Review-Mirror

Local municipal lead- ers are unsure if last Tues- day's federal budget has any significant dollars for infrastructure programs which meet the needs of rural Ontario. "What we are looking for is long-term pre- dictable funding," said Rideau Lakes Mayor Ron Holman. "If you read the budget it sounds like major tran- sit. The budget was at a very high level. The details will be rolling out shortly," said the Mayor who chairs the Association of Municipalities of Ontario's rural caucus. Holman is pleased the Liberals have kept a com- mitment of the Conserva- tive government to effec- tively up municipalities' gas tax funding by redis- tributing any unused funds from last year's project's to this year's gas tax allot- ments. The municipality has been looking for more funding for improvements to the Portland Waste Site. A phase one of the project was funded in an infra- structure program and will begin this spring. The municipality was unsuc- cessful in its bid last year to get funding for a second phase which would intro- duce efficiencies to make hauling possible in larger quantities with cover for stockpiling materials. Westport's Mayor, Robin Jones is hopeful that some money can be found from the province or the federal government which mentioned green infrastructure grants for wastewater treatment plants at a rate of 33 cent dollars with a contribution of $.50 from the munici- pality to every $1.00 from the federal and provincial government. She and Clerk Treasur- er Scott Bryce have also been looking for support from Ministry of Infra- structure and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for an Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) grant to complete wastewater plant improvements. The village was reject- ed in a second phase of funding. "They have heard about our serious concerns and encouraged us to apply for OCIF 3 grant in April/May ($.90 for each $1.00) – there is no money left for this construction year. We were also encouraged to ask to carry over the remaining portion of our OCIF 1 grant into 2017 when we apply for OCIF 3," she said on her blog. The village will be 'shovel ready' when infor- mation on grant applica- tions does come through. Council will be award- ing a contract for the design of the new system to an engineering consult- ing company at the April 4 council meeting. By Margaret Brand The Review-Mirror Township of Rideau Lakes council is going to look for information from the Ministry of Natural Resources before a deci- sion to take a side in an ongoing debate on cor- morants on an island in the Big Rideau. At a committee meeting on Tuesday a presentation by Animal Alliance of Canada (AAC) defending the birds' presence in the area turned a presentation made two weeks ago by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) on its head. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) and Ontario's Commercial Fishing asso- ciation is urging the Town- ship of Rideau Lakes to lobby for the removal of protection of double-crest- ed cormorants offered by the Fish and Wildlife Con- servation Act. While the AAC sees a colony of cormorants as a potential attraction for ecotourism the OFAH sees the birds as a threat to the recreational and commer- cial fisheries The birds predilection for nesting together on islands is based on safety in numbers, the opportuni- ty to be undisturbed by humans and an abundance of fish which can keep the size of a colony high. "What holds them at the level is the fish. Fish draw the cormorants," said Barry MacKay, a cor- morant expert who attend- ed Tuesday's meeting with AAC director Liz White. Fish which are attrac- tive to commercial and Justin Martin President 613-530-0773 RR 2 Westport, ON K0G 1X0 jtmartin@kingston.net 4 Septic Systems 4 Excavating 4 Landscaping 4 Road Work 4 Rock Excavating 4 Trucking 4 Residential & Commercial Snow Plowing & Sanding 4 Damp Proofing LTD. Mirror The Review Thursday, March 31, 2016 Serving North Leeds and area since 1893 Vol. 125, No. 13 $1 incl. tax Municipalities hold out hope for new infrastructure funds Council urged to support 'do nothing' approach for cormorant population This group gathered on Leggett's Hill near Crosby Sunday for the annual Easter Sunrise Service. A service was also held on Spy Rock above Westport. 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