Region to help fund food banks, aid agencies
By Chris Jones/The Oshawa Express
Regional council recently voted to allocate $1 million to assist local food banks, aid agencies and support organizations across Durham.
The allocations begins with an immediate $10,000 payment to top-off all food banks, aid agencies and support organizations in order to allow front line agencies to be more effective in meeting the needs of those who are at risk, or have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
Durham Regional Chair John Henry will also be writing a letter to Premier Doug Ford and the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging both the provincial and federal governments to provide a COVID-19 emergency payment equivalent to one month’s support to everyone receiving money from provincial or federal assistance programs.
The letter to Trudeau will also ask for the federal government to provide an immediate payment to all Canadian families to help deal with social, medical and economic impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A special meeting will also be convened in order to consider a temporary tax forgiveness program for homeowners who have lost jobs as well as businesses that were forced to shut down due to the crisis.
However, while council voted to implement this new funding, Clarington Councillor Joe Neal hoped to make an amendment, which was shut down by Henry.
“That the Region of Durham pass a bylaw that will cancel, reduce or refund taxes where a lower tier municipality has done so for residential taxpayers whose taxes have become unduly burdensome as a result of the COVID emergency pursuant to Section 365 of the Municipal Act,” read Neal’s amendment.
Henry called the amendment out of order due to Neal voting against the 2020 budget which made him ineligible to bring forward matters which could impact or change the budget.
The amendment was seconded by Neal’s brother, Oshawa Ward 1 Councillor John Neal.
John explains he seconded his brother’s motion because he felt there was a need to streamline the process of getting the funds out to people.
“I know businesses are really being sideswiped by COVID-19, and it’s really unfortunate, and I think that’s what that conversation was about with the regional chair,” John explains. “The main motion was to do with a realignment with the budget, and I seconded his amendment, and all that was to streamline things a little bit better I thought.”
He explains he and his brother spoke about the amendment before the council meeting, but it was ultimately ruled out of order.
“We thought it was a good amendment, and ultimately it was ruled out of order,” says John.
He explains his main concern right now is making sure everyone is doing their part, and it’s a “cohesive mandate” and path completed right across Durham.