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OAKVILLE'S BEST REAL ESTATE SECTION INSIDE! 321 Cornwall Rd. 321 Cornwall Rd. 321 CornwallRd. Old O k ill M k Olde Oakville Market Olde OakvilleMarket 905.815.8777 905.815.8777 www.oakvillebeaver.com PAUL FOLEY AMP MORTGAGE AGENT Purchases 5 YEAR 3.85% Renewals FIXED Refinances 5 YEAR 3.30% Rental Properties Credit Lines 40+ Lenders HO: 100-480 University Ave. Toronto, ON M5G 1V2 *OAC, E&OE M08005472 905-827-8009 VARIABLE RATE Beaver THE OAKVILLE "Using Communication To Build Better Communities" Oakville smashes goal PAGE 7 A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 52 No. 39 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2009 · 72 Pages $1.00 (plus GST) Region Fun in the Dark ponders break for developers By Tim Foran METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP Dog may have been poisoned By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Developers should be given a financial break now, which they can make up later. That's the rationale for a regional committee's recommendation to postpone an annual inflationary increase on existing development charges for six months. Council will vote on the proposal at today's meeting (April 1). Under the Region's current development charges by-law, the Region is supposed to increase the amount paid for by developers for roads, water, police and other growth-related projects by 9.1 per cent, based on construction price increases seen in 2008. The mechanism is a standard portion of such bylaws, called indexing. However, the 9.1 per cent reflects an average increase for all of last year and is not reflective of current construction prices, say developers. In the fourth quarter of 2008, the price index actually decreased 1.5 per cent, according to Statistics Canada. In response to the deteriorating economy, the Region's administration committee voted Wednesday to temporarily suspend the development charges increase until October. KERI SCHOONDERWOERD / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER EARTH HOUR PARTICIPANTS: Ryan, 8, and Rachel, 5, Schoonderwoerd enjoyed Earth Hour on Saturday by playing cards and reading books with the help of a flashlight and camping lantern. The Schoonderwoerds were one of many Oakville families to turn off their televisions, computers and lights during the one-hour world-wide event. To see how other Oakville residents spent Earth Hour, visit Photos Slideshows in the the Features section of oakvillebeaver.com. Halton police have closed several north Oakville trails after a dog became ill when it ingested a strange white powder on Nipigon Trail, near River Oaks east of Sixth Line, yesterday. Police said an Oakville resident was walking her black Labrador retriever on the trail shortly before noon when she witnessed her dog ingest a white powder that was on the trail. The owner noted this pile of white powder was one of many that were scattered all over the trail. A short time later, the fourmonth-old pup became ill. The owner rushed it to a veterinary clinic where it is reported to be in poor health. "We've sealed it (the trail) off, we have a team going out there to take samples and, obviously, we're trying to get to the bottom of it," said Sgt. Brian Carr, Halton Police public affairs officer. Police have yet to determine if the white powder is directly related to the dog's illness, but they are treating the incident as a criminal matter. In their search of the area, police also found traces of the white powder in the area of the See Mayor page 4 See Poison page 2 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. · 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