Spec Online

Turning one-way into two-way

The Spec's John Burman reports:

'Hamilton motorists are in for some major changes downtown this summer.

The conversion of York to two-way traffic begins Monday, followed by a similar change on Wilson Street.

York will become two-way between Queen Street North and James Street North.

A separate project to start later will resurface Wilson Street from James Street North to Victoria Avenue North and convert that stretch to two-way use.'

What do you think of growing trend towards two-way streets in Hamilton? Do you support this specific conversion?

Should we dump the penny?

'A penny saved isn’t really a penny earned anymore — in fact, it will probably just sit gathering dust in a jar while taxpayers shell out millions to produce new ones.

That’s one of the arguments put forward by politicians who met Wednesday to hash out the costs and benefits of abolishing the copper coin altogether as inflation reduces its value and consumers increasingly use debit or credit cards or do their shopping online.

“It’s not the most pressing financial issue facing the nation, but it’s a cost-saving measure that’s a major irritant to both business and consumers,” said Pat Martin, an NDP MP from Winnipeg who tabled a bill in 2008 proposing the elimination of the penny.

“Like in a game of pool, you pick your easy ones first and this is a slam dunk in terms of saving money and reducing productivity loss in the private sector.”'

What do you think? Should we get rid of the penny or not?

Security for world leaders

Torstar News Services reports:

'The cost of securing next month’s G8 and G20 summits has soared to at least $833 million – an eye-popping sum that has some wondering whether it’s time to rethink how international summits are organized.

The federal government on Tuesday revealed it had set aside an extra $654 million, on top of the $179 million already earmarked, to provide security for the G8 summit in Huntsville and the G20 summit in Toronto.

Liberal MP Mark Holland said it’s important to ensure the world leaders are well-protected when they gather in Ontario but called the escalating costs “insane.”

“It’s an outrageous amount of money and it just can’t be justified in this fiscal climate,” said Holland, the party’s critic for public safety and national security.

“For 48 hours, a billion dollars. We have too many other priorities on the table. There’s got to be other ways of doing this to get the same results,” said Holland.

Ironically, a key topic on the agenda when G20 leaders meet will be government deficits and the need to get spending under control.

NDP Leader Jack Layton said safety has to be “paramount” but added that local taxpayers should not be on the hook for any of the costs.

“The municipality must not be shouldered with these kinds of costs because that could brutalize the Toronto taxpayer,” Layton said.'

What do you think? Is the exposure Canada gets for hosting the two summits worth the skyrocketing cost?

All healthy, all the time

The Spec's Carmelina Prete reports:

'The pizza will have to be whole-grain, the french fries low-fat and all drinks caffeine-free.

The kinds of foods available to serve and sell in Hamilton public schools will change drastically this September under an ambitious nutrition policy that requires 80 per cent of all food and beverage choices available for sale in Hamilton's public schools to be healthy.

Healthy is defined by strict nutrition standards which, depending on the food, means low in fat, sugar and sodium; and high in fibre and calcium...

Until now, there have been few restrictions on what teachers can serve kids, be it for classroom parties or sweet treats for good classroom behaviour. But the policy now mandates healthier options for students including:

* No more gummi bears for good behaviour. Rewards in the classroom will no longer be given in the form of unhealthy foods.

* No more bake sales -- unless the cupcakes are replaced with bran muffins or other healthy choices.

* No caffeine. School cafeterias cannot sell products with caffeine, including coffee, tea, sports and energy drinks.

* No more pizza or hot dog days - unless the wieners are low-fat or veggie and the pizza wholewheat.'

What do you think? Is this reasonable, or does it go too far?

 

Torstar News Services report:

'A snaggle-toothed, furry creature with a bald face and a rat’s tail has mystified natives in northern Ontario, but they have a name and a history for it.

“The elders used to see it a long time ago,” the manager of Sam’s Store in Big Trout Lake said on Friday.

“No one has seen one for 40 years or so. The elders have a word for it: omajinaakoos. In English, it means ‘the ugly one’.”

Two Health Canada nurses training at the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Band reserve south of Hudson’s Bay said their dog Sam hauled out the 30-centimetre creature it found in early May floating face down near the causeway on the reserve, band spokesman Darryl Sainnawap said.

“It looks like a mixed breed of an otter and a beaver,” he said. “We’re just as curious as everyone to find out what it is.”

What do you think? Otter? Baby bear? Beaver? Something more mysterious?

Waterfront development driver

The Spec's Meredith MacLeod reports:

'Now that the city has laid out a broad vision for a bustling west harbour, the next step will be finding the money to make it happen.

It's expected to come from the public and private sectors, and partnerships between the two.

The city is working toward setting up an arm's length but municipally owned waterfront development corporation that would either develop land itself or facilitate deals.

A proposed mandate, governance structure and financing options will be presented to city councillors sometime this summer.

City councillors were presented with a master plan earlier this month. That has set in motion the process to include the vision in the city's official plan.

The project, estimated to cost about $143 million in public and private money, will cover the entire stretch of city-owned land from Bayfront Park to Pier 8. The plan calls for restaurants, cafes, shops, boat rentals, waterfront trails and many other amenities.

Chris Phillips, senior adviser in the planning and economic development department, has studied a range of waterfront development corporations in order to bring a report to council.

He said it would be an agency of the city with an independent board, much like HECFI or Horizon Utilities.

It would work in conjunction with the Hamilton Waterfront Trust, says Phillips, which focuses on recreational uses and public access.

Councillor Chad Collins, chairperson of the HWT, says the development corporation should focus on leveraging action at the waterfront deeper into the neighbourhoods surrounding it.

He says the city and the trust regularly get inquiries from private investors willing to sink money into the waterfront.

"Those lands at the water's edge will go no problem. They'll be automatic. It's the properties a block from the waterfront or with contamination that are not such an easy sell."

A development corporation is strongly endorsed by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, says CEO John Dolbec.

"It's a fabulous way to move this issue forward and hopefully depoliticize some of this," he said.'

What do you think? Is this a sensible approach to development, or would another strategy make more sense?

Can Fenn broker a deal?

The Spec's John Kernaghan reports:

'The man tapped to solve the Pan Am stadium standoff is uniquely qualified, business and political leaders say.

Michael Fenn, former Burlington city manager, has the skills to get to the heart of the dispute -- a development issue in the west harbour area that has scared off the Tiger-Cats -- said Terry Cooke, his former boss.

"He is the most gifted public servant I have ever worked with," said Cooke, adding Fenn is now interim CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute.

The city and Fenn would not confirm he is the facilitator expected to be presented for approval to a special meeting of city councillors this morning.

Cooke, president and CEO of the Hamilton Community Foundation, said Fenn understands how a public-private partnership works.

He said Fenn was a key figure in cutting a deal that saved taxpayers big losses at the airport.

Fenn served as city manager in Burlington, where he lives, was named interim president and CEO to help fix eHealth Ontario, was founding CEO of Metrolinx and deputy minister of Ontario Ministries of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Cooke said Fenn loves sports and understands the business of sports and has a reputation of being calm and fair.

Businessman Ron Foxcroft, who had a hand in bringing the career civil servant to Hamilton from Burlington, said Fenn has the ability to see the needs of both sides of the negotiating table.

"He's highly skilled, cool and pensive. His whole career has been in situations where he had to juggle egos."

Tim Dobbie, who followed Fenn as city manager in Burlington, said he is a quick study who will drill down to the essence of the development issue and get a fast read on any alternative sites the Ticats may suggest.'

What do you think. Can the highly-regarded bureaucrat broker a deal? Is a deal even possible?

Finding the right facilitator

The Spec's John Kernaghan reports:

'A facilitator to referee the Pan Am stadium dispute will be unveiled tomorrow for approval by a special meeting of city councillors.

The two sides agreed on the individual yesterday following a new deadline to find a solution to the stadium standoff.

That July 1 date came out of a Pan Am panel at the Hamilton Economic Summit.

Both Mayor Fred Eisenberger and Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young said the session provided a sense of urgency.

Part of the discussion on a facilitator centred on whether it should be someone from inside or outside the community.'

What do you think? Should the parties pick a local or outside facilitator?

LCBO price gouging?

Torstar News Services report:

'The Liberals are being accused of sending “mixed messages” on the looming 13 per cent HST's impact on the price of booze — and other products and services.

In the wake of the Star’s disclosure Wednesday that the Liquor Control Board of Ontario raised its markups by 7.5 per cent to claw back any consumer savings from the business-friendly harmonized sales tax, the government scrambled to defend the move.

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, who insists most companies will pass along any reduced costs from the HST to Ontarians, said it would be reckless to lower prices on beer, wine and spirits — even though tax changes would have made them cheaper.

“We believe that socially responsible pricing is important,” said Duncan, referring to the minimum price for selling booze in Ontario.

To control consumption, the government sets minimum prices for all product categories.

As of April 12, when the floor price was raised, the least that can be charged for a 24-bottle case of 5% alcohol beer is $25.95, excluding $2.40 deposit.

For a 750-ml bottle of spirits, the lowest legal price is $22.80; for the same size bottle of liqueur it’s $15.35.

Ontario wine can be sold for as little as $5.60 a 750-ml bottle, U.S. wine for $5.75 and other imports for $5.80. Those prices exclude a 20-cent-a-bottle deposit.

Earlier this month, the LCBO increased its markup by 7.5 per cent — it will be 71.5 per cent on an imported bottle of wine, up from 64 per cent — to grab the tax savings that would have been gained thanks to the HST.

That means an Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, a popular white wine from New Zealand that now costs $18.95, which could have dropped to $18.30 because of the HST, will instead jump to $19.05. A potential 65-cent saving instead becomes a 10-cent increase.

Until the July 1 harmonization of the 8 per cent provincial sales tax with the 5 per cent federal GST, there is a 12 per cent PST for retail booze customers and 10 per cent for bar owners and restaurateurs.

Duncan said the changes were “revenue neutral” to the government because the LCBO’s price shifts offset a $24 million tax break awarded bar owners and restaurateurs in January.

But he appeared to undermine his argument of social responsibility by suggesting publicans could pass savings onto drinkers.

“They are actually getting a $24 million cut. Will they pass that on . . . ideally they will, it’s a competitive market,” the treasurer said.

Progressive Conservative MPP Christine Elliott (Whitby-Oshawa) said it’s telling that the Liberals won’t lead by example and flow through HST savings to consumers.

“Ontario families are getting a very mixed message here because the premier keeps saying that businesses will lower prices when the HST is implemented,” said Elliott.

“But the first test of what he’s telling Ontario families is with the Crown corporations he runs,” she said.

New Democrat MPP Peter Tabuns (Toronto Danforth) said Liberals’ actions prove their claims about the benefits of the HST are “bogus.”

What do you think?

Go train service

Three Hamilton-area sites are being eyed for new GO train stations if the service's expansion to Niagara ever hits the rails.

GO Transit, after a public information meeting in January on the proposed expansion, is recommending new stations on the CN line at James Street North, Fruitland Road and Fifty Road. The latter site was being pushed by Councillor Dave Mitchell.

James Street would become the terminus of all-day service -- 20 trains a day -- that now runs between Aldershot and Union Station in Toronto.

GO is also recommending establishing stations at Casablanca Boulevard in Grimsby, Ontario Street in Lincoln and the St. Catharines Via station.