New government resources @ OPL

• If Oakville was a village of 100 people, Town of Oakville, November 2010. "Understanding the diversity of our town helps to ensure we are considering the needs of all our residents... We've reduced Oakville to a village of 100 people so it's easier for us to understand and appreciate our diversity."


• 2010 Town of Oakville accomplishments, Town of Oakville, 2011. This "booklet outlines all the work Council and our dedicated staff have undertaken over the past year."


• Households and the environment 2009, Statistics Canada, March 2011. "This survey aims to measure the behaviours of Canadian households with respect to the following aspects of the environment: consumption and conservation of water and energy; indoor environment; household hazardous waste; and purchasing decisions."


• Canadian biodiversity: ecosystem status and trends 2010, Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments of Canada, 2010. This report "is the first assessment of Canada's biodiversity from an ecosystem perspective." Twenty-two key findings are presented, organized under four themes: biomes; human/ecosystem interactions; habitat, wildlife, and and ecosystem processes; and science/policy interface.


• Cycling skills: Ontario's guide to safe cycling, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, 2007. "This is your guide to cycling safety. Whether you're new to cycling or you are an experienced cyclist, this guide contains important information, tips and techniques to make you a safe, confident rider."


• Organized breast cancer screening programs in Canada: Report on program performance in 2005 and 2006. Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011. "The monitoring and evaluation of organized breast cancer screening programs provides an opportunity to understand the impact of screening on breast cancer morbidity and mortality, as well as the potential harms associated with screening."

Changing Faces - Profile of Oakville Newcomers

The United Way of Oakville partnered with Community Development Halton to form a better understanding of the recent immigrant population in Oakville. Over 6,800 foreign-born individuals moved to the Town Of Oakville between 2001 and 2006. This report presents population data that will allow organizations to respond to and embrace the growing diversity in Oakville. Major socio-economic characteristics, such as place of birth, age, language, education, employment and income are highlighted and compared with the general population.

Electronic copies of this report are available from Community Development Halton and online at www.cdhalton.ca/pdf/Oakville-Newcomers-Profile-FINAL.pdf

Ontario Municipal Elections 2010

The 2010 Ontario Municipal Elections take place on Tuesday, October 26, 2010. Other key dates are:

Nomination and Campaign Period Begins: January 1, 2010
Nomination Day (Last Day to be Nominated): September 10, 2010
Final Day for Withdrawal of Candidacy: September 10, 2010
Voting Day: October 25, 2010
Council Term Begins: December 1, 2010
Campaign Period Ends: December 31, 2010
Financial Filing Deadline: March 25, 2011

To find out who's running for which positions in Oakville, visit the Town of Oakville's website for 2010 Municipal Elections. For results from previous years, visit the past election results page.

If you are considering running or have general interest in how elections are carried out, you should consult The Municipal Elections 2010 Guide. It refers to several provincial and federal acts, including:
Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (MEA)
Good Government Act
Municipal Act, 2001
Education Act
Broadcasting Act (Canada)
Public Accounting Act, 2004

Infrastructure funding for municipalities

All municipalities in Ontario will benefit from infrastructure funding under the Investing In Ontario Act. The Ontario government is investing an additional $1.1 billion in capital grants to municipalities. Click here to see how much Oakville will be receiving
This news release from CNW Group provides a good overview of the act, its implications, and the relationship building between the government and Ontario municipalities.

311 and 211 explained at GovInfo

311 Halton Government Services will be officially launched today Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 2pm.

What are the differences between 311 and 211?
311 is a three-digit telephone number for callers to get access to the following government services in Halton Region:

· Town of Oakville
· City of Burlington
· Town of Milton
· Town of Halton Hills
· Halton District School Board
· Halton Catholic District School Board
· Halton Regional Police Service (non-emergency calls)
Examples would be: program information, request a service or report non-emergency problems.

Ontario 211, on the other hand, provides information about many community, health and social services, regardless of whether the services are provided by government, not-for-profit or community groups. 211 service is available in Toronto, Halton, Windsor-Essex, Niagara, Simcoe County and Thunder Bay, with plans for further expansion. It's free, operates 24/7 and staff has expertise in 150 languages. See today's Toronto Star Budget to offer Hotline Aid for more information on this great service.