MEDIA RELEASE

Monday, March 1, 2010

County Council Presses Provincial Officials On Two Major Fiscal Issues

Lennox and Addington County Council addressed two important financial issues during meetings with Provincial officials at the annual ROMA/OGRA Combined Conference in Toronto last week. 

The first meeting, with staff representatives of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, was held to discuss the need for an increase in the annual provincial grant for the County’s ambulance service. The ambulance service grant from the Province should be 50% of the County’s approved expenditures but will decrease to less than 41% in 2010 unless the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care closes the gap.

“In 2009 County Council approved the transformation of the ambulance services provided by the Northbrook/Denbigh Division to full-time/part-time status from volunteer status,” stated Warden Henry Hogg, “and this service upgrade has necessitated a much higher investment on an annual basis”.

County Council representatives also had an opportunity to meet with M.P.P. Phil McNeely, the Parliamentary Assistant (Infrastructure) to the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. During this meeting County Council addressed the need for predictable and consistent Provincial funding to sustain Lennox and Addington’s important arterial roads and bridges infrastructure. 

“Despite the huge investment in roads and bridges capital projects by all levels of government during the past two years the County faces an estimated deficit of 32 million dollars over the next five years,” said Warden Hogg. “In 2010 terms, this amount would require a dedicated property tax increase of 10% per year for each of the next five years, which is not an acceptable option,” he added.

Lennox and Addington County Council believes that their request for an increase in the ambulance service grant and stable funding for roads and bridges is justified and worthy of favourable consideration during Ontario’s 2010 budget which is anticipated in late March.

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Reference: Copies of both presentations to Provincial Officials are included with this media release.

For further information, please contact

Presentation to M.P.P. Phil McNeely Parliamentary Assistant (Infrastructure) to the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure

Presentation to Staff Representatives of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Ambulance Funding Issues