A presentation was provided by the representatives of the United Ways Ajax/Pickering/Uxbridge and Oshawa/Whitby/Clarington. The Strong Communities Coalition is an alliance of United Ways of Oakville, Peel, York, Durham and the GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance. This coalition was formed to respond to the growing need for health and social services in the 905 areas and to advocate for equitable and sustainable funding for these services.

Provincial funding has not kept pace with the rapid population growth in the 905 areas. Current funding formulas are not based on population or the unique needs of our communities such as higher proportions of children, higher ratios of seniors or new immigrants. This results in higher waits for service, leaving the community to access service, or more seriously doing without service.

A Price Waterhouse Report identified that GTA/905 residents receive less funding than other Ontarians and with the rapid population growth the funding gap continues to widen. The Provincial Places to Grow document speaks to the need for infrastructure however without a human services plan the health & social service needs of our residents will not be met.

The Health & Social Services Committee endorsed the recommendations of the coalition which were;

• Immediate investment of "growth funding" for social services, health and hospital care.

• A commitment to revised provincial funding policies and formulas so that health and social services across Ontario are funded on the basis of population size, special characteristics of the region and growth.

• Development and implementation of a Health & Social Services Strategy for Ontario’s high growth region that will complete the "Places to Grow" and offer Ontarians a true growth plan for the next 30 years.

A presentation was received by Mr. Doug Moffatt, Chair, Durham Regional Police Services Board and Chief Vern White which highlighted some of the activities and concerns of the Police Services. Trends from Jan. to July show calls for service (94,899) were slightly lower, crimes against persons up (2.4%), crimes against property down (6.7%), 6 Homicides (2 in all 2005) and 22 motor vehicle fatalities. Knives and guns are now regularly used in offences.

Of particular concern were the number of gang locations based on intelligence, incidents and reports showing a number of areas in Durham and in particular in Ajax.

The police are undertaking a comprehensive review of frontline policing for more effective deployment and time for proactive problem solving. Challenges cited were keeping pace with trends in community growth, changing demographics and crime.

The 2006 operational priorities are traffic enforcement to handle growing traffic volume and reduce collisions, deaths and injuries, and countering gang activities and influences from outside our region.

Police Chief White in speaking about the recent Hells Angels operation recommended that all Durham municipalities implement a fortification bylaw similar to Oshawa, Uxbridge and Scugog in order to be proactive in preventing organizations such as Hells Angels to set up shop.

Police Chief Vern White will be at the McClean C.C. on Oct 24^th at 6:00 p.m. for a town hall meeting. All residents are encouraged to attend.