Brampton

[nicholsons]

Brampton Guardian
City considers two per cent tax levy on all homeowners (November 9 2007)
http://www.northpeel.com/news/article/37548
QUOTE
BRAMPTON - Brampton councillors will consider a two per cent annual tax levy on all homeowners to help tackle the city`s multi-million dollar needs to repair and replace aging infrastructure and deal with growth.

That`s similar to the attention-grabbing five per cent tax levy Mississauga councillors just approved in principle in their city for its infrastructure deficit.

The levy-- Brampton city staff recommended two per cent per year-- would be in addition to annual tax increases, and tacked on to everyone`s property tax bill every year for the next five to 10 years. The base tax increase city councillors are anticipating for 2008 is approximately 4.5 per cent.

In 10 years, a two per cent levy would generate approximately $240 million for the city, which is just about right considering Brampton`s infrastructure deficit sits at $273 million over the next 10 years. Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell said if the city decided to make a one-time move to add a higher levy-- for instance, a five per cent levy in 2008-- that would generate only $105 million over 10 years. ...

 

[DonCampbell]

This won`t be the last city to do so. The leaders of cities across Ontario watched the Toronto experience very closely and discovered that if the spin is just right and the `victim` card is played (rather than deal with expense overruns), then the electorate can be fooled into accepting these `bonus` taxes.

Mark my words, we`e only just seen the beginning of this cash grab. Might be a good time to send a note to your mayor and coucil to warn them that it would be politically unacceptable in `your area.` "Show us you can cut the waste and we will be more accepting of a new tax. Don`t cut the waste, add on a tax, and it will be a politically incompetent step to take." (i.e. not re-elected).

 

[nicholsons]

Brampton NewsBrampton Transit Launches eRide (Nov 30, 2007)
http://www.thebramptonnews.com/articles/28...Ride/Page1.html

QUOTE Brampton - Brampton Transit launched eRide on November 28, 2007, a new and innovative web-based trip planner. This easy-to-use tool takes the guesswork out of planning a transit trip and calculates for riders their journey from start to finish, including walking and transfer times.

What makes this system so innovative, compared to other online trip planners, is the presence of Canada`s first interactive transit map, which can be used to chart out the trip and see the exact route.

"It is part of our strategic plan to provide enhanced transit accessibility for all residents and workers in Brampton," commented Mayor Susan Fennell. "The key objective being that it is a realistic and attractive alternative to private automobiles for trips within and beyond Brampton.eRide is another tool to help us achieve this."

Brampton Transit has shown phenomenal growth. In October of this year Brampton Transit exceeded one million riders in one month, which is a first. This was a 15 per cent increase from October 2006 figures. In addition, mid-year figures from the Canadian Urban Transit Association show that Brampton Transit`s ridership represents the highest increase in its "large system" category. The eRide system is developed by GIRO Inc.

"It is our aim to continually provide new and innovative solutions to ensure a better transit experience for our customers," said Suzanne Bass, Director of Brampton Transit. "eRide is a customer-focused, efficient and convenient service."

To plan a trip go to www.bramptontransit.com, click on eRide, enter a street address, intersection, point of interest or use the interactive transit map to select a bus stop or landmark; enter your preferences such as time, fewest transfers, quickest route etc; and sit back. The trip planner calculates the journey from start to finish; including walking time and fewest transfers and other various options. The planned trip can then be saved, printed or emailed. You can also view schedules for every stop on your chosen route – a Brampton Transit first.

 

[nicholsons]

South Asian FocusBrampton jobs crisis a symptom of deeper malaise (Nov 29, 2007)
http://www.southasianfocus.ca/business/article/38861

QUOTE The Federal Conservatives` inaction on the looming Brampton manufacturing jobs crisis is just a symptom of a deeper malaise in the government, Navdeep Singh Bains, MP, Mississauga Brampton South, and Liberal International Trade Critic, charged last week.

Chrysler is set to axe 1,100 employees in first quarter 2008. Manufacturing industry analysts have often stated each such job loss results in 7.5 more high-paying jobs being axed due to a ripple effect throughout the manufacturing sector.

"I have no doubt this will become a defining election issue," he warned at a media call after a round-table discussion held with key stakeholders across the auto sector.

The attendees were unanimous in expressing their concerns over the proposed South Korean Free Trade Agreement.

"It is rare when all key stakeholders in the automotive industry agree on an issue," Bains said. "Yet the current talks with South Korea have created unanimity throughout the sector. Any trade deal with South Korea must address the realities of the trade imbalance with Canada."

Our manufacturers left in lurch

The MP rejected talk about Canadian cars not being good enough to enter the South Korean market even should a level playing field be created. "Even a Toyota made in Canada-- or in Japan, or anywhere else-- finds it difficult to enter South Korea because of the sudden policy changes governing, for instance, the environment, or safety standards, instituted after the products have already landed on the docks.

"It is these kind of protectionist policies being pursued that make it difficult to have a level playing field even for a manufacturer like Ford, for instance, which has extensive experience of operating in foreign markets," Bains explained.

Asked if ensuring a level playing field with South Korea would take up the slack caused by the 1,100 Chrysler job cuts, Bains told South Asian Focus: "The government`s continued inaction on protecting the 570,000 auto jobs throughout Canada is costing the country, and the South Korean instance is only serving to compound the manufacturing crisis."

He said the Liberal Party has consistently recognized the government should work with the manufacturing sector by helping it boost productivity by, for instance, helping it boost investments at a time when the loonie is strong.

This could be done through offering tax incentives or capital cost writeoffs that would enable manufacturers import such capital goods during such times, he explained.

Instead, he charged, the government has practised "political expediency" to push through its "flawed agreements" that meet its "political agenda", as some sort of legacy being left behind by the Minister of Industry.

The next round of negotiations with South Korea are scheduled to begin shortly. Government officials have stated they would like to see the agreement with South Korea signed by this year-end. "Any agreement that does not remove non-tariff barriers to trade will not be accepted by the Liberal Party, the auto sector or Canadians," Bains said.

 

[BMironov]

Lowe's is a rival to Home Depot in US. It opens its first stores in Canada and 2 of them are in Brampton.

Read on at: http://myreinspace.com/rein_members_only/News_Archive/96-1827-December_2007_Market_Research.html