A key component of today's action plan is a strategy to improve labour mobility. Ministers and Premier Doer announced that by April 1, 2009, Canadians will be able to work anywhere in Canada without restrictions on labour mobility. While previous efforts have resulted in progress, today's announcement will result in full compliance by all regulatory bodies. The Committee welcomed a proposal from the Forum of Labour Market Ministers (FLMM) to ensure compliance with the labour mobility provisions of the AIT in response to direction from the Council of the Federation.

The Council of the Federation's Workplan on AIT and their summer communiqué also directed that the FLMM consider improvements to AIT labour mobility provisions by reviewing elements of the recently concluded Quebec-Ontario Cooperation Agreement on construction labour mobility, as well as the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement recently signed by Alberta and British Columbia . The Council of the Federation mandated the FLMM to establish a process of mutual recognition for recognizing the foreign credentials of professionals in Canada.

Eleven provinces and territories and the federal government have agreed to move quickly to finalize the AIT Chapter on Energy. Nunavut is not yet a signatory to the AIT.

The Action Plan also calls for progress in the following areas:

Ministers of Agriculture will report back by December 2006 to the Council of the Federation and the Committee on Internal Trade with an action plan for the completion of an Agricultural and Food Goods Chapter that includes all technical measures, ensuring that any new agreement does not interfere with Canada's orderly marketing systems.

Agreement within twelve months on revisions to the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) to ensure that there is an effective, fair, efficient, accountable and enforceable dispute resolution process. Ministers also insisted on the administrative nature, instead of judicial, of such a process. Ministers will report back to Council of the Federation in August 2007 in order to ensure that enforcement provisions will be in place by September 2007.

Lead jurisdictions will continue work on the development of measures to ensure that each government will take into account trade/mobility effects when changing or introducing regulations.

Ministers also agreed to consider the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement signed by Alberta and British Columbia and the Quebec-Ontario Cooperation Agreement with a view to identifying elements that could be imported within the AIT.

The Honourable Richard Hurlburt, Nova Scotia Minister of Economic Development, chaired the meeting and welcomed the progress on an Action Plan that embraces efforts across a full range of internal trade issues. The Action Plan follows up on the agreement at the July 28, 2006 meeting of the Council of the Federation to "establish ambitious timeframes for internal trade reform."

Mr. Hurlburt welcomed the collective efforts of all Ministers to reduce and eliminate barriers to internal trade and mobility. "I believe that Ministers have taken a major step forward today in ensuring our efforts to increase trade within Canada will lead to substantial progress as quickly as possible," he said.

Premier Doer joined Mr. Hurlburt in welcoming the new action plan, stating that, "I am delighted to see the commitment of all governments to move ahead ambitiously to improve interprovincial trade and believe that the Action Plan that we have agreed to today will serve as the basis for solid progress in addressing remaining internal trade barriers."

The federal minister of Industry, The Honourable Maxime Bernier, welcomed the significant progress made on internal trade. "This meeting was an excellent example of collaborative federalism. The new government believes that one of the keys to a strong economic union is reducing and eliminating internal trade barriers. Canadians should and will be able to work and live wherever they wish across the nation."

Today's action plan builds on the Council of the Federation's priority of strengthening the economic union, including enhancing internal trade and their Workplan which was approved in February 2004.The Workplan has led to a number of successful initiatives to improve the Agreement on Internal Trade, including:

Successful completion of negotiations to cover Crown Corporation procurement under the Procurement Chapter of the AIT.

Improvements to the AIT dispute resolution mechanism, including actions to improve procedural fairness, streamlining the consultation requirements into a single mechanism; allowing original panels to determine if panel reports have been complied with; ensuring that appointments of panellists where a Party fails to name one.

Re-engagement of governments on internal trade. Ministers Responsible for Internal Trade have become re-engaged on issues, meeting in-person or by conference call 4 times since January 2004, after having not met in over 2 years prior to establishment of the Workplan.

Premier Doer will recommend to Premier Williams, chair of the Council of the Federation, that ministers meet again in January 2007, with Newfoundland and Labrador in the chair, to continue their work to strengthen the Canadian economic union.

Cyber Safety – Protecting your Children Online
Home and Property Safety – Protect your Home
Fire Safety
Street Proofing your Children

In addition, the Toyota Matrix Driving Simulator will also be present and attendees will have the opportunity to simulate the effects of alcohol behind the wheel of the car in a perfectly safe environment. The Toyota Matrix Driving Simulator is an educational tool used by the WRPS and is unique to our Region and to the Province of Ontario.

Sponsored by the Record and hosted by the Kitchener’s Farmers Market, John Milloy looks forward to welcoming hundreds of local residents to the Community Safety Day this Saturday.

“Community safety is about more than policing our streets,” Milloy stated, “It’s about building strong communities and doing what each of us can as individuals and as good neighbours to ensure that we protect ourselves and each other.”

The forum details are as follows:

Date: Saturday, September 9
Time: 9:00am to 11:00am
Location: Kitchener’s Farmers Market, Upper Level – Demonstration Area
No charge to attend - everyone welcome.

"This report to Prime Minister Harper, President Bush, and President Fox marks the significant progress that our three countries have made under the SPP to build on our important North American partnership," said Minister MacKay. "It's a tribute to the positive, collaborative relationships that our government has developed with Mexico and the United States, and to our common commitment to work together to build a safer, more secure and economically dynamic North America."

"Thanks to our crucial work Canadians and North Americans will be protected from security threats by smart and secure borders that promote the movement of low-risk trade and travellers within North America," said Minister Day. "For example, under the Security and Prosperity Partnership, officials are developing security standards for travel documents which will be used for cross-border travel under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)."

"This partnership will mean a more prosperous Canada and a higher quality of life for all Canadians," said Minister Bernier. "We have already made important strides by creating the North American Competitiveness Council to get the advice of key business leaders, and we are working closely with them to identify opportunities for common priorities. I look forward to consulting with other groups to ensure that this partnership benefits everyone as we move toward a more prosperous future."

Ministers MacKay, Day and Bernier will meet with their American and Mexican counterparts in the coming months to continue to build on the momentum of the partnership, review progress and examine new initiatives. At that time, Ministers will also meet with the North American Competitiveness Council to discuss its preliminary recommendations to leaders.

Prime Minister Harper will host the next trilateral leaders' meeting in 2007.

This is the second SPP Report to Leaders. Canadian, U.S., and Mexican leaders launched the SPP in 2005 to develop a common North American approach to security, prosperity and quality of life issues. Leaders most recently met on March 31, 2006, in Mexico where they reaffirmed their commitment to advancing a positive agenda for the continent. Building on existing commitments, leaders agreed that five priority initiatives warranted special attention in the coming year under two complementary agendas of security and prosperity: strengthening competitiveness in North America; North American emergency management; avian and human pandemic influenza; North American energy security; and North American smart, secure borders.

The complete Report to Leaders is available at http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/can-am/main/front_page/security_prosperity-en.asp.

To mark the 150th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of Guelph’s City Hall, Guelph Civic Museum is hosting a public lecture on Thursday, September 21 at 7:30 pm by Ross Irwin.

2006 is an historic year for Guelph. It is the sesquicentennial of Guelph being organized as a town with extended boundaries and the construction of the Market House, now known as City Hall. After a few failed attempts, a civic building was approved in 1856 and architect William Thomas was selected for the project. The cornerstone was laid for the Market Building on September 18, 1856 and it was open and ready for market use in February 1858. The first Town Council meeting took place in the new building on March 1, 1858. Less than twenty years later the citizens approved an addition which included a concert hall and an additional butter market. Many changes were made to the building over the years to accommodate the requirements of a growing community and it is most fitting that change continues today as the new Civic Administration Centre gets underway and the Market Building will be renovated once again to be used for the Provincial Offences Court. The illustrated lecture by Ross Irwin will feature archival photographs and detailed historical research to tell the story of this important civic building. Anyone who is interested in Guelph’s rich history will not want to miss this lecture.

Ross Irwin is a Past President of the Guelph Historical Society. His interest in local history is on the built heritage of Guelph. His many publications include the origin of the street names in the City, the history of the public park system, St. George’s Square, the church glebes, and the Market Square and the Market Building. To afford this past-time and bring food to the table he was a professor of Engineering at the University of Guelph for 36 years.

This lecture is free to the public and no advance tickets are required. Guelph Civic Museum is located at 6 Dublin Street S. For further information call 519-836-1221 or visit the website: guelph.ca/museum.

WATERLOO -- Voters in Ontario will have an opportunity to contribute to an innovative process aimed at reforming their electoral system, says a University of Waterloo political scientist.

Bob Williams, a specialist in provincial politics, says the Ontario Citizens' Assembly will give the public a direct say in determining the options for voting and how votes are translated into seats for Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs). The 103-member assembly will identify what principles Ontarians value the most in their electoral system.

The assembly, which begins its work Sept. 9 in Toronto, will hold public consultations on the election process. Based on what the assembly learns, it will recommend whether Ontario should keep its current electoral system or change to a new one. Assembly members will submit a report to the government by May 2007.

If the assembly recommends making a change to Ontario's current electoral system, the government is required to put the question to voters in a province-wide referendum.

"Ontario is about to embark on an innovative experiment in democracy," Williams said, noting that assembly members were chosen randomly from Ontario's Permanent Register of Electors.

He said the assembly is innovative because a task of considerable political importance is assigned to amateurs. No elected officials were eligible to serve in the assembly and no previous knowledge or experience about electoral systems was required to participate.

"The idea that ordinary citizens should be given a formal mandate to evaluate a key component of our political system and to recommend corrective action is unprecedented in Ontario," Williams said. "Taking the task of evaluating the electoral system out of the hands of those with the most at stake in it may bring a refreshing antidote to the disrespect normally associated with politics."

Four other provinces have already initiated an examination of electoral reform.

In Prince Edward Island and British Columbia, there have been elections within the last 20 years that produced a solid majority government facing a minuscule opposition (of one or two seats) or none at all, as happened in New Brunswick in 1987. In other cases, such as Quebec and British Columbia, the electoral system allowed a political party to win more seats than its main opponent, even though the losing party accumulated more votes across the province.

"There is a growing sense in many parts of Canada that the existing electoral system is one of the contributing factors to a 'democratic malaise'," Williams said.

In contrast, Ontario elections have not produced lop-sided results since the 1950s and only in 1985 did the party with the most votes end up with fewer seats than another party.

"Ontario's invitation to consider thinking about electoral reform through the Ontario Citizens' Assembly is not being driven by a crisis or by an obvious failure of our electoral system," he said, adding that the province has the opportunity to evaluate the values and purposes of its electoral system in a calm and dispassionate atmosphere.

For more information on the Ontario Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform, visit link

Also a specialist in Canadian municipal government and politics, Williams is currently engaged in a long-term project to prepare a comprehensive database of the key elements of Canada's federal and provincial electoral history. It will provide a Web-based resource to support the research needs of students and observers of Canadian political life working in academic, media and partisan circles.

The Liberal candidate, Sylvia Watson said: “I support shutting down coal fired generation in Ontario as soon as possible, but believe that the reliability of our energy system should be our primary concern.”

The Nanticoke Generating Station, on the north shore of Lake Erie, is Canada’s No. 1 air polluter and the country’s single largest source of greenhouse gases. Ending coal burning at Nanticoke would be the equivalent of taking 3.3 million cars off the road.

Converting Nanticoke’s boilers from dirty coal to cleaner-burning natural gas will permit the phase-out of coal-burning at Nanticoke by 2009 without reducing Ontario’s electricity generation capacity.

If you live in the Parkdale-High Park riding, please speak to the candidates about this issue and attend the upcoming all-candidates meetings. (For full candidate responses, see our website at www.cleanairalliance.org ).

For more information about ending coal burning at Nanticoke, see our pamphlet and backgrounder available on our website at www.cleanairalliance.org .

I invite you to drop in and meet Jane and her network of supporters at a fundraiser reception being held on Thursday, September 14th. from 4:30 to 7:30p.m. at the Huether Hotel, Malt Room. Appetizers and punch will be served with a cash bar. A donation request of $50.00 is suggested.

If you are able to join us, please R.S.V.P. to me, at sforwell@rogers.com or at home 519 747-0060 by September 5th.

If you are unable to attend, we welcome all contributions. Cheques can be made out to “Jane Mitchell Election Campaign 2006.”

These can be mailed to me: Ms. Susan Forwell

527 Sandbrooke Ct.
Waterloo,ON
N2T 2H4

Jane’s platform and experience can be found at www.janemitchell.ca. Please participate, please vote.

Sincerely,

Susan Forwell
Chief Financial Officer for the Jane Mitchell Re-election Campaign.

New Regulations A Major Advancement in Workplace Safety

KITCHENER - The McGuinty government is improving workplace health and safety by enhancing protections for workers likely to work around confined spaces, Minister of Labour Steve Peters said August 29.

"The health and safety of Ontario workers is our number one priority," said Peters at the Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro offices in Kitchener. "That's why we are advancing workplace safety, especially for workers who enter or work around confined spaces, such as vats, pits and holding tanks."

A "confined space" is an enclosed space that is not designed for continuous human occupancy and can have a build up of gases or dust, or lack of oxygen that can put workers at risk of injury, or even death.

Confined space requirements in four existing regulations - construction, industrial, health care and mining - are now enhanced to provide stronger protection and consistency. In addition, most workers covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, who were previously not covered by specific sector regulations, will now be included under a new regulation for confined spaces. Transportation and municipal workers, for example, are now covered. All new requirements will come into effect on September 30, 2006.

"The McGuinty Government is on the side of workers and their families," said John Milloy, MPP for Kitchener Centre. "Work in confined spaces is inherently dangerous without proper training, planning and procedures. These enhancements are just some of the ways the Ontario government is ensuring that the health and safety of Ontario workers is not compromised."

This is just one of a number of initiatives the government has taken to support Ontario workers. Other initiatives include: <<

- The High-Risk initiative, targeting enforcement efforts at Ontario workplaces with the highest injury rates and highest costs in Workplace Safety and Insurance Board claims

- The Pains and Strains initiative, targeting musculo-skeletal injuries, which make up a significant portion of all workplace injuries

- Hiring 200 new health and safety inspectors. Of these, 131 are already working across Ontario. All 200 will be carrying out inspections of high-risk workplaces early next year. >>

"Workplace injuries and fatalities have an enormous effect on workers, their families, their employers and their communities," said Peters, "That is why our government is taking strong measures to improve workplace health and safety."

Backgrounder

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES >>

The government has strengthened regulations for working in confined spaces, improving consistency among sector regulations, and expanding the number of workers and workplaces covered by specific confined space requirements, effective September 30, 2006.

Confined Spaces

A "confined space" is a fully or partially enclosed space that is not designed or constructed for continuous human occupancy, and in which atmospheric hazards may occur. These include a buildup of hazardous gases or dust, or lack of oxygen, that could result in an immediate life-threatening hazard such as suffocation, fire or explosion.

Examples of confined spaces include storage tanks, compartments of ships, process vessels, pits, vats, boilers and sewers.

Without a proper written program, plan and procedures in place, and without proper training, workers in a confined space, and those who attempt a rescue in an emergency, could quickly be overcome by atmospheric conditions, resulting in injury or death.

Protection for workers in confined spaces

There have been confined space requirements in four sector regulations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act - industrial, construction, mining and health care. However, some sectors and workplaces with confined spaces have not been covered by any of these four sector regulations, including transportation and municipal maintenance workers. With these changes, the original four sector regulations will be updated and many workers not previously covered by a sector regulation will be covered by the new confined spaces regulation.

Prior to these new requirements, employers in workplaces not covered by the sector regulations were still responsible for the general health and safety of workers, and were required to take precautions to protect their workers entering confined spaces. However, they were not covered by any specific regulation, which guides them in what they are required to do, including training, hazard assessment and on-site rescue procedures. As well, in the existing four sector regulations, many steps necessary for pre-entry and protection of workers during entry needed to be clarified, updated or strengthened.

The Ministry of Labour has extensively consulted with stakeholders on proposed enhanced regulations that set out clear, defined requirements for all workplaces with confined spaces. The additional clarity provided by confined space regulations has now been extended to more workers in Ontario covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act - not just those in the industrial, construction, mining and health care sectors - working in or near a confined space.

The changes enhance protections for workers by requiring: <<

- The development of a written assessment that identifies hazards inherent to the confined space or that may arise from work to be done in the space
- The development of a plan that includes procedures on how work will be done safely, and controls to address hazards identified in the assessment
- Training on confined space hazards and safety precautions
- An entry permit identifying hazards and precautions be issued and available to persons prior to entering or working around a confined space
- On-site rescue procedures and equipment are in place and ready for immediate implementation
- Other precautions are present to control substances and situations that may endanger a worker.

>> For more information on the new regulation, see the Ministry of Labour website at www.labour.gov.on.ca or call your nearest Ministry of Labour office, listed in the Blue Pages.

The Toronto Star ran a story prior to the leadership decision which said, "The reality is that the Green party right now is more of a movement (that's) on the cusp of being more of a traditional, challenging party," Nanos told reporters later.” Canadian Action Party president, Catherine Whelan Costen remarked, “Let’s hope not! Traditional parties have brought us nothing but the tradition of the ages, which is war, empire building and raping the environment for the greed of the elite. Let’s hope that the new leader brings something to release the people from our enslavement and begins to chart a path to recovery. We hope CAP can work together with the Greens and other small parties to break free of the enslaving traditions.” Incidentally, contrary to media reference that May is the only woman federal party leader, We beg to differ. Connie Fogal, leader of CAP is one of two other women federal party leaders. We look forward to the opportunity to offer the people of Canada a variety of perspectives in the next election. Parliament could certainly use a more balanced point of view and mandate.

The Honourable Dalton McGuinty, MPP
Premier of Ontario
Room 281, Main Legislative Bldg
Queen's Park
Toronto, ON M7A 1A1
Dear Premier,

We have all been following the events in Caledonia and the associated court proceedings with great interest. As you are aware, I am especially concerned about the breakdown of the Rule of Law that we have witnessed in Caledonia.

This past Friday, August 25, 2006, the Court of Appeal for Ontario granted a stay with respect to the injunction issued by Justice Marshall against protestors occupying the Douglas Creek Estates. In an effort to better understand the process and expectations of all, I would appreciate your clarification of a number of issues and response to the following questions: <<

1. During the recent Court proceedings, when prodded by a judge, lawyers representing the Government of Ontario clearly indicated that your government is now comfortable with the First Nations protesters remaining on the site indefinitely.

These statements from lawyers representing your government marked the first time this position had been publicly advanced and I would ask that you confirm that this is indeed your government's position.

2. If you believe the protesters are legally occupying the Douglas Creek property, (what Friday's decision referred to as a peaceful occupation) would you, as the overseer of public safety and security in our province, set out the conditions under which you agree to have the land occupied?

The Court has stated "(t)he Province should be permitted to determine what level of occupation and what use of its own property best promote the public interest in these difficult circumstances." According to many of the residents with whom I've spoken, there is great concern about personal safety given recent activities which have occurred without consequences. Such terms, if required by your government as owner, would protect the interests of the residents of Caledonia and their families, as well as the First Nations people, and could provide comfort to parents as their children prepare to return to school in the coming weeks. >>

As suggested to you in my earlier letter on this matter this should include for example, reasonable restrictions on noise and nighttime activities. This is consistent with mutually respectful behaviour followed by neighbours everywhere and consistent with restrictions placed on almost every person using someone else's property.

If indeed the First Nations people are on the land with the concurrence of your government, why are the barricades needed? Isn't it reasonable that you might make it a condition of that concurrence that those barricades come down prior to the kids returning to the nearby school, as I suggested to you in my earlier letter?

I respectfully suggest to you that your failure to insist on a minimum standard of behaviour over the past six months has led to disrespect for the law and a series of potentially negative precedents.

Taking steps to clarify these questions would be using your office to uphold respect for the law and due process, to persuade people to behave in a manner consistent with our shared expectations in Ontario and to reinforce the point that every single citizen, from the Premier to the newest arrival, is equal under the law and equally subject to that law.

I look forward to a reply at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,

John Tory, MPP
Leader of the Official Opposition

PETAWAWA, ONTARIO- Military across Ontario increased weekend traffic as over 2,500 soldiers redeploy to their home units located throughout the province. The road move is actually from Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, which has been used as a island country "practice ground" for the past week.

The Common Army Training Scenario, or CATS, provided the lifelike context for exercise "Vigilant Guardian". Role players acted as the island's indigenous population, opposition groups and even the reporters soldiers could encounter during modern operations as Army reservists practiced Full-Spectrum Operations - learning the skills needed for simultaneous war fighting, stability operations and the provision of humanitarian aid. Reservists will continue to train with their units and brigades throughout the next year, until they once again mass for the annual training event. This year's exercise began August 19 and ended August 27.

"The lessons that soldiers have learned from this realistic training gave them a better understanding of conditions and operations in countries like Afghanistan," says exercise commander Colonel Chris Judd.

There are 270 reservists from Ontario currently deployed to Afghanistan.

Army convoys consisting of various military vehicles departed Petawawa on Saturday August 26 and Sunday August 27. The vehicles were carrying soldiers and an assortment of military equipment. Canadian Forces convoys travel at speeds that may be less than the posted limit and vehicles may be towing trailers.

WATERLOO, ON – As University students get ready to start back to school, the City of Waterloo is providing residents, neighbourhoods and businesses with Welcome Bags that will help new students get better acquainted with the city.

In its third year, the Welcome Bag program brings together local business sponsors and government agencies to create these welcome bags. This year, 1,500 bags containing free giveaways for students and valuable information about living in the City of Waterloo are being assembled by volunteers in preparation for the start of school.

The Welcome Bags were presented to City Council members during the evening’s Council meeting to help raise awareness about this successful program. Explains Kaye Crawford, Manager, Community Relations, “The Welcome Bag program was implemented to bridge the gap between permanent residents and the thousands of University and College students that make up one quarter of the City’s population.”

Once the bags are assembled, they are distributed to community groups, neighbourhood associations, landlords and anyone else who wishes to participate. “We ask that residents “pay it forward” by passing the bags onto their neighbouring students, offering a welcome and warm hello,” says Crawford.

Since the program was first introduced, it has gained steady momentum in the community. “Local businesses, residents and members of the City and Region have been approaching us this time around, asking about the bags,” says Michelle Pinchev, program coordinator. “Even students are asking about it. It’s nice to see the community come together for this.”

“The welcome bag opened up the lines of communication between our house and our neighbours” says Wilfrid Laurier University student Jocelyn Lernout. “Now we always say ‘hi’ to each other and are able to go to them if we have any problems or concerns.”

Bags will be distributed to Neighbourhood Associations and individuals by contacting Kaye Crawford at (519) 747-8716 or kcrawford@city.waterloo.on.caor mpinchev@city.waterloo.on.ca.

OTTAWA - All three parties at Queen's Park agree that Ontario municipalities are struggling to finance their responsibilities and that the current system fails to serve the best interests of Ontarians. Premier McGuinty committed to a joint review of how municipal services are financed and delivered in Ontario at the 2006 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference in Ottawa on August 14.

This Provincial-Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery Review will be conducted by elected officials from both levels of government over the next 18 months and a report will be released in the spring of 2008. The Review will seek to create a sustainable, provincial-municipal relationship where both orders of government can meet their responsibilities efficiently and effectively.

In a subsequent presentation, Conservative Party leader John Tory today pledged that, if elected, he would "create a clear, agreed upon framework for provincial versus municipal responsibilities with a realistic funding model behind it." In addition, NDP leader Howard Hampton advocated the uploading of provincial health and social services costs from the municipal property tax base.

"AMO has long been committed to restoring fiscal sustainability to Ontario's municipal order of government and ending the Province's dependence on municipal property tax revenue," said AMO President Roger Anderson. "We look forward to working with the provincial government to ensure that Ontarians benefit from affordable and effective municipal programs, services and investments needed to build strong communities."

AMO is a non-profit organization representing almost all of Ontario's 445 municipal governments. AMO supports and enhances strong and effective municipal government in Ontario and promotes the value of municipal government as a vital and essential component of Ontario and Canada's political system.

New Officers Hired Through Safer Communities – 1,000 Officers Partnership Program

WATERLOO REGION — John Milloy, MPP for Kitchener Centre was pleased to welcome Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Monte Kwinter to Waterloo Region on July 26. The Minister came to our community to highlight that the Waterloo Regional Police Service will soon have hired 41 new police as a result of the McGuinty government’s Safer Communities – 1,000 Officers Partnership program.

Waterloo is getting a total of 41 new officers under the program. Seventeen are already on duty and will soon be joined by 12 new recruits who complete their training at the Ontario Police College tomorrow. A further 12 officers should also be hired before the end of 2006.

“This program is a significant investment in the safety of our community,” said Milloy, “With 41 new police officers for Waterloo Region, our police service will have more of the resources it needs protect our area.”

Minister Kwinter presented a representative of the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board with a cheque for $404,608.47 as part of the McGuinty government’s commitment to make Ontario communities safer. The cheque is the first instalment of provincial funding for the municipality under the program.

“We would like to thank Minister Kwinter for responding to a very real community need through this Safer Communities – 1000 Officers Partnership program and its promised sustained funding from the provincial government,” said Bernie Morelli, president of the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards.

The province is paying the salary-related costs for these new officers, up to a maximum of $35,000 per officer per year, with the balance coming from the municipalities.

“These new officers represent an investment in the safety of our communities across the province,” said Chief Terry McLaren, president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police. “This provincial funding is critical to helping our police services meet the diverse community safety needs of all our citizens.”

The McGuinty government provided $14 million in additional funding this year to allow municipalities to hire their full complement of new officers under the Safer Communities – 1,000 Officers Partnership program this year, if they chose to do so.

Half of the 1,000 new officers are assigned to community policing duties such as street patrols, improved traffic enforcement and school visits. The other 500 officers are assigned to priority areas identified by the government in its fight against crime in Ontario:

· Organized crime, especially marijuana grow operations
· Guns and gangs
· Youth crime
· Dangerous offenders
· Domestic violence
· Protecting children from Internet luring and child pornography.

With the $37.1 million in annual funding for the Safer Communities - 1,000 Officers Partnership program and continued support for the Community Policing Partnership program, the McGuinty government now spends approximately $68 million every year, and in perpetuity, to help municipalities employ more than 2,000 police officers.

The first three years of implementation have resulted in significant achievements. Sustainable outcomes of the Environmental Strategic Plan include the following:

• Sustainable buildings

• Brownfield redevelopment

• Trails master plan

• Watershed monitoring and environmental lands acquisition strategy

• Transportation initiatives

• Official Plan urban intensification policies

Today, the City’s Public Works and Development Services departments contribute approximately $5 million annually to fund the work done through the Environmental Strategic Plan to support community sustainability.

The key to success of this plan has been taking a focused approach to community sustainability and to environmental initiatives as well as ensuring that all sectors in the community participate in a collaborative process that allows the City of Waterloo to harness the knowledge, commitment and talents both within the organization and within the broader community.

“Building a sustainable community isn’t the responsibility of one team or one department,” says Tim Anderson, General Manager, Public Works Services. “It’s a responsibility that lies with all of us. By developing an integrated plan, we have been able to take a comprehensive view of the initiatives underway and work together to ensure that the individual initiatives are aligned with our overall environmental strategic goals.”

Researchers to focus on asthma and allergies, children's development, health care management and education

OTTAWA - The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of industry and Minister responsible for the Canada Research Chairs Program, today announced an investment of $66.9 million to fund the appointment of 90 Canada Research Chairs.

"Canada's new government is committed to research. In fact, the 2006 Budget allocated an additional $100 million a year for higher education research," said Minister Bernier. "The scientific achievements of Canada Research Chairs do more than improve Canadians' quality of life. They address major social and economic issues, and they make our country more competitive on the international scene."

The 90 chairholders announced today will conduct research in a number of areas that will directly benefit Canadians, such as asthma and allergies, children's development, health care management and education. Mark Larché, for example, is taking up McMaster University's Canada Research Chair in Allergy and Immune Tolerance. He will be developing leading-edge treatments for a range of chronic immunological disorders. Larché's research will focus on asthma. With an experimental vaccine made from synthetic fragments of the allergens that trigger the disease-pollen proteins, for example-he hopes to stimulate protective immune responses and reduce allergy intensity.

As the Canada Research Chair in Healthy Child Development, the University of New Brunswick's Nicole Letourneau will develop interventions to aid women suffering postpartum depression, and mothers and children who are victims of domestic violence. Children's development-and their future-depends to a large extent on their relationship with their parents, and on the mental health of family members.

At Université Laval, Marc Brisson's work will enable public health administrators to make better-informed choices in the prevention and control of outbreaks of infectious diseases like chicken pox and the virus that causes cervical cancer. As Canada Research Chair in Mathematical Modeling and Health Economics of Infectious Diseases, Brisson will make recommendations on, among other things, the costs and benefits of current vaccination strategies.

Few Canadian Aboriginal people contemplate a career or postsecondary studies in the sciences. Dawn Sutherland, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Science Education at the University of Winnipeg, aims to change that situation through the creation of educational resources that integrate First Nations culture.

Today's investment also includes $5.7 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), to fund research infrastructure essential to the work done by 48 of the Chairs.

"An innovative society rests on innovative people," said Dr. Eliot Phillipson, president and CEO of the CFI. "The partnership between the CFI and the Canada Research Chairs program helps ensure that Canada preserves its most critical resource in the knowledge economy-intellectual capital. The advancements and discoveries made by these researchers will have a real and lasting impact on the lives of all Canadians."

http://www.woodstocknow.com/documents/JulyNewsletter2006Email.pdf .

MISSISAUGA - Nominations are now open for the Mississauga Urban Design Awards -- the longest running awards program of its kind in Ontario. This year, the program celebrates its 25th anniversary of recognizing design excellence in the City.

Anyone may nominate a project. The competition is open to both the general public and professionals within the development industry and related fields. All nominated projects must be located within the City of Mississauga and fully completed prior to August 15, 2006.

Nominations will be accepted for developments including: housing, commercial and institutional buildings, industrial plants and recreational facilities. Well-designed public utilities, streetscapes, open spaces and renovations to heritage buildings qualify, as well as mixed-use projects. However, projects nominated in previous years are not eligible. Nominees will be judged according to their contribution in making Mississauga a vibrant and liveable city.

<< Last year, the City presented an Urban Design Award of Excellence to:

- CityGate - Phase I, 3939 Duke of York Boulevard (Davies Smith Developments, Quadrangle Architects Limited, Alexander Budrevics & Associates Limited, Peel Condominium Corporation No.731)

Six Awards of Merit were presented to projects that met the following award criteria:

Community Significance

- University of Toronto at Mississauga Campus Master Plan, 3359 Mississauga Road North (University of Toronto at Mississauga, Sweeny Sterling Finlayson & Co. Architects, Gunta Mackars Landscape Architect)

- 70 Port Street East, 80 Port Street West and Port Street Market, 125, 129, 139 Lakeshore Road East (FRAM Building Group\Slokker Canada, Giannone Associates Architects Inc., Baker Turner Inc., Peel Standard Condominiums No.411, Peel Standard Condominiums No.316)

Innovation and City-Wide Significance

- BraeBen Golf Course, 5700 Terry Fox Way (Peel Regional Municipality, City of Mississauga, Radeff Architect Ltd., Baker Turner Inc.)

Community Context, Significance and Innovation

- Peel Youth Centre, 99 Acorn Place (Region of Peel Housing Development, Levitt Goodman Architects Ltd.)

Architectural Innovation and Execution

- Microsoft Canada Headquarters, 1950 Meadowvale Boulevard (2725312 Canada Inc., Microsoft Canada, Sweeny Sterling Finlayson & Co. Architects Inc., Adamson Associates Architects)

Context and Execution

- AstraZeneca Canadian Business Centre Phase 2, 1004 Middlegate Road (AstraZeneca Canada Inc., WZMH Architects, Envision - The Hough Group Limited) >>

The 2006 Mississauga Urban Design Awards presentation and anniversary celebration will take place at the Mississauga Living Arts Centre on Monday, October 16, 2006.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, September 1, 2006. Award information is available at the City of Mississauga's website at http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/urbandesignawards. Nomination forms are available by visiting the Planning and Building Department, 11th Floor, Mississauga Civic Centre, 300 City Centre Drive or by calling Sue Hinton at 905-615-3200 Ext. 5521.

City Council and officials were saddened by W.C. Wood Company’s announcement late yesterday it will close its plant on Duke Street in November 2006. The company will relocate production to an existing plant in Ottawa, Ohio and to one of its partners in Asia.

“It’s disappointing when circumstances beyond our control result in any one of our corporate citizens relocating,” said Mayor Quarrie in reference to the effect of the rising Canadian dollar on W.C. Wood’s decision to relocate. “But I know I speak on behalf of the entire community when I say Guelph is fortunate to have companies like W.C. Wood Company that continue to contribute in meaningful ways to community life. The company and its employees have a long history of generous giving. News of the closure is unfortunate for the employees, their families, and the larger community.”

Mayor Quarrie has already extended an offer to meet with company president, John David Wood, to offer the City’s assistance and support with the transition. W.C. Wood Company will still have a presence in the Guelph area after the Duke Street plant closes in November.

Business retention and expansion have always been, and continue to be, a major priority for the City of Guelph. The City’s Business Outreach Program is one of the ways the City supports existing employers.

In addition to supporting Guelph businesses and encouraging their expansion, the City of Guelph is committed to attracting new business. To this end, the City has worked diligently to bring new employment lands online. Council has recently approved draft plans of subdivision, zoning and Official Plan amendments for the Hanlon Creek Business Park. It now plans to address conditions for planning approvals for the Park, and coordinate development activities with private sector development partners that will result in more than 400 acres of new market ready employment lands in south Guelph.

Dr. Shuhei Toyoda, President of Toyota Boshoku said, “Toyota Boshoku is very pleased to locate our new manufacturing facility in Canada to supply Toyota’s new RAV4 plant. The commitment and support of the Ontario and Woodstock citizens and governments has been very refreshing and encouraging. We look forward to working with the skilled workforce of Canada and to building a successful partnership as we together build and operate this new facility.”

Toyota Boshoku will supply seats, door trim and carpet for the Toyota RAV 4, which will begin production at Toyota’s Woodstock site in 2008. Toyota Boshoku anticipates the new Ontario facility will produce 150,000 vehicle units per year and create 330 high value, long-term jobs with an estimated 18 million dollar local payroll. The new facility in Woodstock will be Toyota Boshoku’s first 100% wholly owned investment in Canada.

“We've been working over the past year to expand the manufacturing opportunities supporting the new Toyota plant in Woodstock” said Woodstock Development Commissioner Len Magyar.  “We realized very early the importance of being ready for success.  We also realized that with just-in-time manufacturing systems many opportunities lay downstream from the assembly plant.  We have enjoyed working with Toyota Boshoku officials over the last several months and look forward to continuing to assisting them in our community.”

“Toyota Boshoku is creating more good jobs in Ontario,” Premier McGuinty said. “The kind of jobs that bring prosperity to our communities, raise our standard of living and provide greater opportunities for our families. We welcome them with open arms.”

Toyota Boshoku Corporation was formed in October 2004 with the merger of the former Toyoda Boshoku Corporation, the automotive interiors division of Araco Corp. and Takanichi Co. Ltd.  Toyota Boshoku’s business encompasses the range of automotive interior systems, including seats, door trim, headliners and carpets.

Drinking water source protection part of a municipal and provincial commitment to human health and the environment

The City of Guelph, in partnership with the Grand River Conservation Authority, (GRCA) is set to launch a series of important technical water supply source protection studies, in support of the Province’s proposed Clean Water Act.

In June, the City received confirmation it will receive more than $200,000 in grant funding from the Ministry of Environment (MOE) to complete the studies, which will help ensure drinking water is protected at the source as part of an overall commitment to human health and the environment. The grant is part of the Provincial government’s Groundwater Studies Grant Program and the Inlands Intake Protection Zone Study Grant Program.

Waterworks Manager, Peter Busatto, knows the study work that lies ahead will bring important and positive outcomes. “The funding from the MOE will assist Guelph in developing its source water protection program and, as strong stewards of the environment, continue the protection of our water supply."

The City will work collaboratively with the GRCA and with the help of environmental consultants to implement a project work plan between now and the end of the year.

Studies will include a “threats inventory” to identify and prioritize contaminants and other threats to Guelph’s groundwater; a preferential pathways study to investigate private wells, because private wells might be “short-circuiting” natural protection from the city’s deep bedrock aquifer; and an intake delineation study to define an intake protection zone for the Eramosa River. (Though the majority of Guelph’s drinking water is provided from deep bedrock aquifers, a portion of the supply is derived from the Eramosa River in what is known as the Eramosa River Recharge System. The recharge system takes river water and recharges it into a sand and gravel aquifer, which is then collected by the Spring Collectors.) The Eramosa River intake protection zone will be defined in part using a dye tracer test, to be conducted this month.

Communities throughout Ontario will be identifying source protection in the coming months, though groundwater communities are most impacted.