Centre Wellington Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj recently commented to her council on the changes to the federal cabine announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
“The good News in this shuffle is that minister Denis Lebel maintains the portfolio of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. It means all that work we’ve done will continue. I was really pleased with the stability which will benefit us all.”
At the same time the mayor commented on a letter sent out by Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong responding to Wellington County councillors in regard to both the gas tax and the GST rebate municipalities receive. Ross-Zuj wanted council members to have a copy of that response.
Ross-Zuj said she intends to forward a list of projects in Centre Wellington funded through the gas tax and what projects are funded through the GST rebate.
“Since we have had 100 per cent of the rebate coming back to the municipality, this has given us a savings of almost $2.8 million. It benefits us through all the projects we have awarded.” She added that gas tax related projects are now estimated at $3.8 million.
“We have certainly benefitted from these two initiatives.”
Councillor Walt Visser added that to make it clear to everyone regarding the gas tax, “Every penny of that money goes towards capital works. Not everyone knows that. Some people think it goes into the councillors pockets.”
