Rick Norlock seeks public input

In a press release issued late last week, Northumberland-Quinte West MP, Rick Norlock invited public input into the federal government's plans. The release is printed below:

Rick Norlock will hold Public Consultations on Phase Two of Canada’s Economic Action Plan
January 7th 2010, Northumberland Quinte West- Our government is preparing for the implementation of the second phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Economic recovery remains fragile, despite early signs of stabilization, and strong leadership in trying economic times will help strengthen and stabilize the Canadian economic recovery.
In the coming weeks Rick Norlock will be taking an opportunity to meet with members of the local Chambers of Commerce, Manufacturers Associations and members of the public to discuss the future of Canada’s economy and the implementation of phase two of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
“The second phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan will be implemented soon. Our priorities include continuing the implementation of projects that stimulate economic growth and job creation.” said Rick Norlock, MP. “At the same time, our government will be preparing for future challenges, including restoring a balanced budget when our economy has recovered, and strengthening the foundation for Canada’s economic future.”
Public meetings will take place on:
January 16th, 2010
10:00am-11:30am
The Oddfellows Hall, 243 Victoria St.
Campbellford On.
1:00pm-2:30pm
The Multipurpose Room
City Hall Quinte West
7 Creswell Drive
January 20th, 2010
4:00pm-6:00pm
Rick Norlock’s Office
277 Division St.
Cobourg On.
The Federal Government will be seeking responses from Canadians on a number of questions.. To read them click on the link below -

Rick Norlock questions

Letter to the blog

Dear Editor,

Thank you for your ongoing work in sharing Cramahe news.

Friends have talked of the Ontario grid-tied energy program; some are interested in the 81-cent contract for solar energy.

The Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) contract has several clauses which must be removed for the program to be useful. As it stands, any who sign the contract give away- "transfer"- their rights to the "environmental attributes" including the rights to future development and profits.

Here's how:

1) Under NAFTA and other 'free trade' and inter-provincial agreements, when private entities function in cross-border trade - as investors, infrastructure, or service 'partners', they are given rights which include the ability to sue public bodies for regulations which limit their private profit. Decisions are made by unelected, appointed trade dispute tribunals.

These investor-state provisions have been expanded in Harper’s attempts to include sub-federal procurement with the US. McGuinty too has put similar clauses and dispute processes in his inter-provincial trade agreement.

The European Union, in negotiations with the Harper government, has expressed interest in our energy and water and pushed for free trade in services.

Under current and pending trade deals, transnational corporate investors, infrastructure and service providers are given additional rights over residents, each time they are given more of our public services. These rights include all functional rights pertaining to use and development of energy sources, and rights to profit.

2) The Dec. 10th contract for would-be solar providers in Ontario forces them to transfer their rights.
http://microfit.powerauthority.on.ca/pdf/microFIT%20contract%20version%201.3%20December%2010_2009.pdf .

Section 5.1 Transfer of Rights refers to the Appendix of Definitions on Environmental Attributes. This includes, "c) any and all rights, title, and interest relating to the nature of an energy source...”

The definition incorporates any present or future role of non-government agencies (ie corporations), federally or internationally.

The section on applicable laws states these transfers of rights are subject to all federal laws, which of course include trade law as noted in 1) above. Corporations partnered with the province or feds, now or in future, would have the rights to onsite environmental attributes.

Section 10 Termination of the Agreement states you can cancel the agreement with thirty days notice BUT Section 12 on Assignment says the OPA can transfer the rights (which you've transferred to it) to anyone else at any time without your consent. The rights transferred to other parties may remain in force because of law even though you cancel the contract agreement.

The bottom line is they're making the feed-in tariff program look initially appealing to potential suppliers, but participants sign away the most lucrative rights, which can only increase in value in future.

Immediate Solutions:

The rights to energy must be retained by communities and residents. Problematic clauses in FIT contracts must be eliminated.

Further:

We can cancel trade deals and out-vote destructive politicians. We can retain public assets and public rights.

Energy sources, access and benefit from sun, wind, and water, are a gift in nature belonging to all. Benefit can be recycled back to local communities, not privatized and given away.



Sincerely,

Leigh Thomson

Blessing Cupboard opens

First we bless the cupboard.

Then we cut the ribbon. Mayor Marc Coombs does the cutting while Sue Robertson, Jane Taylor, Glenda Quinn and Jane Mutton look on.

Most of the congregation gathered for the celebratory photo.

Now, back to work.

The ribbon was barely cut and the staff of the Blessing Cupboard in Prospect Missionary Church was already serving the first customers on January 10.

Rev. Barbara-Anne Ramer led the congregation of close to 100 in the blessing ceremony before Cramahe Mayor, Marc Coombs put the scissors to work. And then it was all business for the Cupboard which opens every Sunday morning after the regular service, and on alternating Tuesdays.

For many years it has provided for the needy and less fortunate in the community, allowing them maintain their dignity while supporting their basic and spiritual needs.

In her announcement of the opening of the handicapped accessible Blessin Cupboard, Rev. Ramer stated, "For over thirty years Prospect Community Church located at 75 King Street East in the beautiful village of Colborne has counted it a privilege to serve the community with food and clothing from our Blessing Cupboard.

With access to the Food Distribution Center, we have been able to feed hundreds of people per month."

The Blessing Cupboard had been located in the basement of the church which made it inaccessible for those unable to use stairs. That didn’t stop the Blessing Cupboard workers from running up and down the stairs to make sure those folks received the groceries they needed.

Northumberland-Quinte West MPP, Lou Rinaldi released the following press release on Friday, January 8, outlining tax changes and public forums to discuss the changes:

Starting New Years day 2010, 93 per cent of Ontario income taxpayers will see a permanent income tax cut.

“That means less provincial tax will be taken off your first paycheque of the year, and every paycheque after that. Millions of Ontarians will benefit, but the greatest benefit is that it’s part of a package experts say will create investments and jobs when our province needs it most.”

- Lou Rinaldi, M.P.P., Northumberland-Quinte West

It’s part of a comprehensive tax plan that will help create 591,000 jobs, cut personal income taxes and make our province more attractive for new business investment.

Ontario’s comprehensive tax package includes $10.6 billion in direct payments and permanent tax relief for the people of Ontario. It also includes a new, permanent Ontario Sales Tax Credit, an enhanced Ontario Property Tax Credit, cuts to corporate income tax rates and the merging of two sales taxes into a single harmonized sales tax to strengthen our economy.

As of January 1, the McGuinty government is cutting the first income bracket tax rate by one percentage point, from 6.05 per cent to 5.05 per cent. As a result, Ontario will have the lowest tax rate of all provinces on the first income bracket. An additional 90,000 lower income Ontario taxpayers will no longer pay any provincial personal income tax.

To help clarify this comprehensive tax plan, M.P.P. Rinaldi will be hosting a series of public information sessions across the riding, from 7:00-9:00 pm, as follows:

Wed., Jan. 13 - Port Hope Recreation Centre - 62 McCaul Street, Port Hope

Tues., Jan. 19 - Knights of Columbus Hall - 57 Stella Cresc., Trenton

Wed., Jan. 20 - Community Living Campbellford/Brighton - 65 Bridge Street, Campbellford

Thurs., Jan. 21 - Keeler Centre - 80 Division Street, Colborne

Tues., Jan 26 - Cobourg Town Hall - 55 King Street West, Cobourg

Thurs., Jan 28 - King Edward Park Community Centre - 75 Elizabeth Street, Brighton

So ya wanna be on council...

Tired of watching others make the important decisions in your community. Maybe you feel you can do better and you have the leadership skills the township needs.

Well, now's the time to step up and offer your services. 2010 is an election year.

Cramahe currently has a Mayor, Deputy Mayor and three Councillors. All positions are open, plus one on the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board.

The actual election date is October 25, but if Cramahe follows the path it took last time around, voters will be able to mail in their ballots ahead of the date. Final details of the voting procedures have not been made yet by the current council.

Are you eligible?

You must be at least 18, Canadian, a resident of Cramahe, or the owner or tenant of land in Cramahe, or the spouse or same-sex partner of a land owner or tenant.

You cannot run if you are an employee of the township, a judge, an MP, MPP, or member of the Canadian senate. You are also ineligible if you are prohibited from voting under the Municipal Elections Act or if you are in prison. Any corrupt practice conviction in the past six years under the Municipal Act will also bar you from running.

Nomination deadline day is September 10, but you can file your papers any time before that date.

Now that's all out of the way, you can fill out your nomination paper, giving your name, and the position for which you are running.

And don't think that you can buy your way into office. If you are running for Mayor you must spend less than $12,150.35. Deputy Mayor and Councillor candidates can spend up to $9,650.35.

Are you planning to put up signs? Better check the township election handout which covers signs. In Cramahe it may not be practical. They can only erected on private property up 28 days before the election. Township properties, including roadsides, are out of bounds. If the vote is a mail-in contest the signs will only be up a few days before people start mailing in their ballots.

Now get yourself some good walking shoes, a handout to sway those voters, and get out on the hustings.

And good luck... If you win you are in for four years of challenge and responsibility.

Need online help for your group or company?

As part of the County of Northumberland "Connecting Northumberland" Broadband Project, the county has organized a series of workshops for small businesses and home-based businesses to help make more effective use of the Internet to attract or communicate with their customers.

These workshops are also applicable to community organizations such as sports groups or churches who need to communicate more effectively with their membership. With rapidly changing Internet opportunities, these workshops will give attendees practical advice on Internet usage, and help them choose the tools that make sense for their small businesses.

There are three topics: OnlineBusiness Practices (website best practices, online social networking and e-commerce); Online Marketing (search engines, target ads on Google and Facebook), found on blogs and You Tube, measuring success); and Building Websites (a hands-on workshop, build your website using free tools, add text, images, video and shopping carts).

Upcoming dates and locations for the 6 to 8:30 p.m. seminars are:

Jan. 11, Online Marketing, Canton Municipal Office, Port Hope;

Jan. 25, Building Websites, Canton Municipal Office, Port Hope;

Jan. 26, Online Business Practices, Codrington Community Center;

Feb 8, Building Websites, Alderville Learning Centre;

Feb 9, Online Marketing, Castleton Town Hall;

March 4, Online Marketing, Hastings Civic Centre;

March 9, Building Websites, Campbellford Resource Centre.

Cost is $10 per session, with a light meal included.

To register, contact the Business Advisory Centre at 905-372-9279, website www.bizdevelopment.ca .

Drug seizure in Colborne

The Northumberland Detachment of the OPP issued the following press release on January 8.

On January 7, 2010 at approximately 9:00 a.m., members of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau-Drug Enforcement Section and the Northumberland Street Response Unit executed a search warrant at a residence located on Toronto Street in Colborne. 53 grams of marihuana was seized with a street value of $1060.00. Charged with possession of a Schedule II drug over 30 grams was a 54-year-old Colborne, Ontario resident. He is scheduled to appear in court on March 2, 2010.

The birthday kids

They weren't telling their ages but this trio of diners at the Salem Lunch on January 8 were all celebrating birthdays in January. From left, are - Harold Harnden, Elsie Cullum and Mary Bellamy.

Northumberland RIDE results

The following press release was issued by Northumberland OPP Coonstable Chris Dewsbury this week.

Festive RIDE stats for Northumberland County

(Northumberland County, ON.)- During the period of the 27th November 2009 and 02 January 2010, the Northumberland OPP checked a total of 11,371 vehicles in the Festive RIDE program.

12 warn range suspensions were issued
4 Administrative Drivers License Suspensions were issued
4 people were charged with impaired driving, driving over .08 or refusal
182 other charges were laid (Criminal Code, Highway Traffic Act, Liquor License Act, etc,)
94 extra officers were used

Northumberland OPP stresses that RIDE checks will continue through the entire year at any location and at any time of the day. Impaired drivers are a serious threat to anyone using our highways.

We apologise

Recent changes to Cramahe Now have made the blog easier to read for some but more difficult for others. We have heard your concerns but have not made changes to the blog. We are currently working on some exciting and far-reaching changes to the blog which should make it an even better way to find out more about your community.

We won't promise when this will happen, but work is well underway and the improvements to your blog will come to you soon.

Will we get five-day kindergarten?

Within a couple of weeks parents of next year's kindergarteners will know whether Colborne or the new Northumberland Hills Public School will be granted all-day every-day junior/senior kindergarten.

If the schools in this area are not selected for the program this year, the kindergarten students will continue to go all-day every-other day, as they do now.

The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board expects to hear soon from the provincial government which 23 schools have been approved for the plan which will cover all schools by 2015-16.

All elementary schools across KPR are continuing to take Junior and Senior Kindergarten registrations for the 2010-11 school year. Parents whose children will be starting school for the first time this September are encouraged to register at their neighbourhood school as soon as possible.

Merry Christmas - Ukrainian style!

Local resident, Diane Patterson, would like to wish all her Ukrainian friends and those who observe the Julian Calendar at this time of year, a very Merry Christmas.

Traditionally, January 6th (Christmas Eve) is celebrated by families with a 12 course meatless meal. Carols are sung and then they attend church. On Christmas Day, all the same food is prepared and meat is added. The diets don't start until February.

In honour of her parents, Diane still prepares all the dishes and upholds the traditions as do her children. Firstly, Kutya (a sweet first course item containing, wheat kernels, poppy seeds, honey and nuts); pickled herring; gefilte fish; baked fish; borshch (beet soup); meatless cabbage rolls; perogies with potato and cheese and with sauerkraut; mushroom gravy; fruit compote; honey cake; homemade doughnuts called pampushky; etc.etc.etc.

So much interesting information can be obtained by searching the internet under Ukrainian Christmas. Chrystos Narodyvsha. (Christ is Born)

Diane