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Upcoming events


CANADA DAY AT THE LEGION – Canadian Legion Branch 632 on Taylor Creek Road will be hosting a fun-filled day of family-friendly activities with music and food starting at 11 am. FREE FOR EVERYONE

CANADA DAY ON PETRIE ISLAND featuring a Kids Zone, adult beverage tent, live music, food, main stage entertainment, a giant birthday cake at 1 pm. and a spectacular fireworks display at 10 pm. For more information visit canadadayorleans.ca.

ORLEANS FARMERS MARKET every Thursday from 11 am to 4 pm in the parking lot at the Ray Friel Recreation Centre on Tenth Line Road. Shop the freshest seasonal produce, meat and dairy, baked goods, prepared foods, crafts and more while getting to know the folks who grew and made it.

DJ NIGHT at the Orléans Brewing Co., 4380 Innes Rd. (near the McDonalds) from 7-10 p.m. to 6 p.m. Join us and our roster of DJs every Thursday, and jumpstart your weekend fun, a day ahead!

CUMBERLAND FARMERS MARKET from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the R.J. Kennedy Arena in Cumberland Village with 85 local farmers and vendors ready to showcase their freshest produce, handmade goods, and unique finds! FREE ADMISSION

STRAY DOG BREWING COMPANY presents Crroked Creek live and in concert in their taproom. From Montreal, Crooked Creek effortlessly blends bluegrass and country music genres. Tickets $15 available at straydogbrewing.ca. The Stray Dog Brewing Company is located at 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park.

 

 

 


VIEWPOINT: Socio-economic impact of COVID pandemic will be far reaching
By Fred Sherwin

Aug. 5, 2020

It’s been more than six months since the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in a Toronto man who had just returned to Canada after travelling to Wuhan, China. Since then more than 115,000 Canadians have caught the virus and more than 8,900 people have died from it, the vast majority of whom lived in long-term care facilities or a seniors residence.

But the number of deaths caused by COVID-19 only tells part of the story. The socio-economic impact of the pandemic and the shutdown that followed and continues to this day in many sectors including education, tourism, entertainment, minor sports and the hospitality industry will be far-reaching and devastating to our economy and services that many of us have come to take for granted.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates that the federal deficit for 2020-2021 could be as high as $343 billion. That’s nearly 12 times higher than the federal deficit in the year previous. Or to put it another way, it’s equal to the entire amount of revenue the federal goverment took in during the 2019-2020 fiscal year. And that’s just the federal government. The provincial deficit is estimated to reach $41 billion this year.

How those two levels of government will combat the virus is anybody’s guess, but it’s highly unlikely they be able to do so without massive cuts to public services including health care and education.

The City of Ottawa is facing a $192 million deficit this year, which they plan to cover by dipping into reserve funds, deferring $82 million in capital projects and freezing a number of new staff hires that were in the current budget.

News that the provincial and federal governments plan to provide Ontario municipalities with $4 billion in COVID-19 fund-ing should help cover a sizeable portion of the city’s mounting 2020 deficit, just how much remains to be worked out, but it does mean that the city won’t have to dip into its reserves as deeply as first thought.

But that only takes care of this year.

Whatever money is taken from the reserve funds will have to eventually be paid back. How they will paid back is the issue facing city council as it looks forward to the 2021 budget process.

According to the city’s chief financial officer, a $192 million deficit would require an 18 per cent tax increase. That’s totally out of the question for Mayor Jim Watson, who wants to limit next year’s tax increase to just three per cent. He and several other members of council are hoping the feds and the province will bail them out – the same federal and provincial governments that are facing their own deficit issues.

At present, there is no plan for a second tranche of money coming from the provincial and federal governments, which means staff will have to come up with a list potential deficit reduction measures including possible cuts to “non-essential” services. We’ve been down this rabbit hole before in the early 2000s, when staff suggested closing everything from museums to libraries. It’s highly possible the same services will be back on the chopping block this time around.

The question is whether council will have the stomach to approve them?

Finding $192 million in savings is no easy feat and the situation will only get worse if the economic impact of the pandemic continues into 2021, which it very likely could, espe-cially in the area of transit revenues.

Of the $192 million deficit the city is currently facing, $120 million, or roughly two-thirds, is due to a massive decline in OC Transpo ridership which isn’t likely to rebound anytime soon. Government offices are expected to remain closed until at least January and the city’s universities and col-leges are implementing virtual instruction.

I am still amazed at how many buses are driving around the city empty. If council is serious about reducing the deficit they need to look at cutting the frequency of service and the number of drivers.

The 2021 budget process is going to be a huge challenge for even the most experienced of city councillors. It will be doubly so for whoever wins the Cumberland Ward byelection on Oct. 5 and will have to be brought up to speed tout suite. Which is why the seminal issue of the byelection should be the budget and where do the candidates stand on possible cuts.

(If you wish to comment on this or any other View Point column please write to Fred Sherwin at fsherwin@orleansstar.ca)

 

Entertainment

  Sports


OST production of Anne of Green Gables a joy to behold

Shenkman unveils Matinée Café and World Music lineups

Lots to see and do at the Shenkman Arts Centre during the month of June


East end athletes win nine medals at OFSAA track and field championships

Louis-Riel wins surprising gold medal in 4x400 relay at OFSAA championships

Bevy of east end track and field athletes qualify for OFSAA provincial championships

 

Commons Corner


 

Queen's Park Corner


 

Local business

  Opinion

 


DYNAMIC FOOT CARE CLINIC: The first step to pain free feet

 

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BLACKBURN SHOPPES DENTAL CENTRE: Committed to providing a positive dental experience

 

 

 


VIEWPOINT: When it comes to public transit, Canada is a third world country

 


Vanxiety_life #15: Navan’s vanlifers complete cross-Canada odyssey

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