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T ? r Www.durhamregion.com THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, JULY 14, 2004 PAGE 3 r z Cas tax talk fuels CTA mayors' meeting leaders gathered in Durham to discuss funding, phone lines BY CARLY FOSTER Staff writer DURHAM -- Gas tax, the federal election, transit and a 311 phone service were discussed discussed as municipal leaders from across the Greater Toronto Area converged on Whitby. Durham was the host site for the latest mayors and chairs meeting, which includes includes mayors and regional chairmen from 30 municipalities municipalities and regions such as Newmarket, Newmarket, Hamilton and Oakville. The group meets six times a year to discuss common common issues. Those issues this time around included how to get the elusive gas tax money both the federal and provincial governments governments have promised municipalities. municipalities. "It's our money," said Durham' Regional Chairman Roger Anderson. "Just pass it through. Don't take a commission." commission." . Ann Mulvale, mayor of Oakville and. president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), agreed. "We're requesting the funding funding that they need to achieve their goals," she said of the other levels of government, referring referring to the money going to transit in the GTA. Pop idol wanted DURHAM -- On July 18, Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village, along with local radio stations KX96-FM and "The Rock" will present a Pop Star Idol contest July 18 at Cullen Gardens.. _• ■ . irteLV or, -The" fitsp 10(3 'perforators" to 1111 register that day earn a spot to 1 sing; Solo performers, 'duets and groups are all eligible. A list of songs can be found at Cullen Gardens' Web site, or at the Main Gate. For more information, information, call Cullen Gardens Miniature Village, 300 Taunton Rd. W„ at 905-686-1600, or go to www.cullengardens.com. The McGuinty Liberals have promised two cents in gas tax revenue, while Prime Minister Paul Martin pledged five cents during the recent election. "It's about the next five to 10 years," said York Region Regional Chairman Bill Fisch. "We have to have a system that's improved dramatically and not just the system we have now." 'It's our money. Just pass it through. Don't take a commission,' -- Durham Regional Chairman Roger Anderson Milton Mayor Gordon Krantz joked that he "paid to park on the 407," this morning as traffic traffic was so bad. The group passed a resolution resolution that the upper levels of government flow the gas tax money beginning in 2004- 2005. It also states the funds must be "new net" money so that neither group cuts back funding funding from another area, Mayor Mulvale said. There's also hope Prime Minister Martin will introduce a new cabinet minister specifically specifically for the GTA, the group said. They . said the minister would be invited to the next meeting. A phone line to roll all municipal municipal services -- such as public health, road maintenance maintenance and reporting theft and vandalism -- into one place was discussed at length. "This is particularly important important in the GTA, as we have 10 digits" that people have to remember remember for a variety of services, services, said Colleen Bell, "a staff member from the city of Toronto who made a presentation. presentation. Toronto currently has 261 phone numbers that the public can call for municipally run services, and the City would like to roll those into one. Municipalities from across Canada, including Toronto and Halton Region, have an application before the Canadian Canadian Radio-television and Télécommunications Commission Commission to institute the number number nation-wide. One roadblock to overcome, overcome, though, would be determining determining whether municipalities or telecommunications companies companies would pay to program the new number. The 311 system is used in the U.S. and has been very successful, despite some price tags as high as $25 million in cities like New York, Ms. Bell said. Chicago, for example, saved $6 million in one area. They also saved in cutting out duplication. (The city was constantly sending out multiple multiple building inspectors for the same call.) The committee will meet again in York Region in late September. Topics for that gathering include new cabinet ministers, the federal throne speech and a GTA anti-littering campaign brought forth by Oshawa Mayor John Gray. ■iO ,y Efie Canadian Statesman ÇLARINGTON THIS WEEK );i"lsq:tiU ; - 'Please-note that any Classified Ad, Stories, Milestones. 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