ÉCONOMIE / BUSINESS
communautaire Le lien community link The
Business licence proposal proves tough sell
G REGG C HAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
CASSELMAN
EMBRUN | People need a licence to drive a car, anddog owners are used to buyinglicencesfortheirpets.Butlocal business owners in Russell Township are saying “No Sale!” to a proposed business licence bylaw for the municipality. “We think that enough legislation already exists for a business to operate legally, safely, competently, fairly,” said Maurice Godard, board chairman for La Coopérative agricole d’Embrun Ltée. (Embrun CoOp), during the first of two public review evening sessions on a new business licensing policy proposed for Russell Township. About 100 local business owners and othersattendedeithertheMondaysession in Embrun on April 23 or the following evening’s meeting in Russell to voice opinions or objections to the proposed business licence bylaw. Daniel Gatien, townshipeconomicdevelopmentdirector, agreed during a later interview that the idea did not get a warmwelcome from the business community. “It was definitely not well-received,” Gatien said. The two-day feedback sessions were a planned follow-up to Gatien’s presentation to council last month on the feasibility, costs, and benefits of having a local business licensing policy. The OntarioMunicipal Act gives every municipality the authority to create a business licence policy if it chooses. In the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR) the Town of Hawkesbury and the City of Clarence-Rockland each have such a policy. The Village of Casselman used to have one but no longer. None of the other UCPR municipalities require a business licence for any commercial operation within their boundaries. Gatien’s report last month proposed a business licence policy that, if approved, would take effect this August. Business owners would pay an annual $100 fee for
Le club de danse de Casselman aura un souper-danse le 11 mai à la salle des Chevaliers de Colomb au 653, St-Isidore à Casselman à compter de 18 h. Réservation 613 76-5218 ou 613 764-5559.
EMBRUN
TheCanadianDiabetes, incollaborationwith Embrun Dodge Chrysler Jeep, is organizing a clothing drive. A fill the truck event will take place Saturday May 19th at 700, Notre-Dame, Embrun. Souper de fèves au lard, macaroni et pâté chinois organisé par les Chevaliers de Colomb, le vendredi 11 mai à 17 h 15 au 5, rue Forget, Embrun.
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Daniel Gatien’s report last month proposed a business licence policy that, if approved, would take effect this August
there already exist many federal and provincial agencies that deal with health andsafetyissuesinvolvingbusinessesalong with other concerns like transportation, standards of weights and measures and such, and themunicipality alsohas several departments and policies in place now that deal with planning, zoning, signage, and other concerns that affect business. He questioned whether a licensing policy is either necessary or useful. “We think sufficient, probably too many, controls already affect the legitimate operator of a business,” stated Godard. “Making ‘illegitimate’ business people respect them should be the priority.” He also noted that some sections of the proposed bylaw are already proving confusing and troubling to the business community. Gatien explained that council will receive an updated report on the business licensing proposal at itsMay 7 committee of the whole session. The report will include comments and criticisms made during the two feedback sessions. “Those comments didn’t land on deaf ears,” Gatien said, adding that he and his staff will also work on fostering trust between the business community and the municipality. Amanda Simard honorée
their licence and the fee would be split 50- 50 between the township and the local chambers of commerce. The Embrun, St- Isidore,CasselmanChamberofCommerce (ESTIC) represents some, but not all, of the businesses in those villages while the Russell Village Chamber of Commerce no longer exists. Gatien’s report stated that the benefits to themunicipality of a business licensing policy include: more up-to-date and accurate information about local economic growth; more accurate information related to public safety issues likewhichbusinesseshavefiresuppression systems or hazardous material storage depots;providesetstandardsforparticular businesses or trades that themunicipality may feel need regulation within the community; identify businesses that are not assessed the right amount of property tax or user fees; help the township identify “holes” in its economic development and serviceprofiletoaddressinfuturebusiness investment promotion efforts. The proposed licence would cost $100 a year and be subject to review and either suspension or revoking if necessary. The report recommends urging The Nation Municipality and Village of Casselman to enact business licensing policies. In his presentation, Godard noted that
La ligue de fer est a la recherche de joueurs/ joueuses pour jouer les mardis soir de 19 h à 21 h à compter du 8 mai. Marc 613 443-1276.
Le théâtre L’envol d’Embrun présente Rumeurs , une comédie de Neil Simon, les 3, 4, 5, 10 et 11 mai à 20 h et une matinée le samedi 12 mai à 14 h, au Russell High School, 982, rue North Russell à Russell. Réservation de billets : theatrelenvol@hotmail.com ou au 613 443- 3665. Le Centre de Santé Communautaire de l’Estrieauraunatelierd’exercicespourprévenir les chutes. Le 23 mai à 13 h 30 au 738, Notre- Dame. Pour info 613 443-3888.
Diner communautaire le jeudi 10 mai au Centre Forget, 151, Centenaire. Réservations : Annette Sauvé 613 443-2175.
LIMOGES
Dîner communautaire le vendredi 11 mai au sous-solde l’église .Réservations :CécileLaurin 613 443-4519.
13 000 copies
METCALFE
Rural Family Connections wants your used books fortheirupcoming2ndannual“Big/Little Book Sale”, in support of the Live and Learn Resource Centre. The Book Sale is Saturday June 2, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Metcalfe Fairgrounds. For information, call 613 821-2899 or liveandlearn@bellnet.ca
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RUSSELL
1158, Notre-Dame, C.P. / P.O. Box, 1170, Embrun, ON K0A 1W0 Tel.: 613 443-2741 • Fax: 613 443-1865 1 800 359-4142
Amanda Simard, originaire d’Embrun, recevra une bourse de 1 000 $ Carrières en justice de l’Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Ontario (AJEFO). Cette bourse vise à appuyer la poursuite des études en français dans le domaine de la justice et ainsi encourager une relève professionnelle de qualité.
Mega garage sale Saturday May 5th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 418 Sujack Street, Russell. Proceeds going to cancer foundation (Relay for Life). Russell United Church (38 Mill St. in Russell) is holding a spring sale on Friday May 4 th from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday May 5 th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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