REGIONAL COUNCILLOR CLARK SOMERVILLE JOINS MUNICIPAL LEADERS FROM ACROSS CANADA TO MEET WITH FEDERAL COUNTERPARTS TO BUILD AND EXPAND PARTNERSHIP

(Halton Hills) - This past week Regional Councillor Clark Somerville joined more than a 100 other municipal leaders in Ottawa for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) annual meetings on Parliament Hill. FCM met with more than 100 Members of Parliament, including party leaders and cabinet ministers, to build practical partnership and protect core investments in Halton Hills and Halton Region as well as municipalities across Canada.
“As a local and regional Councillor as well as Halton Regions representative at FCM it is important that I present the challenges we are facing here,” said Somerville. “I am honoured to be asked by the President to sit on the Municipal Infrastructure Forum and the International Trade Working groups. Both groups will work closely with the Federal Government on these important issues. I thank Chair Carr and Mayor Bonnette for their continued support as well as the support I receive from all my Council colleagues and staff that allows me to work as a Board member with the FCM. Whether it is rural, housing, transit, policing or other issues I try to provide the Halton snapshot.”

The week’s most significant achievement was the launch of the Government of Canada’s new infrastructure planning process. The plan promises to stop the decline in our municipal infrastructure and build the roads, bridges, water and transit systems we need to support our families, businesses and economic growth.
In recent years, the federal government has worked with Halton Region and other municipalities to repair aging infrastructure, but 40 % of federal-municipal funding is set to expire by 2014. The new, long-term plan promised by the government will protect essential investments and reduce the burden on local property taxpayers in the years ahead.

The federal government laid out a clear timetable to take stock of recent investments in cities and communities, identify where investments need to be made in the future, and replace soon to expire programs with a new generation of long-term infrastructure investments.
"In the last few years, federal and municipal governments have worked more closely than ever to fight the economic crisis and rebuild Canada's aging roads, bridges, and water systems," said FCM President Berry Vrbanovic. "Together, we can tear down the silos that prevent us from serving taxpayers in the best way possible. Together, we can build a stronger, safer Canada."
Municipal leaders also received a report about FCM’s meeting this week with the Prime Minister. FCM representatives talked with the Prime Minister about how federal and municipal governments have worked together to fight the recession and how they can continue working together to keep Canada's economic foundations secure.
Municipal leaders also heard Liberal Leader Bob Rae and NDP leader Nicole Turmel discuss what their parties are doing to strengthen the economy, support communities, and protect property taxpayers from offloading by other governments.
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Why I wear a poppy…

At this time of year we start to see people wearing poppies in remembrance of those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. I wear one to say thanks:
For those who died defending our liberties and stopping tyranny and the abuses of our fellow man;
For those who returned home, scarred by the injuries they suffered that were both visible and the ones that were hidden;
For those who left the comforts of their home, trained and travelled to lands far off and who received the eternal thanks of liberated people as they marched;
To those cut down in their youth who will never see the hope and promise the free nations became;
To those who in peace keeping missions tried to preserve tenuous peace treaties and to assist oppressed citizens;
To those who believed that our freedoms were rightly worth dying for and the price of freedom really is “eternal vigilance”;
For the members of my family who fought and perished and those that returned home safely;
For my family members who still serve today whether it is with the Princess Pats, the US Marines, Navy, the Royal Air Force or the reserves;
For the families of those who have served and whose hearts skip a beat when news of a fallen Canadian reaches us;
For all those who gather in solemn remembrance in the cold clear days of November and watch the procession of dignitaries and veterans pause after laying a wreath at cenotaphs;
To remind me that the life I have has been paid for by generations of brave men and women and my freedom and ability was on their sacrifices;
To the greatest country in the world who has given me the opportunity I enjoy.

It is always an honour to be able to walk beside the Legionnaires, and active members as we make our way to the Cenotaph. To be able to participate and to pause and lay a wreath at the Cenotaph.

My family is not any different then most peoples in Canada who will reflect the next few days of the freedoms we have won and the price we have all paid.

Wear the poppy with pride, humility and peaceful reflection.
We will Remember them…


An uncle, Major Somerville was the aide de Camp for President Roosevelt in WW2

My Dad in Acton in the Masales Dairy truck on the spontaneous parade that happened after WW2 ended.

Buy American 2.0 UPDATE!

Anyone who has read the local papers and followed anything in Canadian Politics will be familiar with the fight Halton Hills started against the US on protectionist measures.
In April 2009 Halton Hills was the first Municipality that passed a resolution opposing the US and its protectionist measures contained in stimulus bills.
In June FCM passed after much discussion unanimously a motion opposing the Buy American provisions and supported free and fair trade. The contentious part was on not purchasing from countries that did not support our principles.

In August the Premiers of the country came on board and started to push the Feds to take action. Canada was literally bleeding jobs over it.
In September the Feds under Former Minister Day started pressing the US. It took until February to get an agreement but we did!
It was a long tough process and taught me more about international trade then I ever knew!

The bad part is its back! A recent bill put before the house has provisions that require any material used in Municipal projects that receive Federal money to be made in the US. At first blush it may sound innocuous but it is dangerous! With the NAFTA deal parts during process go back and forth across the border as components are added. Final assembly may be here but the pieces may have been made in the US. Or visa versa. That is the idea behind free and fair trade.

The imposition of protectionist measures is politically an easy one. If you were a leader in a economically depressed area in the US it becomes a Motherhood statement. The constituencies may think that it is a way to greater jobs and economic prosperity. But in a global economy our companies compete and can compete on the world stage.

The US economy is in deep trouble still. With elections coming next year they are looking for ways to get it kick started. But the President, the House, Senate and the leaders need to pay heed to the history of the depression befor embarking on more protectionist measures.

In Canada labour union groups and left wing groups that from for them have been pushing Buy Canadian policies. It is a dangerous fools game to enter.
The big push they have is to have material handed out locally espousing fear and unsubstantiated material that like Chicken Little has “the sky is falling.”
In Halton Hills it is interesting as we do not get contacted by them, nor do they send the material to us. But neighbouring towns do!
I guess it is because we can look past the rhetoric and see the reality behind the screen!
It is a shame that yesterdaay CBC News reported that the US Ambassador isaid that Canada will not recieve an exemption under the Buy American provisions.
We have a tenuous world economy. The US is hurting and elections seem to forever loom on the horizon. But why would they risk plunging the world into a deeper recession or a deppresion?
It seems they simply are looking at the immediate and not focusing on what may need to be done down the road.
I have always like Obama and thought he may bring change to the US. I must admit I am disapointed that he would persue the protectionist route.

I was assisting this weekend both in Acton and in Erin in a program that to me is a great endeavour, the MasoniCHiP program which during the Leathertown Festival is being held at Peek a Boo Daycare sponsored by Dr Chan.
The MasoniCHiP program has been in Ontario for a few years after having been in the US. It is a Child ID kit that includes, photos, movie clip, a bite plate, DNA general description and biometric fingerprints. All on a CD that if needed can be uploaded in minutes. The only record kept is the permission slip. All of the information is returned to the parent or the guardian.
It is unfortunate that nowadays we need to protect our children this way. The innocent days of my youth when kids could play outside and wander around from breakfast to dinner seem long gone.
The Grand Lodge of Ontario has endorsed and asked the various districts to host clinics where we can have the kits done for the parents. There is a lot of preparation goes into each event. Form the location, advertising, set up with power and of course ensuring the confidentiality of each child who comes in. Every person working the clinic has received a Police Clearance and everyone carries the letters with them in case they are asked for by any parent or guardian.
The children are weighed; there height taken and then they head in to see a Dentist who has donated his or her time to help out. A bite plate is done and is placed with the kit. For the young ones a DNA cheek swab is done.
Next the volunteers input all the information including any special instructions and identifying marks. The kids always love the fingerprints especially as it does not involve ink! Then the photos and a video is made asking a set of questions the Police can use if need be.
The parents review the information and it is then uploaded onto a CD. Dated with the child’s name and then, the computer wipe out all the information. The parents are reminded to keep the CD in a safe place at home. If it is ever needed every minute counts. Sometimes it is sponsored like yesterday. Other times people make a voluntary doantion.Yesterday in Erin this one little girl, who obviously was not cameraa shy, came back to ask if I could take a pictur eof her face painting. A unicorn across her face! How could someone say no!
The total for Wellington District is close to a 1,000 kits over the last couple of years. The total in Ontario is over 33,000. Just think over 32,000 children have kits that can be used if they are needed. The next clinic in this area is in Erin on Thanksgiving weekend. I am not sure yet but will keep you posted if there is more The photo is of Gavin White on the scales as Dad does the paperwork.
As the slogan says “Masons helping you protect the ones you love”

The Highway to Hell...

is paved with good intentions…
I have updated this posting as the GTA West is getting closer to having comments filed with the MTO.
Kudos to Halton HIlls resident Peter Motem for the mock up of the sign...

The MTO has picked the worst possible solution and have ignored reality and obvious ones.
They have ignored that they could build out 401 from Tremaine over to Winston Churchill with 12 lanes by going to a urban cross section instead of a rural cross section. That means they need no more road width and can build it in there present road allowance.
They have also ignored the fact that GO will be coming to Kitchener and have not provided for increased rail traffic.
It is the same old "paving paradise".

While the land in that area is under tremendous pressure from developers. It is still productive farmland. It will be under more pressure if it is near a major highway and the developers will push for housing.
My vision is for crops of wheat, corn or beans not houses!

A year ago they had 2 options for us to cinsider. What they did was pick them both!
At Council we voted the other night to adamantly oppose the 4-3 option. The 4-2 can bring a needed bypass to Norval.
The 4-3 may end up bringing some economic development to Halton HIlls but at what price?

My vision is for a sustainable agricultural area in Halton HIlls, not freeways or more then likely toll roads across our remainging farm land.


What it means to Halton HIlls is that our farmland south of 10 SR will be effectively frozen for 3 to 5 years. Also all the houses and businesses in this area will have to have MTO approval for any application they wish to file. How would you feel if it was your land?

We wil be out with post cards preaddressed to the Minsiter, Look for us around town th enext few weeks.
Here was the original posting.



Over the last couple of years the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has been looking at options to move goods, people and services across the gridlock that is southern Ontario. A variety of areas were looked at and it was focused down on a couple. One that will have an impact on us will be the GTA West Corridor study.


The GTA west study has looked at a variety of options that impact us here in Halton Hills from a northern route across the of the GTA to connect basically, Kitchener with the 400. This first option would be located north of Acton and would be a 8 lane 400 series highways. It would traverse the Niagara Escarpment, the Greenbelt and the Oak Ridges Moraine. There have been a lot of concerns from Guelph Eramosa mayor Chris White as it would wipe out a large swath of the best farmland in the area and could have a detrimental effect on the greenbelted farmers. The study is not recommending it go forward.
Two options are going going forward and I will summarize them below. The first one would start at the 401/407 (option 4-2) and then head north and cross into Brampton around 10 SR. This is a study area that is similar to what has been looked at by a separate study called HPBATS or the Halton peel Border Area Transportation Study. This study came out of the regions Official Plan as Peel and Brampton had appealed it as we did not agree with there vision of solving traffic from the rapid growth was to dump it into our area.
I was one of the first at Council to object to how they were advertising in our papers requesting the area east of Trafalgar south of Georgetown be frozen while they figured it out. Even a meeting with the Peel Regional Chair showed there desire to ram this threw. Peel would not even talk about the Norval bypass but they finally saw the light! I am glad all of Council showed the same concern and we have taken a long time to get to today’s MOU of working together. This route may have a great benefit to Halton Hills as we could have greater exposure on a 400 series highway for our industrial area. Mayor Rick and I have attended a multitude of meetings and open houses on this one and will keep working on it. It has a price tag of over 600 million. Not one cent has been assigned.
The one with the most dramatic impact on us would start around the 401 at Tremaine Road across the bottom of Halton Hills, cross into Brampton and connect north in a area around Mayfield. This is the option 4-3 written about in the local papers. http://www.insidehalton.com/community/haltonhills/article/853565
This route would cut across all of our agriculture area and would be the deathknell of our farming community in the south part of Halton Hills. A 400 series highway would put tremendous pressure for the area to be urbanised. To have the straight rows of corn and soybeans to be replaced by rows of houses, cars and big box stores. The area would be lost forever and our rich history of farming would be lost. There are some who would benefit as they could flip there land to other speculators. The land owners of today would not as this would be a 20 to 30 year plan.
Our Council is sending a strong message of opposition to this plan to the MTO and the Ontario government. We need to hear from you and your thoughts. Some people have taken the time to write us and the papers about it. Comments and concerns can be sent to any of us and also should be sent to the study team. More information can be found at http://www.gta-west.com My fear as it relieves a choke point at tremaine on the 401 is that the staff at the Province will think it is a wonderful thing to have 12 lanes of traffic there.
I will have more on agriculture tomorrow.

The Idiocy of Litter!

This past Saturday, as I have done every year for almost the last 10, I was out picking up litter that people throw out carelessly.
If these idiots spent as much time picking up bag after bag of litter as they do for the careless and mindless action of throwing it out, our roads would look a lot better!

The Hornby Are Ratepayers group (HARP) started the clean up of the area around Hornby 11 yrs ago. Since then it is estimated they have picked up 3,000 bags of litter, garbage tossed out by people as they drive by. Or the numbskulls who stop and do roadside dumping.
The Town Litter Free Task Force led by Jane Fogal has an army of volunteers who go out and spend time picking up fast food containers, household garbage, oil cans and of course water bottles. I have seen things like shopping carts, couches, tires and even a windshield picked up.

With the amount of pop bottles, cans and especially water bottles I am still convinced that there should be a deposit on the water bottles.
Last year I picked up a bag and found the address of who dumped it. My first thought was to drive out and deliver it with an “I think you dropped this…”
I am sure all of us would much rather spend the day at home preparing our gardens or with our families.


Instead we are out, wearing warm clothes, ankle deep in mud scouring our parks, ditches, downtowns and rural areas picking up other peoples garbage. It does give you a good feeling to see the area done that you had worked on cleaned up.

The Acton Quarry as a Town Park?

As we all know the Acton Quarry has been part of the business and social fabric here for over 100 yrs. From the production of crushed lime to the quarrying of rock. A piece of the Acton is in every major infrastructure project in southern Ontario.
The area north of 22 SR is to be completely mined out in about 6 to 7 yrs. Then the rehabilitation process begins. At one time this land was suggested to be a landfill site but after a very expensive legal battle that will not happen.
However, the Town has the formal option to purchase all of the rehabilitated land for 1 buck. It is about 300 hectares or 700 acres of land.

The town has a great opportunity to add significant open space at a low cost. However, we must first look at what our long term costs may be to the Town. There will be pumping required to keep water flowing to 16 mile creek and Black Creek. That maintenance costs needs to be factored in.


We also need to look at any potential liability the town may have with quarry walls about 50 feet high, a lake that is about 30 feet deep.
Also, our vision and that of the community needs to be looked at. What would the land be used for? Passive open space, fresh water fishing, bird sanctuary and naturally trails could all be accommodated.
I hope people will subjectively look at the options we have before us and give us your comments.
Opportunities like this do not come up that often for the Town so we need to do our due diligence.

Federal/Provincial Elections

Last week at my March FCM meeting one of the items we discussed was we could use to get the Municipal message across as a Federal election is lookign more and more imminent.
In 2007 FCM released the report on the Infrastructure Deficit, at that time it was estimated to be 123 BILLION dollars. SInce then during the global meltdown we saw billions spent on Municipal projects. It is felt by many experts that the money spent has not even diminished the amount, but with age and inflation it has actually increaased. This deficit is for water, waste water, roads and bridges in every corner of Canada.
Also we discussed the need for stable long term funding and programs that will allow us to continue to rebuild and build Canada.
It is easy as governments cut deficits to see it impact those who are the quietest but also the most vulnerable. Deficit reductions should not impact those who still need assistance as we recover.
In the late summer AMO will release a platform for Ontario Municipalities as the fall Provincial election gets closer.
Both these organisations work hard to make sure that we let Ottawa and Queens Park know that Municipalities still need asssitance.
No one wants to see us return to the download days of the 90's that our Towns and Cities have nto recovered from.

How to build a better Canada

One of the amazing things that happens when you travel into “smaller town” Canada is the reception you receive from the people there. As I have in the past and present travelled across this great nation, I am always struck by our compassion and good nature.
Where else but a small Canadian City would you walk into a restaurant for breakfast and have all the patrons looking to see who were the new people entering. As they saw you not only were the shop keepers greeting you but the daily group who gather there for a coffee , breakfast and a chat all extend warm acknowledgement.
I am reminded of this today as I am in Corner Brook Newfoundland for meetings with FCM. Our March and September Board meetings move across this great land so we, as Municipal Leaders can learn the experience of our colleagues.
Corner Brook is a city of about 20,000 but is the hub on the western part of Newfoundland for government services.
Last night at an event in a matter of 20 minutes, I met people who had a niece in Georgetown, a daughter in Mississauga, family in Guelph and most amazingly someone who shopped in Acton.
When I said I was from near Brampton and narrowed it down, one man asked if I knew of the “Leather Place with the coats.” Here I was 2500 miles from home having a chat about the olde Hide House and his visit to Acton 15 years ago. He mentioned how he loved the look of the place and how they ate lunch in the restaurant. He said how they loved the jackets he and his wife bought and the time they had.
You can imagine the sense of pride and warmth I felt.
It is but one of the many nice surprises you get when you head out in Canada. You will find people say hello as you walk down the street. Cars stop in mid intersection to allow you to jay walk.
One of the things we are losing in places in Southern Ontario is our desire and drive to do some of those small town things. People shop with their heads down, their eyes not looking directly at people. Trying to avoid it almost seems is the human touch.
We would be well served to get “back to the country” and revisit small town Canada. A place where you will find 2 guys holding the doors open and each saying “go ahead”. A place where people like to hear your story and where you came from as you listen to theirs.
Everyone should, visit a place like Newfoundland, or spend a bit of time in the more rural parts of Canada. If we did we could build a better nation. Whether it is places like Paradise Newfoundland,Thompson Manitoba, Moncton NB, Weyburn Sask, Victoria BC, Oakville Manitoba or Oakville Ontario , our strength lies in our people.

Maybe we would not see the petty sniping politics we see lately in Ottawa, or Queens Park but true nation building.

CPR Training in Halton

In 2009 Halton Region EMS (Emergency Medical Services) responded to close to 31,000 calls. Of those about 360 were VSA (Vital Signs Absent). Meaning they showed no signs of life. Not breathing, no heartbeat, technically dead, but if someone is there and can quickly asses your situation and start early CPR, your chance of survival goes up dramatically.
We have all heard about how CPR saves lives. But it is just one link in the chain of survival for people who go into cardiac arrest.
The other part is having a nearby PAD (Public Access Defibrillators) near by and people trained to use them.
This past week our EMS Staff trained the Councillors on how to use the machines and gave us a CPR course. It took 90 minutes for 15 more people to be trained.
We received the new kits that we can pass on and train more people on how to do this simple, life saving technique.
Long before I was Chair of Health and Social Services I have always believed in the CPR/PAD chain. I had my first CPR course in 1981 and it took 8 hours.
Now in 90 minutes we can have people trained to recognise the signs of Heart attack or stroke, how to administer CPR and use a PAD.

The new kits have a DVD, small dummy and step by step instructions on how to use it..

When there is almost 1 call a day for a situation where CPR or PAD may need to be used. Would you not want to know how to save your loved one, neighbour or someone who needs assistance?
I feel Halton Region should strive to get more of its population trained. Approximately 30,000 have some CPR/Pad training. I would love to see us get that number to 50,000.
We need to figure out how to get there.
That one person per day could be a 16 yr old girl, a 80 yr old Grandfather, a 47 yr old mother or your son, daughter, mother, father or neighbour

Committees and Council

People ask about the importance of the committees we have for Council, both at the Town and the Region. The committees provide valuable feedback to us and help us develop policy that we will use.
At this time of year, during the first part of each term, we advertise and interview people who have expressed interest.
All members of Council sit on a variety of committees. I serve on some locally, regioanlly, Provincially and with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, nationally.
Even people who have served a long time on the committees are brought in for the interviews. Returning members get the opportunity to meet other members of Council and can provide direct feedback to us.
The interviews may only be 15 to 20 minutes in length, but are important for us to learn about the reasons some wish to serve on the committees.
We could not develop policy or recieve feedback as quick as what we do without our committee members.
All of our volunteers deserve our thanks. Whether they assist at our facilities or serve on our committees. A well deserved big Thank you!

FCM Sustainable Communities Conference

I recently returned from the FCM's Sustainable Community Conference. 3 Days of us talking about what we have done, learning from others and thinking and planning what we can do to make our communities morr sustainable.
We had some tremendous keynote speakers and presenters.
I am planing on taking some of these ideas to both the Town and Region so we can use them for our upcoming strategic planning sessions.
We have done some good things here, fromt he Green Plan to having four new buildings using Georthermal.
I was fortunate to visit Dockside Green, a LEED platinum development on a former brownfield site. Truly impressive.

The Hospital funding Question

Haltom Hills Council has been asked to participate in the funding of an expanded Emergency room and a CT scanner at Georgetown hospital. The total cost of this project is 12 million dollars. The Town is being asked to provide 4.54 million.
The biggest question is “Why are out tax dollars being used to fund a hospital? Should it not be Provincial money?”

To me the answer to that one is yes, it should be, however, the Province now requires that for any new hospital construction that there is a Municipal share. It is Provincial policy that we contribute.
I have always had difficulty and am philosophically opposed to us having to fund hospitals. Our budgets get stretched as it is!
For each tax dollar raised in Canada the Federal government gets 50 cents, the Provincial gets 42 cents and the Municipalities get 8 cents. Divided up among the Region and Town for all services we deliver.
Health care in Canada is under the Canada Health Care Act and paid for by the Federal government and the Province. But it is up to the Province to deliver the service.
Hospitals are meant to provide a “regional" type service. If I get sick and go to the local hospital I may be transferred to one in another community that may have the expertise or staff that can assist me. They do not turn me away because I live out of Town. Instead the staff treats me, make me well and send me home.
That is how it is supposed to work.
If there is funding out of a tax base it should be looked at as a Region. I plan to pursue that one a bit more. Though it is unl;ikely as we had a report the last term that left it at the local level.
However, I support funding our Georgetown Hospital. Here is why.
Seven years ago we fought like hell to keep our hospital from losing obstetrics and starting the slow long painful road to closing. We face the same thing today. If we go the route of trying to get funding for the CT scanner and expansion, it could be 7 to 10 years. In the mean time our hospital will fall farther behind in equipment, then staff.
Doctors and Nurses will stop coming to Georgetown as we do not have the equipment available for them to diagnose. People will stop using it as they know for a simple procedure of standard equipment like the CT scan; it can mean a 6 hour trip to Milton or Oakville.
We, as a community stood up and said how important our hospital is. Not just to our health and well being, but also as a tool for attracting businesses to locate here.
In the last week I, as have other members of Council received numerous comments, emails and questions on the funding of the hospital. The vast majority are in favour. Some are opposed to it on principal, some on reasons that do not follow the course of normal logic.
But we as Civic leaders must do our duty and find out what the cost will be. We also must listen to each side and make sure that we understand the reasons for those opposed.
We also need to make sure that if we do this that safe guards are in place for the money put in by the Town.
However we also have to recognize the value the hospital has, how it is up to all of us to support it and make sure it is “healthy.”
Because if we do not, it will surely wither and slowly die.

Budgets and catching up.

Well Folks I have not fallen off the face of the earth or had writers block.. Once a new Council gets sworn in we start the work immediately, new committees, some orientation sessions and workshops.
One of the first things we do is budgets. Everyone around the table is concerned and aware of the tough economic times we live in. How people are still struggling. But the other thing that happens is people still expect services and programming from the Town and Region.
For every tax dollar collected in Canada the municipalities receive the smallest part. Fifty percent goes to the federal government, forty two percent to the Province and just eight cents to be split among the Region and the Town. We do pretty good for what we actually get.
The municipal level of government delivers a variety of services that people depend on. From when you turn on your lights, water or go to leave your laneway you are impacted by it.
This year has been difficult as at the Town we are facing a variety of pressure. The Arena Task Force is proposing we build 3 new arenas in the next 4 years. We have the library about to go under construction. Then there are other recreational needs like parks, soccer fields and trails. The cycling Master Plan could potentially cost 15 million by the time it is finished and this year we are adding in money for construction on 2 of our major projects.
The preceding paragraph has over 50 million in projects. Staggering, I know. That was just the Town. Halton Region is facing budget challenges but they have been softened by uploading of Provincial items off the property tax base. However even when those items are uploaded there is still inequities in the budget. Items the province is supposed to cost share equally, never work out that way. Each time they do it costs the taxpayers in Halton. This is for items like Ambulance, public health and social assistance.
The budget for Health and Social Services is 235 million plus. About 95 million is what is charged to the tax base.
Social Service costs have gone up due to the economic downturn but we are hopeful they will start to be reduced. Social Services including housing employ about 1,000 people at the region. In both Health and Social Services al lot of our programs are legislated. We have to do them.
The good news is that both Winston Churchill and Steels are due for long needed upgrades.
We also have a request from the Hospital for funding that is about 4.5 million.
Raising taxes is never easy. But our constituents can rest assured we do not do it likely.
We spend a lot of time reading and preparing for budgets. I have always believed a Councillor should contribute, put forward ideas and vote. The easiest thing would be to vote against everything and not say a word. However I was elected to try and build a better, community, Town and Region. I will continue to be part of the budget process and will work with my colleagues on our vision of our home.

I also promise I will endeavour to write more...