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A4 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 19, 2002 Region wants tax breaks to encourage rental unit construction By Richard Vivian SPECIAL TO THE-; BEAVER Affordable housing initiatives received a shot in the arm last week, with numerous developer incentive programs being inves tigated by Halton Region. Members of the Halton health and social services committee approved a multi-tiered motion that would see the federal and provincial governments lobbied to reduce taxes for new rental units. Local tax relief incentives may also be coming, with Regional staff set to investigate the possibility of a new property tax class specific to rental units. "This is the first step toward the future. It's a big step and it will be a challenge." Halton Hills Councillor John Day told the committee. Additional consideration will be given to the reduction or waiving of regional development charges (DCs) for rental units. While generally supportive of the motion, several councillors expressed uneasiness about changing the DC structure. "Eventually, everything goes to market rent. That's just the nature of it. People will either jack the rents for the second or third generation tenants or flip it as condo units," suggested Oakville Councillor Keith Bird. `This is hard to do unless the buildings are government owned. Rent capping doesn't work." Stressed Councillor Rick Malboeuf, "We can't go back to collect those DCs." But if the DC structure is altered, there will be legal con tracts drawn up limiting the property owner's ability to raise rents or sell the property as condo units, responded Adelina Urbanski, Halton's commission er of social and community serv ices. "Staff will be monitoring those units with an annual review of rents in those build ings. It won't be just `here's the money' and hope for the best." she told councillors. With affordable housing money expected from the feder al government - funding for about 400 units in Halton was announced May 30 - Regional staff were also given the duty of pursuing up to $2 million in land purchases. Land purchase money will come from the social housing reserve fund. Purchased lands will likely be donated to private and non-profit partners to lower building costs for rental units. But with the funds coming from reserves, Burlington Councillor Jack Dennison point ed out its the taxpayer who's subsidizing these units. "It's just another move toward increased taxation. Commercial, residential and industrial taxpayers are provid ing these over payment dollars to subsidize these housing units," Dennison said with dis appointment. Regional council has yet to address the committee recom mendations, but is expected to discuss the matter today. Glen Thiessen · Special to the Beaver GUESS WHO?: C her (Terry Stevens) and Marilyn Monroe (Shelley Moyle) were two of the many celebrities at The Stars Come Out Tonight Client Appreciation & Charity Event for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation last Wednesday. The event was held at the Sanctuary Medispa and the Institute O f Cosmetic and Laser Surgery, 1344 Cornwall Rd., and raised $1,200 for breast cancer research. GETMORE FOR LESS m 486328 While quantities last. Phone scam operations require little equipment (Continued from page 1) com plaint and snow balled from there," he said. 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