Back to SearchNEWS RELEASE
West Lincoln Champions Strategic Priorities at 2023 AMO Conference
For Immediate Release: August 24, 2023
The Township of West Lincoln was well represented at the 2023 AMO Conference, hosted by the City of London from August 20 to 23.
Mayor Cheryl Ganann, Councillor Joann Chechalk, Councillor William Reilly, Regional Councillor Albert Witteveen and CAO Bev Hendry participated in three delegations with members of the Provincial Government, advocating for safe escarpment crossing, increased natural gas service, funding for asset replacement and new infrastructure, and the gathering of accurate property assessment information. Mayor Ganann also participated in a joint delegation regarding Niagara’s shared service efforts.
Escarpment Crossing
Township representatives joined Grimsby Mayor Jeff Jordan, CAO Sarah Kim, Manager of Operations & Compliance, Thomas Hodgson, Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton, Councillor Tony Brunet, CAO Michael Kirkopoulos, and Director of Economic Development and Communications, Paul Di Ianni in a joint delegation with Assistant Deputy Ministers from the Ministry of Transportation.
The Ministry has previously confirmed its support for this crossing as it will provide additional transportation system capacity, redundancy and resiliency, greater safety for local communities as well as efficient commercial vehicle operations, while ensuring Ontario remains open for business with the effective movement of goods and people.
The delegation requested the Province to include the North-South Escarpment Crossing as a priority within the Greater Golden Horseshoe 2051 Plan, to ensure a coordinated approach between Niagara and the Province on this critical infrastructure, and that the Province confirm the inclusion of the future widening of the QEW, from Fruitland to Highway 406, in the Greater Golden Horseshoe 2051 Plan.
Ministry representatives noted that understanding the importance of this project for the community is critical and appreciated the update on the Environmental Assessment process.
Infrastructure Gap
Township representatives met with Amarjot Sandhu, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Infrastructure, to request increased financial support, to address Asset Replacement funding deficits.
West Lincoln maintains 388 km of roads and 90 bridges and has an estimated asset replacement cost of $386 million. Continued development of the Township’s Asset Management System, to meet Provincial requirements for 2024 and 2025, has revealed that the Asset Replacement Plan is underfunded by approximately $1,800 per household. The Township would need to increase its annual levy by 5 per cent or $417,600 to address this deficit.
Changes to recently enacted at the Provincial level compound the issue by impacting municipalities’ ability to collect revenues from development charges. This ultimately places the responsibility of funding and maintaining infrastructure associated with growth onto the taxpayer.
With 16 per cent of the total levy currently dedicated to infrastructure reserves that directly fund the Asset Replacement Plan, plus an additional $600,000 having been transferred into water and wastewater reserves through increased user fees, the Township is working hard to address this funding deficit, but require assistance from the Province to reach this goal.
Delegates requested that the Provincial Government take a serious review of legislation and changing circumstances and investigate and implement other revenue opportunities including new infrastructure grants. Township representatives also reiterated the expectation that the Province honour its commitment to supplement lost development charge revenue, to prevent added pressures being transferred onto ratepayers.
Property Assessment
Township representatives met with Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance, to discuss the need for support to obtain accurate data pertaining to properties.
With many new and sometimes unforeseen responsibilities being expected of municipalities, it is vital that the Township collect all appropriate taxes related to land and/or property use. However, the Township obtains property data through the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, which is prohibited by legislation and must rely either on the word of residents regarding the use of their property and/or building permit records.
It has been noted on many occasions that properties are not being taxed appropriately. For example: residential homes used as vacation rentals through on-line rental portals are often reported to invite inconsiderate behaviour that impacts the quality of life of full-time neighbours. This wide-spread practice is also further exacerbating the housing supply shortage.
All in attendance contributed to a great discussion with the Minister about the changing circumstances regarding property uses. Township representatives left feeling that he heard and understood the need for this issue to be considered in the upcoming review of assessments and taxation policy.
Enbridge Gas/Industrial Park
Township representatives met with Stephane Sarrazin, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy, to request financial incentives from the Ministry to local private utilities to increase natural gas servicing in the Smithville Employment Park.
Natural gas service in the Smithville Employment Park is proving to be insufficient to meet the needs of existing industry, with manufacturing facilities often requiring a boost of onsite natural gas at their own expense.
Smithville has just been approved for a significant urban expansion by the Township and Region, including 60 hectares (149 acres) of employment land to accommodate 6,000 new jobs. This will require increased natural gas availability in the near future, but existing deficiencies in the Smithville Employment Park must be addressed now to support present, new, and expanding industry.
The delegation was received well by Parliamentary Assistant Sarrazin, who agreed to communicate the Township’s needs and concerns to the Minister.
Niagara Shared Services
Mayor Ganann joined Niagara Regional Chair Bradley, Niagara Falls Regional Councillor Joyce Morocco, Thorold Mayor Terry Ugulini, Lincoln Regional Councillor Robert Foster and Grimsby Regional Councillor Michelle Seaborn in a joint delegation with Sam Oosterhoff, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Red Tape Reduction.
The delegation provided an update on the significant advancements the Region and its 12 local area municipalities have made in creating opportunities for shared services. Delegates also detailed ways the Region and the Province can work together to continue modernizing and streamlining municipal services, including the reintroduction of a municipal modernization program.
Delegates had a productive discussion with the Parliamentary Assistant. Since he also serves as the MPP for Niagara West, he was already aware of much of the great work being done in Niagara to look for and create opportunities for effective and efficient delivery of services.
For notifications and important updates, remember to follow the Township of West Lincoln on Facebook, X and Instagram @TWPWestLincoln.
Quotes:
“I feel privileged to be able to represent our residents at the provincial level, along with my colleagues, advocating for matters that directly affect ratepayers and the future of our community. Overall, this was a very fruitful conference, filled with productive discussions that continue to build relationships, forge connections and advance West Lincoln’s strategic priorities.”
Cheryl Ganann
Mayor
“Having recently refreshed the Township’s Corporate Strategic Plan, the AMO Conference provided the perfect opportunity for us to lobby for some of the items that surfaced as priorities for our community. I feel optimistic that we made considerable progress this week in keeping the future of West Lincoln at the forefront of Provincial investments.”
Bev Hendry
Chief Administrative Officer
Media Contact:
Beth Audet
Communications Specialist
Subscribe
Subscribe to this page
I'd Like To...