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Using Your Civic Address!
Canada Post has announced the new proposed plans for the
Picton Post Office. The new building will be a one-storey
4,900 sq foot building, however from the outside it will look
like a two-storey building. Included in this building will
be mail sorting, post boxes plus 1,700 sq feet of retail space.
In this retail space they will look at an area to provide
hunting licenses, car licenses and other retail opportunities.
It was suggested the issuing of health cards could be one
of the new services offered in the Post Office.
There is not enough space in the new Post Office to provide
mailboxes for all the households in Picton. The plan is to
introduce community mailboxes. 50 - 60 community boxes will
be placed throughout Picton to service all households that
do not have a post office box. The area of Picton to maintain
their Picton post office box is still under negotiation but
the area will be a portion of the Main Street and some residential
areas on either side. The community boxes will be located
on municipal land but will be maintained by Canada Post.
The senior apartment buildings will continue to have their
mail delivered.
This new system will use the civic address. Free redirection
cards will be sent to anyone anywhere in the world for up
to 6 months. Businesses will have up to one year to use up
their old stationary.
Travel Information Centre
The Ontario East Tourism Corporation will open the Trenton
info centre earlier this year. Starting March Break, the centre
will open 11 am to 7 pm on weekends until May 21st when it
will open full time for the summer season. If you would like
to gain exposure for your business do not hesitate to contact
Ontario East at 1-800-567-EAST. As a PECCTAC member you are
eligible for the Partner Rate. See the enclosed reservation
form for further details.
BIG NEWS FOR BANK NOTES IN 2004
The new security features on paper money are reliable, quick
and easy to use.
On January 28, the Bank of Canada unveiled the first of three
new high-denomination bank notes when it gave the public a
look at the new $100 at a special ceremony in Halifax. The
Bank expects to issue the new $20 and $50 notes of the Canadian
Journey series by the end of 2004.
Despite the growing popularity of credit and debit cards,
Canadians are spending more cash than ever. At the same time,
counterfeiting is also on the rise because of the availability
of high-quality, inexpensive personal computer equipment.
Bank officials emphasize, however, that counterfeiting can
be effectively prevented with some simple precautions.
The new $100 note, which will go into circulation beginning
on 17 March, includes new, state-of-the-art, anti-counterfeiting
features. They will further enhance the security of Canada’s
currency and include a metallic holographic stripe, a watermarked
portrait, a windowed security thread, and a see-through number.
The bill also incorporates familiar security features such
as raised ink (intaglio), fine-line printing and ultraviolet
fluorescence.
“These security features are reliable, quick and easy
for everybody to use,” said Bank of Canada Governor
David Dodge. You can check them by touching, tilting, looking
at and looking through the new bank note.
The Bank of Canada is allowing a training and public education
period of seven weeks between the unveiling of the bill and
its introduction into circulation. It is seeking to inform
training and loss prevention specialists, cash handlers, tellers,
branch managers, supervisors and others in the financial industry
about the security features of the new Canadian bank notes.
So consider taking advantage of this training opportunity!
To see the new $100 note and its security features, visit
www.bankofcanada.ca/en/banknotes.
Mark Your Calendar!
WHEN: Tuesday, May 4, 2004
WHERE: Ramada Inn on the Bay, Belleville
Privacy has become a major issue in both the public and private
sectors. The relevance of privacy in Canadian life has been
spurred on by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic
Documents Act (PIPEDA), which applies to the private sector
in Canada. This law came into effect on January 1, 2001 and
is now applicable to all jurisdictions in Canada as of January
1, 2004, either through laws passed in the provinces or under
the federal legislation.
This one-day workshop will have practical sessions on implementation
procedures of the private sector legislation. It is a must
for companies, associations and organizations to understand
what they need to do to comply with this legislation.
The keynote speaker will be Peter Ferguson, Director, Electronic
Commerce Policy, Industry Canada and responsible for PIPEDA
in the federal government, who will outline the specifics
of the privacy law and the issues that all organizations need
to be aware of. Murray Long, Canada’s foremost privacy
expert, and Thomas B. Riley, with 30 years experience in the
privacy field internationally, will take you through the steps
needed to understand and comply with this law.
The workshop will assist you in understanding how your company
can comply and will simplify the meaning of PIPEDA and its
key privacy principles:
Ø Illustrate why and how PIPEDA is relevant to your
organization and what you need to do
Ø Explain the practical implications of the law
Ø Outline practical steps your organization will need
to take
Ø Present practical tips on complying with this new
law
Materials on the mechanics of the law will be included.
Cost: $275 + GST. Group rate: every two registered, third
one free.
For full details and to register online go to: www.rileyis.com/seminars/index.html
Or phone: 613-599-8993 or fax: 613-599-3837
Increasing Rise of Property Taxes!
The Increasing Rise of Property Taxes has prompted a number
of citizens to group together to try and fight this unfair
situation. Over the last decade property owners have seen
the allocation of property taxes based on assessment that
has resulted in an escalation of property taxes in Prince
Edward County. PECCTAC is interested to hear from its Members
on how you feel about the existing property tax assessment
protocol. Please contact us with your views. For further information
please read the following article from the Ontario Chamber
of Commerce,
FYI
BAND AIDS ON TOP OF BAND AIDS ARE NOT THE SOLUTION TO PROPERTY
TAX PROBLEMS!
Toronto – The announcement from Ontario Finance Minister
Greg Sorbara will do nothing to address any of the problems
with the property tax system in Ontario – nor will it
address the budget challenges facing municipalities.
“We’re pleased to see that the province recognizes
the present system is broken,” said Len Crispino, President
and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “But this
is another Band Aid on top of other Band Aid solutions.”
The OCC has communicated extensively with the Ontario government
on needed reforms to the current property tax systems, including
advocating for a property tax review panel to address the
systemic problems and inequities in the system.
“Business knows that capping business property taxes
wasn’t a solution. But what we need is not more of the
same but a fair and equitable tax system in Ontario,”
said Crispino. “Business isn’t a faceless machine
with bottomless pockets – business is part of the community
– your neighbour – the sponsor of your baseball
or hockey team.”
The OCC passed a resolution at its last annual general meeting
calling for the establishment of a property tax review panel.
Its mandate should be to:
· Review Ontario’s property tax system, including
progress in moving towards current value assessment with the
goal of ensuring that Ontario’s property tax system
is equitable across the province;
· Identify and establish an economically healthy property
tax burden for each class of property;
· Identify options for a more equitable business education
tax;
· Evaluate the heritage tax program;
· Develop a long-term solution to the capping and
claw-back policies;
· Identify existing meaningful expert research data
regarding property tax burdens and rates and their impact
on economic activity;
· Provide detailed analysis of the full financial
impacts of recommendations on all property tax classes.
Background information on this issue can be found at www.occ.on.ca.
The OCC represents over 57,000 businesses through 160 local
Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade, and has been the
business advocate of choice since 1911. Its advocacy and policy
initiatives focus on six areas key to the economic well being
of the province: health; education; energy; finance &
taxation; transportation & infrastructure; and border
issues.
Great News!
The Prince Edward County Chamber of Tourism & Commerce
presented a check for $8,356.50 to the Municipality of Prince
Edward for the completion of milestone #4 of the Ministry
of Municipal Affairs and Housing OSTAR application.
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Left to right:
Councillor Bev Campbell – Picton BIA, Carol Rutter
- Chair Picton BIA,
Councillor Barry Turpin – County Representative
to PECCTAC,
President Lawrie Ackerman,
Councillor Peggy Burris – acting Mayor
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PECCTAC President Lawrie Ackerman states - We are pleased
to tell you the current status of the OSTAR project has resulted
in $20,000 in reimbursements of which $13,000 of these reimbursements
went directly to the Municipality.
There are two more milestones to complete; milestone 6 will
end December 31, 2004.
Recognizing all those who have put so much effort into making
these projects such a success are Carol Rutter and the people
on the Picton BIA Board and sub-committees, Ann Smith of The
Prince Edward/Lennox and Addington Community Futures Development
Corporation and the PECCTAC Board of Directors.
Welcome
New Members!
A Sense of Place Realty
Duane’s Furniture Outlet
Manse Lane Bed & Breakfast
Mindful Movements – Pilates, Yoga & Training Studio
Olivia & Co. Fine Used Books
Scrapbook Gallery
Total Golf Plus
The County Weekly News
Thunder Cycle & Sport
Thank you for your support!
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