Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman's New Year's Message

Mayor's New Year's Message - By Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman

The closing days of the year always bring the opportunity for retrospection, and

for looking ahead to a new year.


The year 2011 was a most unusual one, at home and abroad.
In the spring, we watched democratic revolutions spread through the Middle East, and unprecedented economic turmoil in Europe.


At home, federal and provincial elections returned governments to power with new mandates, amid fiscal challenges and economic uncertainty.


We said goodbye to Jack Layton, only months after his historic success, and Attawapiskat reminded Canadians that we have much work still to do at home to ensure basic standards of life in remote communities.


In Barrie, we celebrated many milestones.


Council opened up city hall by creating a wide range of new opportunities for civic engagement, allowing our residents to be part of the decisions that affect their community, from town hall meetings in each ward and on the Internet, to open delegations at council meetings.


Downtown, for the first time in years, construction cranes appeared and storefronts filled in.


Crime has plummeted: the number of crimes in Barrie dropped by 14% compared to 2010.

We welcomed major new employers, such as the TD operations centre, R&M Plastics and PPG. And many of our largest local employers announced expansions, including Napoleon, JebCO, and Munro Concrete.

Yet despite twice as many jobs created in 2011 compared to 2010, job growth in Barrie didn't keep pace with growth in the workforce; and as the global economy continues to stumble toward recovery, employment and economic development will need to be the top priority of all three levels of government for Barrie in 2012.


The other major challenge for all governments is and must continue to be living within their means. In 2011, city council reduced forecast debt by $21 million.
More significantly, in 2011 we again cut spending dramatically, spending about $34 million less in 2011 than in 2010. This is the second consecutive year that the City of Barrie has reduced total spending and this reflects the need for us to live within our means amid economic uncertainty. 


This will be one of the biggest challenges for 2012. We are leaving an era of stimulus spending and major projects for Barrie; these projects have moved us forward as a community and provide valuable services to residents across Barrie.


But the next few years will need to be about smaller projects, finding new partnerships and finding ways to deliver services differently.
To accomplish these changes, we will need new ideas.


One of the most pleasant surprises in this job in 2011 was the number of residents, business leaders and city staff who came forward with new ideas to move our community forward. I would point to our first ever Team Barrie Trade Mission, to Calgary, our new partnership to deliver transit service and the community fundraising support for both the South Branch Library and the Mady Centre for the Performing Arts as successful examples of new ways of doing business in Barrie.


I'm looking forward with real optimism to 2012, for many reasons.
Royal Victoria Hospital will open its long-awaited expansion and cancer care centre, and hiring will begin in earnest.


Laurentian University's commitment to a satellite university campus, if approved by the province, is a major opportunity for Barrie.


Georgian College has opened its stunning new Sadlon Centre for Health and Wellness, and is now offering health care programs and applied science education that will help us diversify our workforce.


In 2012, the Under One Roof project can give a long-needed boost to the charities and services helping our least fortunate.


The opening of the city's new south branch library and the Allandale Waterfront GO Station early in 2012 will bring services closer to home for residents.
And badly needed roadwork on Mapleview Drive will finish, and will begin at Duckworth Street at Highway 400.


As the year winds down, we need to count our blessings: we live in a safe, democratic, tolerant and strong community.


Walk along our stunning lakeshore, and marvel at the mist rising from the lake, and consider the stunning beauty of living in our city by Kempenfelt Bay.
As you travel our busy streets, consider the depth and diversity of human ingenuity that is represented by the businesses in our community, and the buildings that house them.


And take a moment to realize how truly lucky we have been to live in Barrie in 2011, and how lucky we will be to live here in 2012.


On behalf of city council, please accept my sincere best wishes to you and your families for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

Provincial program offers break to hydro users

As the mercury drops, a provincewide program remains in place to help pay hydro bills.

The Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is offered by electric utilities and regulated by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB). It targets low-income electricity consumers in Ontario who are experiencing difficulties keeping their hydro bills paid up.


Offered on a year-round basis or until the available funds are exhausted, LEAP is intended to supplement other existing financial support programs.


"The funding being provided though LEAP will help individuals and families who require assistance to keep their account current with us," said Power-Stream chairman Frank Scarpitti, who's also Markham's mayor. "LEAP has enabled us to broaden our reach to those in need when compared to other support programs that were previously in place."
LEAP was launched across the province last year.


PowerStream's Eric Fagen says the initial amount of 2011 funding disbursed to PowerStream customers in Barrie and Simcoe County, through the United Way of Greater Simcoe County, was $40,932.


It provided assistance to 95 households.


But as a result of the late-payment penalty (LPP) class-action settlement reached between all Ontario utilities and the suit plaintiffs early this year, an additional $27,500 in funding was provided to the United Way of Greater Simcoe County in December.


"A report on the disbursement of these funds is not available at this time, but based on the current LEAP criteria, maximum of $500-$600 per eligible customer, it is estimated that approximately another 55 households will receive assistance through this additional funding," Fagen said.


For LEAP in 2012, Power-Stream has issued $41,142 to the local United Way, which can also apply to the United Way of Toronto for an additional $27,500 in 2012 from the LPP funds by applying to Toronto's United Way, which is administering the money and releasing it during a five-year period.


Offering LEAP through social service agencies provides those in need with an array of other community services that are also available, such as employment and credit counselling, food and clothing banks.

To ensure LEAP funds support individuals in need, applications are assessed by the designated intake agencies based on criteria established by the OEB.

The criteria considered includes applicants having a pre-tax income at, or below, Statistics Canada's low-income cutoff plus 15%, confirmation of their current billing status and the ability of the applicant to keep their PowerStream account current after receiving LEAP assistance.


Customers must directly contact the designated agencies to apply for LEAP funding. Power-Stream customers living in Barrie and Simcoe County should contact 705- 726-2301, ext. 30.


Each agency will review applications on a case-by-case basis to determine customers' eligibility.


Working with the Ontario Power Authority, PowerStream continues to offer saveONenergy' conservation programs to help all its customers better manage their electricity costs.


Information on these programs are available through its website at www.power-stream.ca.
PowerStream bills could be heading down in the new year.


PowerStream has a distribution rate application currently before the OEB that, if approved, Fagen said will see a slight decrease in rates for its Barrie and Simcoe county customers effective May 1, 2012.


A residential customer using 800 kilowatt hours per month will see a $0.87 (2.4%) decrease in the delivery line and a decrease of $0.89 (0.8%) on the total monthly bill.
A general service customer using 2,000 kWh per month will see a $0.11 (0.2%) decrease in the delivery line and a decrease of $0.12 (0.04%) on the total monthly bill.


PowerStream is the second-largest municipally owned electricity distribution company in Ontario, providing service to more than 335,000 customers residing or owning a business in communities located immediately north of Toronto and in central Ontario.


Communities served include Alliston, Aurora, Barrie, Beeton, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Markham, Penetanguishene, Richmond Hill, Thornton, Tottenham and Vaughan.


PowerStream is jointly owned by Barrie, Vaughan and Markham.

BOB BRUTON, Barrie Advance