Peel acting to get a fair deal for municipalities

Peel chair Emil Kolb and Carolyn Parrish, Regional Councillor and ublic information campaign committee chair, held a press conference Monday to outline the state of under-funding of human services in the Region of Peel.

This announcement is part of a non-partisan initiative to change the way human services such as child care, social housing, health services and social services are funded in the municipality.

Currently, Ontario is the only province that funds human services with property taxes rather than existing income taxes. This method of funding will have serious implications for Peel residents over the next five years.

"We need to work together with the provincial government to find a solution within a fixed time frame," said Kolb. "The Region of Peel has one of the fastest growing populations in the country, gaining 34,000 new residents every year. Without a new funding formula, the Region's ability to provide high-quality services will be compromised."

At the press conference, a newsletter aimed at raising awareness about the issues was also launched. The newsletter will be distributed to households, businesses, Peel provincial election candidates and other stakeholders during the first week of October before election day, Oct. 10.

"With the provincial election nearing, we are encouraging Peel residents and stakeholders to learn more about the issues facing their community and to talk to their local election candidates about how they plan to achieve a fairer deal for their municipality," explained Parrish.

While the Region of Peel remains committed to excellence in human services delivery, the ability to do so is in jeopardy. For Peel to meet current human services needs and accommodate forecasted growth, the Region needs:

* A provincial commitment to phase-out GTA Pooling over four years, not seven.

* A more realistic and equitable funding formula for human services that reflects the high population growth in Peel.

* A shift of human services funding from property to income taxes to provide relief for low income residents.

The Human Services department at the Region provides services that support full participation by all residents in the economic, social and cultural life of the Region, in particular by providing a continuum of supports for vulnerable or atrisk members of the community. The department's divisions include Ontario Works, Children's Services, Early Years Integration, Social Housing (Peel Living), and Social Housing Policy and Programs.