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4 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday February 13, 2009 www.oakvillebeaver.com Real action promised in fight for affordable housing By Tim Foran METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP The chair of a new task force to create affordable housing in Halton is promising action on a file that sometimes receives little but words and good intentions. "The phrase `Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead' comes to mind when I think of what I want this committee to achieve," Oakville TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FEDERAL HOME TAX CREDIT up to $ IN TAX SAVINGS 1350 Helping you build some of the best things in life... right in your own backyard. , FULL LANDSCAPE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION , EXISTING POOL RENOVATIONS , PREFERRED FINANCING AVAILABLE , NO COST FINANCING FOR 1 YEAR regional councillor Jeff Knoll told members of Halton's health and social services committee last week, during discussion of the Housing Task Force's proposed terms of reference. Regional council approved the recommended terms of reference on Wednesday. The terms of reference include a three-stage work plan for the task force, which was created by regional council late last year. They include gathering information about the scope of the problem in Halton, identifying priorities, and forming recommendations on options, development models and specific projects. A report is expected from the task force by this fall. "We're looking at unique, creative, easily attainable goals to address very serious needs in our community," said Knoll, who also sits as president of the Halton Community Housing Corporation. Along with the tight sixmonth timeline, Knoll said the task force would focus on "quick win" projects that can be developed by Halton Region and the local community, without waiting for support or funding from the provincial or federal governments. "The rubber hits the road at the local level," Knoll explained after the meeting. "We're the ones to provide services." Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr expressed his support for the task force and advised his committee colleagues it was important to start lobbying other regional council members on the importance of the issue in an effort to ensure they vote to put some money behind the task force's recommendations, if necessary. "I want to do it (build housing), and I don't want to wait 10 years," said Carr. Halton Region already administers about 4,500 social housing units, but there are 1,850 eligible applicants on the waiting list, according to a staff report from October. More than 75 per cent of that waiting list is for non-senior housing, the report added. Local boards must finalize contract Continued from page 1 why we are prepared to move forward," said Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) president David Clegg in a news release. "A better deal could have been achieved for elementary education if the proposal we offered during ... discussions in December had been accepted. It would have created 1,500 high-quality jobs in struggling communities, enhanced programming for elementary students, and more specialist teachers for children in need. The fact that it was rejected is an indication that job creation is not the same priority for government as it was for us." Said Wynne, "They deserve high praise for their consideration of our fair proposal and their decision to accept it. When we work together in the best interests of the students, everyone wins." Weinberger said she thinks it's a good deal that will provide some stability. She said a key part of the agreement is getting rid of some strips the province wanted to enact like placing control of preparation time in principals' hands as opposed to allowing teachers to decide when to use the time, as is currently the policy. "(The deal's) gotten rid of a lot of the strips we found unpalatable," Weinberger said. With a framework agreement now in place, the public school boards have no more excuses for delaying local negotiations, Clegg said. "...if boards waste precious time attempting to negotiate strips into our local agreements, our members will move into a position to take strike action," he said. Conservative MPP Joyce Savoline said while it's good a potential strike has been avoided, she takes issue with Education Minister Kathleen Wynne getting involved in negotiations when a negotiating team was already in place. Savoline said Wynne's involvement "compromises" the process and has set a "precedent for all provincial negotiations." A big issue still outstanding, Weinberger explained, is the funding gap between elementary and high school students. The union says each elementary student gets $711 less funding than high school students. "(The cause) is something we still believe in," she said. -- with files from Jason Miser and Torstar News Service Wednesday, February 18th d ebruary 18th r h 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 3 m 0 m 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. m 3 m OPEN HOUSE We're Closer Than You Currently, over 300 students residing Currently, over 300 students residing n Currently, over 300 students residing in urrent over rrently ve students residing uden de iding Burlingto and Oakville take advan age Burlington and Oakville take advantag Burlington and Oakville take advantage rlington Oakville take advant ge ak lle ak kv kvi nta of our daily busing service of our daily busing service. our daily busing ser vice. u aily usin service. aily er ce rv THINK CO-ED MONTESSORI, JUNIOR, MIDDLE, SENIOR www.hsc.on.ca www.hsc.on.ca www.hsc.on.ca | 905-389-1367 | 299 Fennell Ave. West, Hamilton ww hsc on c 905-389 905-38905-38