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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, April 11, 2014 | 8 Evidence must back decisions ARRIVING DAILY! KIDS' SANDALS continued from p.6 learned from our peer reviews at least five critical environmental issues have not yet been satisfactorily examined -- and I believe they must be. Monday night, I will put the required motion before council. Second, we must do additional work to assure our work and decision will fully comply with new, greener Provincial planning rules. After the Merton study work and the Town's peer reviews were finished, the Province adopted a new "Provincial Policy Statement" (PPS), rules governing land use planning, which will apply to the Merton decision. The new PPS contains policy changes which have significant bearing on the protection of the Merton lands. The policies emphasize the importance of identification, protection and enhancement of Natural Heritage Systems of green space and elevate the importance of the matters identified by the Town's team of experts as requiring more work. I have always believed natural heritage systems must include lands which support natural processes and these lands can include what we call "cultural meadows" and even golf courses. The new Provincial Policy Statement now recognizes this by including "working landscapes that enable ecological functions to continue" in the definition of Natural Heritage System. This is a breakthrough with a made-inOakville pedigree, born in the evidence-based creation of the 2,300-acre Oakville Natural Her- FACTORY SHOE OUTLET #1 SHOE STORE #1 CHILDREN'S SHOE STORE HOURS: Monday-Friday 9am to 9pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm · Sunday 10am to 6pm 905-632-9688 2394 FAIRVIEW ST., BURLINGTON FAMILY OWNED FOR 57 YEARS! itage System of green space across the north of Oakville. In order to continue to develop evidencebased policies to enable strong protection of the Merton lands, staff now needs the opportunity to consider the new PPS policies and direct the Town's expert team to do the same. Town staff has arranged to meet with Provincial staff in order to gain a better understanding of how these new policies are to be interpreted and applied. Therefore, I will be asking council to direct staff to develop a schedule to complete this critical follow-up work and to stop the application processes for rezoning, subdivision and condominium approvals until staff reports back to council on their plan to complete this additional work that now must be done. I commend staff and council for the foresight shown in initiating these studies in the first place back in November 2012. Monday night, I will explain how without these important studies, these lands would already have been approved by the Ontario Municipal Board for development. Our council has an eight-year track record of success with our methodical, evidence-based approach. `Just say no' has never saved an inch of land. Our method has saved 502 square kilometers to date, with more to come. Oakville should be proud of its green council and its track record of successful evidencebased decisions. HEARING TECHNOLOGIES FOR ALL WALKS OF LIFE Meet Team Hearing Excellence Caring, Committed, Knowledgeable HEARING AIDS HAVE EVOLVED Dramatically advanced technology can be personalized to improve your communication and your quality of life. With modern solutions available in a wide range of styles, sizes and capabilities, hearing devices have never been better. MAKE THE DIFFERENCE TODAY AND BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR A CHANCE TO *Hearing aids purchased during the period will be entered into the draw. why us? Your needs covered Invisible · Automatic · Connected · Highly experienced staff, state-of-art clinic and exceptional service · Try latest hearing aids from leading manufacturers in our Sound Escape room · Excellence counselling and support program. Lifetime care for devices WIN A FREE PAIR OF HEARING AIDS* VALID THROUGH APRIL 1ST TO JUNE 30TH 2014 Come & Experience the Difference BURLINGTON 905.333.5061 OAKVILLE 905.825.1003 TORONTO 416.601.0200