Go Kings Go!
MichaelHARRIS
MichaelHARRISMPP.ca 519.954.8679 MPP KITCHENER-CONESTOGA Michael.Harris@pc.ola.org 4281 King Street East, Unit 4 Kitchener, Ontario N2P 2E9
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03 | 15 | 2014 VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 11
EXTENDING SAP SEASON BEYOND ELMIRA'S FESTIVAL LIVING HERE PAGE 24
COMMENT PAGE 6
INTENT ON REFORM OF THE MOST UNDEMOCRATIC KIND
Woolwich wants better deal from Humane Society
TAKIN' A BREAK AT THE LIBRARY
DEAL | 4
Municipalities need consistent funding from province, says Woolwich Township among those requesting new process from minister; seeks system that doesn’t penalize prudence
STEVE KANNON Woolwich is looking for a lower price and the option of phasing-in any increases before proceeding with a new deal with the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society. The township this week deferred a vote on a new contract with KWHS pending negotiations to lower the proposed $15,000 price tag for animal shelter services this year. Staff will now go back to the agency to discuss options before council makes a final decision. The two groups have been in talks for a few years to update an agreement that dates back to 1966, a deal the Humane Society says does not pay enough to cover its costs. In the past five years, for instance, Woolwich has been paying about $4,000. Under a new five-year contract given tentative approval when councillors met last week, the price would jump the rate to $15,000 for 2014, with cost-of-living increases annually. At Tuesday night’s meeting, councillors again debated the costs, which would take a significant jump from the $6,000 billed in 2013.
www.OBSERVERXTRA.com
STEVE KANNON
Halfway through a week of R&R, kids gathered at the Elmira branch library for March Break crafts. Clockwise from front: Mary Arjune, 7, Danielle Scott, 11, Nadia Weber, 7, Vanessa Weber 9, Steve Scheifele, 6, Alyssa Scheifele, 9, Kaia Lebold, 7, and Annalise Wolton, 7. [ELENA MAYSTRUK / THE OBSERVER]
▲ Ratings are awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) (www.iihs.org). To qualify for 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, plus a good or acceptable rating in the small overlap front test. *MSRP of $19,995 on 2014 Impreza 2.0i 4-door (EF1 BP). Advertised pricing consists of MSRP plus charges for Freight/PDI ($1,595), Air Tax ($100), Tire Stewardship Levy ($29.20), OMVIC Fee ($5), Dealer Admin ($199). Freight/PDI charge includes a full tank of gas. Taxes, license, registration and insurance are extra. $0 security deposit. Model shown: 2014 Impreza 2.0i Sport Package (EF1 SP) with an MSRP of $23,895. Dealers may sell or lease for less or may have to order or trade. Vehicle shown solely for purposes of illustration, and may not be equipped exactly as shown. See your local Subaru dealer for complete program details.
A provincial funding system that seems to penalize municipalities actively working on their infrastructure deficits needs to be changed, argues Woolwich’s chief administrative officer. David Brenneman says the current grants process sometimes sees money go to municipalities deemed in greater need, in effect punishing places like Woolwich that have started building reserve funds and developing plans to deal with aging roads, bridges and pipes. In a recap of recent meetings with provincial officials, Brenneman said Woolwich was among those calling for a predictable stream of infrastruc-
ture money from Queen’s Park. In a meeting with Minister of Rural Affairs Jeff Leal at last month’s Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference, township officials had a frank conversation about infrastructure funding, he told councillors Tuesday night. “The township [feels] that the upper levels of government should find a way to reward municipalities that have shown a consistent willingness to tackle the infrastructure issues they are faced with.” The township has included a special tax levy in its last three budgets, completed road and bridge needs studies and developed an asset management plan, all with FUNDING | 3
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