For
Immediate Release
April 28, 2005
Queen’s Park, Toronto
– Lanark-Carleton M.P.P. Norm Sterling is pleased to announce that his Private
Member’s Bill to establish an Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund passed
second reading unanimously in the Ontario Legislature today.
“I am encouraged that my
colleagues in the Legislature have recognized Eastern Ontario’s need for
assistance in attracting economic development,” said Sterling.
“The unanimous passage of this Bill today offers hope to Eastern
Ontarians who often feel forgotten.”
In debate Sterling described
the communities in Eastern Ontario that would be helped by this legislation:
“These communities are characterized by low commercial and industrial tax
bases, slow or no population growth, lower than average incomes and a much
larger aging population than the Ontario average of 12%. These communities
really need some extra help, and this gives the government a great opportunity
to provide that help.”
“Since introducing this Bill,
I have received letters and resolutions of support from a wide array of Eastern
Ontario Municipalities,” said Sterling. Support
came from townships with populations as small as 1,500 as well as from cities
like Kingston and Peterborough.
Laurie Scott, M.P.P. for
Haliburton-Victoria-Brock, told the Legislature “I have met with many local
businesses in the area about setting up a fund like this. They could see
benefits in businesses developing and employing local people, helping the area
economically, good jobs that could keep our young people in our communities.”
If passed on third reading this
Bill will create the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund Corporation (E.O.E.D.F.C.),
similar to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund which invests in communities
within Northern Ontario. The Corporation would determine where to invest based on
factors such as average annual income, municipal tax base and population growth.
“It sounds like the bill is going to pass and that is hopefully good news for Eastern Ontario. Frequently I think that Eastern Ontario is not a subject of discussion in this place, and that’s regrettable,” said Bob Runciman, M.P.P. for Leeds-Grenville, during the debate.
“For years we have been saying in Eastern Ontario how difficult it is to develop our area when we seem to always be playing at a disadvantage,” said John Yakabuski, M.P.P. for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke. Mr. Yakabuski continued, “When you talk about funding formulas, you talk about something that applies across the province. We’ve been disadvantaged in Eastern Ontario for years because these funding formulas do not address the specific needs and the inequities that are faced by Renfrew County and indeed most of Eastern Ontario.”
The NDP’s Peter Kormos, M.P.P. for Niagara Centre, described Bill 187 as “a very legitimate effort to create a vehicle for economic development in Eastern Ontario,” adding that “I look forward to every member of this Legislature supporting it.”
Liberal members who spoke in
support of the Bill included Peterborough M.P.P. Jeff Leal,
Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburg M.P.P. Jim Brownell and Northumberland
M.P.P. Lou Rinaldi.
Despite receiving unanimous support today, the fate of this initiative is now in the hands of the governing Liberals. Only the government house leader has the authority to call the Bill for third and final reading.
For the purposes of this
legislation Eastern Ontario will include the city of Kawartha Lakes and the
counties of Peterborough, Haliburton, Northumberland, Hastings, Renfrew, Lennox
and Addington, Frontenac, Leeds & Grenville, Lanark, Prescott & Russell,
Prince Edward and Stormont Dundas and Glengarry including all cities within that
area save the city of Ottawa. According
to the 2001 census the median incomes in these areas are on average almost 15%
lower than the median income across Ontario.
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For more information, please call Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling at: (416) 314-7900
Quotes
in Support of Bill 187
Lanark County Council
Resolution
“Whereas, according to the 2001 Census, many Eastern Ontario Communities median incomes are on average almost 15% lower than the median income in Ontario;
And Whereas, Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling has introduced Bill 187, the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund Act to promote economic development in smaller towns and cities in Eastern Ontario;
Therefore let it be resolved that the Council of the Corporation of the County of Lanark supports the establishment of the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund Corporation.”
Town
of Perth Council Resolution
Resolves “That the council of the Town of Perth support Bill 187, the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund Act, that would create the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Corporation which would be mandated to invest in projects that will help bring development and jobs to smaller communities in Eastern Ontario facing economic challenges.”
Peter Kooistra, Mayor,
Township of Stirling-Rawdon
“We are pleased that you recognize the difficult economic challenges facing smaller municipalities in Eastern Ontario and we would encourage the government to move forward with this Bill as soon as possible. The promotion of economic development in the smaller communities is critical to our future growth and prosperity.”
Neil
Stewart, Mayor, Township of McNab/Braeside
“It is understood by Council that the purposes of Bill 187 are to establish the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund and to allow the Corporation to use money in the Fund for the purpose of providing financial assistance to promote economic development in rural areas and smaller urban municipalities in Eastern Ontario that have limited financial resources and that are experiencing a population growth lower than the average for all municipalities in the Province.
Council is aware of the difficult economic challenges facing smaller municipalities in Eastern Ontario and recognize that Bill 187, if passed, would be mandated to invest in projects that will help bring development and jobs to communities in Eastern Ontario and also acknowledge that the Corporation would consider such factors as average annual income, municipal tax base and population growth when determining where to invest.
In conclusion I would like to advise you that the Council of the Corporation of the Township of McNab/Braeside support your initiative in introducing Bill 187 as a Private Member’s Bill.”
“The Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund Corporation’s mandate to invest in projects where need is based on local tax base, average income and population growth is welcome. These elements have been addressed by the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus and are the very factors which restrict local economic development in the Township of Addington Highlands.”
“Economic development barriers include no access to high speed Internet and virtually no cell phone service. Both of these services are taken for granted in most parts of Ontario. There are still areas in Eastern Ontario that are more poorly serviced than less populated parts of Northern Ontario.”
“I fully support Bill 187 as it is desperately needed in Eastern Ontario and hope you are successful in passing this Bill.”
“I am pleased to offer my support and that of my Council to Bill 187, The Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund Act.
The Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal is an amalgamated municipality of 6200 people located at the Eastern end of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. We are facing numerous challenges as we attempt to continue to provide a reasonable level of service to our residents. Continued downloading combined with reduced funding from the Provincial Government have left us with increased costs however negligible growth related revenue has left us with no alternative but to reduce services. Any and all efforts to stimulate economic activity in our area would be welcomed.”
“I would like to show my support for your efforts in Eastern Ontario. For too many years, Eastern Ontario has been forgotten by Queen’s Park and as a result it has fallen behind. Such a fund would allow for the leveraging of private and public funds to give our area a needed boost.”
“I have no doubt that the Council of the Corporation of Kingston would support this bill with a large majority if not unanimity. I should tell you that Municipalities United for a New Deal has discussed the advisability of just such an agency as Bill 187 proposes and that there is broad support among its members. These include the County of Prince Edward, the Cities of Quinte West, Peterborough, Belleville, Kingston, Brockville, Pembroke and Cornwall and the separated towns of Smiths Falls, Gananoque and Prescott.”
Margaret Walsh, Reeve,
Township of Tyendinaga
“Thank you for giving me an opportunity to express my support for Bill 187. The Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus, of which I was a member in 2003, has been lobbying for financial assistance for Eastern Ontario’s rural and small urban municipalities. We need a funding model similar to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Act.
Eastern Ontario has hundreds of kilometers of roads and innumerable bridges which cannot be funded on a residential tax basis. Many of the roads and bridges through crown lands have no tax base.”
“I have reviewed Bill 187, The Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund Act which you have introduced as a Private Member’s Bill and I support this very worthwhile initiative. Bill 187 would greatly help Eastern Ontario’s communities and in particular communities in Renfrew County. The Fund would provide investment in public sector and private sector projects that would create much needed jobs and economic development opportunities for Eastern Ontario.”
Sylvia Sutherland, Mayor,
City of Peterborough and Chair, Municipalities United for a New Deal
“As the Chair of MUND, I commend you on your efforts regarding the future of economic development in Eastern Ontario. We have not had an opportunity to discuss Bill 187 at MUND, but there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that its entire membership – the County of Prince Edward, and the cities of Belleville, Kingston, Quinte West, Brockville, Pembroke, Cornwall and most certainly Peterborough would support this legislation. It is long over-due and I wish you every success.”
“Your initiating an Act to establish the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund Corporation is most commendable. I agree for several reasons:
1. Prescott’s population is in decline – a 5.6% drop in the last census
2. Prescott is typical of small urban municipalities in Eastern Ontario: we provide filtered water and waste water treatment but the cost is almost insurmountable for our small population.
3. the disappearance of industries such as RCA/Thompson Electronics has had a devastating effect on the Prescott Economy and combined with a changing assessment system, on our tax base
4. the senior population (65+) is 22.7% compared to the 12.9% Ontario average
5. low income households represent 22.2% compared to the provincial statistic of 14.4%
Prescott’s famed historian and literary son, Bruce Hutchison, in Colony to Nation, 1942, wrote: ‘such towns as Prescott, though they did not know it, were the birthplace of the Canadian Nation – they and they alone.’ Bill 187 promises that the enormous effort we are putting into community economic development for our strategically placed historic community can be successful and we will once again fulfill that vision.”
Bob
Sweet, Warden, Renfrew County and Chair of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus
“We want to thank you for bringing forward this necessary legislation in support of Eastern Ontario. We support Bill 187.”
Sandra Heins, Mayor, Town
of Renfrew
“Members of Renfrew Town Council had an opportunity to review and discuss this proposed legislation in much detail at our Council Meeting held April 25, 2005; we applaud and support your efforts in this initiative.
Bill 187 will provide an economic development tool that will address the difficulties faced by the smaller municipalities in Eastern Ontario and will act as a catalyst in the promotion of job growth and the building of sustainable small communities. As Citizens and the governing Municipal body of the Town of Renfrew, we note that the focus of the Bill addresses and reflects issues that the Town of Renfrew is presently experiencing. As many of our youth leave the area for higher education and better paying jobs, we are fast becoming a retirement community with a limited industrial base. If this continues, we will be faced with a diminished skilled labour pool and will be unable to attract much needed industrial growth to compliment our commercial growth.
Similar to Northern Ontario, this region of the province is faced with unique challenges and requires this type of legislation and funding source to invest in our communities. It is essential that an adequate and long-term financial commitment be made by the Government of Ontario to fund this program and to allow for a fair and equitable system by which municipalities can access this support.”
Brian
Lillico, President, Lanark Highlands Business and Tourism Association
“Bill
187 acknowledges the many economic challenges faced by the Municipalities in
Eastern Ontario and will provide appropriate policy responses and investment
solutions through the creation of the Eastern Ontario Development Fund
Corporation.
Smiths Falls Town Council will be supporting this important initiative through a formal resolution at the May 2, 2005 Council Meeting.
In addition, we are most encouraged by the level of support to date for Bill 187 by a number of M.P.P.s of the Provincial Legislature and we trust that sufficient support will be provided for the third and final reading.
Finally we wish to commend and thank M.P.P. Norm Sterling for his vision, leadership and advocacy in the creation Bill 187 to assist the citizens and communities of Eastern Ontario.”