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Province promises to gradually ~Iimintp (;TA~ noonrr- hqi rmt The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - A3 By Melanie Hennessey CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF its tbe much-anticipated news the Region bas been wait ing for - the Province bas promised to eliminate GTA pooling. lit its budget released Tbursday, tbe provincial gov- ernment said it will do away witb tbe mucb-bemoaned sys- temr tbat helps Toronto pay for ils social service cosîs. Pooling ends up costing Halton about $41 million eacb year, or around $180 for tbe average taxpayer. "Tbis îs great news for our residents and our communi- tics," said Regional Cbairman Gary' Carr. "I applaud tbe Ontario gov- erinent for listcning to tbc advocacy efforts of myself, our four mayors as well as regional and local counicîllors by taking steps 10 climinate GIA pool- îng. Under tbe Provinces plan, pooling will be reduced by one- sixtb of ils 2004 levels cacb ycar until tbe programt is compleîely eliminated by 2013. Tbe costs currently fundcd îbrougb pool- ing will be taken over by tbe Province. Carr noted tbat tbrougb tbe rccenîly launcbed Faimcss for Halton campaign, regional council bas strongly urged tbe Province lu, make funding mod- els fair for communities. "I am plcased tbat we arc one sîep furtber 10 ensuring fairness for Halton," Carr said. "lt is important now 10 get tbe funding commîtmcnls wc nccd to ensure tbat growtb pays for itsclf aiîd tbat tbe cosi of growtb is not on tbe backs of our current rcsîdcnls.- Tbe Ontario govcrnmcnî' oniginally cstablisbed CIA pool- ing in 1998 as a temporary stop- gap measure îo offset cosls for tbe C.ity of Toronto in providing social assistance and social bousing 10 ils residcnls. Halions pooling costs bave steadily risen since 2003, going fromn about $34 million tbcn to tbe durrent cstimnated $41 mil- lion. In faci, since pooling stant- cd tbe Region bas conîributcd $325 million to tbe City 'of Toronto. "It simply is not fair tbat our taxpayers sbould be paying for Toronto's social assistance and social bousing cosls," Carr said, noîing tbat wbcn bie was an MIPP be voted against tbe notion of GTA pooling. Halton bas long been pusb- ing for an end lu pooling, witb ils mrost recent effort in protest to tbe sysîcru bcîng a motion passcd by regional couiicil to freeze ils 2007 poolîng paymcnt at tbe 2006 level. Melanie Henncssey can bc tcachcd at mhcnncsc@m ilIton- canadianchampion.t om. Transmission uine proposed for service in 2011i -fromn HYDRO on page Ai to mccl todays nccds. Tbe ncw lîne will provîde capa- responsible," said laura Formusa, Flydro One presi- bility to deliver an addiîional 3,000 mcgawatls of gen- dent and CEO. eration capacity According to tbe OPA, tbe current transmission Tbe line is planned 10 be in service by December bine bas tbe capabiliîy te, transmit enougb gencration 2011. Tbe projeet wibl be subject to Environmental froru tbe Bruce area 10 Ontarios clectricity consumners Assessment Act and Ontario Energy Board approvais. k, Wallace - - - - - - M