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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday January 7, 2009 - 3 Growth and economy issues will dominate Halton's 2009 agenda By Tim Foran SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER There will be no easing into the new year for Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. Instead, the longtime politician will find out this week the results of Council's move last fall to freeze the servicing of future residential developments in Halton Region unless developers ante up more of an upfront cost for each home they build. "The ball is in the developers' court," Carr said during a wide-ranging interview on issues the Region faces in 2009. "For the first time in a long time, we are protecting the existing taxpayer...and developers will pay their full share (of new growth)." As expected, growth issues and the current economy are issues the Region will deal with in 2009, said Carr, but protection of Halton's natural environment will not be left behind. Regional council voted in November to withhold the provision of new water pipes and sewers for up to 40,000 new homes in north Oakville and Milton scheduled to be built between 2009 and 2021. Developers wishing to build in those areas would now have to pay the Region more than $38,000 in per-unit development charges, almost 50 per cent higher than what they had originally paid. These charges are on top of what developers pay the lower tier municipalities for capital projects. Carr argued the extra cash is necessary for Halton to pay for $2.5 billion in growth-related road- "The ball is in the developers' court. For the first time in a long time, we are protecting the existing taxpayer...and developers will pay their full share (of new growth)." Gary Carr, Halton Regional Chair works and new and expanded water and wastewater treatment plants over the next 12 years. Otherwise, current residents would be forced to pay for it on their property taxes, Carr said, which is something Council does not want. On Friday, developers are expected to reply in writing on whether they will pay the extra freight and continue building in Halton Region, Carr said. He admitted a slowdown in residential growth is likely. "Certainly it won't be as fast as anticipated," said Carr. Halton's planners had foreseen the population of the region to grow almost 50 per cent, to about 630,000, by 2021. However, he said his reduced expectations are not due to overly onerous development charges, but rather the current credit crisis, which has made borrowing for bigticket items like houses more difficult. There has been a big slowdown in home sales during the last quarter of 2008, Carr said. Another slowdown likely to affect Halton in 2009 is the economic one, said Carr. The automotive sector, comprised of the massive Ford assembly plant in Oakville and auto parts manufacturing plants throughout the region, has been hurting. It is Halton's largest exporting industry and includes many of its largest employers. However, the Region does not depend on this one industry, said Carr, as 90 per cent of area businesses are small, with less than 10 employees. He added that Halton's wealthy, well-educated and young population should help the region survive the economic downturn. "We'll be able to withstand it much better than other communities in Canada." However, getting through rough economic times would be easier with provincial and federal assistance, he added. The federal government is expected to announce an economic stimulus in its budget on Jan. 27, with a focus on job creating infrastructure projects. Carr said regional staff have put together a list of needed infrastructure projects specific to the four municipalities and he has presented them to the four Conservative MPs that represent Halton. "We've been very pleased that each of them has committed to going forward with them (the project proposals) to the Ministers (of Finance, Jim Flaherty, and Infrastructure, John Baird)," Carr said, adding he plans to also speak to Baird personally. The provincial government has already committed to moves to help municipalities over the past two years by announcing the phasing out of the GTA pooling program by 2013, as well as the elimination of municipal funding of Ontario Disability Support Payments over the next few years and the 20 per cent of welfare payments the Region currently pays for by 2018. However, Halton's Health Department has stated the Province would still fall short about $7.5 million this year in its funding for health and social services programs. "We still have a long ways to go," Carr said. "What we're pleased about is that the Province recognizes that a lot of these social services need to be taken off (the property tax base). They're starting to do it gradually based on the money they have available." The next year will also be an important one for environmental issues, said Carr. The Region plans to finish its Sustainable Halton plan for growth between 2021 and 2031. And the public works department is continuing its efforts to divert much of the Region's waste away from landfills. Raitt hosts Burlington public meeting Halton MP and Minister of Natural Resources Lisa Raitt will hold a public meeting in Burlington Saturday morning to gather opinions from local residents on what they feel are priorities for the region. Raitt already held two previous meetings in Milton and Oakville in mid-December. "I found the meetings very informative and constructive," said Raitt in a written statement. "My job as an MP is to be your voice in Ottawa and meetings like these help me do that." The open meeting will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Tansley Woods Community Centre at 1996 Itabashi Way, Room 1. SANTOS FC ONTARIO Learn to play like the Brazilians! International Soccer Academy! Professional Coaching! Year round training! International Tournaments! And much more!! Correction A number presented in the Oakville Beaver Friday, Jan. 2 article, Schools board ponders Ward 4 accommodation recommendation, was incorrect. Among the strengths cited by Wayne Joudrie, director of education, regarding the recommendation that will be introduced this Wednesday night is the forecast that 278 fewer students will be bussed. The Oakville Beaver regrets the error. For additional information contact: 905 828-8366 or email info@santosfcontario.ca WWW.SANTOSFCONTARIO.CA Beer Store smash and grab Halton police are on the lookout for a group of thieves whose taste for alcohol led to a smash and grab at the Hopedale Mall Beer Store early Tuesday morning. Police said witnesses noticed a grey Chrysler Intrepid driving in circles around the parking lot of the Hopedale Mall Beer Store, 1431 Rebecca St., around 2:56 a.m. "One of the witnesses heard the passenger of the vehicle yell out some things and then the vehicle reversed up to the front glass window of the Beer Store, intentionally bumping into it and smashing it," said Detective Gerard Kelly. "A couple of the occupants then got out of the vehicle, grabbed three cases of beer from the front of the store, put them into the vehicle and then drove away." Witnesses said there were three individuals in the car including a white male described as around 20 years of age with short blonde brushcut style hair and generally `scruffy' in appearance. The other suspects could not be described. Police are examining surveillance camera footage from the area in hopes of generating additional information. Police are also looking into a smash and grab that occurred at a Mississauga LCBO an hour earlier. "It occurred at the Woodchester Mall, which is at Dundas Street and Erin Mills. It's believed there were two male suspects and one female suspect involved who took off in a vehicle," said Kelly. "Due to the proximity, due to the time and due to the nature of what they stole, it's certainly possible they were involved this similar incident." Anyone with information about the crime should call the Oakville Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777, ext. 2215 or Halton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).