“People continue to be the focus of need in this budget and ongoing funding for infrastructure and housing address this, as does support for skills development.  A partnership with other levels of government will bolster efforts and deliver the training for jobs that are now available and help with creating the skills a healthy and growing economy must provide.  The Community Building Fund impact for London over 10 years is estimated to be $20 million dollars, with funding available for a wide range of community sectors.

A renewal of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario ($920 million) for five years will help support our industries and businesses and assist London in attracting new investment.  The establishment of a $200 million Advanced Manufacturing Fund for Ontario will support innovation and the development and ultimately the manufacture of new technologies and products – in the southwestern Ontario region.  Opening the doors for  economic modernism will lead prosperity back to London and the surrounding municipalities.  We must look carefully at what can be done in the short term and also what this budget means for down the road  action and advantages.”

Starting tonight at 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

London has pulled out all the stops for this event.  We’re welcoming guests from around the world and we’re lighting London up for the occasion.  Join me to discuss and learn what’s happening this week and how we can continue the momentum.

London has been chosen by the makers of the da Vinci Surgical System – as the exclusive training centre for robotic surgery in Canada.  Complete stories can be found at

or

This is another good news story for London.

Our host location for 2013 will be the Aeolian Hall.
(795 Dundas Street – at Rectory Street – uptown in the Old East Village).

Members of Council and I will be looking forward to meeting everyone – special guests for the event will be the Mayor’s Honourees for 2013.

We  will be collecting non perishable food donations for the London Food Bank.

- check it out here.

Great job and lots of good information.

City of London – Report to the Community

On July 24, 2012 Council recommended that Civic Departments, Boards, Commissions and outside agencies table a draft 2013 budget with a target of 0.0% tax levy increase.

Getting the right balance – making certain every tax dollar allocated and spent brings value to the lives of Londoners – is what Council and staff will focus on.

AND we want Londoners to have every opportunity to be as engaged and as informed as they want to be.

You can find information about the budget  – public meetings and workshops at

www.london.ca OR join the live stream to watch budget meetings.

  Send your email messages to budget@london.ca

The budget document will be online and available for viewing – following its presentation
at committee on December 4th. www.london.ca/budget

Students from St. Mary's Choir School gather round the Christmas tree with London's Mayor – Joe Fontana. The children made the decorations and traveled to City Hall to decorate one of the trees on display in the lobby. City staff and visitors were also treated to a number of carols.