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14 THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2012 Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott said the recent Auditor General's report highlights a recurring pattern of overspending, mismanagement, and lack of oversight by the Liberal Government at Queen's Park. "If there's anyone out there who needs more proof that the Liberals can't manage taxpayers' money, this report should do it," Mr. Arnott said. The report details over 400 pages of problems. Amongst the worst: The introduction of Metrolinx's PRESTO card system. Intended to create an integrated regional transit fare system, it may end up costing more than $700-million. This would make it one of the most expensive Arnott sides with auditor fare-card systems in the world. The Ministry of Finance estimates that it may need to write off $1.4-billion in outstanding, unpaid taxes. Arnott points out that this represents approximately 10 per cent of the provincial deficit this year. The Auditor General found that more timely and aggressive action could have been taken to ensure that these taxes were collected. The Auditor General demonstrated the number of crown attorneys in Ontario has more than doubled over the past decade, while the total number of criminal cases has remained about the same. The total expenditures of the Youth Justice Service Program have increased by more than 25 per cent over the past 5 years, even though the number of youth served has risen by only 4 per cent over the same period. "We've yet to see any evidence that the Liberal Government is taking this report seriously. They need to take immediate steps to fix these problems," Arnott argued. Early next year, the Auditor General is expected to release a special report into the cancellation of the Mississauga and Oakville gas plants. The Auditor General's full report can be found at: http://www.auditor. on.ca/en/reports_2012_ en.htm. PARADE OF LIGHTS: Organizers, participants and a crowd of approximately 10,000 people seemed unanimous in their assessment that last Thursday's Rockwood Farmers' Parade of Lights was the best ever. ­ Ted Tyler photo Township Digest White re-elected Congrats to Chris White who was re-elected as Wellington County Warden by a secret ballot vote of County councillors on Friday. White, who is also Mayor of Guelph/Eramosa Township, faced challenges from four other county councillors for the top political job, which he will hold for the next two years, at an annual salary of $84,000. White said job one is to come up with a County budget at or near the inflation rate. "We need to keep taxes down at the County to give the lowertier (councils) some tax capacity because they are facing a number of challenges, including less provincial transfers," White said on Sunday. He said other key issues include economic development, enhanced seniors' services, library system expansion, hospital funding and public transportation. Industrial opposition Wa t e r q u a l i t y a n d quantity, sewage and traffic were the main issues raised by citizens who spoke at a public meeting on the proposed Robertson rural industrial subdivision last Monday at Rockmosa. Approximately 130 people attended the meeting and all those who spoke were unanimous in their opposition to the proposal, which calls for a 22-lot industrial subdivision at the south-west corner of Highway 7 and County Road 29. Initially filed in 2004, and altered several times over the years, the latest plan includes removal of access to Highway 7, eight fewer lots, a relocated internal loop road so landscaped frontage is seen from the highway, and urban design guidelines for an enhanced look. Guelph/Eramosa Township Mayor Chris White said additional issues include noise and the loss of agricultural land. "It is a difficult (application.) While it is in the Official Plan, we haven't zoned it yet, and we're still looking for some answers," White said, adding while they need industrial development to take some of the tax burden off residential ratepayers, they still must make "rational decisions." The Township's planning consultants will take information from the public meeting and prepare a report for Council debate. Paving Payback The Rockwood and District Lions and Lioness Clubs presented a $5,100 cheque to Guelph/Eramosa Township Council on Monday, along with thanks for brokering a deal that saved the Clubs over $3,000 to pave Lions' Park in the centre of the village. At Council on Monday, Lions member Daryl Nichol said after "dickering and dickering" for seven months for a good price, Council stepped in and arranged for Capital Paving, who was in the area working several weeks ago, to add the gravel and pot-holed Lion's Park lot for a price they could handle. *** Nichol reminded councillors about the New Year's Day Levee being hosted by the Lions and Lioness, from 12 to 2 p.m. at Rockmosa. "I learned in November that the people around town are actually very excited about the levy ­ so please be there, your public will await you," Nichol said.