Latest news with #ShawnLewis
CBC
20-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
London mayor to lobby Ontario to hold ODSP rates as new federal program rolls out
London city council is calling on the Ontario government to keep provincial disability payments stable, and not claw back money when the federal Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) rolls out this summer. Mayor Josh Morgan plans to bring the issue to the province's Big City Mayors caucus with a call to Premier Doug Ford to commit to not reducing Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits, once Ottawa's program takes effect in June. "Ontario has been non-committal so far [about clawing back ODSP], and so we're asking the mayor to encourage every city to call on the province to leave this benefit alone," said deputy mayor Shawn Lewis, who was among three councillors who put forward the idea. "Let folks with a disability situation in their lives get that little bit of extra help that might make the difference between them being able to make ends meet and not." The concern comes after Alberta said it would claw back disability supports. Ontario has yet provide its stance, while Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Nunavut have all promised they will not reduce funds. The CDB will give up to $200 per month, totalling $2,400 for the year starting in July, to eligible recipients. The amount will be adjusted for inflation each year, the government said. Ontario's disability payments are specific to the individual but the maximum is $1,368 a month, according to the province. A claw back would mean the province could cut ODSP by up to $200, if a person receives the full federal benefit. The province said Monday not decision had been reached on the matter with a spokesperson from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services saying it's "continuing to work with the federal government as the details of the Canada Disability Benefit are being finalized. Our focus is on ensuring the Canada Disability Benefit builds on existing programs like Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) including amending the treatment of the benefit in the Federal Income Tax Act," the statement said. The province said ODSP rates have increased by 17 per cent since 2022, with inflationary increases each July. Morgan was not available for comment ahead of publication. ODSP not enough amid high cost of living When discussing whether London's mayor should advocate for stable provincial funding, councillors noted that many people on ODSP are not able to afford housing and groceries with the money they get. That's the case for Londoner Jeffrey Salisbury, 40, who lives with developmental disabilities and depression. His only source of monthly income is $1,381 he gets from ODSP, and with a monthly rent component of less than $600, Salisbury cannot afford his own place so he lives with his parents. An extra $200 from Ottawa will go a long way in helping people with disabilities afford basic necessities, Salisbury said. "That could be more groceries for the month, a little bit more money for rent, clothing and all the daily living things that we have to spend on," Salisbury said. He and others on ODSP are frustrated there's no word from the province on whether they'll have less money with less than a month before the federal program rolls out, he said. "Every month it seems like the prices go up more and it just gets a little harder to get by. I worry that there's going to be a lot more disabled people out sleeping on the street because they're not going to have a place to live."
CTV News
14-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
No final decision about directing $16.9M of budget surplus to property tax relief
On Tuesday, council backed the mayor's plan for reallocating a massive $58.8 million surplus left over from the 2024 municipal budget after being assured that a decision to put $16.9 million towards tax relief won't be finalized until budget deliberations this fall. Josh Morgan emphasized that the funds would be set aside in a reserve fund until a business case is prepared by staff for the 2026 Municipal Budget Update. 'Council will have the full right, for any part of the budget, to amend, to remove, to add in anything they'd like to see,' Morgan reiterated. 'So, there is no decided matter of council associated with this.' Dividing the $16.9 million evenly between 2026 and 2027 would shave about 1 per cent off the upcoming tax increase. Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis pushed back against a letter from Pillar Nonprofit Network that reads, 'we strongly urge council to consider reinvesting a portion of these funds into London's nonprofit sector and essential community services.' 'People need relief,' Lewis told colleagues. 'Those people who want to see investments made in other programs can take their $200, $300, or whatever they've saved on their property tax bill, and they can direct it to whatever charity of choice they have.' Council also supported the staff recommendation to reallocate the remaining surplus to mandatory Development Charge exemptions downloaded from the provincial government ($16.6 million), and debt reduction ($25.3 million) A long list of programs and departments contributed to the surplus. The largest contributor ($28.8 million from Financial Management) is described in a staff report as a 'surplus in provision for tax appeals & uncollectible taxes ($10.8 million) due to delay in property reassessments resulting in lower appeals and assessment at risk, investment income surplus ($10.5 million) from higher interest rates than budgeted, personnel & contingency savings ($5.7 million), and other miscellaneous factors ($1.8 million).' Other significant contributors
CBC
20-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
Bumping along on Dundas Street? Pothole repaving approved for Argyle section that drivers say is bad
As the usual freezing and thawing of winter beats up roads across London, a stretch of road on Dundas Street has been approved for special treatment. At Wednesday's planning and environment meeting, the ward councillor Shawn Lewis presented a motion to immediately rehabilitate Dundas, between Burdick Place and Beatrice Street, because of what he views as extensive potholes. His motion included a request for the city to stop working on a project focused on the beautification of the Argyle neighbourhood and instead spend more time improving the area's basic needs. "We've got to get back to the nuts and bolts, and then we can look at those other considerations down the road," Lewis told CBC News. "This is our business corridor; it's a gateway to the city from the east end, and it's in absolutely abysmal shape." Coun. Peter Cuddy, Coun. Elizabeth Peloza and Coun. Steven Hillier and Lewis all voted to pass the motion. Work to rehabilitate the stretch of Dundas in question began in 2019, with repaving completed between Highbury and Burdick Place in the fall 2021. The remainder of the work was scheduled to be completed in 2022, but was pushed back to 2024. Lewis said he recently found out it was again stalled to 2026 due to the Dundas Streetscape Master Plan for the Argyle Core Area, which is designed to focus on increasing neighbourhood safety, supporting businesses and beautifying the area. The plan did not receive funding in the city's most recent multi-year budget. "We cannot hold up necessary work for potential changes in the future that may or may not get passed by council," Lewis said. Argyle businesses used to potholes Lewis's motion was backed up by the Argyle Business Improvement Association (BIA), which submitted a letter of support, saying the repaving would benefit businesses in the community. "It's pretty rough in spots," said Doug Box, who owns Maple City Tire on Dundas near Winnipeg Boulevard. "The outside part of the lane to the curb is rougher than the centre of the road, but it's really quite off-road." He said potholes throughout the city are damaging Londoners' cars, causing issues from bent rims to cut tires. "The plows beat them up real bad in the winter," said Tim Suddes, who works at Tobince Mufflers & Brakes, also located along Dundas. Both said that the cold conditions are bringing more people into their businesses, as roads are increasingly damaged by water, salt, machinery and temperature changes. That's one of the reasons, Lewis said, it was important to bring forward the motion now. "The cold patch that we use in the winter is not particularly durable so it doesn't last," he said. "Those potholes are going to be back on the road before winter leaves." Suddes said his own vehicle had been damaged due to a pothole on Dundas, and when he called the city about it, he was told there were numerous complaints before him. He said the pothole was filled within a day. Lewis said, however, that the current patching system is not enough. "We can't just keep putting band-aids on things. We have to find the root cause," Lewis said. None of the workers said they think poor road conditions on Dundas are hurting their businesses, but Ramandeep Kaur at Rajdhani Sweets & Restaurant said she worries that the eventual repaving could. "I think if there's construction, people won't want to come," she said. Lewis said construction and lane closures are part of the growing pains that come with rehabilitating the area and that the city would work with the Argyle BIA to maintain access to businesses. "It's always an impact of living in a city on a business corridor," he said. "Construction has to happen, and we do our best." The motion will now go to full council for approval.
