WINNIPEG - February 24, 2009 - Have you ever stopped to think about ‘where music comes from?’ We often think of the plant kingdom as a peaceful, quiet, world – but it’s so much more! Many of the musical instruments which make an orchestra ‘sing’ were once part of that world: with its Winter’s Swan Song Program, the Assiniboine Park Conservatory is dedicating the month of March to celebrating this connection.

From February 28, 2009 to March 26, 2009, the Assiniboine Park Conservatory invites Winnipeggers of all ages to join us for “Winter’s Swan Song”, celebrating the beauty of the natural world, and the beauty of music. For almost the entire month of March, we’ll be featuring a series of wonderful musical experiences and opportunities.

Highlights of the month’s events include a performance by Juno-nominated children’s performer Aaron Burnett on February 28, a chance to meet Winnipeg musicians and get a closer look at the instruments they play at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra “Petting Zoo” on March 4, an Aboriginal drum-making workshop with Elder Betson Prince on March 8, an early celebration of St. Patrick’s Day with ceili band Beggar’s Brawl on March 13 (bring your own instrument along and join in!), and a Winnipeg Pops Orchestra concert on March 22.

The Conservatory is pleased to announce that, from Wednesday, March 11, to Sunday, March 15, the Six String Nation Guitar is in town!  The Six String Nation Guitar, nicknamed “Voyageur”, after the intrepid explorers and Winnipeg’s own Festival du Voyageur, is returning to Winnipeg for the Assiniboine Park Conservatory’s Winter’s Swan Song.

The guitar, known as “Canada’s national guitar”, because it’s assembled of 63 unique Canadian artifacts (including, for example, a piece of Paul Henderson’s hockey stick), will be available for sessions with Winnipeg schools under the sponsorship of the Conservatory this March. There will also be opportunities to have photos taken with the guitar at the Conservatory, on Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

If a group from your school would like to arrange a session with the Six String Nation Guitar, or if you would like more information about any of the concerts or programs that are part of Winter’s Swan Song at the Assiniboine Park Conservatory, please contact Melissa Scouten, Education Coordinator, at mscouten@winnipeg.ca, or by telephone at 204-986-2400.

More information on the Winter’s Swan Song calendar of events is also available at the Conservatory’s web site, http://www.winnipeg.ca/cms/ape/conservatory/. We’re looking forward to seeing you sometime during this very special, musical, March, at the Assiniboine Park Conservatory.

WINNIPEG - February 24, 2009 - Committed to providing a competitive environment in uncertain economic times, Mayor Sam Katz today joined Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dave Angus and business owner Rob Clement, to highlight plans in this years 2009 Operating budget to remove the business tax for the city’s smallest businesses.

“We are making a major statement today by eliminating one-third of the businesses in our city from having to pay the job-killing business tax,” said Mayor Sam Katz. “I have worked with council to reduce the tax citywide by 20%, and we are taking steps in this budget to provide tax relief to benefit our smallest businesses in uncertain economic times.”

“We applaud Mayor Katz for moving forward on the elimination of the business tax for small businesses in Winnipeg,” said Dave Angus. “The timing of this announcement couldn’t come at a better time as it will help lessen the financial burden on thousands of businesses during these tough economic times and make the business climate in Winnipeg even more competitive.”

“As a small business owner any tax relief that we can receive is greatly appreciated,” said Rob Clement, sales manager of Postime Signs.

Businesses with an annual rental value (ARV) of $14,040 or less in 2009 are eligible to claim the credit. It is estimated that 3,865 businesses, or 33% of all businesses, will receive an offsetting credit reducing their 2009 municipal business taxes to zero. There is no application process required, since the credit will be based on the business assessment, it will be applied automatically once the eligibility criteria is met.

On February 20, 2009, the Executive Policy Committee tabled and referred the 2009 Preliminary Operating Budget and Financial Plan for 2010 and 2011 to the following budget process timetable and opportunities for public consultation, namely:

* * * * *

Le budget supprime la taxe pour les plus petites entreprises de la ville
Un tiers des entreprises de Winnipeg seront débarrassées d’une taxe qui fait disparaître des emplois

Winnipeg, le 24 février – Déterminé à pouvoir offrir un environnement concurrentiel dans une période économique incertaine, le maire Sam Katz a rejoint aujourd’hui le PDG de la Chambre de Commerce de Winnipeg Dave Angus et le propriétaire d’entreprise Rob Clement afin de mettre l’accent sur les projets de suppression de la taxe d’entreprise pour les plus petites entreprises de la ville du budget de fonctionnement de 2009.

« Aujourd’hui, nous prenons position en exemptant un tiers des entreprises de la ville d’une taxe qui fait disparaître des emplois, a déclaré le maire Sam Katz. Le Conseil et moi avons travaillé pour réduire la taxe de 20 % dans toute la ville, et nous prenons des mesures dans ce budget afin de débarrasser les petites entreprises de cette taxe au cours d’une période économique incertaine. »

« Nous saluons le maire Katz qui progresse vers l’élimination de la taxe d’entreprise pour les petites entreprises de Winnipeg, a dit Dave Angus. Ces mesures arrivent à point nommé car elles soulageront des milliers d’entreprises de ce fardeau financier durant cette crise économique et permettront d’améliorer la concurrence des entreprises de Winnipeg. »

« En tant que propriétaire d’une petite entreprise, j’apprécie toute exemption d’impôts, a annoncé Rob Clement, directeur des ventes à Postime Signs. »

Les entreprises dont la valeur locative annuelle est inférieure ou égale à 14 040 $ en 2009 ont droit à un crédit. On estime à 3 865 le nombre d’entreprises, soit 33 % de toutes les entreprises, qui recevront un crédit compensatoire amenant leur taxe d’entreprise à zéro. Aucune méthode de demande n’est requise vu qu’on établira le crédit par rapport à l’évaluation commerciale. Le crédit sera attribué automatiquement, après que les critères d’admissibilité aient été remplis.

Le 20 février 2009, le Comité exécutif a déposé le budget de fonctionnement préliminaire de 2009 et le plan financier pour 2010 et 2011 et les a renvoyés à l’horaire du processus budgétaire qui suit :

WINNIPEG - February 24, 2009 - The public is advised that a salting operation on main routes was initiated earlier this afternoon to address the accumulation of snow that is expected, and to improve driving conditions for afternoon rush hour traffic. Snow is expected to continue to fall for the next few hours, and the public is reminded to reduce speed due to road conditions and allow additional travelling time.

As temperatures are expected to fall, Public Works will also be spreading sand on main routes, bus routes and collector streets this evening and overnight to improve traction on the roadway.

Public Works is continuing to monitor weather forecasts and road conditions and a truck plowing operation may be undertaken should the city receive greater accumulations of snow than forecasted.

Motorists are also reminded that the annual Snow Route Overnight Parking Ban, that went into effect on December 1, 2008, remains in effect until March 1, 2009. The public should note that if they park a vehicle on a street designated as a Snow Route, that vehicle must be moved by 2:00 a.m.

Motorists are reminded to use extreme caution when driving near any plowing or sanding equipment.