Timmins council begins budget talks
Timmins council has taken its first look at the proposed 2023 municipal budget. The city's treasurer and chief administrative officer presented the extensive budget package for discussion on Tuesday.
As it stands now, taxpayers would be looking at a tax increase of around 3.2 per cent. Council is still expecting to hear from other boards and committees and there could be additional funding requests.
“If we didn’t want to have any sort of increase, we definitely would be looking at reducing services; cancelling planned projects," said mayor Michelle Boileau
"We’d really have to be pulling back.”
Not all councillors have submitted their requests either. Ward 3 Councillor Bill Gvozdanovic said the feedback he's received so far from people is that Ward 3 is "like a forgotten ward."
"We’re not looking for five or 10 million dollars of investment, but we’re looking for something on a yearly basis that’s guaranteed to make sure that we see some improvements in our community," he said.
Councillor John Curley who represents Porcupine also wants to make sure things like public washrooms in Connaught are built and that the replacement of the Hoyle Bridge is completed as soon as possible.
“So I’d like to see that happening this year for sure," said Curley.
"Design and possibly start even tearing down of the old bridge just to get that work going a little quicker otherwise we’re looking at could be another two years and that’s a long time to wait I think for a safety area.”
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The mayor said council knows that inflation is having an impact on taxpayers, but she said there would be no progress without investment.
“We want to ensure that should there be an increase ... that those funds will be used wisely, strategically and that as I said they will be an investment that will stimulate future growth," said Boileau.
This week's budget meeting was the first of more to come. The mayor said a new council and the treasurer's recent return from a leave of absence have delayed the financial discussions until now.
Boileau told CTV News she expects the budge will be ready for a vote at the end of March.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Johnston to launch foreign interference hearings in July, calls allegations of bias 'quite simply false'
Canada's special rapporteur on foreign interference David Johnston calls the allegations swirling around his objectivity 'quite simply false,' and said Tuesday he plans to push ahead with his work, launching public hearings next month

Ford calls for ouster, Poilievre decries Liberal response to Bernardo prison transfer
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the Liberals to keep "multiple murderers" in maximum-security prison, as fallout continues over the transfer of convicted killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security institution in Quebec.
Sex harassment case involving Trudeau Foundation should be heard in N.L., lawyer says
The lawyer representing a woman who alleges she was sexually harassed by a former Northwest Territories premier says her client would likely have to end her lawsuit if a judge determines the trial should be moved to Quebec.
Travellers from 13 more countries now eligible to visit Canada without a visa
Canada is expanding the list of countries whose residents are eligible to visit this country without a travel visa.
Canadian military joined recent U.S. forum on UFOs; Pentagon trying to identify 'metallic' orbs
The Canadian military has confirmed it participated in a May 2023 forum for Five Eyes intelligence partners that was held by the director of the Pentagon's UFO research program.
Global News defends reporting in face of Han Dong lawsuit
Global News and its parent company Corus Entertainment say in response to a lawsuit filed by Han Dong that their reporting about the Toronto MP was based on a detailed investigation involving multiple sources.
Conservative filibuster threatens potential citizenship for children born abroad
Andrea Fessler found out her third daughter didn't qualify for Canadian citizenship -- even though her two older daughters did -- when she arrived at the Canadian consulate in Hong Kong to register.
Rent across Canada climbs to 20 per cent above pandemic lows: report
Across Canada, the average price of rent climbed back up after pandemic lows, with the monthly rate new tenants face now 20 per cent higher than it was two years ago, according to just-released rental data.
Charges dropped against Alberta woman accused of mailing animals
Crown prosecutors say charges against an Alberta woman accused of mailing two puppies and a kitten have been dropped.