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ASSEMBLING TO ELIMINATE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
FEDERAL BUDGET REACTION
Budget could lead Canada down road to ruin, critics say
Cardinal Carter Catholic High School in Aurora marked the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination with a pair of assemblies featuring music students from the school performing with Liberty Silver, musician and Juno Award winner; Glenn Marais, singer-songwriter and Juno Award nominee; and the Devah String Quartet. Here, Sharon Lee of the Devah String Quartet performs. For more photos, see page A10.
But York’s chair calls document historic commitment to improve York Region’s communities
i
BY LISA QUEEN
W
lqueen@yrmg.com
hile the federal Liberals are trumpeting their first budget as a transformative investment in Canadians’ futures, critics complain the financial document, at best, fails to deliver on key promises and, at worst, leads the country down the road to ruin. In his budget, called Growing the Middle Class, Finance Minister Bill Morneau laid out a spending spree that he said will see the government spend $11.9 billion on infrastructure, bring in a child benefit that will lift thousands of children out of poverty and help middle-income families, and kick-start the economy. But the budget also made
Federal budget puts focus on social issues. See this and other related stories. Go to: bit.ly/1Mm6GDY
a laughing stock of an election promise to keep the deficit at less than $10 billion, critics said. This year’s deficit will hit almost three times that benchmark at $29.4 billion. And while Morneau hopes to balance the books in five years, he didn’t put that in writing. The budget reflects the strong message Canadians have given the government to help families and make investments in the future, Morneau said. “What we’re also going to do is be prudent along the way,” he said.
See page A4.
STAFF PHOTO/MIKE BARRETT
GROWTH
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Developer modifies proposal for Highland Gate lands If approved, revised plan would see construction of a 7-storey apartment along with 182 detached units
T
BY CHRIS SIMON
csimon@yrmg.com
he proposed Highland Gate development is shrinking. The developer overseeing the 41-hectare Golf Links Drive proposal announced plans to amend the project during the first day of Ontario Municipal Board pre-hearings at Aurora Town Hall Tuesday. If approved by the board, the proposed 10-storey, 144-unit apartment would shrink to seven storeys, while the total number of detached units would be lowered from 184 to 182. Initial plans to put commercial space on the ground floor of the apartment unit have also been nixed and the reduced building height means the developer would lose about
30 units. “It’s not only within the existing urban area within the town; it’s within the provincial built boundary,” Highland Gate lawyer Ira Kagan, who also acted as Marianneville Development’s counsel during Newmarket’s Glenway OMB hearing in 2014, said. “That apartment unit also proposed commercial units at-grade. There were lots of comments made and, as is normal in this process, my client reviewed and responded. Nobody can deny the response. We’re trying very hard.” In total, eight groups — including the town, Highland Gate Rate Payers Association and a faction of 13 residents in favour of the proposal — received official party status at the hearing, which is expected to begin March 27, 2017 and last for up to six weeks. York Region and Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
HEALTH & WELLNESS
See page A7.
ENVIRONMENT
Southlake ‘gouging’ visitors on park fees:Vegh
S
declined to participate in the hearing. “(We) have been an active participant in the town’s process… and have had discussions with the applicant,” Rate Payers lawyer Stephen D’Agostino said. “They are an incorporated association representing approximately 300 households around the former golf course.” It only took minutes for some of the nearly 50 residents in attendance to express their dismay over the proposal. Several asked to give evidence once the hearing begins, and whispers circulated throughout the crowd when a point in favour of the development was made. Some snickered when the plan to drop two detached units from the project was
BY CHRIS SIMON
csimon@yrmg.com
outhlake Regional Health Centre is “gouging” local residents on parking fees, according to Newmarket Councillor Tom Vegh. The Ward 1 councillor made the comment during a debate over a hospital area parking study at the town’s committee of the whole meeting Monday afternoon. The study explores illegal on-street parking practices along the roads within a 700-metre radius of the health care facility. It found Lundy’s Lane, Grace STAFF FILE PHOTO and Charles streets, Roxborough Parking fees at Southlake Regional Health Centre were the subject of and Alexander roads and Watson Avenue had the most parking vio- debate at council this week. lations. people are avoiding using it.” However, the number of tickets Mayor Tony Van Bynen — issued has gone down over the who also sits on the Southlake past four years. board of directors — noted the ❑ For more stories on this issue: Between January and Sephospital generates about $3 milbit.ly/1pIn5ZH. Comments? tember 2015, 113 parking tickets lion in parking revenue each year. Email tkibble@yrmg.com were issued along Lundy’s. There Southlake needs that money to were 184 tickets issued along the cover necessary service costs. road in 2014, 99 in 2013 and 160 “If we provided free parking, “It really does gouge people. It’s a in 2012. significant fundraiser for the hos“It’s obvious why we have so pital, but it is a significant gouge much of this problem,” Vegh said. See page A11. to vulnerable groups. That’s why
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Thousands power down for Earth Hour Aurora’s power consumption dipped by 5.9%
I
BY CHRIS SIMON
csimon@yrmg.com
t was a little darker than normal across York Region Saturday night. Thousands of residents throughout the area powered down during Earth Hour March 19. Newmarket-Tay Hydro reported electricity consumption dropped by 4.7 megawatts across Newmarket, a 6.1-per-cent decrease when compared to a typical Saturday night in March. That’s the equivalent of taking 145 Newmarket homes off the grid for an hour, Newmarket-Tay representatives told The Era. During the hour, town
i
For more stories on the environment, go to yorkregion.com. Comments on Earth Hour? Email tkibble@yrmg.com
staff turned off all lighting at most municipal facilities and operated the remaining ones with reduced lighting needed for safety. “This is our ninth year participating in this annual, global event,” Regional Councillor John Taylor said. “Newmarket residents continue to impress me with their enthusiasm in participating in Earth Hour by sending off a powerful message that it’s possible to take action on climate change. Switching off our lights and electrical power is just one simple action we can take to help make a differ-
See page A7.
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