Speaker of Legislature is Special Guest at Levee

Hon. Steve Peters, Speaker of the Ontario Legislature, will be the special guest at my New Year’s Levee in Newcastle Sunday, January 10. The Levee is at the Newcastle Community Hall. Hours are from 12:00 noon to 3p.m.

Our 2010 Levee will include a “Mine to Mace” photo exhibition that describes the refurbishing of Ontario’s parliamentary mace with two gems that were donated from production at Ontario’s first diamond mine. The De Beers Canada Victor Mine is located near Attawapiskat in Northern Ontario. Although maces were once used as weapons, they are commonly found today in parliaments around the world where they serve as a symbol of the authority of parliament and the democratic process.

After the busy Christmas season, it’s time to relax, and enjoy music and light refreshments as we visit with neighbours and welcome the New Year. I hope to see you at our 2010 levee.

January Deadlines for Volunteer Awards

Now is the time to nominate the special people throughout Ontario who build stronger communities by serving as volunteers.  There are three categories, which cover youths and adults from every sector.

Volunteer Service Awards recognize continuous years of service with a community organization.

The June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award (JCOAA) recognizes superlative volunteer work undertaken by individuals, groups or businesses.

The Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers is presented to outstanding young people who volunteer and who are between the ages of 15 and 24.

Deadlines are January 25, 2010 for the Volunteer Service Awards; January 15 for the June Callwood Award; and January 31 for the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers.

Further information is available online at www.ontario.ca\honoursandawards . You can also contact our Constituency Office for information. We may be reached at 905-697-1501 or 1-800-661-2433 and by e-mail at john.otooleco@pc.ola.org.

Ontario Raises Small Claims Limit to $25,000

As of January 1, 2010, the monetary limit for matters before Ontario’s Small Claims Court will rise to $25,000. Previously, the upper limit was $10,000.

This is one of several changes to Ontario’s civil justice system going into effect in the New Year. The changes are intended to make it easier, faster and more affordable for people and businesses to access justice and use Ontario’s civil courts to resolve disputes. The new rules for civil justice follow a report by Associate Chief Justice Coulter Osborne and advice that the Attorney General received from consultation with citizens.

Other changes include:

• Increasing the monetary limit of Simplified or ’streamlined’ Procedure from $50,000 to $100,000
• Limiting the pre-trial examination for discovery process where parties are questioned about their case to one day unless the parties agree or the court orders an extension
• Creating a general principle of “proportionality” in the Rules of Civil Procedure so the time and expense of each case reflects what is at stake.

New Standards for Public Sector When Serving Disabled Clients

As of January 1, public sector organizations such as municipal governments, hospitals and schools must comply with new customer service standards for clients with disabilities. These requirements also cover provincial ministries as well as agencies of the Ontario government.

Customer service requirements include: training staff regarding the needs of customers with disabilities, communicating with a person in a manner that takes into account his or her disability; and permitting clients to bring service animals such as guide dogs into their premises. Ontario’s private sector will be asked to meet the same customer service standards as the public sector by 2012.

About 1.85 million people (Or one in seven Ontario residents.) have a disability. As the population ages, the number will rise to one in five Ontarians by 2020. Further information is available online at www.AccessON.ca

Keeping Electronics and Batteries from Landfill

If you’re starting 2010 with a new computer, television, or other electronic device, don’t forget to recycle your old electronics and batteries. It is estimated that Ontario households and businesses generate about 85,000 tonnes of old or obsolete computers, televisions, copiers, phones, and stereos each year. Recycling and reuse programs are in place for waste electronics, and there are diversion programs for household hazardous waste, such as batteries. The web site www.dowhatyoucan.ca will direct you to the nearest location to drop off these products for recycling or reuse. This site also has information on safely disposing of household hazardous materials such as leftover paint.