Region's social assistance rolls may rise dramatically next year By Tim Foran OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 5 · Thursday, December 3, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Inside Opinion............................................6 Health.............................................14 Travel..............................................16 Sports..............................................18 Classified........................................21 For home delivery & customer service call (905) 845-9742 Mon., Tues. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed., Thu., and Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (open for calls only after 5 p.m.) Closed Sat. and Sun. NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS call (905) 845-9742 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com Full Delivery: Food Basics, Toys R Us, Sears, Future Shop, No Frills Partial Delivery: M&M Meats, Panago Pizza, Berri Distributors, Metro Canada, Pharma Save, Legend Creek Homes, Price Chopper, Koko Fit Club, Guardian Drugs, Sobeys, Fortinos, Canadian Tire, Wal-Mart, Good Life, Superstore Halton Region is bracing itself for a 71 per cent increase next year in the amount of people applying for social assistance, regional staff told the health and social services committee Tuesday morning during a 2010 budget presentation. The increase is expected to hit as the unemployed run out of federally-provided employment insurance and have to turn to welfare, which is paid for by the Province and the Region, explained Adelina Urbanski, commissioner of the social and community services department. However, thanks to the Province's previous decision to phase in the uploading of welfare and disability assistance costs, the Region would actually spend a net $2.2 million less on employment and social services, a division of Urbanski's department, under the proposed budget. That financial relief would allow the Region to complete a three-year, $3 million plan to fund additional subsidized child care spaces to the tune of 135 more in 2010. In total, Urbanski's department, which also oversees assisted housing and seniors services, is forecasting $170 million in gross expenditures, just under a quarter of the Region's $700 million operating budget. However, as many of the programs receive funding from upper levels of government, the department's net property tax- based budget is for $60 million, about 19 per cent of the projected Regional tax levy. The Province hasn't been as kind to the Region's health department, which oversees public health programs and emergency medical (ambulance) services, according to Medical Officer of Health Dr. Bob Nosal. Most of his department's programs are costshared with the Province, but the ministries aren't keeping up with their percentages, a common problem in previous years as well, Nosal told the committee. Next year's Provincial funding shortfall is projected to be $3.4 million. The health department's budget is projected to rise by less than half a million to $45 million next year, but the property tax-based net budget is only $13 million, about the same as it was this year. The capital budget for both the social and community services and the health departments is minimal, totalling only $5.8 million in the overall $395 million budget. The majority of that money is scheduled to go towards the construction of 120 units of housing, split between locations in Burlington and Milton, for low income seniors and disabled persons. The projects are subject to receiving stimulus funding from the Province. The committee endorsed the proposed departmental budgets. The full budget will go to the budget committee Dec. 14 before council considers it for approval Dec. 16. Minister of Revenue will discuss HST Ontario's Minister of Revenue John Wilkinson will speak about Ontario's proposed comprehensive tax package and its benefits to business at an Oakville Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Tuesday, Dec. 8. The event will be held at Glen Abbey Golf Club at 1333 Dorval Dr. The proposed harmonized sales tax would take effect on July 1, 2010. "We're making important changes to create jobs and put Ontario back on its feet. We can't afford inaction. Our package is about creating more jobs, making businesses competitive and putting money back into peoples' pockets through tax cuts," said Wilkinson. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. followed by breakfast from 8-9:30 a.m. The event is open to the public. Tickets cost $25 for members and $35 for non-members and are available online at www.oakvillechamber.com or by contacting Nesrene at the chamber at 905-845-6613, ext. 28 or nesrene@oakvillechamber.com. Creating sensational smiles in Oakville for 15 years. NEW!