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Home My WebLink AboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-11-27, Page 11Wednesday, November 27, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 11 Canada's Gas TaxFund Second installment of annual $2 -billion transfer available for municipal infrastructure Lakeshore Advance Ben Lobb, Member of Parliament for l loran Bruce, on behalf of the l lonourahle Denis Libel, Minister of infrastructure, Com- munities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the (legions of (Quebec, today announced that the second installment of Canada's Gas Tax Fund for In Ontario, this has meant access to close 2013 is being made available to nlunicipati- to $4.7 billion to date for community projects. ties in I!uron-Bruce. 'i his installment makes Funding can currently be spent in the follow - available i1 total of $6,510,677 to flown- Bruce ing areas: this year to support its local infrastructure • Drinking water priorities. • Wastewater infrastructure "Our Government is proud to invest in IN Public transit important infrastructure projects, as eve focus • Community energy systems on creating jobs, promoting growth, and ■ Solid waste management building strong, prosperous communities ■ Local roads across Canada," said Ben Lobb. "We are Canada's Gas Fax fund provides long - proud to support economic growth across term funding to help municipalities build luron-Bruce by supporting local infrastruc- and revitalize their local infrastructure. lure priorities through the federal Gas 'Fax funding is provided up front, twice a year Fund." and the Government of Ontario, the Food for fines stocking shelves in library, food banks Crd Creces ency Got an overdue hook that you've been meaning to return but just haven't had the litre? The Huron County Library is collecting for local food banks from November 18-24, as part of its Food for Fines program. All library branches, will be accepting donations to the food bank in lieu of library fines on a basis of one donation per overdue book. Branch Services Librarian Jennifer Loethout noted that all donations stay within the community they are collected in. "It's all staying within your commu- nity;" she said. "Now's the time to take an overdue fine and turn it into a good thing" Anyone with excessive fines should take the opportunity to clear them up, she said. 'Ihe annual drive nets several boxes of food for the food hank, and even those people who return their books on time are welcome to donate. Meanwhile, Canadian library Week (October 17-24) ushered in it new pro- gram for the i (uron County Library - Adopt a Computer. As libraries take on a greater role in the community as a technological hug), the need for new and replacement equip- ment becomes more pronounced. 1'he Adopt a Computer program welcomes donations toward new machines, which have about a three-year life cycle. In 2012, Iluron's library computers were accessed more than 34,(XX) times for everything from facebook to banking to filling out government forms. As more Auld more government forms and job applications are becoming available online, the demand for computer time is also increasing. "We want to slake sure the technology is up to date and that we have the best available for the public; Loethottt said. A CHILD'S WISH IS WAITING. YOU CAN HELP MAKE IT COME TRUE. With 12 branches in the 1 luron (:aunty library system and about five computers per branch, the program also seeks to provide new service in addition to replac- ing the old. Replacements are done in cycles, taking a few at each branch at a time. Some libraries in the county also have lending laptops, which are available for users who may want some private com- puter use at the library, whether filling out tax fortes or skyping with family and friends. The adoption program will also provide for more laptops as well. 'Ihe program asks for a dollar a (lay for three years, or $1,095 in total. Donors can name the computer in memory or hon- our of someone special, or after a favour- ite author. However, all donations are always welcome at the library, and can be put toward specific initiatives, such as technology or children's programming. Donations can he made at any I luron County Library branch. Every 40 minutes, the Make -A Wish Foundation' grants the wish of a c hdd with a life-thrratr•nrn(j medical condition -- being a veterinarian fur a clay, having a computer to stay tonne, ted or (join() anywhere their Imagination takes them. Join In our mission to create lasting hope, strength and joy. Visit www.swo.makeawishc a today. MAKJ SH. Soulhweitarn Ontario Canodo TWO Make A•Whhrcased/awn Allrn.'ktia • the prom lyolthe Make A•WNhloamdntlun Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AN1O) and the City of Toronto administer the program across the province. Projects are chosen by local governments and sup- port the local infrastructure priorities of each community. 'Isle Government Of Canada has diad!' the $2 billion a year in funding under the Gas Tax Fund permanent. As announced in Eco- nomic Action Plan 2013, the program is now indexed at 2 per cent per year, with increases to be applied in $100 inillion increments, starting in 2014. From 2014-2(115 to 2023-24, this represents $21.8 billion in flexible, long- term funding for municipal infrastructure. column Bluewater Biz Mark Cassidy For the Lakeshore Advance When do stores in Bluewater open for Black Fri- day sales? Black Friday is the Friday following the USA Thanksgiving Holiday and Is regarded as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Of course for us in Bluewater we know the offi- cial Christmas Shopping season starts even earlier with Christmas in Bayfield. Anyway Black Friday is starting to catch on in Ontario and that's a good thing. Otherwise too many of our retail dollars leak over the border to Michigan rather than finding their way into the pockets of our local merchants. So if you googled Black Friday you would proba- bly come up with a list of stores offering Black Fri- day specials in Bluewater right? Well not exactly. It seems not very many local businesses are cash- ing in on what has become one of the biggest sales events in North America. Ok you may be thinking that Bluewater doesn't have a lot of stores with the high tech gadgets that are normally alt the rage on Black Friday. But who says you can only sell Xboxes or Iphones on Black Friday. Certainly not the folks at Forever Furniture in St. Joseph. 'Their Black Friday sale starts 'Thursday November 20 at 4 pm. takosboro Advance Subscribe Today 519-238-5383 �.,•.. .ail a