Meet the Lions Club of Paris Pages 14

The Paris Independent 16

February 12, 2022 Lions International motto ‘We Serve’ adopted during the war years

To demonstrate that the Paris Lions Club also contributed to efforts beyond Paris, documents show that our Club collected and donated money to the Food for Britain Campaign, the Red Cross Relief Fund, and Flood Assistance.

The International Lions Club motto “We Serve” was well demonstrated during the war years. As much as Canadian men and women were serving Canada overseas, the Paris Lions Club served by taking care of those here at home.

The Paris Lions Club of the 1950s saw its membership rise to 60 dedicated people. The Club's biggest fundraising project was the publication of “The Chant of the Jungle”, printed by The Paris Star. In this publication, local businesses partnered with our Club to create “Super Shopping Days”, with a percentage of every dollar spent going to our Club. One of these businesses, John M. Hall, is still in existence today!

The funds raised through this venture went to maintaining and improving facilities at Lions Park. Our Club also planned on helping to complete the creation of the swimming pool for Lions Park in time for the Paris Centennial Celebration during the summer of 1956.

Another big, and just as important project for the Paris Lions Club, was financially assisting with the Willett Hospital’s latest addition, namely the new nurse’s residence. The Willett Hospital, built in 1922, had a 16-bed capacity. Because of the growing needs of our community, extensions were added and by 1951, this small self-sustaining cottage hospital (one of the few in Ontario) boasted a 60-bed capacity.

In addition to supporting the Willett Hospital, the Paris Lions continued to support various individuals with financial assistance for surgeries, purchasing eyeglasses, and contributing food and basic necessities, especially at Christmas time. The needs of local children were, as in previous decades, of utmost importance to the Paris Lions Club. Whether it was health issues, food, sports or just a letter from Santa, our Club members were there to fill all these needs!

The 1950s saw real population growth in Paris, plus even more dedicated Lions ready to give back to our community. “We Serve” has been a constant with our Paris Lions Club!

Support The Lions Club, Support Your Community

The first draw for Catch the Ace closes on February 15th. Get your tickets here: https://parislionscatcht heace.ca

Changes proposed to Vehicle for Hire by-law

By Casandra Turnbull

The County of Brant is updating its Vehicle for Hire By-Law in a bid to keep up with everchanging transportation methods in today’s society. The proposed changes are required to ensure public safety, consumer protection and to expand the quality and availability of services available for residents. The proposed by-law, which provides a single, streamlined by-law to regulate all vehicles for hire in the county, was presented in mid December at the administration and Operations Committee meeting. Public consultation and input are only open until 11:59 pm on February 19th .

To prepare the draft, council directed county staff to launch a public industry stakeholder consultation in March of 2020. Feedback was collected from not only members of the public, but also from the broader vehicle for hire industry- taxi companies and transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft. The results of consultation process, coupled with recommendations from County staff, resulted in the following high-level changes to the existing by-law:

1. The Draft VFH By-law recognizes transportation network companies as private vehicle for hire brokerages. This form of brokerage will permit passengers to book a ride via a smartphone application. Passengers using the application are notified of the cost of the ride prior to hiring the vehicle. By dispatching the driver to the pick-up location, the passenger is agreeing to the proposed rate. Continued on Page 20

Continued from Page 19

2.The Draft VFH By-law standardizes and harmonizes the expiration date for all Licences. All Licences will expire annually on March 31st. Applicants applying for a renewal licence will be required to apply for the renewal at least five (5) business days prior to the expiry date. Renewals will be sent out at least sixty (60) days prior to the expiry date.

3. Criminal Record Checks will continue to be required for all drivers. The Criminal Record Checks will be submitted directly to the County by taxicab and limousine drivers with their applications for a driver’s licence and through the broker for TNC drivers.

4. The current Taxicab By-law does not prescribe a service age limit for vehicles. The Draft VFH By-law proposes a maximum service age limit of ten (10) years for all licensed vehicles. This age limit is consistent with TNCs which already set age limits for their vehicles. The age limit would ensure that newer vehicles are servicing the community to better protect passengers. The Draft VFH By-law provides a transition period until April 1 st, 2024 for vehicles which are already licensed.

5. During the consultation process, it was proposed that the County eliminate the requirement for physical taxicab meters in favor of newer technology. Accordingly, the Draft VFH By-law proposes to eliminate the requirement for physical taxicab meters. Where an owner opts to use a physical taxicab meter, the oversight and testing provisions remain in place. Owners are allowed to use new technology-based taxicab meters if the technology is approved by the Licensing Administrator. This approach provides flexibility for those taxicabs which will transition to the newer technology. 6. The County is lifting the requirement for brokers to lease a property in the County of Brant to operate an office or dispatch centre. This provision was seen as a burden and disadvantage to local companies trying to compete with other private service providers who dispatch through smart phone applications rather than a physical office space.

7. The TNC’s business model includes dynamic and surge pricing. Accordingly, instead of prescribing fares, the County would be collecting a per trip charge. The Draft VFH By-law provides greater consumer protection as prior to accepting a ride, the customer is fully informed of the cost of the ride and is able to efficiently determine whether or not they would like to engage the service provided.

8. All Vehicles for Hire will be required to maintain a valid commercial policy protecting the public and passengers in the amount of $2M. Insurance requirements were vetted with the County’s Insurer to make sure that the County was properly protected.

To view the full recommendation, please review: https://engagebrant.ca/vehicle-for-hire-by-law

You can submit your thoughts online through EngageBrant or by writing to the county’s licensing administrator at Julie.mckeen@brant.ca Once public consultation closes, the final Vehicle for Hire by-law will be presented for council’s consideration and final decision.

The Paris Independent 21

February 12, 2022 F I N A N C I A L M A T T E R S Important dates to help you get ready for tax season

Your Money Team with

Glenn Gaudet

As you begin to get ready to prepare your 2021 tax return, we want to ensure you’re aware of important upcoming dates and deadlines, so you have everything you need to file your return with minimal hassle

MARCH 1st is the RRSP

contribution deadline -The final date for your RRSP contributions to be eligible for the 2021 tax year is March 1, 2022. Refer to your Notice of Assessment (NOA) or access My Account information on the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website for your total RRSP contribution limit for the 2021 tax year.

May 2 is Tax filing deadline for

individuals - The deadline to file your 2021 personal income tax return is May 2, 2022, unless you're self-employed. However, the CRA encourages individuals who expect to receive benefits under the GST Credit or the Canada Child Benefit not to delay the filing of their tax return to ensure their entitlements for the 2022-23 benefit year are properly determined.

JUNE 15 is Tax filing deadline for

self-employed individuals - The deadline to file your 2021 taxes is June 15, 2022, if you're self-employed. JANUARY 28 is RRSP contribution receipt - A statement of all RRSP contributions you made between March and December 2021.

FEBRUARY 25 is Tax slips for

individual and corporate accounts

(T3, T5, T4A, T5008) -These slips will be issued if you have earned any interest, dividends or capital gains in a Personal, Joint or Business account, depending on the investments you hold in those accounts.

FEBRUARY 25is RRSP, Spousal

RRSP, RIF, Spousal RIF, LIF

(T4RSP/T4RIF slips)- These slips confirm the amounts that have been withdrawn from these accounts and have been reported to the CRA.

MARCH 25 is RRSP contribution receipt, first 60 days of 2022 - This receipt confirms all RRSP contributions made during the first 60 days of 2022 (if applicable). These contributions are deductible on your 2021 tax return to the extent you have available RRSP contribution room.

Tax slips for equity securities (T3,

T5) -These slips will be issued if you have earned any interest, dividends or capital gains from securities held in a Personal, Joint or Business account.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS-

2022 TFSA limit: $6,000; 2021 RRSP limit: 18% of income, to a maximum of $27,830; 2022 RRSP limit: 18% of income, to a maximum of $29,210 ADVISORY FEES - The advisory fee for your non-registered accounts may be deductible when calculating your taxable income. The fee for the 2021 calendar year will appear on you December 2021 client statement.

Glenn Gaudet is the lead advisor of a wealth advisory team helping families and business owners since 1993. Glenn holds many designations including the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ® designation, Elder Planning Counselor, Certified Professional Consultant on Aging and the Registered Retirement Counselor. With more than 60 years of combined experience, Gaudet Group Private Wealth Management is committed to making clients’ interests their top priority. Do you have questions you’d like Glenn to Answer? Email him at glenn.gaudet@igpwm.ca. Investors Group Financial Services Inc.

Written and published by IG Wealth Management as a general source of information only, believed to be accurate as of the date of publishing. Not intended as a solicitation to buy or sell specific investments, or to provide tax, legal or investment advice. Seek advice on up to date withholding rules and rates and on your specific circumstances from an IG Wealth Management Consultant. Trademarks, including IG Wealth Management and IG Private Wealth Management are owned by IGM Financial Inc. and licensed to its subsidiary corporations.

P U B L I S H E R ’ S S T R E A M I N G P I C S

Galaxy Cinema Brantford is OPEN Click on image below for Tickets & Showtimes