Regional Council approved funding in the amount of $88.2 million for the 2009 "Stimulus" Capital Budget for Regional projects; they authorized the Regional Chair and Regional Clerk to execute the appropriate agreement(s) with the Provincial and/or Federal Governments as required to implement Infrastructure Stimulus Funding requirements, such agreement(s) to be satisfactory to the Director of Legal Services; they delegated Council's authority under the Purchasing By-law, as outlined in the revised report CSD 94-2009, for the period from July 31, 2009 to September 9, 2009 inclusive to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) provided that the CAO's authority shall only relate to previously approved Capital projects and the CAO shall report to Council all actions taken pursuant to this delegation at the next regularly scheduled Council meeting and they approved an exception to the Capital Management Policy so that the "Stimulus" Capital projects, which are the subject of this Stimulus Capital Budget, be deemed to be both approved and initiated for purposes of the Capital Management Policy.
Regional Council deferred their decision respecting 2010 Budget Guidance pending the outcome of the June 25, 2009 Regional Business Planning Session - Upload Principles - in order to incorporate the Upload Principles at the start of the 2010 budget preparation process.
A representative of the Canadian Red Cross presented Acting Regional Chair Casselman with a certificate in recognition of the Niagara Region's support of the Canadian Red Cross in celebration of their 100th Anniversary 1909 - 2009. On May 19, 1909, an act of Parliament paved the way for the Canadian Red Cross to serve Canadians. Since that time, the Red Cross has offered programs and services that responded to the needs of the time, and has continued to evolve to meet the changing needs of Canadians.
For 100 years Canadians have had their own national organization focused on delivering humanitarian assistance and improving the lives of vulnerable people. The Canadian Red Cross is celebrating its history throughout 2009 while also looking to the future with a commitment to remain a vital symbol of help and hope in Canada and around the world.
Regional Council received the report respecting Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2001) / Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005) Annual Accessibility Plan Compliance and approved the Niagara Region 2009/2010 Accessibility Plan.
Representatives from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency advised Regional Council that they have confirmed the presence of the emerald ash bore (EAB) in the City of Welland. The infested trees are located in the Carl Road and Darby Road area. The EAB poses no risk to human or animal health, however, it is a destructive beetle that has already killed a large number of ash trees in Ontario and north eastern U.S. It poses a major economic threat to urban and forested areas of North America. There have been numerous finds of this pest in Ontario and in one location in Quebec. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency continues to work with its partners and stakeholders towards the goal of slowing its spread.
The EAB does not spread quickly on its own. The key to limiting the spread of this beetle is to get people to stop moving potentially infested ash materials - such as logs, branches, nursery stock, wood chips, and firewood of all species - to non-infested locations. Area residents can play a key role in helping to control EAB by avoiding actions that would promote its spread.
The Niagara Ambulance Communications Centre received re-accreditation through the National Academy of Emergency Dispatch (NAED) and continues its status as an Accredited Centre of Excellence (ACE). The new ACE will be in effect from 2009 through 2012.
Regional Council received and approved the recommendations in a report respecting the impact of EMS Emergency Department Conversions as part of the Niagara Health System's Hospital Improvement Plan. It was recommended that Niagara Region seek 100% provincial funding and that the Regional Chair and staff meet with the NHS and LHIN Boards to discuss the implications on Niagara's Emergency Services and Municipal Fire Services and the impact on Niagara's resources and expenditures. It was also recommended that the Regional Chair write a letter to Minister David Caplan requesting that the Province continue the funding for nurses to manage EMS patients in a transitionary unit (to reduce offload delays) until a sustainable program is in place.