Wednesday, June 22, 2022

No products in the cart.

  • About
    • Contributors
    • Disclaimers
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Giving back
    • Mission Statement
    • Past Issues
    • Where to Find
    • Call us at 613-935-3763
  • Advertise with us!
  • Home
  • News
  • Leisure & Lifestyle
  • Columns
  • LTE
  • Events
  • Contributors
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
The Seeker Newsmagazine Cornwall

Cornwall Chamber Calls For More Accountable and Transparent Interest Arbitration System

Jason Setnyk by Jason Setnyk
March 11, 2013
in News and Announcements
Reading Time: 2 mins read
24 0
15
SHARES
163
VIEWS
Cornwall Chamber of Commerce.
Cornwall Chamber of Commerce Logo.

Cornwall Ontario — The provincial interest arbitration system is hurting Ontario’s economic competitiveness, according to the Cornwall Chamber. The Chamber is calling on the provincial government to reform the arbitration system to ensure that arbitrators consider municipalities’ capacity to pay in their decisions.

The interest arbitration system is the only legal process available to municipalities to settle contract negotiation disputes with essential municipal workers, such as police, firefighters, and some paramedics.

You might also like

Sky Studios Reaches New Heights at National Championship

New Acute Stroke Unit Opens at Cornwall Community Hospital

“Fish out of Water” exhibit coming to the Cline House Gallery

Problematically, interest arbitration decisions give little consideration to local fiscal conditions. Instead, arbitrators tend to replicate agreements from other communities. “This is problematic,” says Kevin Hargreaves, President. “Replicating the salary and benefits from Toronto, for example, to Cornwall, doesn’t consider the differences in communities’ capacity to pay.”

Partially as a result of interest arbitration, emergency service costs are growing more quickly than the Consumer Price Index as well as the average of other public sector workers, including nurses and teachers. High interest arbitration awards mean municipalities are forced to either increase taxes and/or reduce services.

“Competitive tax rates and quality public services are key to economic development and prosperity, and will help Ontario return to fiscal balance,” says Hargreaves. “Interest arbitration is hurting municipalities’ economic competitiveness, and is ultimately hurting Ontario’s competitiveness.”

The Chamber is urging the provincial government to modify the interest arbitration system by requiring arbitrators to provide, in a timely manner, clear assessments and rationale for their decisions. They are also urging the government to broaden the definition of the ‘ability to pay’ criteria used in interest arbitration decisions, to include economic and fiscal environment, and productivity criteria.

Returning to fiscal balance is one of the priorities outlined in the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s five-year economic agenda for Ontario, Emerging Stronger 2013.

Author

  • Jason Setnyk

    Editorial Board
    Jason Setnyk is a high school teacher, journalist, published and award winning author and photographer.

    View all posts

Next Post

Cornwall Community Police News: March 11th 2013

Place YOUR ad here now
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube TikTok

Don't miss anything!

Get notified of all our new news by ringing the bell at the bottom right corner!

The Seeker Newspaper is located at 327 Second Street E., Cornwall, ON K6H 1Y8 -- All rights reserved
The Seeker does not accept responsibility for errors, misprints or inaccuracies published within. The opinions and statements of our columnists are not to be presumed as the statements and opinions of The Seeker, and should not substitute professional or medical advice.
ISSN 2562-1750 (Print)

ISSN 2562-1769 (Online)
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Leisure & Lifestyle
  • Columns
  • LTE
  • Events
  • Contributors

© 2022 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
X
X