Clinton News Record, 2015-04-29, Page 3Wednesday, April 29, 2015 • News Record 3
Huron -Bruce MP touts Conservative Overall Central Huron tax rate
federal government's latest budget decreases for the third year in a row
Marco Vigliotti
Postmedia Network
The federal Conservative gov-
ernment's latest budget provides
meaningful tax relief for Canadi-
ans, especially young families
and seniors, and makes robust
investments in the country's
rebounding economy, says
Huron -Bruce MP Ben Lobb.
His Liberal opponent in this
year's upcoming federal election,
however, argues that the budget
gives the "most to Canadians
who need the least" and fails to
offer a substantive plan for jobs
and growth that will benefit resi-
dents of Huron -Bruce.
Lobb points to income -split-
ting, a $160 monthly increase to
the universal childcare benefit - a
$60 hike for children age six to 17
- and the full refunding of registra-
tion costs for enrolling children in
sports and recreation programs as
some of the most impactful meas-
ures for families contained in the
roughly $290 billion spending
blueprint, announced Tuesday in
the House of Commons.
The Conservative backbencher
also touts the expansion of the
period people caring for a dying
loved one can draw from unem-
ployment insurance from six
weeks to six months as an effort
to "ease the stress and financial
burden" facing families during
these difficult periods.
"They'll make a big difference
immediately for families," he
said of the government's budget
measures in a phone interview
from his Parliament Hill office.
Lobb cited the reduction in
minimum annual withdrawals
from Registered Retirement Income
Funds and increase in annual con-
tribution limits to tax-free savings
accounts (TFSA) from $5,550 to
$10,000 as major boons for seniors,
who were front and centre in the
election year spending plan.
"Seniors are obviously a huge
demographic in Canada...
they've really built the country
into what it is today. Anything
we could do to help them as
they age is great," he explained.
In a measure aimed at entre-
preneurs of all ages, the budget
calls for a further two per cent
reduction in the small business
tax, dropping it from 11 per cent
to nine by 2019.
It also includes a tax break for
firms on equipment costs in a
nod to the country's tumultuous
manufacturing sector, which
remains a major economic driver
in seat rich southwestem Ontario.
"We've made a number of strate-
gic investments in manufacturing,
science and innovation (and) tech-
nology," Lobb said, referencing
specifically the multi-year automo-
tive supplier innovation fund.
Allan Thompson, federal Lib-
eral candidate for Huron -Bruce,
slammed the Conservative budget
for catering heavily to the affluent,
while ignoring the challenges fac-
ing Canada's middle class.
He narrowed in on the gov-
ernment's highly -touted income
splitting tax scheme, framing it
as a too -costly measure that
would only benefit the country's
wealthiest households.
"Income splitting...(costs) $2 bil-
lion, which really only goes to about
15 per cent of Canadians;" Thomp-
son said, adding that he didn't "see
a lot" in the budget that "fosters
growth and creates jobs and does
things for your average middle class
Canadian or somebody trying to get
into the middle class"
He also argued that increasing
the TFSA limit wouldn't provide
much relief for most Canadians,
questioning how many people
had an additional $10,000 lying
around at the end of the year to
put towards their savings.
After years of dipping into the
red, Finance Minister Joe Oliver's
maiden budget projects a slender
$1.4 billion surplus in the 2015-16
fiscal year, returning Ottawa to black
for the first time since the onset of
the global recession in 2008.
Balancing the books, however,
required shrinking the govern-
ment's usual contingency fund of
$3 billion to $1 billion, the sale of its
shares in General Motors and find-
ing $900 million in savings by over-
hauling sick leave for civil servants.
It also banks on two per cent
annual economic growth and on oil
prices rebounding from last year's
steep tumble, which was largely
fuelled by concerns of excessive
supply from new developments in
North America and abroad
unleashed by hydraulic fracturing.
Lobb downplayed criticism that
the government was betting
on exceptionally optimistic projec-
tions to eke out a surplus, saying
Canada has "a very positive eco-
nomic outlook moving forward:'
"We know that the worldwide...
economy is going to recover and we
know that the price of oil and gas is
going to strengthen;' he added.
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Laura Broadley
Clinton News Record
Central Huron Council has approved
a lower overall tax rate for third year in
a row decreasing by 0.82 per cent from
last year.
Terri Rau, director of finance, pre-
sented the budget at the Council meet-
ing on April 20.
For the 2015 budget, based on a
$100,000 assessment, Central Huron's
tax rate of $624.66 represents of 2.34 per
cent increase from last year. That
increase is offset by a decrease of 3.28
and 3.94 per cent in the tax rate for the
county and school board respectively.
Central Huron is collecting a total
$12,842,242 in taxes for 2015. The distri-
bution of those taxes are 45.1 per cent
for Central Huron's services to its resi-
dences, 36.5 per cent for Huron County
and 18.4 for the school boards.
The levy requirements for Central
Huron increased by 7.97 per cent for a
taxation revenue of $5,786,374.
"I will not be supporting this. I think
our increase in tax revenue is way too
high," said Councillor Westerhout.
Central Huron is currently build-
ing reserves to replace the roof on
the municipal building over four
years. In 2015 Central Huron also
transferred $70,370 to reserves for
the future purchase of a fire truck.
This reserve is being drawn down in
the 2015 budget to purchase a
pickup and to replace a rescue van
for the fire department.
There is a lack of federal and pro-
vincial grants for capital projects.
There was a reduction in the Ontario
Municipal Partnership Fund by
$160,000, she added.
"Some of the expenses are beyond
the control of Council, such as policing,
hydro and fuel," Rau noted.
Central Huron is receiving a grant to
finance Clinton Sewage Treatment
Plant rehabilitation project. The project
is intended to modernize the plant
equipment to eliminate risk of bypass
during wet weather flows.
Major capital projects will amount
to $4,516,407 in 2015. The Ontario
Community Infrastructure Fund
provides $135,673 for the next three
years for core infrastructure. Per-
cival, Princess and Rattenbury
Streets will all have a topcoat
applied to maintain longevity.
"The paving projects we're doing this
year are pretty aggressive. We're paving
19 kilometres of road. Just as a compar-
ison, the county is doing 31 kilometres.
So, this is to kind of show you guys how
much we are doing. But the roads need
it;" said Mayor Ginn.
Central Huron has also received a
Trillium Grant for $52,152 for the Clin-
ton Ball Lights Replacement Project
along with a commitment by $40,000 to
community groups.
The construction loan for Com-
munity Complex of $139,000 will be
financed from fundraising of
$54,000 and $85,000 from revenue of
the complex.
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1
NOTICE OF PASSAGE
of a
NEW ZONING BYLAW
Under s. 34 of the Planning Act
NEW ZONING BY-LAW NO. 43 — 2015 PASSED APRIL 20, 2015
SEE THE BY-LAW ON BLUEWATER'S WEBSITE
The five existing Zoning By-laws in Bluewater are replaced with a new, single Zoning By-law.
The Zoning By-law sets out different land use zones for all lands within the
municipality and lists the permitted uses and required standards in each zone, such
as the location of structures, building types and setbacks and parking requirements
among other provisions.
A copy of the Zoning By-law may be reviewed at the Municipal Office, (14 Mill Ave, Zurich)
between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or on the Planning Department website at
www.town.bluewater.on.ca. For information call the Planning Co -Ordinator at 519-236-4351 x235.
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Clerk of the Municipality of Bluewater not later than the 19th day of May, 2015 a notice of appeal setting out
the objection to the By-law and the reasons in support of the objection, accompanied by payment of the fee
prescribed under the Ontario Municipal Board Act.
Only individuals, corporations and public bodies may appeal a By-law to the Ontario Municipal Board. A notice
of appeal may not be filed by an unincorporated association or group. However, the notice of appeal may be
filed in the name of an individual who is a member of the association or the group on its behalf.
No person or public body shall be added as a party to the hearing of the appeal unless, before the By-law was
passed, the person or public body made oral submissions at a public meeting or written submissions to the
Council or, in the opinion of the Ontario Municipal Board, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or
public body as a party.
Clerk, Municipality of Bluewater
April 24,2015