City of Peterborough Accepting Applications For Low Income Senior & Low Income Property Tax Assistance

Applications are open for The City of Peterborbough Low-Income Senior & Low-Income Property Tax Assistance Program.

Qualifying applicants receive a $400 tax credit on their municipal property tax accounts to be applied to the February 2023 interim tax bill.  Anyone who previously received more than a $400 credit is grandfathered in at their higher credit amount. 

Property owners can apply under one of the following qualifications:

1. Low-Income Senior aged 65 years or older

2. Low-Income Senior aged 55-64 years of age

3. Low-Income Persons with a disability receiving benefits under the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

Applications are available on the City’s website or at the City Hall Tax Office, 500 George St. N. Anyone that received tax credits this year, automatically receives a 2023 Property Tax Assistance application in the mail.

Feb. 10 is the deadline for submitting this application.

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Federal and Provincial Government Investing Over $56 Million For High-Speed Internet to Over 16,000 Homes In Eastern Ontario

Both the federal and provincial governments announced more than $56 million in combined funding to provide high-speed internet access to over 16,000 households in rural communities across Eastern Ontario, announced at Selwyn Public Library on Wednesday.

Government of Canada claims that they are ensuring that 98 per cent of Canadians have access to high-speed internet by 2026 and 100 per cent by 2030. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Amarjot Sandhu, Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure were in attendance to make the announcements on behalf of their respective governments.

Three projects are done by Bell and Cogeco to bring high-speed internet. Bell’s projects are set to be completed between March and December 2025 while Cogeco’s project is set to be completed by March 2024.

"We all know that internet is no longer a luxury in this day and age, it’s a necessity,” said Hutchings. “Access to fast, reliable internet helps rural Canadians by levelling the playing field so they can access essential services like health care and education, participate in the digital economy, or simply connect with loved ones."

“Our government is building a stronger Ontario by delivering on our commitment to achieve 100 per cent connectivity across the province by the end of 2025,” said Sandhu. “These projects will expand high-speed internet access to more unserved and underserved communities across eastern Ontario and they will ensure Ontarians have the ability to learn, work, participate in the agriculture sector, access critical health services and connect with loved ones.”

Rural communities from Omemee to Gooderham are eligible for the high-speed Internet upgrade.

A list of rural communities and service providers bringing high-speed Internet to their respective locations and investments made. Screenshot.

When asked about Internet affordability, Hutchings said there is ‘Connecting Families 2.0’ to allow low-income housing a form of a rebate through Canada Revenue Agency through Child Care Benefit or include low-income seniors receiving the maximum Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). Households will receive letters through the CRA and can use them to contact their respective Internet service provider to claim the benefit according to Hutchings.

The existing $10 Internet plan offering under Connecting Families 1.0 also remains available.

“That’s for low-income families that can avail of $10 or $20 a month Internet and it’s a partnership of the Internet Services Providers,” said Hutchings.

Since April 1, Connecting Families 2.0 was launched that significantly faster speeds and increased data usage amount. It boasted download and upload speeds that are five and ten times faster, respectively, than in the first phase of Connecting Families. The data cap also doubled from 100 to 200 GB of usage per month.

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The City of Peterborough Offering Special Curbside Collection of Household Batteries

Updated: 12:46 p.m., Oct. 27, 2022.

The City of Peterborough is holding a special curbside collection of used household batteries during the first week of November, announced on Wednesday.

Most household batteries contain toxic chemicals such as cadmium, lead, lithium, or sulfuric acid. If old batteries end up in a landfill, pollutants like these can leak out and contaminate groundwater, damage fragile ecosystems, and potentially make their way into the food chain. Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

Battery recycling bags were distributed inside local newspapers last Thursday. Anyone who did not receive a bag can use a zip-lock bag or pick up a battery bag at City Hall, located at 500 George St. N.

Battery bags (pictured) have already been sent to residences with their local newspaper. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Bags of batteries are to be placed on top of the blue box used for paper during the week of Nov. 1-4. Ensure the bag is sealed properly as batteries can cause fires if not properly disposed of.

This collection is available within City limits and is not collected from county addresses as part of this collection.

Anyone missing the collection or living in an apartment can take used batteries to the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Depot at 400 Pido Rd. It is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. 

For more details, please call the Waste Management Division at 742-7777 ext. 1657.

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Peterborough Municipal Election Signs Approved For Recycling

Municipal election signs have been deemed safe to recycle announced by the City of Peterborough on Tuesday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The signs are made of white corrugated plastic sheeting — commonly called Coroplast — and have been added to the list of recyclable materials. City of Peterborough’s recycling services provider, Emterra, found a company that will accept the material for reuse according to a press release.

Coroplast election signs can be dropped off at the Material Recycling Facility at 390 Pido Rd. in one of the designated bins that are marked for election signs. Only the Coroplast part of the sign is accepted as any metal or wood post with it must be removed. The signs will not be accepted through curbside collection for recycling.

Candidates typically collect their election signs following elections.

Most election signs are made from Coroplast. The interior is a white corrugated plastic material which can be seen on the edges of the sign. Signs that have black interiors or edges are not made of Coroplast and are not recyclable.

Signs are to be recycled by no later than Nov. 30.

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Green Waste Collection Runs Until Nov. 25

The City of Peterborough is continuing its weekly Green Waste Collection through Nov. 25.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

All leaf and yard waste are accepted with no quantity limit. All individual bags or containers must not exceed 22 kg (50 lbs). Brush can be tied in bundles weighing not more than the same weight with a length of up to 1 m (3 ft) and a diameter of up to 30.5 cm (12 in).

The City says green waste should be put out after 6 p.m. the night before or no later than 7 a.m. the morning of your regular waste collection. 

Place in paper yard waste bags, bushel baskets or garbage bins with yellow "Green Waste" labels. Plastic bags are not accepted. 

The City urges everyone to not rake fallen leaves on the road since they can clog storm drains and create slippery conditions.

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List of Peterborough City Services During Thanksgiving

Several City services and facilities are offering modified hours or will be closed on Thanksgiving on Monday.

Wild turkeys have their feathers shimmer from the sun. Photo by Dave Ellis.

City Hall

City Hall, including Building Services, the Clerk’s Office and the Tax Office, will be closed. Online services are available at www.peterborough.ca.

Public Works

Public Works can be reached at 705-745-1386. This line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Arenas Division

The Arenas Division Customer Service at the Healthy Planet Arena will be open from noon to 3 p.m.

The Healthy Planet Arena will be open from noon to 10 p.m. A Public Skate is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The Peterborough Memorial Centre and Kinsmen Arena will be closed.

Art Gallery of Peterborough

The Art Gallery of Peterborough will be closed on Monday.

For information about gallery exhibitions, and programs, please visit www.agp.on.ca.

Garbage, recycling and green waste

There will be no change to curbside collection of garbage, recycling and green waste.

The Peterborough County and City Waste Management Facility (landfill) and the Household Hazardous Waste Depot will be closed on Monday.

The Pido Road Recycling Depot remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more details, please call the City of Peterborough Waste Management Division at 705-742-7777 ext. 1657.

Marina

The Marina will be open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, October 10. This is the final day of Marina operations for the 2022 season. To contact the Marina, please phone 705-745-8787 or email marina@peterborough.ca.

Peterborough Museum and Archives

The Peterborough Museum and Archives and gift shop are open from noon to 5 p.m. on Monday.

Information about current exhibitions is available online at www.peterborough.ca/museum.

Peterborough Public Library

The Peterborough Public Library will be closed on Thanksgiving Monday. Information and digital resources are online at www.ptbolibrary.ca.

Provincial Offences office

The Provincial Offences office at 99 Simcoe St. will be closed on Monday. Fine payments can be made online at www.peterborough.ca/POA.

Social Services office

The Social Services office at 178 Charlotte St. will be closed.

Emergency shelter services remain open: call 705-926-0096 after hours, during weekends and on holidays.

Child care centres

City-operated child care centres will be closed on Monday.

Sport and Wellness Centre

The Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre will be open on October 10 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Visit www.peterborough.ca/recreation for information about programs and schedules.

Transit

Peterborough Transit will operate on a Sunday/Holiday service schedule on Monday.

Please visit the website www.peterborough.ca/transit or call 705-745-0525 for detailed schedules.

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City Of Peterborough Addresses Voter Notification Cards Printing Errors

UPDATED: 3:27 p.m. Sept 30, 2022

Voter Notification Cards have random numbers printed under voting dates on the back and the City of Peterborough has assured that dates for online voting, advance polls and Election Day are correctly printed.

File Photo.

On the Voter Notification Cards that have random numbers instead of dates next to the locations for in-person voting, the first three dates with “A” beside them are for advance voting days – the first in the list is for Oct. 8, the second is for Oct. 15 and the third date should read Oct.22. The final locations on the list – those without an A beside them – are locations for Election Day on Oct. 24.

All other information on the Voter Notification Cards is correct.

The City has apologized for any confusion this may cause.

Key election dates

• Online voting – opens Oct. 1 and continues until 8 p.m. on Oct. 24

  • Advance voting – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 17 - 21 at the following locations:

    • Ward 1 – Otonabee: Healthy Planet Arena, 911 Monaghan Rd.

    • Ward 2 – Monaghan: Westdale United Church, 1509 Sherbrooke St.

    • Ward 3 – Town: Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St. N.

    • Ward 4 – Ashburnham: Lions Community Centre, 347 Burnham St.

    • Ward 5 – Northcrest: Northview Community Church, 1000 Fairbairn St.

    • Advance accessible voting – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 17 - 22 at City Hall, 500 George St. N.

    • Election Day – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 24, polls open at designated locations throughout the City

Please note that for advance voting dates and Election Day, voters need to go to one of the polling locations in their designated ward/electoral district. Their designated polling locations are listed on their Voter Notification Card.

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City of Peterborough Holding Public Information Centre for Kennedy Road Snow Storage Facility

The City of Peterborough is hosting a Public Information Centre to provide information on proposed improvements to the Kennedy Road Snow Storage Facility and receive feedback announced on Friday.

File Photo.

The session is this Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the City Hall Foyer at 500 George St. N.

Comments may be submitted to the City via the project website or residents can reach the City’s consultant Stephanie Reeder, P. Geo., C.E.T. at Cambium Inc., by phone at 705-872-8797.

The evaluation is based on considered capital costs, general operation and maintenance costs, overall pros and cons, environmental impact and community impact, the preferred snow management design involves stockpiling the snow on an asphalt melt pad area, with runoff contained within a stormwater management pond and discharged to the Otonabee River.

Depending on the received comments the City plans to proceed with the completion of the Class EA for this project. This will include confirming the preferred alternative and moving into the detailed design component of the project.

Information regarding the Class Environmental Assessment is available on the City’s community consultation website www.connectptbo.ca/snow-storage-facility.

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City of Peterborough Accepting Bookings for Final Curbside Large Item Pickup of the Year

The City of Peterborough is accepting online bookings for large-item curbside pickups for the week of Sep. 26 as the final service of the year.

File Photo.

Bookings must be arranged by 11:59 p.m. on Sep. 22 online. The cost is $30 for the first item and $10 for each additional piece.

Mattresses and box springs do not count as the first item and are $30 apiece to be disposed of. Any mattress and/or boxspring infected by bed bugs, these items must be placed in a clear plastic bag.

Free bags (one per item) are available from the City (pick up at City Hall and Public Works).

The following are the City’s terms and conditions for large-item pickups.

• Please note that all materials must be set out curbside by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled day of pick up. Materials may be set out the day before but not until after 7:00 p.m.

• Public Works starts collecting large articles at 7:00 a.m. on the Monday of the collection week, and collections may continue for several days before the entire City is completed. Please do not remove items from the curb if they have not been collected on Monday.

• Refrigeration appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, etc. must be tagged as having the refrigerant removed. Items not tagged will NOT be picked up.

• Construction, renovation or demolition materials are not collected at the curb.

• If the item is or contains glass, the glass should be taped corner to corner with an X for safety

• No refunds for cancelled service

The following items are accepted as large articles:

• Air conditioner*

• Air hockey table

• Area rug/carpet/underpad (rolled)

• Bathtub

• BBQ (no propane tanks)

• Bicycle

• Box spring/bed frame

• Chair (any type)

• Change table

• Chesterfield (sectionals — each piece counts as one item)

• Crib

• Cushion/vinyl flooring (rolled)

• Dehumidifier*

• Desk

• Dishwasher

• Dresser

• Dryer

• Entertainment centre

• Exercise equipment

• Exhaust hood

• Filing cabinet

• Floor lamp

• Freezer*

• Furnace

• Garden tools

• Golf cart

• Humidifier

• Ironing board

• Ladder

• Laundry tub

• Lawnmower

• Lounge chair

• Loveseat

• Mattress (any size)

• Metal storm/screen door

• Microwave

• Ottoman

• Outdoor furniture (each piece = one item)

• Packing/Steamer trunk

• Patio umbrella

• Planter

• Pool cover

• Portable heater

• Refrigerator*

• Shower stall

• Sink

• Snowblower

• Stove

• Swing set

• Table (any size)

• Toaster oven

• Toilet (tank + stool = one item)

• Washing machine

• Water heater (domestic)

• Wood stove

*Freon must be removed from the item before it can be accepted in the collection; certification of removal must be displayed with the item.

The following items are NOT accepted as large articles:

• Televisions, computers, electronics (take to Hazardous and Electronic Waste Depot)

• Freon items without certification that the Freon has been removed

• Fluorescent Tubes, propane tanks (take to Hazardous and Electronic Waste Depot)

• Construction and demolition waste

• Tires or other automobile parts (free disposal of tires is available at the Landfill)

• Fuel tanks, 45-gallon drums

• Metal garage doors

• Metal doors

• Mirrors, windows

• Piano/organ

• Stones, blocks, bricks, aggregate

• Roofing materials and eavestroughing

• Fluorescent light bulbs (take to Hazardous and Electronic Waste Depot)

• Cupboards, cabinets, wooden doors

• Above ground pools

• Fencing (wood or wire), fence stakes or posts

• Outdoor storage sheds, dog houses

• Hot tubs

• Bathroom vanity

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

City of Peterborough Accepting Bookings for Next Large Item Pickup

The City of Peterborough is accepting online bookings for large-item pickups for the week of July 25.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Bookings must be arranged by 11:59 p.m. on July 21 online. The cost is $30 for the first item and $10 for each additional piece.

Mattresses and box springs do not count as the first item and are $30 apiece to be disposed of. Any mattress and/or boxspring infected by bed bugs, these items must be placed in a clear plastic bag.

Free bags (one per item) are available from the City (pick up at City Hall and Public Works).

The following are the City’s terms and conditions for large-item pickups.

• Please note that all materials must be set out curbside by 7:00 a.m. on the scheduled day of pick up. Materials may be set out the day before but not until after 7:00 p.m.

• Public Works starts collecting large articles at 7:00 a.m. on the Monday of the collection week, and collections may continue for several days before the entire City is completed. Please do not remove items from the curb if they have not been collected on Monday.

• Refrigeration appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, etc. must be tagged as having the refrigerant removed. Items not tagged will NOT be picked up.

• Construction, renovation or demolition materials are not collected at the curb.

• If the item is or contains glass, the glass should be taped corner to corner with an X for safety

• No refunds for cancelled service

The following items are accepted as large articles:

• Air conditioner*

• Air hockey table

• Area rug/carpet/underpad (rolled)

• Bathtub

• BBQ (no propane tanks)

• Bicycle

• Box spring/bed frame

• Chair (any type)

• Change table

• Chesterfield (sectionals — each piece counts as one item)

• Crib

• Cushion/vinyl flooring (rolled)

• Dehumidifier*

• Desk

• Dishwasher

• Dresser

• Dryer

• Entertainment centre

• Exercise equipment

• Exhaust hood

• Filing cabinet

• Floor lamp

• Freezer*

• Furnace

• Garden tools

• Golf cart

• Humidifier

• Ironing board

• Ladder

• Laundry tub

• Lawnmower

• Lounge chair

• Loveseat

• Mattress (any size)

• Metal storm/screen door

• Microwave

• Ottoman

• Outdoor furniture (each piece = one item)

• Packing/Steamer trunk

• Patio umbrella

• Planter

• Pool cover

• Portable heater

• Refrigerator*

• Shower stall

• Sink

• Snowblower

• Stove

• Swing set

• Table (any size)

• Toaster oven

• Toilet (tank + stool = one item)

• Washing machine

• Water heater (domestic)

• Wood stove

*Freon must be removed from the item before it can be accepted in the collection; certification of removal must be displayed with the item.

The following items are NOT accepted as large articles:

• Televisions, computers, electronics (take to Hazardous and Electronic Waste Depot)

• Freon items without certification that the Freon has been removed

• Fluorescent Tubes, propane tanks (take to Hazardous and Electronic Waste Depot)

• Construction and demolition waste

• Tires or other automobile parts (free disposal of tires is available at the Landfill)

• Fuel tanks, 45-gallon drums

• Metal garage doors

• Metal doors

• Mirrors, windows

• Piano/organ

• Stones, blocks, bricks, aggregate

• Roofing materials and eavestroughing

• Fluorescent light bulbs (take to Hazardous and Electronic Waste Depot)

• Cupboards, cabinets, wooden doors

• Above ground pools

• Fencing (wood or wire), fence stakes or posts

• Outdoor storage sheds, dog houses

• Hot tubs

• Bathroom vanity

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.