SERVING MAPLETON AND MINTO
THE
COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 52 ISSUE 17
1 Year GIC - 2.75% 3 Year GIC - 3.00% 5 Year GIC - 3.35% Daily Interest 1.50%
638-3328
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019
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Town expresses ‘grave concern’ over future reductions to OMPF By Patrick Raftis
Egg hunters - Approximately 120 children braved the rainy weather on April 20 at the Kinsmen Park in Drayton for Mapleton Preschool’s annual Easter egg hunt. Organizers note the event is possible thanks to the help of many volunteers and community sponsors. The van der Meulen cousins were waiting patiently for the Easter Egg Hunt to start. From left: Makayla, Colin, Charlotte, Cassidy, Vera and Wesley van der Meulen. Submitted photo
MINTO – Town council here has expressed “grave concern” about the possibility of the provincial government reducing or eliminating the municipality’s future allotments under the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF). A resolution passed on April 16 indicates the provincial grant of $1.63 million in 2019 is equal to nearly 34 per cent of the town’s municipal property tax revenue. “A 33.96% increase in the municipal property tax rate would increase the municipal component of property taxes paid for an average household by $403 per year,” the resolution states. Last December, the province announced it was reviewing the OMPF pro-
gram, which provides annual funding allotments to municipal governments to help offset operating and capital costs. Under pressure from municipal governments to provide information on 2019 allocations prior to setting budgets, finance minister Vic Fedeli, in a Feb. 13 letter, announced funding under the program would “remain virtually the same as in 2018, while allowing for annual data updates and related adjustments.” The letter indicates that while the review would continue, any changes would not take effect until the 2020 budget, and substantial advance notice would be provided. “Municipalities were further advised that the overall spending envelope for SEE MINTO » 3
Palmerston Child Care and Learning Centre officially opened By Patrick Raftis
SHOWING APRIL 26-28
Child care facility - Upper Grand District School Board and Wellington County officials opened the Palmerston Child Care and Learning Centre on April 17. LEFT: From left: back, school board operations officer Paul Scinocca, director of education Martha Rogers, trustee Robin Ross, school board chair Linda Busuttil, Warden Kelly Linton and county councillor Dave Anderson; front, Bobbie-Jo Gramigna of the county’s Children’s Early Years division and day care participants Elena, Ryerson and Hugh. RIGHT: A play area in the new centre. BELOW: The newly-built centre is located beside the Palmerston Public School on Prospect Street. Photos by Patrick Raftis dents.” Wellington County councillor and social services David chair committee Anderson said, “This is a facility of high-quality, licensed child care that supports young children in learning and developing and their well-being.” “We know how important quality child care is to families,” said Warden Kelly Linton. “There is strong evidence that the participation of women in the labour force is good for the economy and
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accountable, high-quality child care is good for child well being. Centres like this one support jobs and investment, contribute to increased family income and help reduce child poverty,” the warden continued. “As a county it’s our goal for each of our member municipalities to have highquality, available, affordable and accessible child care,” Linton added. For information on registration for child care spaces contact Christine Biggar at 519-417-2902.
WEEKLY WAG
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PALMERSTON - A new county-operated child care centre was officially opened here last week. In 2015, the Upper Grand Board School District (UGDSB) was approved for $1.54 million dollars through the Ministry of Education’s Capital Funding for New Construction of Child Care program. The new Palmerston Child Care and Learning Centre, located beside Palmerston Public School on Prospect Street, provides 49 new child care spaces for infants, toddlers and preschool aged children. The centre, which opened in October 2018, is operated by the County of Wellington. Officials from the UGDSB and the County of Wellington officially opened the centre on April 17. “Child care is becoming an increasingly integrated system. We were pleased to work together with the county to help meet the needs of our families,” said UGDSB chair Linda Busuttil. Luisa Artuso, director of the county’s early years division, noted in a press release, “We are grateful for this opportunity to expand much needed high-quality licensed child care spaces in Palmerston for county resi-
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