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eI \ ¥ $Y £3" re A large representation from Ontario County Council was present to honour Warden Ed (Sam) Oyler at the Testimonial Dinner held in the Legion Hall, Wednesday last week: Standing from left Mrs. E. Speiran, Bruce Continued: "County of Ontario has been very fortunate in the calibre of persons who have served the office of Warden since its inception some 118 years ago. They have given freely-of their valuable time and talents to the County of Ontario", Mr. Manning said. "It is certainly fitting and proper that we should show - our appreciation to Mr. Oyler who has rendered valuable service to our County in 1969", Mr. Manning con- tinued. - Reflecting back, Mr. Man- ning said there had been many changes in the muniei- pal institutions during the last 120 years. Referring to "the adoption of Regional Government, he said, we are on the threshold of major changes in our municipal government, local and at County level. The next few years will be exciting times in our evolution of local gov- ernment. We will be hearing many arguments, Mr. Manning stated, for and against the consolidation of local muni- cipalitities, the formation of new governmental regions, the new relationship between the local municipal govern-|- ment and the government of 7 = = "Pe | e . a 8 ) of the youngest mayors in Ontario. Seated next to him at the head table was Robert Kenny, reeve of Port Perry. the Province of Ontario. In the 1850's, Mr. Manning continued; vigorous debates and discussions took place at County council sessions re- garding the improvement of roads and communications into the interior of our County. Some members pro- posed that the County subsi- dize the construction of a railway hetween Port Perry | and Uxbridge, to connect with the railroad Joseph Gould, the first provincial Warden was advocating shauld be built from Toronto -- Markham -- Stouffville -- Uxbridge. Mr. Manning touched on several interesting and im- portant changes during that early period of Ontario County Council. "Eventually these changes which spelled progress be- came a reality, and if the changes in the proposed municipal institutions mean progress, they too will be- come a reality", Mr. Mann- ing emphasized. He questioned . why - it should be necessary to chan- ge the present form of local government? Has it not ser- ved our people well for over 100 years? "Since World War II we have witnessed a phenomen- { sy One of the speakers during the banquet was his Worship the Mayor of Oshawa, a native of Port Perry and at 36 one fc | Beare, Robert Kenny, Robert Timbers, Wesley Stitt, James Walton, Robert Nesbitt, Gordon Hanna, John Hanna, John Williams, Alvin Redshaw, John Howden, James Murphy, Wm. Gillispie, Wilfred Gould, D. Shier, Warden Of Ontario County Honoured al growth in the Province of Ontario, Mr. Manning said: This growth has expanded into our pre-dominantly rural areas and has brought about many changes that are hav- ing a profound effect on our municipal institutions. This growth has presented to our council many complicated problems". * "In this fast changing so- ciety, the responsibility of local governments are becom- ing more numerous, increas- ingly complex, and the coun- cils will require the services of competent -persons who will assist them in the dis- charge of their legislative duties and to successfully carry out decisions of coun- cil", Mr. Manning said. To illustrate the tremen-| dous expansion and growth of the Province, Mr. Manning continued to say: "In the year 1942 the provincial grants payable to 'all the mu- nicipalities within this prov- ince was a small sum of $20 million. By 1946 the sum had reached $50 million. By 1965 the assistance from the Provincial Government was over $600 million, and 1968 it had reached $1 billion and $78 million". "In 1950, Mr. Manning said, the taxes collected in- the municipalities in the Prov- ince of 'Ontario amounted to $108 millions. By 1965 this had risen to $878 millions & by 1968 the amount was $1 billion $169 millions." Mr. Manning dwelt to some length _on._the . function. of]. .| municipal Boards and Com- missions and the services they have performed since they were first established some 60 years ago. Included in these boards are health boards, arena boards, park hoards, public utilities com- missions, police commissions, Mr. Manning pointed. out the fact that what at one time was the responsibility of the local council was handed over to these boards and commissions, The muni. cipalities must share the re- sponsibility for the creation 'of these boards and commis- sions, because the municipali- ties . through their elected councils refused to assume responsibilities for. certain services that was urgently re- quired. The Province must also be prepared to accept some of the blame, because the Province was not always prepared' to entrust to the local municipal council the 'authority to administer cer- tain specific services. Many of the services pro- vided -by the boards & com- missions could be adequately administered by the local council, Mr. Manning con- tinued. = The disputes be- tween the elected local coun- cil-and the-appointed boards are not conducive to good local government. The con. solidation of all services un- der the jurisdiction of the elected council could result in substantial savings and it| == would enable the elected council to provide a better| and more efficient service to the taxpayer. Ty In contrast to the present system used here, Mr. Mann- ing told the attentive listen- ers, in European countries the jurisdiction was almost entirely the responsibility. of the local councils. In 1969, Mr. Manning said there were 921 local munici- palities in this Province and 716 of these municipalities had a population of less than 4,000; 504 of these munici- palities had population of less than 2,000 and 273 or D. Marlow and Mrs. Mary Reid. Seated: Mrs. Grace Love, Cecil Fralick, John Doble, Warden Ed Oyler, Dr. M. B. Dymond, MPP, Bruce Mackey , mayor of Oshawa and Lucille Gray. Photos -- P. Hvidsten Sr. Secretary-treasurer, Norma Cornish presented Mrs. Oyler with a dozen red roses following the excellent roast beef dinner in the Legion Hall. approximately one quarter of| of the municipalities spend the population had less than| less than $100,000. annually 1,000 people. There are only| on municipal purposes. 140 municipalities that have more than a population of| touched briefly on Regional 8,000. More than one third : Concluding Mr. Continued on page 15 ~ Lucille Gray, deputy~eeve of Reach Township presented Mr. and Mrs. Oyler with a beautiful electric mantel clock. It was a gift from the ratepayers of the Township.