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F OHC WHITBY-The Ontario Hous- ing Corporation has turned thuînbs down on a proposai to use the site of the former Whitby Arcna as a public project. Council received word last week that the property's com- miercial zoning, which requ ires the ground floor of develop- ments to contain commercial- s-y. facilities, is not suitable for OHC's housing program. The corporation added il strives 10 provide family-type accommodation in a iower density form of housing aparrnents. "Should the property ul- tinateiy be developed pri- vately, we would be pleased to consider leasinî! from the n.» t.» owner a smiall proportion of the units under our Rent Supplemnent Plan," OHC stated. Council received three ten- ders for the arena site in Novemnberl, two of which were for low rentai housing. Ray Bibeau, of Brookiin, submitted a tender for 30 an)artments- -with commercial oreneu outlets on the ground floor, made up of two or three- bedroom units and 45 one- bedroom units for senior citizen 5. The require Housing ing and tender. town noted it would Central Mortgage and gCorporation finane- 1was flot the highest FAM LV RETUWI 10 CENTS PER COPY VOL. 20 NO.DL2 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28,1972 sl Whitby mayor Des Newman appears to be ini a minority position in his belief that the basic concept of the Oshawa-centered region, announced last week, makes good sense. Mayors and other municipal leaders in the areas affected by the new plan, for the most part, are sec- thing with indignation and have vowed an ali-out fight to try to change the government's mind. Mayor Newman, foliowing the announcernent of the new region by Charles MacNaugh- ton, said he thought the schemne made good sense fromn a planning point of view. However, he did say he is concerned the proposed new Pickering airport and the resi- dential deveiopment for 200, 000 adjacent 10 it might flot be included. This area was mentioned; in the saine breath as the new region by the Ontario treas-r uirer, but with the expiana- tory note that no firrn deci- sion hias yet been reached on the malter. Metro Chairman Ab Camp- bell secs the new region as mnaking it casier to develop an overail transportation plan. He said dealings with ad- jacent inunicipalities wiIi be sim-plified if thcy are broughit together in a single region. "We have got 10 get rapid transi t," hie said. "Existing railway rights-of-way extend fronm near the Warden Ave. subway terminai into arcas of Pickering where massive hous- ing and the new airport are projccted," lie said. Pro tests The greatest storni of pro- test appears 10 be cenlered in the Port Hope and Cobourg regiomîs. Mayor Michael Wladyka, of Port Hope, said his reac- lion is one of dismnay and disappointiment. "There go ouir plans for a stronger local-commiun ity and a sense of pride and'idcntity," lie said as lie vowcd Uc wili lfighit "tooth and nail" 10 get the governinent to sec il is wrong by including Port Hope and Cobourg iniaan Oshawa- cen tcred region. Mayor Jack Heenan, of Cobourg said lic was "siniply stunncd." He addcd tUat lhe iliouglit his arca would have been inciuded ini a forth- comning regional area centcrcd by Peterborough. 6i It's conipletely di fféren t fromn anlyîing we have been led Io believe," said Heenan. Mrs. Lenahi Fisher, Co- bouig's deputy-rceve was even more emphatic. "I'm raging mad," she saîd. Counicillor Mac Lees said hie didn't believe "there is any real thought behind the plan." Generally, the response in the west end of the new re- gion closest to Metro was a little more favorable. 'How- ever, here, too, the rumble of discontentwas clearly audible. Reîiring mayor, William LeGros, of Ajax, said, It's incredible that municipalities and towns can be moved and destroyed by- provincial ediet." He charged that the move to regional governiment is an attempt by Queen's Park 10 gel more control over mu- nicipalities. Controiiedl "Regional counicillors will serve their people and they'li stili lhave a voice but it will be a controlled voice-controlled by Queen's Park," lie said. Mr. Legros said this will be especially truc of the first year of regionai governiment ini the area. "Queen's Park wiII appoint the first chair- man of the government and only in subsequient years will the regional councillors hiave tlie say in their choicc of leadership." The retiring nayor said " righit now the average person can reach his municipal offi- ciais. Under regionai govern- nient oniy those withi an in will be hecard. It destroys everytinig." He added thiat hie felt the scleee closcd the door 10 would-bc municipal poli- cians wiio don't hiave a lot of nI1ofly. LeGros, who said lie per- sonaliy spent in excess of $3,000 in hiis iast miayoraiîy bid, predictcd much higher camipaign costs Liflder the niew regionial systemi. "4The average person just won't bc able 10 seck muni- cipal office anyiiiore. And before you knlow il therc'il be party politics ai this level and that wili rcally be a mess with Liberals fighting Con- servatives and so on," lie said. (Co>iinued wi Page 3) Cornmuriity Conscience, the somewhat controversial local LIP program came to an officiai end prior ta the Christmas holiday. husContrary to the many LIP programs that are difficut to pinpoint or locate, Communty Conscience advertised its downtown head- quarters at Brock Street North quite openly. Visitors were welcome ta inspect the youth-oriented operation any day during normal business the same time ponders her own future. in our photo above Elaine Gulliver, 24, one of 10 now jobless with the closing of the program, admires the sign over the window and at for LIP prograrns such as Community Conscience for the time being. During its 1 1-month lifespan, Community Conscience spearheaded everything from promotion of smatl local service clubs, from building a Ipet cemetery ta record ing the names of tombstones at local graveyards for the Whitby Archives. oxtensions. ln operation from December 20, 1971 ta November 31, 1972, the programn was able ta maintain its services with two government $56,000.00 later the programn, epitomnized by Gibb as "the pulse of Whitby," came ta a hait. Readers are învited ta send their comments- on Community Conscience ta the Whitby Free Press, Box 206, Whitby. Photo by Alex Kainins soite A second tender was for a 5,000 square foot retail out- let by William Winter of Win- valley Construction, Whitby. A third tender, submnitted by Bruno Harilaid, Whitby apartment owner, proposed the formation of a company of five directors for a 30-unit housing developmenî. 1 U&J - - - %là %,lui -4-- PRESýslý 1 ý