wbile Oakville Councillor Fred Oliver said some munîcîpalîties used 10 operate behmnd closed doors from time 10 time. be doesn't tbînk the legislation is necessary today. "This, in iy opinion. is 501 yeaus taxi laie:' he saîd. Att alert issued by the AM() iudicaies it By MELANIE HENNESSEY The Championt The Province's proposed 'Transparency in Public Matters Act' has ruffled somte feathers at the Region. witb the chairman deemiùng the bill to be an "excesstve meas- ure." Now, Halton is letting the Province know it doesn't support the proposed legis- lation. At its meeting Wednesday, regional counicil approved a resolution endorsing the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) position against the pri- vate member's bitS that would. among other things, place additional restrictions on holding closed meetings and require ail comments made in counicîl to be recorded in the minutes. "St (the bill) is orying to add even more transparency and even more public 10 our process. But 1 believe we are as public and transparent as sse possibly can be," Regional Chairman Joyce Savoline satd. "We don't need these excessive meas- ures to make us bhave. inm hoping thai this fails in a very big way:' feels if the bill passed, iE woutd create con- flicts with the Municipal Act, It gives several examples. such as the definitions of meetings in the bilt differ from the current act municîpalities follow. It also says, "Notice provisions in Bill 123 are much more prescriptive than what is being advocated for in the Municipal Act, The AMO and others have sought more flexibility for municipalities to deter- mine when and how they give notice to, best meet the needs of their residents. This could have resource implications for municipal ities." The alert notes that while the AMO sup- ports the principles of open, transparent and accountable municipal govemrments, it's not in favour of the proposed legista- tion. In addition to supporting the AMO's position against the bill, the resolution approved by regional counicil calîs for a copy of a staff report on the issue te, be forwarded to the four local municipalities for endorseinent. Melapiia' I-Innessns a'sî hi reacd ai niheî'îiee~.'CdniIroîi-iîooiiianipot.ý Tree bylaw open bouse Jan. 31 Wonderineý honv Halion's ness tree bylassý ileie. înay affect y ou and your property'l Fînd oui at Essai upcîiming open bouses the Region is holding on the issue. The firsi session svîll taîke place nexi Tuesday lrom 6 t0 9 p.m. ai the Haltoit Regiional Centre in the north auditorium. located ai 1151 Bronte Rd.. iii Oakville. TMen. there'lI be an open bouse ai the Milton Sports Centre on Santa Marta Boulevard February 2, which will also mun trom 6 10 9 p.m. The informaI drop-in sessions ssill gîve those interested a chanîce to learti more about the bylaw and how it conld impact A regisiered prolessiottal li.resier antd Regin staff avilIli bc n band iii auisaer questionîs. Information packages on goodi fiirestry practices and sustainableavoodlot maniage- ment will also he asailable ai tlie session. They'll coîttaîn brochures, guides and booklets prepared by the Region. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resisurces. the Ontario Woodloi Association aind other forestry and conservaioan oreanizatiains. Regional counicil passeal the tree hylaw -which is desîgned tai proieci local trees and preveni clear cuttnng or abject desiruc- tion of these resources - n October after mucb public consultation. St applies 10 aIl woaidlands that are .5 hectares or larger and greenlands outside those woodlands. The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - All fSiots pay off for Town 'Me Town of Milton bit the jackpot with Slots ai Mohawk Friday. receiving its quar- terly instalîment of more than $1 .4 million in slots revenue. The money comes from the local gain- bling facility as paymrent to the Town for hosting slots in the municipality. To date. Milton bas received more than $38.5 million in non-tax gaming revenue from Mohawk. Payments are made on a quarterly basis according to the govemn ment fiscal year. which runs from April to March. and are distributed by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. The slots ai Mohaav k openied Augusi 10. 1999 and have since attracted moire than 8.81 million vîsitaîrs. averagiîîg about 3,786 patrons daîly. Across the province. 22 cominunities play host lai slots ai raceîracks and charîîy castinos. So far. the Ontario Lotteny and Gaming Corporation bas distributed more than $380 million in gamning revenue to these comimunities. The payments make up Oive per cent of the gambling establishment's gross slot machine revenues for the first 450 machines and two per cent for machines over thai number. A portion of the annual gross revenue from slots ai racetracks and cbarîty casinos goes to the Ministry of Healtb and Long- Termn Care for problem gaînblîng research, treatmeni. preveniion and public assure- ness. That amount for the 200)5-06 fiscal year is esîîmaîed ai $36 million. Also. $1() mil- lion annnally goes 10 charities ibroughout Ontario, dîstrîhnied ibrougb the Ontario Trilîtuin Fourundation. Habitat volunteers sought to help build new house Resîdetîts interested ai getiing itsolved \vilb a Habitat for Hunanity 1-aliuin haiild ta Georgeiow.a anc invîted ici an informa- lion meeting Thursday. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. ai the Salvation Army Commnunity Cburch. 271 Maintaitivica Rd. S.. iii Georgetowni. The inflormation session. sponsaîred bý the Georgetown Rotary Club. is designed for people wbo want to learn more abaont the projeci oir wbo are înterested in volun- teering on the build. 12 M i tetEs Miton ON :I 1il Fail Registration OPEN JO5 lit ECE Certified Teachers Teachers have 10+ years with aur school Large Bright Play Areas Excellent Teacher to Student Ratio A Stimulating SI Well-Equipped Environment Nursery School JKISK Enrichment Multiple Activity Centres JoIly Phonics Approach ta Daily Gymn Time Learning, Reading & Writing Weekly Themnes Develapment of Printing Skilis Fietd Trips & an Introduction to Math * dean Adîamning Bathraom Edacational Outings Daily Healthy Snacks Focused Attention on Optional Parental Involvement Individoal Develnpment www.miltoncommunitynurseryschool.ca MCNS GRAIEFULLY ACKNOWLEOGES THE FIIIANCIAL SUPPoRT PROtIDES MA.OA nu THE TOWN OF MILTON0 COMMUNITY FUNO c-Cwiu A NON-PROFIT PARENT RIUN CO-OPERATIVE SINCE 1964