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News
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RInC
Funding Announced
Hundreds of Ontario's recreation facilities,
parks, and playing fields will receive
a much needed injection of funds through
the Recreation Infrastructure Canada
(RInC) program and the Ontario Recreation
Program (Ontario REC). The federal
and provincial governments announced
today that they will invest more than
$380 million in 758 projects across
the province over the next two years.
Read more.
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Parks,
Trails and Recreation receive significant
support through Provincial/Federal;
Infrastructure Funding
Parks
and Recreation Ontario congratulates
the provincial and federal governments
for the recent investments in parks,
trails and recreation infrastructure
through the Building Canada - Communities
Component. Recreation infrastructure
received 43% of the total investment
in the Building Canada Fund. On
June 5, the provincial and federal
governments also announced the Infrastructure
Stimulus Funding, which allocated
$94.7 million (provincial and federal
$) to parks and trails. To read
the full article, click here.
Click here
for a complete list of projects that
were funded through Building Canada
and the Infrastructure Stimulus fund.
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Active Healthy
Kids Canada Report Card
Active Healthy Kids Canada has released
its fifth Report Card on Physical
Activity for Children and Youth. This
year, the focus of the report is on
the important role physical activity
plays in facilitating learning and
academic performance. Children who
are more physically active showed
improved memory, concentration and
attention span – leading to better
results in school. The report card
also highlights inequities in physical
activity – especially for low-income
children and youth and those with
disabilities. Active Healthy Kids
Canada has produced both the full
report card and a “short form” which
provides useful statistics and information.
To download the report card, please
visit the Active
Healthy Kids Canada website.
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The Impact
of Ontario Harmonized Sales Tax on
the Sport and Recreation Sector
In
the 2009 Ontario Budget, Finance Minister
Duncan announced tax reforms in Ontario
that would include a new blending
of the current Ontario Retail Sales
Tax (RST at 8%) and the federal Goods
and Services Tax (GST at 5%).
The government plans to implement
the new harmonized, "value-added
tax" in July 2010, pending passage
of a Bill in the Provincial Legislature
and an agreement with the Federal
Government.
While the impetus for the new
harmonization is aimed at making Ontario
more economically competitive, the
effects of this new harmonized tax
will be detrimental for the sport
and recreation sector, including municipal,
for-profit and not-for-profit service
delivery.
Allied
stakeholders in the sport, recreation
and health sector in Ontario are working
collaboratively to address this issue
with the Provincial Government.
The position of these stakeholders
is that the imposition of a tax on
sport and recreation programs and
facility rentals is at odds with Ontario
Government’s policies aimed
at reducing poverty, curbing youth
violence and encouraging Ontarians
to lead healthier lifestyles.
Read
more about the impact of the tax
on sport and recreation.
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June is Recreation
and Parks Month
Join the growing movement to celebrate
the benefits and values of recreation
in everyday life. Visit the June is
Recreation and Parks website
to become an ambassador and to register
your June is events.
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Charter
for Recreation and Parks
In conjunction with June is Recreation
and Parks Month, Parks and Recreation
Ontario is pleased to launch the first
Charter for Recreation and Parks in
Ontario.
Recreation and parks services contribute
to the quality of life in our communities,
the health of Ontarians and to the
sustainability of our environment.
In every community, recreation and
parks makes a real and measurable
impact on the lives of Ontarians.
Research has shown that recreation
and parks contributes to physical
and mental health, acts as a protective
factor for youth-at-risk and helps
improve the circumstances for those
living in poverty.
We must ensure that there is equitable
access for all Ontarians, that our
infrastructure and programs are responsive
to community needs, and that our parks
are protected.
This is why a “Charter for Recreation
and Parks in Ontario” was created.
While every community in Ontario is
unique, there are common goals that
all communities should strive to achieve
to ensure that all of their citizens
are able to enjoy the significant
benefits provided by recreation and
parks.
This charter supports a community’s
commitment to ensuring that their
citizens’ right to recreation and
parks services is met.
Click
here
to download your copy of the Charter
for Recreation and Parks.
To
order hard copies of the charter or
a poster, please download an order
form.
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Training and Development
- Download Forum PowerPoint
Sessions
Click here
to download PowerPoint presentations
from the 2009 PRO Educational Forum.
- Canadian
Playground Safety Institute - May -
October, 2009
September 28-29, Sudbury/North Bay -
practical only (in conjunction with
online theory)
October 20-23, Toronto - theory and
practical
The
certification component of the Canadian
Playground Safety Institute teaches
its students to: document all problems
with play equipment; enter inspection
records into a permanent playground
file; put in place an action plan to
eliminate play equipment faults; and
to document when the necessary remedial
action has been completed. For more
information on the courses, please visit:
www.prontario.org/profile/cpsi_spring_2009.pdf
- Learn more about partnering
with PRO to present a professional development
session in your community. Click here
to read our guidelines.
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More News and Resources from
PRO
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Provincial Budget
On March 26, the Ontario Government released
the 2009 Budget. The focus of the budget
is on economic stimulus and job creation,
but there is also a strong emphasis on helping
families affected by the economic downturn.
There are a number of measures
that the government has introduced that will
have an impact on the recreation and parks
sector. Highlights include:
Infrastructure - Leveraging
the federal sport and recreation infrastructure
funding in the RInC program.
The Ontario government will provide an additional
$390 million for community infrastructure,
matching the federal funds available through
the RInC program. Municipalities, community
organizations and not-for-profits will be
eligible to apply. The emphasis will be on
“shovel-ready” projects that will be completed
in a short period of time and will create
local jobs.
The total infrastructure investment in the
budget is $15.1 billion for 2009-10 and an
additional $17.4 billion for 2010-11. This
includes all programs (ReNew Ontario, health,
education etc.).
To read the complete PRO article
on the budget, click here
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New Pesticide Ban to take
effect on Earth Day
Earlier this month, Ontario's Environment
Minister John Gerretsen announced that Ontario’s
cosmetic pesticides ban will take effect on
Earth Day, April 22, 2009. The Ministry of
the Environment website contains vital information
specific to parks and recreation, along with
a news release, the pesticides regulation
and act, and the 11 pesticide classifications.
Visit www.Ontario.ca/pesticideban
for the details. Questions should be directed
to the ministry’s Public Information Centre
at 1-800-565-4923 or 416-325-4000.
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Affordable Access to Recreation
- Promising Practices Guide Available Online
The Ontario Task Group on Access to Recreation
for Low-Income Families has released a comprehensive
Promising Practices Guide.
The Guide features 26 leading-edge ideas that
have helped to increase access to all kinds
of recreation for low-income children, youth
and families. You can download your free copy
of the guide by clicking here.
For information on the Task Group and more
research on access to recreation, please visit
PRO's
Initiatives web page.
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Parks and Recreation
Ontario
1 Concorde Gate, Suite 302,
Toronto, Ontario M3C 3N6
Tel : (416) 426-7142
Fax : (416) 426-7371
E-mail : pro@prontario.org
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