IT'S NOT ALL THAT MUCH, but welcome nonetheless and most definitely a step in the right direction.

Orangeville Council has been advised that the town is eligible to receive a provincial grant of $215,286 toward the cost of providing public transit in the period October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008.

The Province is continuing to dedicate two cents per litre of the its gasoline tax to municipalities with public transit systems, the aim being to reduce congestion, improve the environment and support economic growth.

The town also stands to receive $29,397 in funding for the Orangeville Public Library as an operating grant for its 2007-08 fiscal year.

Both grants raise a single question. Why is it that neither the transit system nor the library are structured to recognize the fact that a lot of Orangeville's de facto population lives beyond the town's municipal boundaries.

We've long held that library, fire and recreational services ought to be provided on a regional basis, something that's already the case in the Shelburne area.

The same ought long since to have been the case in the Orangeville area, but for some reason the local politicians have never been able to produce a workable agreement between the town and any of its neighbours (Mono, Amaranth, East Garafraxa and Caledon).

As for public transit, it should be obvious to anyone that Orangeville Transit buses ought to operate north of town along Highway 10 to Mono Plaza and east along Highway 9 as far as Heart Lake Road.

Such a reasonable move should involve cooperation and some financial assistance from the Town of Mono, which might then be eligible for a provincial grant as a community with some public transit.