Government publications - NEW at Oakville Public Library

Inquiry into Pediatric Forensic Pathology in Ontario (Goudge Report)
Welfare Incomes 2006/7

From Town of Oakville
State of the Environment
.Indicators for the Oakville Environmental Strategic Plan
Let's go green together

Buying your first home in Canada: What Newcomers Need to Know (Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation)
Community Lens (Community Development Halton)

Throne Speech and Budget

We can't compete with last week's events in the U.S. government but there is a lot happening this week in the Canadian Parliament. The Governor General opens the 2nd Session of the 40th Parliament today with the Speech from the Throne. The text of the Throne Speech will be available in the Senate and House of Commons Debates for January 26, 2009. The Debates will be posted on the Parliament of Canada web site on January 27 and can be found under Chamber Business.
Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty will table the 2009 budget in the House of Commons on Tuesday, January 27, 2009, at approximately 4:00 p.m.
Click ParlVU to view live webcasts.

e-Laws official status

There has been a recent change regarding the Government of Ontario's e-Laws. As of Nov 30, 2008, laws printed from the e-Laws website are now considered the official version and can be used in court. See the e-Laws website "What is considered to be an official copy of a source law or consolidated law?" for more information. However, for federal legislation, the Consolidated acts and regulations on the Department of Justice website still do not have official sanction. As indicated on the website, they are "provided to the public for convenience and readability only".

Savings accounts: choosing the right savings account for your needs

From the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, the Savings Report is a 30-page document with information to help the consumer get the best savings account. The report includes very useful tables for anyone wishing to shop around: Table 1 compares accounts from different financial institutions, under the headings Interest, features available, account accessibility, and record keeping options. Table 2 compares accounts by service fees charged - In-branch, ATM, Internet.

Tips for winter driving in Ontario

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has some good tips if you are driving in snowy or icy conditions. Learn what to do if you encounter a snow plow, why you should not pass it on the right, what you should carry in your car as a survival kit, and generally how to be road-ready and weather-wise.