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Regional Councillor Report
Submitted by: Colleen Jordan, Regional Councillor Wards 3 & 4
Date: March 29, 2005
Regional Council - March 23, 2005
Durham Regional Transit
Council approved a recommendation that the share of the Regional Tax
Levy for transit purposes is to be utilized to continue with the capital
acquisition programs as defined in the local area municipal transit
forecasts.
There was concern that municipalities may not continue with plans to
renew fleets causing concern when transit responsibility is transferred
to the Region. The motion was carried to ensure that the fleets would
be renewed as detailed in the forecasts submitted to the Ministry of
Transportation and as forecast during the Regional Transit Business
Case Analysis.
Concerns were expressed that some flexibility was required to allocate
a portion of the lower tier share of the Regional levy to transit operational costs. Councillors were assured by the Regional
Chairperson that although it may not be clearly defined in the wording of the
resolution, as long as the capital acquisition programs were adhered to
any remaining funds could be applied to current costs.
Taunton Road
In response to a question from Mayor Parish regarding the construction
schedule of Taunton Road, Mr. Curtis, Commissioner Works Department
responded that present plans are that the tender would be awarded in
late 2005, construction start in 2006 and the goal is that the sections
of Taunton from Pickering to Whitby would be completed by fall of 2006.
Sundial
A front end strategy for the construction of a sanitary sewage pumping
station related to a portion of the development proposed by Sundial
Homes (Ajax), (former Verona lands), was approved by Council. This
resolves the inability of development to proceed due to the current
situation of the inadequacy of capacity with the current configuration.
This pumping station will now accommodate the proposed development of
the site.
National Child Benefit Clawback
A motion from Kingston Council was endorsed to end the clawback of the
National Child Benefit from families receiving social assistance.
Currently one in five children in Ontario live in poverty. The social
assistance entitlements fall far below the net liveable income threshold. Eliminating the clawback could provide up to $100.00 per
month, which would assist vulnerable children to have a better chance
in
life. The former Ontario Conservative government reduced social assistance entitlements by 21% while also reallocating the NCB from
needy families to support programs. An example in Durham is the Durham
Child Nutrition Project - providing almost 11,000 snacks or breakfasts
to Durham students. These various programs fill gaps in community
services and have been demonstrated to help disadvantaged families.
Therefore, the provincial government will also be asked to review
options to continue these valuable programs currently funded through
the clawback funds without adding additional financial burden to municipalities.
Health & Social Services Budget - March 8, 2005
The budget for public health although falling within the guidelines set
by Regional Council has been reduced at Finance Committee. The proposed
Associate Medical Officer of Health position has been cut and seven
additional public health positions are proposed to be reduced by Finance
Committee.
In response to the numerous reports in the wake of the Walkerton and
SARS crisis that indicated the significant gaps and deterioration of
public health, the provincial government is heeding the recommendations
for a renewal of public health to ensure the safety and well being of
residents. In 2004, it was announced that beginning in 2005 funding
for public health would be increased in 3 stages reaching a 75/25% ratio
by
2007. In November 2004, Dr. Sheela Basrur, Chief Medical Officer of
Health and Assistant Deputy Minister stated at a conference of Association of Local Public Health Agencies that this increase of
funding was not to be accompanied by a withdrawal of municipal support.
On December 9, 2004, in a memo to Medical Officers of Health, Dr. Basrur
stated that the new provincial funding is intended to enhance the total
funding available for public health in order to improve local public
health capacity. The Ministry expects the boards of health to approve
a budget that will enable them to achieve and/or maintain compliance with
the Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines and the requirements under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.
Dr. Kyle, Durham's Medical Officer of Health has advised that the public
health budget proposed by the Health Department will enable Durham's
public health department to meet compliance with the Mandatory
Programs.
Colleen Jordan
Regional Councillor
Wards 3 & 4
Res: (905) 427-5084
Town:
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