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2ND CONCESSION GROWTH
FEDERAL BUDGET REACTION
Budget could lead Canada down road to ruin, critics say
Construction crews put the long-awaited bridge on the 2nd Concession at Rogers Reservoir last week but drivers will have to continue to be patient.
But York’s chair calls document historic commitment to improve York Region’s communities BY LISA QUEEN
W
lqueen@yrmg.com
hile the federal Liberals are trumpeting their first budget as a transformative investment in Canadians’ futures, critics complain the financial document, at best, fails to deliver on key promises and, at worst, leads the country down the road to ruin. In his budget, called Growing the Middle Class, Finance Minister Bill Morneau laid out a spending spree that he said will see the government spend $11.9 billion on infrastructure, bring in a child benefit that will lift thousands of children out of poverty and help middle-income families, and kick-start the economy. But the budget also made
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Federal budget puts focus on social issues. See this and other related stories. Go to: bit.ly/1Mm6GDY
a laughing stock of an election promise to keep the deficit at less than $10 billion, critics said. This year’s deficit will hit almost three times that benchmark at $29.4 billion. And while Morneau hopes to balance the books in five years, he didn’t put that in writing. The budget reflects the strong message Canadians have given the government to help families and make investments in the future, Morneau said. “What we’re also going to do is be prudent along the way,” he said. See page A10.
FIRE & EMERGENCY
Dunsmuir inquest begins next week in Toronto BY SIMON MARTIN
A
smartin@yrmg.com
fter a lengthy delay, the Coroner’s inquest into the deaths of Sharon residents Kevin, Jennifer, Robert and Cameron Dunsmuir will begin next week. In March 2013, a devastating house fire in Sharon killed the four family members. The Ontario Fire Marshal released a report on the deadly fire last August after a 1-1/2-year investigation. According to Fire Marshal Ted Wieclawek, a buildup of lint in the dryer caused the fatal fire three years ago this month.
STAFF PHOTO/MIKE BARRETT
Bridge construction underway
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$92M 2nd Concession project York Region’s most expensive to date BY SIMON MARTIN
T
smartin@yrmg.com
The report stated the family members’ chances of survival were hampered by the fact there were no working smoke alarms on the first floor, which delayed emergency assistance. The fire spread too quickly for the occupants to escape by the time the upstairs alarm sounded,
See page A4.
here are few people more in tune with the $92-million 2nd Concession construction upgrades than Mayor Virginia Hackson. Not only does she understand how things work at the bureaucratic level, Hackson has a daily visual reminder of the construction from her home on 2nd Concession. That’s why it was exciting last
week when construction crews assembled giant steel beams to lay the foundation for the bridge over Rogers Reservoir. “It was amazing to see,” Hackson said. While bridge construction is underway, eager East Gwillimbury residents wanting the main artery to open up in the near future will have to continue to be patient. The road isn’t scheduled to open until this fall. The road between Doane Road and Queensville Sideroad opened
at the end of 2015. According to the region, work remaining on the project includes completion of the bridge over the train tracks, a bridge over the Holland River, retaining walls, a pedestrian bridge and a sewer pumping station. All new growth in Sharon, Queensville and Holland Landing will sprout from the new central
See page A4.
GOVERNMENT
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Southlake ‘gouging’ visitors on park fees:Vegh Town electoral review moving ahead
S
BY CHRIS SIMON
csimon@yrmg.com
outhlake Regional Health Centre is “gouging” local residents on parking fees, according to Newmarket Councillor Tom Vegh. The Ward 1 councillor made the comment during a debate over a hospital area parking study at the town’s committee of the whole meeting Monday afternoon. The study explores illegal on-street parking practices along the roads within a 700-metre radius of the health care facility. It found Lundy’s Lane, Grace STAFF FILE PHOTO and Charles streets, Roxborough Parking fees at Southlake Regional Health Centre were the subject of and Alexander roads and Watson Avenue had the most parking vio- debate at council this week. lations. people are avoiding using it.” However, the number of tickets Mayor Tony Van Bynen — issued has gone down over the who also sits on the Southlake past four years. board of directors — noted the ❑ For more stories on this issue: Between January and Sephospital generates about $3 milbit.ly/1pIn5ZH . Comments? tember 2015, 113 parking tickets lion in parking revenue each year. Email tkibble@yrmg.com were issued along Lundy’s. There Southlake needs that money to were 184 tickets issued along the cover necessary service costs. road in 2014, 99 in 2013 and 160 “It really does gouge people. It’s a “If we provided free parking, in 2012. significant fundraiser for the hos“It’s obvious why we have so pital, but it is a significant gouge much of this problem,” Vegh said. to vulnerable groups. That’s why See page A11.
GET CONNECTED
Lose
$30K review could change the way you vote BY SIMON MARTIN
T
smartin@yrmg.com
he Town of East Gwillimbury is moving ahead with its plan to have an electoral review. Council approved in principle parameters of the review and for staff to seek a private consultant to complete the document. During a contentious council debate in December, $30,000 was set aside for the review as part of the town’s 2016 budget. It will examine many aspects of the electoral system, including whether the current at-large system is best or if a ward system would better serve constituents, consideration of additional councillors and consideration of deputy mayor role. “I think this is needed,” Councillor Tara Roy-DiClemente said. There was little discussion about the parameters of the electoral review Tuesday because two previ-
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ous opponents, councillors James Young and Marlene Johnston, were absent from the meeting. Back in December, Johnston said the town didn’t need a consultant to tell it if it needed two additional councilors to represent residents, citing the 2010 referendum results that stated residents have little desire to change the local electoral system. But not everyone agrees. Roy-DiClemente is on the record as being unhappy with how the referendum question was phrased because it did not offer an alternative to an at-large system. The question on the ballot in
See page A9.
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