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Minister Duguid gets earful on UCPR goals
GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
calling it both unfair to local contractors and also a drain to Ontario’s own economy because the Québec contractors working on projects here do not pay the Ontario pro- vincial tax, and they and their workers also take the money made on the project, back to Québec where it is spent.They also noted that Ontario contractors who try to make a go in Québec also have to deal with the pro- vince’s unions that can be more aggressive on insisting on local hiring for local jobs. Reasonable energy costs for both work and home were also on the list of issues from the UCPR. All the mayors urged provincial support of expansion of natural gas service into more rural communities, to benefit both the agricultural sector and local small- and medium-sized businesses.The cost for elec- tricity also came up; several mayors also told Duguidmore work is needed to provide more electrical supply capacity for several large-scale agribusiness and tourismoutfits, which want to expand their operations but cannot because they have no guarantee for the hydro. Duguid received a reminder about the situation with the County Road 17/Highway 174-expansion proposal for the traffic connection between Rockland and Orléans/ Ottawa. Support for the recreational bike trail network in the UCPRwas also brought up as support for the region’s eco-tourism sector. overdue accounts. “I think, when we get to accounts that are that far behind,” he said, “I think it’s too late.” Coun. Zanth suggested there should be a “threshold point” for an overdue account, where the five-year repayment plan was not considered a viable option and city staff would move on to the tax sale process ins- tead. Finance director Robert Kehoe told council that the five-year repayment plan ders without success. “Some of them are not getting the mes- sage,” Kehoe said. He also noted that right now overdue property tax accounts are hit every months with a 1.5 per cent late-penalty charge, which adds up to 15 per cent in accumulated inte- rest on the account at the end of the year. It would be cheaper, he observed, for overdue account holders to take out a bank loan at a lower rate of interest to clear their overdue tax bills rather than continue to pay the monthly arrears charge. Kehoe also noted that the overdue ac- counts file includes amix of residential and commercial property holders. “We’ve got to offer a door to these people,” said mayor Guy Desjardins, regarding the overdue tax debt situation. “I like the fact that they still have an op- tion,” said Coun. Carl Grimard. is another option that the City can consider for dea- ling with some overdue accounts. He noted that City staff have sent out regular notices to all of the over- due account hol-
Ontario’s minister of Economic Develop- ment had an afternoon sit-down session with all of the mayors of Prescott-Russell. BradDuguid got a quick and detailed run- down on what kind of help would bene- fit all of the municipalities in the United Counties. “These kind of face-to-facemeetings with municipal leaders help guide us (ministry) in our choices for infrastructure programs at the provincial level,” stated Duguid during the Feb. 8 session. “With flexibility built into the programs, themunicipalities can choose where the (support) money should go for their priorities.” During the two-hour Wednesday mee- ting, the mayors and administration of the
Brad Duguid, ministre ontarien du Développement économique, a visité l’une des brasseries régionales indépendantes dont les produits ont fait découvrir la région de Prescott-Russell. —photo Vicky Charbonneau
United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR) listedmore than half a dozen regional prio- rities for economic development assistance to all the communities and business sectors. One of the key issues on the UCPR list was the lack of fair competition for local contractors with potential projects or clients in Québec. While Ontario allows Québec contractors to bid for jobs in this province, Ontario contractors are often prevented from bidding for contracts in Québec. UCPRmayors condemned the situation,
Foire
l’emploi 2017
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CR council goes after overdue taxes
UN EMPLOI CHEZ NOUS!
GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
City staff will provide some local property owners in Clarence-Rockland, who are overdue on their taxes, with one more option to clear their accounts and avoid a tax sale situation. Clarence-Rockland council approved By- law 2017-21, during its Feb. 6 regular session. The bylaw provides
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administration and fi- nance department staff with a new tax admi- nistration policy to try and settle some overdue property tax accounts. The policy provides City Hall with a term- payment option, for pro-
Le personnel de la Cité de Clarence- Rockland offrira aux propriétaires dont les comptes d’impôt foncier sont en souffrance une option de plus pour régler leurs dettes
perty tax debtors, of up to amaximumof five years for clearing their overdue accounts. Property owners who accept this option are also required to maintain their regular annual property tax payments. Counc. Mario Zanth wondered if even the time-payment option would work for some New rates for child care agency The United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR) will support a nominal increase to the rate schedule for the Prescott-Russell Licensed Home Child Care Agency. UCPR administration pres- ented a report to the counties council during its committee of the whole session. The report recommends a one-dollar increase across the board for the daily rates schedule the agency provides its clients. The new rates will vary, de- pending on what the previous rates were prior to the one-dollar increase. – Gregg Chamberlain
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