Living wage policy poses considerable challenges
Posted Feb 19, 2010 By Shad Qadri
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Tweet ThisEMC News - Council has directed staff to develop a poverty reduction strategy and identify associated costs, however, some councillors are concerned with components of the proposed strategy - and I am one of them.
Two of the primary objectives of the strategy are as follows: develop options for a living wage policy at the city, and develop a policy framework to reinvest savings from the upload of social assistance benefits into social infrastructure and poverty reduction.
Since these two initiatives form the crux of the poverty reduction strategy, I find it incredibly difficult to offer my support.
The living wage strategy suggests boosting the minimum wage for employees contracted to do work for the city from $9.50 to $13.50 an hour. In my opinion, setting a standard like this is not the responsibility of a municipality. Moreover, any company doing business with the city and that would be affected by this change in wages would simply charge more for the services they provide in an effort to recoup costs. The higher cost for contracted work would fall back on the city and then ultimately onto residents. That is not something I can stand behind.
Presently, the city compensates for the shortfall in funding social programs such as the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). The poverty reduction strategy seeks to use any savings as a result of uploading social services to fund other poverty initiatives. Such a move ignores the fact that the city's efforts to compensate for the lack of social funding from the Federal and Provincial government undercuts the funding necessary to upkeep other city programs. My recommendation is that if social programs are uploaded and the city saves money, the dollars should be re-invested elsewhere in the city - not necessarily poverty reduction strategies - to re-invigorate other programs and services.
I will ensure more information is provided to the public as this file progresses. Feel free to contact my office should you wish to share your comments.
PRESERVING OUR HERITAGE
The Planning and Environment Committee approved the recommendation to designate the Bradley/Craig Farmstead under the Ontario Heritage Act. This recommendation will come before city council on Feb. 24.
The Bradley/Craig Farmstead, located at 590 Hazeldean Rd., was built on land originally settled by Joshua Bradley in 1821, whose family became leaders in the community.
The farmhouse is a two-and-a-half-storey, red brick structure, built during the 1870s. The Gothic Revival style was at the height of its popularity at this time and the building has many features associated with the style, including white brick voussoirs, stringcourses and quoins, a steeply pitched gable roof, bargeboard trim in the gable ends, verandas, and roof.
The barn features timber frame construction and is an excellent example of a monitor roofline dairy barn. The barn was constructed by a local builder, John Cummings, who was a prominent craftsman in Goulbourn, having built a number of significant buildings and barns in the township. This is the last known example of a barn built by Cummings.
Taken together, the farmhouse, large barn and farmyard are an excellent example of a late 19th century farmstead built when agriculture was the dominant economic activity of the province. The property has rightly become a local landmark.
OPEN HOUSE: WEST TRANSITWAY EXTENSION
The planning and design study for the extension of the West Transitway from Bayshore to Moodie Drive is moving into the preliminary design stage. The City will be holding a series of Open Houses to solicit feedback and ensure the public is informed as the recommended plan is defined.
The next Open House will take place on Feb. 22 from 6-9 p.m. at the Mlacak centre in Kanata. The format for the evening will be a series of boards showing preliminary design options followed by a short presentation by the consultants.
In November 2008, City Council approved its long-range Transportation Master Plan, which identified the construction of the West Transitway from Bayshore Station to Moodie Drive to address transit concerns in the City's west-end.
NOMINATE A DESERVING VOLUNTEER FOR 2010 CIVIC APPRECIATION AWARDS
You can show your gratitude to that special individual by nominating them for a City of Ottawa Civic Appreciation Award.
This volunteer appreciation program provides an opportunity to nominate and recognize individuals, groups and organizations that volunteer in a variety of ways throughout the city.
Deadline for nominations is March 26. Nominations can be completed online at www.ottawa.ca or you can also download and print the form. Nomination forms are also available at any Client Service Centre or any branch of the Ottawa Public Library.
Awards will be presented in categories such as Citizen of the Year, Humanitarianism and Community Activism.
For more information on the Civic Appreciation Awards, visit www.ottawa.ca/volunteering or call 3-1-1.
MUSIC TRIVIA NIGHT
The Goulbourn Jubilee Singers are holding their second annual Music Trivia Night on March 6 at the Richmond Legion Hall beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Teams consist of 4, 5 or 6 players - you can register a team, bring a friend or come alone and be included on a team. Advanced tickets are $18 and include a snack. There will be a cash prize of $400 along with several door prizes.
For more information, please call Charlotte at 613-825-3357 or log onto www.gjsingers.com.
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