Politicians Gather to Talk Business, Health Care

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By Amanda Persico

Despite the cold, talks of the dwindling economy heated up Newmarket's first elected official roundtable last week.

The purpose of the meeting, hosted by the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce was to hear how the federal, provincial, regional and municipal governments plan to address challenges and create opportunities to maintain a stable Newmarket. â?¨Budgets proved to be a popular topic of discussion.

Newmarket-Aurora MP Lois Brown and MPP Frank Klees talked about proposed tax cuts and breaks for businesses.

"We are in the middle of preparing a budget that's not business as usual," Ms Brown said.

Meanwhile, York Region chairperson Bill Fisch and Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen talked about growth and service plans that will continue no matter what the financial outlook.

"We all require services like roads, water and sewer whether we have a good economy or a bad economy," Mr. Fisch said.

In the 2009 proposed budget, the region plans to spend $400 to $600 million on transportation, he noted.

Mr. Van Bynen told local business owners in attendance that Newmarket has to plan for growth in all circumstances since the town's land space is limited.

"Soon, we're going to stop needing roads and start needing elevator shafts," he said. "We have to be ready."

Later, the discussion turned to competitive business solutions.

Many business owners expressed concern over union employees and public servants receiving automatic pay raises each year - something with which they said they simply cannot compete.

"Companies are telling employees that they are not going to see a raise for years," chamber member Jim Lotiner said.

The federal government introduced a plan to limit public servant raises in its 2008 budget and will present that option again in future budgets, Ms Brown said.

Mr. Van Bynen defended town staff, saying they are just as committed as elected officials.

From public servants the discussion turned to the social services funding gap between Toronto and the 905 region.

"The services are already taxed to the limit," chamber president Deborah Scott said.

The answer is per-population funding for hospitals and other services, Mr. Klees said.

"Hospitals come to the government cap in hand. The answer is simple. Getting there is a challenge," he said. "That takes a government with courage to do it."

The advantage of fixing the funding gap is it means growth will pay for development, Newmarket Councillor Chris Emanuel said.

But the disadvantage is a fixed formula would create winners and losers, Mr. Klees said.

The federal government already has something similar in place, Ms Brown said, noting by 2014, the government plans to give per-capita funding for health services to the provinces.