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27 | Thursday June 2 9 , 2 0 1 7 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | w w w .insidehalton.com H a lto n p a rtic ip a tin g in in itia tiv e to p ro te c t G re a t L a k e s by M arta M a ry ch u k Oakville Beaver Staff__________________________________ Members of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative are asking the federal government to develop a more comprehensive funding strategy - after the United States said it would be cutting Great Lakes restoration funding for 2018 and beyond. This was one of a number of issues members of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, which includes Halton Region, discussed at an annual meeting and conference in Montreal June 14 to 16. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is a coalition of 130 cities, representing more than 17 million people, from the United States (U.S.) and Canada, that work together for the long-term protection and restoration of the Great Lakes as a resource. The members work closely with state, provincial, federal, tribal, First Nation, Metis, industry and non-government representatives from across the basin to protect, restore and sustain one of the largest freshwater resources in the world. The members of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative will continue working with Canadas federal government to ensure the lakes' successful restoration and protection for years to come. Following the United States' departure from the Paris Climate Change Agreement, members also reemphasized the increased role of cities in the fight against climate change. "Protecting and enhancing Halton' s natural environment is a high priority for Regional Council," said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. "Forty-eight million people depend on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence for their drinking water, and the loss of US federal funding is concerning because it would affect us all," Carr noted. The Initiative members resolved to seek UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve status for the entire Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin, a measure intended to draw international attention to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River as a unique ecosystem of worldwide significance. The resolution encourages the US and Canadian federal governments to pursue creating one of the largest UNESCO Biosphere Reserves on the planet. Ward 1 Councillor Sean O' Meara represented Halton Region by attending the conference. "We were able to put a plan and strategy in place to further advocate to the federal governments of both Canada and the US for enhanced and predictable funding for our Great Lakes," O'Meara said. Within the world of planned giving there are many financial formats a donor can use to give more, but these gifts are not immediate. Until recently, the world of finance hasn't aligned with the world of philanthropy to offer donors a legitimate method to increase and accelerate giving. In 2007,Toronto-based PearTree Financial pioneered the gifting format known as F lo w T h ro u g h D o n a tio n s . Flowthrough share donations uniquely provide generous donors with the opportunity to lower their after-tax cost of giving and therefore give more thus maximizing impact. In Canada, if a donor makes a cash gift, their after-tax cost of giving is approximately 50% of the gift amount. But by using the PearTree format, major gift donors can expect their after-tax cost to range from less than 10% in Ontario, to as low as 4% in other provinces. Important causes in our community depend on our generosity to transform lives, and as donors, we often wish we could do even more. Now, 10 years and over $1 billion of financings later, PearTree's offering is entrenched in successful fundraising efforts across Canada. Our format has been widely accepted by leading Canadian legal and tax advisors, charities and philanthropists. PearTree takes care of the entire same day process, working just like a regular donation. There is no net cost to the charity, and the fu ll amount of the pledged gift is received. The format is consistent with CRA Advance Income Tax Rulings obtained by PearTree. Soccer Club and local youth hockey and basketball teams. And as a parent, I've raised my children with the understanding of community support. PearTree Where Finance Meets Philanthropy Les Ross Benefit to Canada's Resource Sector The federal government created flow through shares in the 1970's to encourage investment into the resource sector by offering tax credits to incentivize investment and they "flowed" those credits to the first buyer. These shares are issued by Canadian early-stage exploration companies and have become an integral funding source in this sector. In 2016 alone, PearTree clients facilitated over $300 million in capital for resource sector exploration and development, providing jobs in northern and aboriginal communities. And interestingly, the PearTree format enables financings typically unachievable from non-traditional capital sources such as institutional, strategic domestic and off-shore capital. Les is a long-tim e Oakville resident w ith many years of diverse com m unity involvement. He currently serves as a Board m em ber o f Rotary Club o f Oakville West. Les holds a Commerce degree from Queen's University and an MBA from York University. As an advocate of lifelong learning, Les is an accredited Personal Financial Planner, a Chartered Investm ent Manager, a Fellow of both the Canadian Securities Institute and the Institute of Canadian Bankers, and has taken numerous continuing education courses through the Canadian Securities Institute, the Appraisal Institute o f Canada and UBC's Family Enterprise Advisor Program. At PearTree, Les works closely w ith current and prospective donor clients, their charitable causes and their advisors. By using the PearTree format, donors can increase their giving and help stimulate growth in Canada's challenged resource sector and northern communities - the net result is one of wide-reaching and significant benefit. How It Works A donor may make a gift individually or through their private company. Through PearTree, a donor buys flowthrough shares and receives their applicable tax credits. Next, the donor immediately gifts the flow through shares to any registered Canadian charity the y choose - including private foundations or donor advised funds as PearTree doesn't direct donors on where to give their money. The charity then sells the shares to an end buyer whom PearTree has arranged, and the charity issues a donation tax receipt for the full amount of the gift. Impact in the Community PearTree has worked closely with Canadian charities from grassroots organizations to major institutions including SickKids, Carpenter Hospice, Crohn's & Colitis Canada, McGill University, National Arts Centre Orchestra and many others. On a personal note, I have been involved with many charities as a donor and a volunteer. As a Director of the Rotary Club of Oakville West, I was honoured recently to receive the P aul H arris Fellow ship A w ard, in recognition of placing "service above self"as a professional in the community. For many years, I coached with the Oakville PearTree Financial Services Ltd. To contact Les Ross: 416-322-2294 or les.ross@peartreefinserv.com www.peartreefinserv.com