Regional Councillor Report
Submitted
by:
Colleen Jordan, Regional Councillor Wards 3 & 4
Regional
Council - March 29, 2006
Tax
Ratios
Council
rejected a request from General Motors to accelerate the
Region’s planned decrease of
the Large industrial Tax Ratio to a ratio equal to the
residual Industrial class.
G.M requested the elimination of
the differential in 2006, in order to provide a more
compelling case to Detroit to select the Oshawa plant for
production of a new product. Regional staff in their
presentation cited the large impact on residential and the
residual industrial class who would need
to absorb the large increases as well as large future
liabilities related to current assessment appeals.
Staff stated that Durham’s industrial ratio compares
favorably with other jurisdictions and that the impact on
General Motor’s overall budget would be minimal.
Staff recommended the elimination of the Large Industrial
Ratio by 2008 in order for General Motors to make a business
case to Detroit for production of a new model.
This was supported by Regional Council who approved the
continued phased in approach to decrease ratios for the large
industrial, multi residential and farmland tax ratios.
Bill
51 - Regional Revitalization Program
Council
endorsed a recommendation that the Province enact Bill 51 as it
relates to Community Improvement Plan provisions to allow upper
tier municipalities to participate in the community improvement
planning processes that have been initiated by lower tier
municipalities.
Council
also endorsed direction to Regional staff to expedite the
development of the comprehensive Regional Revitalization Program
in order to facilitate the redevelopment of brownfields and take
advantage of downtown redevelopment opportunities.
In addition; staff
were directed to incorporate appropriate policies in the Durham
Regional Official Plan as part of the current Review Process to
enable Regional participation in C.I.P. s adopted by lower tier
municipalities, once enabling
Provincial Legislation is in place.
Planning
- April 4, 2006
Planning
Committee received a report from staff which provided an overview
of issues with respect to the application of the Greenbelt Plan.
The staff report highlighted concerns raised regarding a
number of areas within Durham Region where concerns had been
raised regarding their inclusion in the Greenbelt Plan. Of
particular note to Ajax, the report spoke to the submission from
Tunney Planning Inc. on behalf of certain landowners in the Audley
- Lakeridge area that indicated their client’s wish to be
removed from the Greenbelt and remain in a Major Open Space or
Agricultural designation and to be governed by the Regional
Official Plan.
The
staff report indicated that the appropriate process to review
Greenbelt delineation issues would be for the Planning Committee
to make a submission to the Greenbelt Council. A delegation cited
concerns that this report was being dealt with outside the
Regional Official Plan process and that these issues should be
dealt with through an open comprehensive process and in the
context of the ongoing O.P. Review.
An
amendment to the motion
to receive the report requested that certain areas be removed from
the Greenbelt Plan designation one of those being the lands in
Ajax, between Audley and Lakeridge.
The
motion and amendments were referred back to staff until the next
Planning Committee meeting, requesting staff recommendations on an
appropriate public
process when dealing with these issues.
Health
& Social Services - April 5, 2006
The
Committee received a report that reduced the Public Health Budget
(excluding Emergency Medical Services) such that the net (Regional
Tax impact) program costs were reduced by $645,476.00 which is a
12% reduction to the 2005 approved net costs.
The proposed 0.8 FTE Associate Medical Officer of Health
position, which was to be funded with 100% Provincial dollars was
also eliminated. These
reductions were approved by Committee and subsequently by Finance
with a request on how the reductions will be achieved. The Health Department has received preliminary notice
that Tobacco Inspection and Enforcement Activities will be 100%
funded by the province rather than the 65/35 share.
Increased competitive tendering for West Nile larvaciding
costs should also reduce expenditures.
The elimination of four proposed Public Health
positions will also contribute to the reductions.
Of
particular concern is the lack of support for the 100%
Provincially funded 0.8 FTE Associate Medical Officer of Health
position. This position was also requested during the 2005 budget
process and denied by Regional Council.
Dr.
Basrur, Chief Medical Officer of Health, in her 2005 Annual Report to the Legislature raised the concern regarding vacancies in
MOH positions which was highlighted in a number of reports after
the SARS outbreak. Unsustainable
call schedules, non competitive pay, limited human and other
resources were cited as deterrents from attracting new entrants to
the field.
Motion:
That
the Town of Ajax requests the inclusion of the 0.8 FTE Associate
Medical Officer of Health, funded 100% by the Province in the 2006
Regional Budget.
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