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Mayor gets support for intervener funding By DENNIS SMITH Special to the IFP Halton councillors don't want to pay for defending growth plans, but they debated last Wednesday) over who else should pick up the tab. Fears of `staggering' Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) costs have prompted a resolution asking the Province to cover all appeal costs to the OMB for growth plan conformity exercises. Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette noted Halton's population will nearly double to 780,000 by 2031, thanks to Places to Grow legislation that mandates municipalities and regions meet growth objectives. Bonnette warned developers will challenge municipalities for conforming with the provincial growth plan. "Municipalities are looking forward to expensive OMB hearings," said Bonnette. "They are going to be lengthy." Bonnette, who fears staggering costs, said the province should provide intervener funding for municipalities and regions facing challenges. He noted this was previously given for defence of a landfill site. He urged colleagues to support the Halton Hills resolution and take it back to their own municipal councils. "I've heard around this table that new development should pay for itself. This is a form of downloading on present taxpayers," said Bonnette, who added developers could be asked for the funding. "They have deep pockets." Oakville Councillor Tom Adams agreed. "Perhaps the developers could pay. It would be an easy out for the Province." But Cam Jackson cautioned against having the costs included in the Development Charges Act. "Wouldn't the intent be literally to get the Province off the hook? It would add additional costs to doing business in Halton," said the Burlington mayor. "Do we not have other items in the queue that we'd like in development charges?" Burlington Councillor Peter Thoem said adding costs in development charges mixes two unrelated matters and would affect people who have little or nothing to do with land use intensification. "It takes a serious resolution and adds an air of cynicism." Burlington Councillor Jack Dennison objected to how the development business was being classified. "There are lots of hard working small business people and this would have an effect on them," said the Burlington councillor. But Halton Hills Councillor Clark Somerville said putting costs in development charges should be considered and discussed by all parties involved. "You have to present the Province with an option. Otherwise, they could just look at it (the original resolution) and file it away until after October, 2011," he said, referring to the next provincial election date. "It's unfair to drive the legal costs and have it put on the taxpayers." Regional council approved the original resolution, then voted 13-8 in favour of the amendment asking the Province to include the costs in the Development Charges Act. The resolution is being circulated to other elected officials and governments, including all municipalities within the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Gone fishin' A fun day event with games, barbecue and raffles was recently held at Hornby Co-Op Nursery School with proceeds going to the Weekend to End Women's Cancers, hosted by the Teresa Myers team. Here, Chelsea Myers, 6, of Georgetown shows off the fish she caught at one of the many carnival games. Photo by Graham Paine 3 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday, July 20, 2010 Pain of poverty discussed Continued from pg. 1 strides to address the issue," he said. Sym cited social audit report suggestions, including co-ordinating programs and services, and changing attitudes about poverty. She also suggested combined efforts by all government levels, setting interim goals and `placebased' poverty planning. "The place-based focus looks at poverty focused on a neighbourhood, community or region," she said. "It's how to address issues and improve the situation within a defined geographical area." This approach is being considered by the Enabling Resilient Communities Committee. It's planning a fall Community Awareness Day to provide information about the place-based approach and other poverty topics. The place-based framework identifies sustenance (basic needs) adaptation (basic coping skills), engagement (emotional supports-- belonging/participation) and opportunity (economic self-sufficiency). A comprehensive approach to poverty examines how communities can work better within and across the clusters. Region staff plan to collaborate with key community stakeholders to develop a broad-based plan to address poverty. 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