Sunday, September 26, 2010

Sunday September 26, 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen

How quickly we turn to fall, even though summer has made a few valiant last attempts to return to Midland.

Your Council starts its fall meetings with an in camera meeting at 6:30 pm on Monday September 27th. Then at 7:00 pm in the NSSRC is the regular Council Meeting (Deputation Only). This is the last Council meeting before the election. Likely a long but non-contentious evening including:
- a presentation on the upcoming (2015) Champlain celebrations
- a further request by the Midland Safe Communities program for funding
- acceptance of the Town’s Accessibility Plan update

On Tuesday September 28th starting at 11:00 am, Community Link will be representing a discussion of the services available for seniors in our community. The presentation takes place in the Askennonia room at NSSRC. A lunch is provided.

Thursday September 30th at 5:30 pm will see our second 2011 budget discussion. This meeting at the NSSRC will focus on the operating budget. The operations budget typically represents 85% of your Town’s expenditures.

And finally a political note. On Wednesday September 29th at 8:00 pm the Rogers Local Politically Speaking show will feature a discussion between the incumbent mayor and your editor. Should make for some interesting viewing.


Gord McKay

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Sunday September 19, 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen

Midland is a busy place this week, even though it is pretty quiet at Town Hall. Must be the election.

On Wednesday September the 22nd at 10:00 am, Georgian College celebrates the opening of its Aboriginal Programs Campus at our Georgian College - Midland facility.

Later on Wednesday, at 7:00 pm the Midland Area Reading Council holds its AGM at the Public Library. Always a welcoming time with good food!

On Thursday the 23rd at 11:30 am it’s time for the Huronia Communities Foundation AGM at the NSSRC. Your chance to hear about the individuals and organizations in our midst that are helping out those in need.

On Friday its time to get out for a candlelight walk. Community Living Huronia is sponsoring a Parade of Lights starting at 7:00 pm starting at the corner of King and Elizabeth. You are asked to RSVP at 527-4070 ext 225

Then on Saturday you have two events of choose from. The Midland Legion is holding their Summer Ending Pig Roast starting at 5:00 pm at the Legion. Tickets are $12 at the Legion.

Saturday also sees the return of Titus and Friends - American Gospel and Christian Contemporary Music. They will be entertaining us all starting at 7:30 pm at Knox Church, 539 Hugel. Titus was in Midland in February and was enthusiastically received by a large audience.


Gord McKay

Friday, September 17, 2010

Midland Needs New Jobs

The recent downturn in the economy has hit Midland particularly hard. Many of our citizens have been laid off, given reduced hours or been forced to commute outside of Midland to find employment. And less work means less money for our residents, our shop-keepers and our Town.

Our economic problems are not new. While exact numbers are hard to find, Midland’s and Pentanguishene’s largest industrial employers have lost some 900 positions since 2007 (This includes the closure of HPP and Bruin.)

The jobs that remain have been increasingly low-paying, leaving us well below wage levels found in other parts of Ontario.

......................................................Midland ....................Ontario

Median full-time earnings ...........$38,418 ...................$44,748

Statistics Canada 2006

Good jobs are essential to Midland and our future. In today’s world we must compete for those jobs with every other community in Ontario, and beyond. Attracting new jobs starts with a plan. Midland currently has no such plan. That must change.

Fortunately Midland has the raw material to get its economy back on track. These advantages include our remaining manufacturers, Georgian College - Midland and its “trades” mandate, and the concentration of health related institutions in our area.

As your mayor I will work with Council, the businesses and the citizens of Midland to:
- create a practical economic plan that will re-build our economy
- establish a working team to bring jobs back to Midland
- engage federal and provincial governments in helping us meet our goals



Media Release - Background

Midland (and area) industrial employers have been in decline for some time.

Year ...................Industrial Occupations* ............Total Labour Force

2001 ....................1,110 ...........................................7,355

2006 ...................1,030 ...........................................8,035

* Statistics Canada - Category J: Occupations unique to processing, manufacturing and utilities

In recent years, Midland and area large manufacturers have lost many jobs.

Employment at Major Manufacturers in Midland and Penetanguishene
(Includes full time, part time and seasonal positions)

........................2007 ...........2008 .............2009 ............2010

Elcan ...............717 ..............830 ................930 ..............930

Techform .......600 ............400 ................300 ..............300

TRW ...............480 ............250 .................205 ..............205

CCL .................350 ............240 .................225 ..............180

Baytech ..........300 ............300 ................300 ..............300

Kindred ..........250 ............211 ..................210 ..............185

Schott (Daysco) 203 ........193 .................200 ..............170

Weber ............175 .............170 .................136 ..............136

Bruin ..............130 - - -

HPP ...............100 - - -

Total ..............3,305 ..........2,594 .............2,506 .........2,406

Source: Business Times Top 100 Report



For those that do have jobs, earnings are well behind the rest of the Province.

...........................................................Midland ...........Ontario

Median earnings (from a job) ........$24,431 .........$29,335

Median full-time earnings ...............$38,418 .........$44,748

Median household income .............$45,256 .........$60,455

Statistics Canada – 2006

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Sunday September 12, 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen

The glorious days of early fall have started. I will be able to improve my weather commentary in the days ahead as election door-knocking gets you outside a fair bit.

Your Council meets this Monday September 13th at 7:00 pm at the NSSRC for the monthly General Committee meeting (Written Input Only). A fairly short and innocuous agenda including:
- a donation of land at 154 Yonge St. to the Town for a park
- a recommendation for the purchase of a $430,000 fire truck
- a report showing the continuing high rate of parking infractions in downtown Midland

On Tuesday September 14th you have your choice.
- at 4:00 pm at NSSRC is a meeting to discuss the skateboard park renovations (all welcome)
- at 7:00 pm at the Public Library is the Heritage Committee (all welcome)

Thursday at 5:30 pm at the Town’s Dominion Ave. offices sees the first of our budget meetings. The discussion will focus on capital requirements. This meeting is important as it establishes the base for our spending intentions in 2011.

And lastly on Saturday, starting at 10 am be sure to attend the Midland Area Reading Council book sale at the Little Lake Park pavilion.

Gord McKay

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Sunday September 5, 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen

Who turned off the heat? One day its summer and the next day we get a frigid reminder that fall is coming. Time for schools, industry and your Town to get back to regular business.

I hope that you all have had a great summer and are ready for an interesting fall. As you know this is an election year. Please be aware that your editor is running for Mayor of Midland. I will do my best to keep News from the Town non-partisan throughout the campaign. But I intend to devote one edition to the Town’s challenges and future.

The upcoming week is quiet:
- Public Works Committee meets on Wednesday September the 8th at 2:00 pm at the Town offices (no agenda)
- Committee of Adjustment meets on Thursday September the 9th at 6:30 pm. Please call the Town for location (526-4275)
The following week will see the start of the Town’s 2011 budget process.

On the election front
- Election Day is Monday October 25th
- All nominations need to registered with the Town Clerk before 2:00 pm on Friday September 10th
- Advance polls are at the NSCSRC on:
o October 13 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
o October 14 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
o October 16 10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Gord McKay

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Media Release: Better Control of Taxes

Midlanders receive a lot of services from our Town – everything from fire protection, to policing, to sports programs and indirectly, waste pick-up. These services help make Midland a great place to live.

Midlanders pay a lot of money for these services. Midland has one of the highest residential tax rates in the province. This fact has become a major impediment for residents and businesses wanting to locate to Midland. For example, a family can save $400 a year in taxes by buying their $200,000 home in Collingwood or Barrie instead of Midland. High tax rates are deterring people from coming to Midland.

Equally concerning is that many people are having a tough time finding the money to stay in their homes. Many of Midland’s seniors are on fixed incomes. These incomes are indexed to the inflation rate. Over the last 5 years the taxes paid on the average home in Midland have increased by over 16%, almost double the rate of inflation for the same period. Increased taxes are hitting the elderly hard.

Midland needs good services – that is a given. We also need better ways to control the cost of our services and reduce the tax impact upon residents. As your Mayor I will work with Council to make sure that:
- tax increases are kept to the rate of inflation, or below
- all Town spending is reviewed to ensure cost efficiencies

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++




Media Release – Background Information

Midland’s residential tax rate is among the highest in the province. It has been among the highest for many years.

Residential Tax Rate (includes Town, County, Waste, School)

Year .........Midland ......Penetanguishene .......Collingwood .........Barrie

2002 .........1.782 ..............1.771 ..........................1.732 ...................1.515

2003 ..........1.742 ..............1.728 .........................1.519 ...................1.436

2004 ..........1.565 ..............1.539 .........................1.361 ..................1.334

2005 ..........1.641 ..............1.629 .........................1.428 ..................1.425

2006 ..........1.518 ..............1.495 .........................1.301 ..................1.325

2007

2008 ..........1.64

2009 ..........1.60

2010 ..........1.565 ..............1.533 ..........................1.38 ....................1.344


A high tax rate puts Midland at a disadvantage when it comes to attracting new people and business to our community. Taxes can be the deciding factor:

...................2010Residential Tax Rate .........Taxes on $200,000 Home

Barrie .................1.344 ...........................................$2,688
Collingwood .......1.380 ...........................................$2,760
Midland .............1.565 ............................................$3,130

And within North Simcoe, the tax disadvantage is even sharper.

...................2010 Residential Tax Rate Taxes on $300,000 Home*

Tiny .....................1.100 (with garbage and water) $3,300
Midland ...............1.565 ..............................................$4,695

( * In Tiny the median home price is about $300,000.)

This tax disadvantage, in part, deters people from moving to Midland. Statistics Canada shows that Midland’s population growth for the period 1996 to 2006 actually declined by 17 people.

Year ...........Midland ..............Ontario

1996 .............16,347 ..............10,753,000

2001 .............16,214 ..............11,410,000

2006 .............16,330 ..............12,160,000

10 yr % increase 0% ..................13%

(Statistics Canada has accounted for boundary changes and has adjusted the 2006 numbers at the Town’s request.)

Using MPAC assessment numbers, the Town identifies the average house price in Midland each year. The Town then calculates the annual tax increase for the average priced house.

Year .............Tax Increase for Average House

2006 ................................2.9%

2007 ................................4.4%

2008 ................................3.5%

2009 ................................2.2%

2010 ................................2.3%

Five year total increase 16.2%


The Bank of Canada five-year change to CPI to July 2010 is 9.0%.