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The Authority approved a recommendation that the Town of Ajax’s proposal to extend the waterfront trail to the Ajax-Whitby border be supported as a priority waterfront initiative and to provide in-kind regeneration components and/or a direct contribution at a cost not to exceed $40,000.00 in 2004.

In addition; a motion was approved that the T.R.C.A. explore funding opportunities in the 2005/2006 fiscal years to support the Town of Ajax’s request for in the order of 25% funding participation (between $150,000 - 200,000.00) for the waterfront trail proposal.

It was noted that four municipalities have indicated support for direct election of the Regional Chairperson. They are Ajax, Clarington, Oshawa and Pickering. Three (Brock, Uxbridge and Whitby) did not support the direct election of the Regional Chair.

Scugog Council requested that the Council of the Region of Durham delay the vote. This would allow their municipality to provide an opportunity for residents to present their views at their meeting on May 10^th. The support of Scugog Council for direct election of the Regional Chair will be required in order to meet the triple majority.

Regional Council has deferred the motion regarding election of the Chair until their next meeting on May 26^th to await Scugog’s response.

On April 26^th, the Minister of Finance announced the 2004 Provincial Education Tax Rates. The 2004 Provincial uniform tax rates have been set so that no additional taxes will be raised as a result of the most recent reassessment of properties across the Province. The 2004 education tax rate for residential properties has decreased by 11.6% Province wide (to accommodate an average Province wide property valuation increase of approximately 13%). Since Durham properties increased an average of 12.5% the average property in Durham valued at $250,000.00 will experience a slight decrease ($5.00) for 2004 education taxes. (Note: Impacts for individual properties will vary depending upon the property’s change in valuation due to reassessment.)

The two types of subsidies available are;

(1) under the Day Nurseries Act which provides subsidy to low income families

(2) the subsidy available to Ontario Works recipients.

Both subsidies are funded on an 80% Provincial and 20% Regional basis. Although in 2003 the province allocated some additional funds for the Ontario Works Program, there have been no increases to the Day Nurseries funding for five years. As salary costs and approved operator per diem costs have increased it in effect means that a reduced number of subsidized child care spaces are available.

In recent months, there has been a significant increase in application requests for subsidies for both programs.

 

	Dec. 2003	January 2004	February 2004
Day Nurseries	58	103	120
Ontario Works	21	42	47
Total	79	145	167

This increased demand means longer waiting times for caseworker appointments (8 - 10 weeks) and also that due to insufficient funds no child care subsidy places are available once the client is deemed to be eligible.

Regional staff have been able to determine that the number of requests under the Day Nurseries Act appear to be as a result of an increasing number of two parent working families applying for subsidy. It was determined that the priority placement schedule previously in effect meant that under the current funding constraints only single parents would be served. Therefore allocations to eligible clients now will be made on a first come first serve basis with those leaving Ontario Works funding receiving priority for placement under the Day Nurseries Act funding. This will allow those clients who have found employment and able to leave the income support system, to retain their child care services.

Regional Council endorsed a resolution from Sudbury & District Health Unit which urges the Government of Ontario;

To significantly increase the provincial portion of Board of Health budgets to enable Boards of Health to comply with the Mandatory Health Programs and Service Guidelines.

To increase the monitoring of compliance with the Guidelines

To implement appropriate strategies to ensure compliance with the Guidelines

Public health services are becoming increasingly more critical due to emerging infectious diseases and urgent public health issues. Recent national and provincial reports in the wake of Walkerton and SARS have emphasized the importance of public health and the urgent need for additional capacity and resources within the system. The minimum requirements under the Mandatory Health Programs and Service Guidelines which are set by the Province are to be fully implemented. Municipalities are obligated to pay for the expenses incurred by boards of health. This has resulted in varying levels of support and consequently varying levels of public health programs and services across the province. Therefore, it would seem incumbent upon the province to increase the provincial support of health budgets in order to offset expenses incurred by municipalities to ensure equitable public health programs and services across the province.