Local residents, organizations appeal to MPP for funding &® like this one that helps some 80 members. "Having healthâ€"care related supâ€" port groups saves money and through research it has been found to extend the life of a patient by 30 per cent," she said, noting that they rely solely on donations from memâ€" bers. "Being sick is a very expensive undertaking." Milton Chamber of Commerce executive director Sandy Martin spoke about the proposed Ontario retirement and pension plan and noted that it‘s a burden on employâ€" ers and employees. She also said that with Milton being one of the Province‘s places to grow that it needs more money to keep up with the growth. "Milton is prime and is expected to grow even more over the next 40 years," she said. "Infrastructure is way behind the times...those are the realities." Kevin Whyte, manager of outreach partnerships with Habitat for Huâ€" manity Haltonâ€"Mississauga, asked that funding for builds be given upfront as opposed to the current #._ MEET THE BUILDER A4 2 | P M l U practice of receiving funds after a project‘s completion. He said if they received the money up front, the organization would be able to build twice as many homes. Whyte also noted that Habitat plans on building affordable rentals in the future, partnering with Halton Region. "Given upâ€"front funding, in six to 12 months we could save a lot of money," he stated. Also speaking about affordable housing was Donna Danielli, execuâ€" tive director of Milton Transitional Housing. She said there have been five sucâ€" cessful graduates of the program, which helps provide bridge accomâ€" modation and counseling to those in Milton experiencing a housing crisis. She said people fall on hard times "for any number of reasons," citing that 15 per cent of Milton families bring in less than $40,000 a year, and can‘t even afford a twoâ€"bedâ€" room apartment. "These are our friends, our famâ€" ily and our neighbours," she said, in seeking more funding. etting. design alterations. Peaceful country Halton MPP Indira Naidooâ€"Harris chats with Donna Danielli, executive director of Milton Transitional Housing, following Friday‘s preâ€"budget consultation meeting at the Milton Sports Centre. Julie Slack /Canadian Champion "There‘s no men‘s shelter in Milton," she also noted, hoping funding could be made possible for such. Despite hearing an overwhelming number of requests, Naidooâ€"Harris said she felt the morning session was successful, calling it a "fantastic discussion, with great perspectives (\Bonus Pool Size Backyard on issues. "Thank you for all you do to build our community up â€" you are comâ€" mitted, compassionate and dediâ€" cated," she said. "The consultations are an important way for Ontarians to have their say on how to grow the economy, creâ€" C () id | Bigger Buflder $653,959 BVS/ Ccity, crowded. 405 JOLLIFFE AVENUE, ROCKWOOD 519 223 2100 ficat Prices & spe | REIDHOMES.CA Your Home. Your Way. ate jobs and plan for the province»s future," said Naidooâ€"Harris, adding it‘s her government‘s plan to elimiâ€" nate the deficit by 2017/18. It curâ€" rently sits at $7.5 billion. "Ideas gathered through these conâ€" sultations will be considered as part of the budget development proâ€" cess," she said. Last year, some 300,000 Ontarians were reached during consultations, resulting in what she called an "unâ€" precedented $134 billion invested Z2 in public infrastructure over 10 years. "The best way to stimulate the FZ ‘gZ Aenuer Aepsinui| => ( NoIWUHW | oT 42 ‘. > S C economy is to invest in people° and jobs to employ Ontarians, andâ€" employ Halton residents," Naidooâ€" Harris said, noting she‘s accompaâ€" nying Premier Kathleen Wynne on her trade mission to India on Jan. 27 to Feb. 7. Written submissions about the budget are due by January 31. This year‘s preâ€"budget consultations are taking place in cities across Ontario including Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Mississauga, Hamilton, London and York Region. NOBLE RIDGE tds LIVING IN ROCKwOOD Mon â€" Fri: 12â€"7pm, Sat & Sun: 12â€"5pm oo ul mM