WHERE TIRES ARE A SPECIALTY, NOT A SIDELINE. Farm - Auto - Truck - Industrial - Lawn & Garden - On The Farm Service
ELMIRA, ON | 519-669-3232
AT PARTICIPATING STORES
09 | 26 | 2015 VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 39
KINGS SPLIT WEEKEND, SEASON AT .500 SPORTS PAGE 9
COMMENT PAGE 6
ELECTIONS CANADA ON GUARD FOR DIRTY TRICKS
Elementary teachers stepping up work-to-rule tactics
No tax target for Wellesley at this point
Making a pitch at Home
Councillors discuss inflation, cost of living increases, but want more info before setting goals for 2016 budget
SCOTT BARBER Ontario’s 70,000 public elementary school teachers ramped up work-to-rule tactics this week. The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario initiated phase three of its efforts to get a better deal with the province on September 21, calling on its members to not fill in for absent teachers, update class websites or take on extra duties during scheduled prep time, among other activities designed to cause problems for school board officials. “On September 7, after insisting ETFO accept terms designed for secondary teachers, the Liberal government and (Ontario Public School Boards’ Association) abruptly left the bargaining table,” ETFO President Sam Hammond said in a statement. “ETFO has waited more than a week for the government and OPSBA to return to the bargaining table. We have heard nothing from them. The government is trying to cut corners by offering elementary teachers a deal designed for secondary teachers. Elementary teachers and students have different needs TEACHERS | 23
WHITNEY NEILSON
Stephen Harper stopped by the Home Hardware Fall Market in St. Jacobs on Monday as part of his federal campaigning, restating his pledge to make the home renovation tax credit permanent if elected on Oct. 19. [WHITNEY NEILSON / THE OBSERVER]
and we’re celebrating in style!
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Accessories &Home Décor
Wellesley council didn’t give much direction to township staff on Tuesday night when discussing the 2016 budget, except to say don’t decrease services and keep expenses to a minimum. “What we’re looking for this year is a target. We’ve been seeing a lot of stuff in the paper lately about where other councils are going. I have a few scenarios. I’m not really sure where you’re looking to go to on this,” treasurer Theresa Bisch said. She explained some of the numbers are already set, such as unionized workers’ wages. In previous years, they used the October Consumer Price Index as a benchmark. Seeing as it isn’t available yet, Bisch used the Consumer Price Index for Ontario for
August, which was sitting at 1.2 per cent. “If we did that it would just cover the cost of living. If we went with 1.2 per cent, and I’m basing this on a [current value assessment] of $331,500, which is your value on a house, the residential taxes would increase, our portion only would be $13.98 for an average house,” Bisch said. If council were to approve a 2.5 per cent increase to the budget, close to last year’s, the increase per household of the same value would be $26.84 per year, generating an additional $102,349 for the township. “If we went with a cost of living increase on wages alone and tried to stay the course on everything else, which is really difficult, it would be an additional BUDGET | 5
NOW TO GET READY! Thanksgiving is Coming!ORDER
It’s Our 8th Anniversary
ON ALL
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998 6 Piece Dining Set
Includes extension table, 4 chairs and Free Dining Bench. Available in 2 finishes. Server also available: $599
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