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Sinclair lashes out at high building permit fees


Ian Sinclair, candidate for mayor of Caledon, was campaigning at a store in Bolton recently when the topic of the cost of doing business in town came up.
“One reason for the rising costs to businesses in Caledon is the new mandate the building department has been given to raise the building permit fees by almost 40 per cent,” Sinclair commented.
“The increase,” he added, “is to allow the building department to grow a ‘slush fund' of $3 million dollars that will be set aside to be used to maintain the building department during slower periods.”
Sinclair provided a copy of staff report DP-2014-03, which was passed unanimously by the entire Town council. It allocated the $879,553.60 surcharge for 2013 to the Town's reserve account.
“It's very much like a self-fulfilling prophecy,” Sinclair said. “Council just keeps raising the costs of doing business in Caledon until it stops.”
“Businesses are already moving out of our Town due the high costs of obtaining expansion approvals and operating here,” he added. “Why we allow this department free reign to collect what is essentially another tax burden is beyond me.”
“We want and desperately need economic growth in Caledon,” Sinclair stated. “We want new and existing businesses to feel welcomed here, but right now they don't.”
“These decisions and heavy red tape force businesses out of Caledon,” he remarked. “It's pure folly.”
“Given the lack of effective oversight by council, and apparent lack of awareness of the damaging effect of their decisions, they fail to keep costs low, provide timely approvals and inspections, or treat Caledon land owners as citizens,” Sinclair charged. “This is just one of the ways that Caledon is in serious trouble now. As mayor, I would review this decision with a view to repeal this motion at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Post date: 2014-10-03 11:56:47
Post date GMT: 2014-10-03 15:56:47
Post modified date: 2014-10-03 11:56:47
Post modified date GMT: 2014-10-03 15:56:47
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