Downloading costs us all money

Municipalities across Ontario complained that Mike Harris downloaded many provincial spending costs to the municipalities across the province. But in doing that, the Conservative government transferred additional funding to offset some of those costs.
In a more subtle method, Dalton McGinty to reduce his deficit has handed over to this district many additional costs.
The province has become more stingy. The connecting link subsidy that paid for 90% of the cost of rebuilding the highway through Fort Frances has disappeared. The province has come into believing that since it is important, the taxpayers of the town should pay a much greater portion. For three consecutive years, the town has applied for funding to complete the last stretch of Highway 11 that runs through the town.
No provincial funding has been made available.
Earlier this year, the province eliminated the Tourist Information bureau at the border crossing at Fort Frances. They forgot to take the signs down, and many tourists are stopping there for information. And a sign directing visitors to another site in Fort Frances, was removed from the door.
Taxpayers in Fort Frances are now footing the bill for providing tourist information to visitors from the United States. Similarly, in Kenora, the residents of that community are providing information to visitors to Ontario from the western provinces in the community’s downtown.
It has been an effective method of transferring costs downward in Ontario.
Just this past month, the province announced in April that they would no longer trap and relocate bears in the province. That has been left to municipalities. It is another cost of download.
Apparently if you have a problem, one can call the “Bear Wise” hot line on your cell and pass it to the bear which will be instructed by someone at a safe call centre on the other end to move on. Or in an emergency you call the police. Calling the police will be billed back to the municipality.
And by removing the last justice from Fort Frances, the cost of justice in Fort Frances just went up. In many instances or emergencies it may be important for legal necessities to take place before a justice. A justice in the district was always available for such emergencies. In the future a justice will only be available as their travelling schedule permits. One will need to travel to Kenora, Dryden or Thunder Bay to get immediate help. The costs of justice have been passed down and the citizens of the district will pay more.
These have been minor changes. They have not attracted any attention of urban centres. But for smaller rural areas, this downloading has added major costs to residents.
–Jim Cumming,
Publisher