Ontario Creates Greater Global Investment And Trade Opportunities For Businesses

LOS ANGELES, CA - Ontario's new International Marketing Centre in Los Angeles is open and connecting Ontarians to business opportunities in the Western U.S., Economic Development and Trade Minister Sandra Pupatello said today at the official opening ceremony in Los Angeles.

"Ontario and California share several common strengths that we can build on to generate more wealth and prosperity in both our economies," Pupatello said. "The U.S. is our largest trading partner. By establishing a permanent presence for Ontario serving California, the U.S. Southwest and Hawaii, we're sending a very positive message to investors, and strengthening our relationship with these key markets."

Pupatello officially opened the centre at a ceremony at the Canadian Consulate in Los Angeles. Canada's Consul General in Los Angeles, Alain Dudoit, joined her at the event. The International Marketing Centre in Los Angeles is one of seven centres Ontario currently operates abroad with three more scheduled to open this year.

The International Marketing Centres are part of the Ontario government's aggressive outreach and investment attraction strategy. The strategy builds partnerships with government and business leaders in key global markets and profiles Ontario strengths.

In January Premier McGuinty led a Business Mission of 100 Ontario delegates to India and Pakistan, resulting in 42 agreements between Ontario organizations and their partners. Pupatello will visit Tokyo this month to further strengthen the Ontario-Japan relationship and she will travel to China to follow up on the Premier's 2005 Business Mission that resulted in 60 contracts.

Ontario's Consul, Economic Affairs, Chantal Ramsay, will guide the International Marketing Centre in Los Angeles. Ramsay joined the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade in 1986. As Manager of the Ministry's Business Immigration Section, she built her reputation as one of Canada's foremost experts in economic immigration. Ramsay was also the province's lead for economic immigration as it entered into Ontario's first bilateral immigration agreement with the Government of Canada in 2005.

In addition to attracting investment and promoting export of Ontario goods and services, the International Marketing Centres will raise Ontario's profile and market Ontario's business advantage to key decision makers.

CANADA'S NEW GOVERNMENT IS DELIVERING ON ITS COMMITMENT TO PROTECT PUBLIC SERVANTS AND EXPAND ACCESS TO INFORMATION

OTTAWA - The Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, today announced the coming into force dates of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act and the expansion of the Access to Information Act to additional Crown corporations. Minister Toews also announced the release of the revised ethical guidelines for public-office holders, which include guidelines for political activities, and the pre-publishing of regulations on public opinion research in the Canada Gazette.

"In three short months, we have acted swiftly to implement the Federal Accountability Act," said Minister Toews. "With today's announcements, we have put in place four more critical elements of the Act to strengthen accountability, make government more open, and change the way government works."

The Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, which protects public servants and Canadians who report wrongdoings in the federal government, comes into force on April 15. This Act introduces specific penalties for offences, including tougher penalties for those who wilfully impede investigations of wrongdoing. The Act also creates an independent Public Servants Disclosure Protection Tribunal and the position of an independent Public Sector Integrity Commissioner.

"This legislation will help create an environment in which employees and all Canadians can honestly and openly report government wrongdoing without fear of reprisal," Minister Toews said on the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act.

Coverage of the Access to Information Act (ATIA) will be expanded to all wholly owned subsidiaries of Crown corporations and to seven additional Crown corporations starting September 1. The seven Crown corporations are: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; VIA Rail Canada Inc; Atomic Energy of Canada Limited; National Arts Centre; Public Sector Pension Investment Board; Export Development Canada, and Canada Post Corporation.

"The Federal Accountability Act is about making government more open and transparent. Providing Canadians with greater access to information. This is democracy at work," said Minister Toews on the expansion of the Access to Information Act.

Prime Minister Harper has issued a revised edition of Accountable Government: A Guide for Ministers and Secretaries of State that includes ethical guidelines and guidelines for political activities of public office holders. This edition reflects the Government's Federal Accountability Action Plan commitment to strengthen accountability for public office holders. This is the first time that political activity guidelines have been issued. Along with the ethical guidelines, they will ensure the public confidence in the integrity, objectivity and impartiality of government are conserved and enhanced.

Canada's New Government also announced the pre-publishing of regulations on public opinion research in the Canada Gazette on March 31. These regulations will prohibit verbal-only public opinion research reports and require departments to make them publicly available through Library and Archives Canada.

These announcements are part of the implementation of the Federal Accountability Act, which received Royal Assent on December 12, 2006. Through the Federal Accountability Act and its accompanying Action Plan, Canada's New Government has brought forward specific measures to strengthen accountability in government. More information on the Federal Accountability Act and Action Plan is available at www.accountability.gc.ca.

Ontario 2007 Provincial Budget

Investing in public safety, including EMS and additional police officers

Additional significant commitment to roads rehabilitation

Funding to implement the Region’s Growth Management Strategy

Expanded public transit (conventional and specialized)

Expanded Emergency Preparedness programs

Enhanced tourism funding

Additional bus pass subsidy for the working poor

Expansion of environmental programs including establishing an energy conservation office, clean air initiatives, water resource protection, pesticide reduction, and enhancing the Regional forest program

Increase in basic benefits for low income persons

“This budget provides excellent value to the community," said Mike Murray, Chief Administrative Officer.

"It maintains existing services to the community, provides for significant improvements to important Regional programs, while keeping tax rate increases at a very reasonable level. This budget strikes the right balance.”

Council will move forward with the implementation of the 2007 budget. The increase of 1.42 per cent for Regional Services and 1.16 per cent for Police Services will impact the average household by $33.10.

OTTAWA - Canada's New Government tabled a balanced budget March 19 that restores fiscal balance, cuts taxes for working families, invests in priorities such as health care and the environment, and reduces our national debt.

"Our budget cuts taxes for working families, cracks down on corporate tax avoiders, and invests in key priorities that make Canada great, including the preservation of the environment and the improvement of our health care system," said the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry.

Budget 2007 builds a stronger, safer, better Canada by delivering the following benefits for Canadians:

- Restoring fiscal balance by providing $39 billion in additional funding that will allow provinces and territories to better provide services and infrastructure that matter to Canadians. For Quebec, this means $15.2 billion in federal support in 2007-08.

- Under a new and strengthened equalization system, Quebec will receive payments of almost $7.2 billion in 2007-08, an increase of more than $1.6 billion from 2006 to 2007.

- The province will also receive $5.2 billion in Canada Health Transfer funding this fiscal year, along with $2.2 billion through the renewed and strengthened Canada Social Transfer and $97.5 million for the creation of child-care spaces.

- Stable base funding amounting to $17.6 billion will be provided through the four-year extension of the Gas Tax Fund beyond 2010-11 and the increased GST rebate for municipalities. In 2007-08 this amounts to an estimated $344 million for Quebec for infrastructure projects.

- Budget 2007 provides $1 billion in commitments to farmers for improvements to national farm income programs, including $600 million to kick-start contributory-style producer savings accounts and a direct payment of $400 million to producers to help address high production costs. Farmers in Quebec will receive approximately $90 million under these initiatives.

- In 2008-09, all provinces and territories will benefit from an additional $250 million in ongoing Canada Social Transfer funding for the creation of child-care spaces, as well as an additional $800 million for post-secondary education. Combined, this will provide Quebec with $245 million, growing annually through a 3-percent escalator.

- Further tax relief for working families with the Working Families Tax Plan that includes a new, $2000-per-child tax credit, saving Quebec parents an estimated $297.2 million.

- Budget 2007 also puts an end to the marriage penalty by increasing the spousal amount available to one-earner couples or a single parent, saving Quebec residents an estimated $55.7 million.

- This budget also helps parents save for their children's education by strengthening the RESP program, and supports seniors by raising the age limit for RPPs and RRSPs to 71 from 69.

- Further debt reductions will result in savings for Canadians. After paying down $13.2 billion on Canada's national debt in September 2006, Budget 2007 further reduces the debt by $9.2 billion. Thanks to the government's Tax Back Guarantee, the interest savings on this year's debt repayment will be returned to Canadians in the form of further tax cuts.

- Strengthening social programs by providing $400 million for the Working Income Tax Benefit, with benefits for Quebec workers of $106.7 million, and $140 million to establish a National Disability Savings Plan.

- Preserving the environment by creating the new Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change to provide support to all provinces and territories to co-fund major projects that will result in real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. Canada's New Government intends to provide Quebec with almost $350 million for this initiative. Budget 2007 also provides rebates on fuel-efficient vehicles as an incentive to get older polluting cars off the road and develops a new National Water Strategy, which includes $39 million over two years to fund fisheries science programs to strengthen fisheries management and resource conservation.

- Strengthening our culture by allocating $52 million over two years for the 2008 Francophonie Summit in Quebec. Canada's leadership role in La Francophonie reflects the vitality and importance of French culture in the country. This budget also provides an additional $30 million over the next two years to the Action Plan for Official Languages for cultural and after-school activities and community centres. These activities will help enrich the benefits of bilingualism among youth, including through exchanges and youth programming.

- Improving infrastructure by providing a new $2.1 billion national fund for gateways and border crossings such as those in Quebec to improve access to foreign markets and position Canada as a competitive, exporting nation. Canada's New Government will also contribute financially towards the completion of Autoroute 30, which will provide a much-needed by pass around the Island of Montreal.

- Improving health care by investing $900 million in the Canada Health Infoway and providing the provinces with $300 million for a cervical cancer immunization.

- Creating a safer Canada by strengthening front-end screening of first-time firearms licence applicants. This will ensure that over 20 000 first-time applicants will be interviewed, along with their references, and help prevent guns from getting into the hands of those who should be legally ineligible. Budget 2007 provides $14.3 million over two years for this enhanced screening.

- Supporting science and technology by providing $350 million over three years, starting this year, to strengthen the operations of centres of excellence in commercialization and research, including $15 million in 2007-08 for the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University and $15 million in 2007-08 for the National Optics Institute in Quebec.

- Helping Aboriginal peoples by providing $20 million over the next two years to ensure that First Nations in the Gaspe region have the capability to more efficiently manage and maximize their existing access to the commercial fishery. Canada's New Government will also extend and more than double funding for the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership, increasing it by $105 million over the next five years.

For 2007-08, school boards in Waterloo Region will receive:

· $485,574,918 for the Waterloo Region District School Board — an increase of $92,317,830 or 23.5% under this government.

The board’s funding is increasing by $20,877,656 or 4.5% over last year’s allocation.

· $200,528,024 for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board — an increase of $38,821,757 or 24.0% under this government.

The board’s funding is increasing by $7,936,812 or 4.1% over last year’s allocation.

“Our students are doing better because of our ambitious program of education investment and reform,” said Milloy. “Funding for the next school year reinforces our strategy with new resources and a funding formula that reflects the changing needs of our schools.”

In order for school boards to have more time to plan, the government announced funding as early as possible in the year. The government's education investment of $18.3 billion in 2007-08 is an increase of $781 million over last year. Since 2002-03, funding has increased by $3.5 billion — a 24 per cent increase, or the equivalent of a $2,000 increase per student.

The government’s commitment and investments in education in Ontario’s publicly funded schools are paying off for students:

Scores are up: Over the last four years, more students in Grades 3 and 6 are doing better at reading, writing and math — their results in provincial tests have improved by 10 percentage points. As well, more Grade 9 students are meeting the standard on the applied and academic math tests — up 14 and 5 percentage points, respectively. Furthermore, the number of Grade 10 students passing the literacy test is up 12 percentage points.

Graduation rates are up: Over the past two years, the rate has increased from 68 to 73 per cent — meaning 12,000 more students now have a diploma and are better prepared for the future. Early indicators show that more Grade 9 and 10 students are completing all of their courses and are on track to graduate.

Class sizes are smaller: Almost all students in junior kindergarten to Grade 3 are learning in classes of 23 or fewer students — 65 per cent are in classes of 20 or fewer — and getting more individual attention.

The government has listened to school boards and made changes to education funding that address its needs. In response, and to continue supporting higher student achievement, new funding will be allocated to support these further changes to the education funding formula. Highlights include three new grants to provide targeted funding to schools and students identified by our education partners:

· Program Enhancement Grant: to support arts, music, physical education and outdoor education activities that provide students with a well-rounded educational experience

· Supported Schools Allocation: to ensure schools in small communities with low or declining enrolments remain viable

· First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Supplement: to provide enhanced support for aboriginal students.

“This government’s record of improving the funding formula means students around the province are getting better support now than they were four years ago,” said Education Minister Kathleen Wynne. “Now, our principals, teachers and education workers have more of the tools they need to reach every student and help them to achieve their full potential.”

Since 2003, the Ontario government has made ten significant improvements to how funding is delivered through the funding formula. Those improvements continue in 2007-08 with the additional three grants and funding for the following:

· 1,900 new primary class size, elementary specialist and student success teachers

· 3 per cent salary increase for all staff

· Additional support for special education

· Additional support for rising transportation and utility costs

· Targeted support for French-language boards

As in previous years, the government will also invest more than $200 million in 2007-08 outside of the grants to support priorities such as safe schools, literacy and numeracy and parent engagement.

“The last four years in Ontario’s publicly funded education system have seen a significant improvement in student outcomes, but we want to go even further,” added Wynne. “We will continue working with our education partners — teachers, principals, other education staff, school boards, parents and communities — and continue our focus to help all students reach their potential.”

Investments Will Support Community Agencies Serving People In Need

GUELPH - The Ontario government is investing $2.5 million in more than 50 projects in the Guelph area to renovate and upgrade community agencies that provide programs and services to people in need, Guelph-Wellington MPP Liz Sandals announced on behalf of Minister of Community and Social Services Madeleine Meilleur.

"Our government believes that people in need in our communities deserve all the help we can give them," said Meilleur. "By investing in our social services agencies, we are making sure that vulnerable Ontarians have a safe, accessible place to go when they need support the most."

More than $2.5 million is being directed to 51 developmental services agency projects and three violence against women agency projects in communities in the Guelph area. Projects focus on physical building improvements, such as expanding residential and day program sites, adding accessibility features for people with disabilities, and boosting safety and security features.

"Our government is working to make sure the best possible services are made available to people with disabilities, as well as women and their children who have suffered violence," said Sandals. "These investments mean that community agencies will have more money to provide key services to people in our neighbourhood."

"I am very pleased that the McGuinty government has recognized the need to improve facilities for those living with disabilities," said Bob Butella, Executive Director of the Association for Community Living of Guelph-Wellington. "Along with the tremendous support of our local community, this announcement will allow CLGW to fulfill its ARC Industries capital project dream."

In total, the government is injecting $36.5 million into Ontario communities to stimulate employment and improve social service agencies. Funding for these initiatives comes from the government's $190 million economic stimulus package, which is a key component of the government's plan to foster a stronger workforce and a stronger economy.

Announced in the 2006 Fall Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, the stimulus package aims to boost jobs and growth through a focus on four key areas: <<

- Focused training and job services to help job-threatened and laid-off workers find new jobs

- Fast-tracking infrastructure projects to generate immediate economic activity and job creation

- Encouraging Ontario tourism to boost economic activity and tourism-related jobs

- Strengthening interprovincial trade to match industrial needs in Alberta with Ontario's industrial capacity. >>

"While the economy remains fundamentally strong, it is important to remember that slower growth has a real impact on people and communities," said Finance Minister Greg Sorbara. "Each of the four areas we are focusing on represents the building blocks of a sound economic foundation. Investing in these areas now means a more prosperous and competitive future for Ontario."

Purpose is to provide standard definition of what constitutes political spending

Washington, D.C. - The Center for Political Accountability (CPA) released March 14 a primer on corporate political spending. As the CPA's primer sets forth, corporate political spending takes various forms. The report provides a definition that covers the most common types of political spending. This definition will assist companies, trade associations, shareholders and the media in assessing and reporting on company political activity.

Entitled Corporate Political Spending: What It Includes, How It Is Defined, the paper states, "By working from a common understanding of what constitutes political spending, companies can create disclosure and approval policies that cover the relevant activities. Shareholders and other interested parties will know what is being disclosed." A complete version, with footnotes, is posted on the CPA website at www.politicalaccountability.net .

"A straightforward definition of political spending is essential today as more and more companies are adopting political disclosure policies," said Bruce F. Freed, the Center's co- director. "Companies need to know what they need to disclose and what information shareholders should expect from them." The CPA is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that is leading a nationwide campaign to bring transparency and accountability to corporate political spending.

Following is the primer: Corporate Political Spending: What It Includes, How It Is Defined

Overview

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002 was enacted, in part, to staunch the flow of corporate money into the political process. It prohibited unlimited (or soft money) contributions to national political parties and to committees controlled by federal officeholders. However, BCRA did not stop the flow of corporate money—it only changed the channels through which this money moves.

Today corporations remain free to contribute soft money to non-connected political committees, popularly referred to as 527s, to state and local candidates and to political committees, including party committees, at the state level. Corporations are also free to use trade associations and other tax exempt entities as vehicles for corporate political involvement.

As corporate political money routes continue to proliferate, the need for greater transparency and accountability on the part of the corporations increases. Companies have a responsibility to shareholders to ensure that corporate funds are being used in ways that advance the long-term interests of the company and enhance shareholder value. Boards of directors have a fiduciary responsibility to evaluate the risks involved with political spending and ensure that management’s political expenditures align with shareholder interests. Finally, shareholders have a right to know how their money is being used politically and to hold the company accountable for its political activities.

To assure that transparency covers the full range of political spending, it is important to understand what that spending comprises and the various ways in which corporate money can be used for political purposes. The purpose of this paper is to define corporate political spending, provide an inclusive picture of the different routes that corporate money can take, and provide a map of corporate political spending, noting the significant breaks in transparency.

By working from a common understanding of what constitutes political spending, companies can create disclosure and approval policies that cover the relevant activities. Shareholders and other interested parties will know what is being disclosed.

Political Spending Defined

Using current regulatory definitions, including the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) definition of political intervention, political spending comprises:

-any direct or indirect contributions or expenditures on behalf of a candidate for public office or referendas,

-any payments made to trade associations or tax-exempt entities used for intervening in a political campaign, and

-any direct or indirect political expenditure that must be reported to the Federal Election Commission, Internal Revenue Service or state disclosure agency.

This definition applies, but is not limited, to the following expenditures:

-Contributions to or expenditures on behalf of political candidates

-Contributions to or expenditures on behalf of political parties

Contributions to or expenditures on behalf of political committees and other political entities organized and operating under 26 USC Sec. 527 of the Internal Revenue Code (i.e. Republican Governors Association and Democratic Governors Association)

Any portion of any dues or similar payments made to any tax exempt organization that is used for an expenditure or contribution that if made directly by the corporation would not be deductible under section 162 (e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code

-Payment for advertisements, printing and other campaign expenses

-Donation of company products or services to a political organization

-Reimbursing someone for political contributions

-Political Spending and Disclosure Requirements

The political expenditures noted above are not disclosed in any central place. Companies are not currently required to disclose their political spending. Therefore, where—or if—the expenditures are disclosed depends on the nature of the expenditure and its recipient.

Following are typical corporate political expenditures and the relevant disclosure requirements:

Contributions to State and Local Candidates, Political Parties and Political Committees (including those supporting or opposing ballot initiatives)

State laws vary regarding corporate political spending. Roughly half the states allow corporate political contributions, with varying limitations on the allowable amounts. Few states obligate corporations to report. For the most part, state and local political contributions are reported by the recipient committees to the relevant state agency. These filings are available generally to the public.

Contributions to Other Political Entities Organized and Operating under 26 US Sec. 527 of the Internal Revenue Code

So-called 527s are allowed to receive unlimited corporate funds. These groups are required to report their contributions and expenditures to the Internal Revenue Service using Form 8872. These forms are available to the public. Companies are not required to report their contributions to 527s.

Political Payments to Trade Associations and Other Tax Exempt Organizations

Corporations can make unlimited payments to trade associations and other tax exempt organizations. Trade associations are not required to disclose their members, and companies are not required to disclose their trade association memberships.

Under the tax code, civic leagues and social welfare organizations (501(c) (4) organizations) and business leagues and trade associations (501(c)(6) organizations) may engage in political campaign intervention, so long as the political activity does not comprise the group’s primary activity. Groups that do so are required to pay taxes on their political expenditures or their group’s net investment income for the year, whichever is less.

What Constitutes Political Intervention

According to the IRS, political campaign intervention includes any and all activities that favor or oppose one or more candidates for public office. For example:

-contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made by or on behalf of an organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office are considered political intervention,

-distributing statements prepared by others that favor or oppose any candidate for public office is also considered political intervention, and

-allowing a candidate to use an organization’s assets or facilities may also be considered political intervention.

Certain activities will require an evaluation of all the facts and circumstances to determine whether they result in political campaign intervention.

Reporting to Companies

Trade associations are not required to tell companies the portion of their payments used specifically for political purposes. However, for tax purposes, they are required to tell companies the portion of their payments used for political and lobbying activities, unless the associations choose to pay a tax on this spending themselves.

Tax Deductibility

Under the Internal Revenue Code section 162(e) (1), members of trade associations cannot deduct the part of the dues or other payments to the group that is used for any of the following lobbying or political activities: influencing legislation; participating or intervening in a political campaign for, or against, any candidate for public office; trying to influence the general public, or part of the general public, with respect to elections, legislative matters or referendums (also known as grassroots lobbying); communicating directly with certain executive branch officials to try to influence their official actions or positions.

As a result, trade associations are required by law to notify anyone paying dues the portion of their payments that the group estimates will be used for lobbying and political activities, as defined under section 162(e)(1). The associations are not required to provide a breakdown of these expenditures. As an alternative to giving the member companies this information, the trade association may choose to pay a tax—known as the “proxy tax”—at the highest rate imposed by the Internal Revenue Code.

Company Knowledge of Trade Association Political Spending

Companies that are members of trade associations should therefore know the amount of their dues and other payments used for political and lobbying activities, unless the trade association is paying the proxy tax. Companies are not required to disclose that information to their shareholders or to the public.

Trade Association Political Disclosure: Minimal

Trade associations are required to disclose on their Form 990s the total dues received from members, the aggregate amount of lobbying and political expenditures, and the amount disclosed to members as the nondeductible portion of dues. However, the associations are not required to provide a breakdown of their section 162(e) (1) lobbying and political expenditures—only the aggregate amount is available.

Trade associations are also required to disclose the aggregate amount used by the association for political expenditures on their Form 990s. The IRS defines a political expenditure as an expenditure intended to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of anyone to a federal, state, or local public office, or office in a political organization, or the election of Presidential or Vice Presidential electors. An expenditure includes a payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money, or anything of value. It also includes a contract, promise, or agreement to make an expenditure. Trade associations are not required to provide a breakdown of these expenditures.

Trade Association Segregated Funds: Different Reporting Requirements

Trade associations may establish separate segregated funds— such as a political action committee—which have their own reporting requirements. Trade associations may transfer dues or other payments to these funds. If those payments are used for political activities, that amount is taxable and should be reported on the trade association’s Form 990 as part of the group’s political expenditures.

Conclusion: Implications for Companies and Shareholders

Corporate political spending can follow a variety of routes, some of which enable companies to limit and even escape disclosure of their political activity.

Corporate political contributions are not disclosed in any central place, leaving shareholders to scour countless state campaign finance reports and IRS filings. While campaign finance watchdog groups provide helpful information on corporate political giving, no one source provides a comprehensive picture of corporate political contributions.

Compounding the problem, corporations are allowed to funnel their political activity through trade associations and other tax exempt entities. As this paper details, under current tax laws corporate political spending can be run through a trade association with little risk that the corporate donors will ever be disclosed, and great risk that the corporate donors are not even aware of how their money is being used.

These gaps in transparency and accountability create serious financial, legal, and reputational risks for companies that make political contributions or that belong to politically active trade associations. In order to protect shareholder value and promote the company’s best interests, companies should adopt approval, oversight, and disclosure policies that cover the full range of corporate political activity.

The authors of the paper are Center for Political Accountability research director Jamie Carroll, co- director Bruce F. Freed and counsel Karl Sandstrom.

ABOUT THE CPA

The Center for Political Accountability is a non-profit, non- partisan advocacy group whose mission is to bring transparency and accountability to corporate political spending.

Investments Will Support Community Agencies Serving People In Need

LONDON - The McGuinty government is investing $2.7 million in more than 280 projects in the London area to renovate and upgrade community agencies that provide programs and services to people in need, London North Centre MPP Deb Matthews announced March 13, 2007 on behalf of Minister of Community and Social Services Madeleine Meilleur.

"Our government believes that people in need in our communities deserve all the help we can give them," said Meilleur. "By investing in our social services agencies, we are making sure that vulnerable Ontarians have a safe, accessible place to go when they need support the most."

More than $2.7 million is being directed to 260 developmental services agency projects and 24 violence against women agency projects in the London area. Projects focus on physical building improvements, such as expanding residential and day program sites, adding accessibility features for people with disabilities, and boosting safety and security features.

For example, Participation House, which is building a group home in London, is receiving more than $190,000 for 19 projects under this program.

"I would like to thank this government for the welcome news of this funding to upgrade our existing homes," said Brian Dunne, Executive Director of Participation House Support Services. "We will be able to repair sidewalks, replace aging doors and windows and enhance the comfort of residents living in their homes."

"For so many years, these agencies have had their budgets for repairs and physical improvements slashed," said Matthews. "I'm delighted our government is providing these investments to upgrade and repair these community sites."

Overall, the government is injecting $36.5 million into Ontario communities to stimulate employment and improve social service agencies. Funding for these initiatives comes from the government's $190 million economic stimulus package, which is a key component of the government's plan to foster a stronger workforce and a stronger economy.

Announced in the 2006 Fall Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, the stimulus package aims to boost jobs and growth through a focus on four key areas:
<<
- Focused training and job services to help job-threatened and laid-off workers find new jobs
- Fast-tracking infrastructure projects to generate immediate economic activity and job creation
- Encouraging Ontario tourism to boost economic activity and tourism-related jobs
- Strengthening interprovincial trade to match industrial needs in Alberta with Ontario's industrial capacity. >>

"While the economy remains fundamentally strong, it is important to remember that slower growth has a real impact on people and communities," said Finance Minister Greg Sorbara. "Each of the four areas we are focusing on represents the building blocks of a sound economic foundation. Investing in these areas now means a more prosperous and competitive future for Ontario."