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PAGE 26. WEI)NESIDAY. MAY 20, 1981, WIIITBY FREE PRESS Report from Queen's Park By THE HON. GEORGE ASHE, MPP (PC - Durham West) Ontario Minister of Revenue I have had a few calls and letters regarding the controver- sial urea formaldehyde foam insulation so this week's report will discuss that subject. A recent report has stirred up much controversy about the potential risks associated with the federally endorsed use of urea formaldehyde foam insulation. The report's authors speculated that this product may break down after in- stallation releasing formaldehyde gas and creating a poten- tial health threat. The extent of the threat, if any, has not been determined. In response to the report drafted by an expert medical ad- visory committee, the federal health and welfare minister has permanently banned the use of the material. The com- mittee recommended that the federal government launch a nation-wide survey of the homes where insulation has been WEED CONTROL 668-9710 WEED CONTROL$1 7.00 FERTILIZING $18.00 AVERAGE SIZE LAWN Government Licensed t '-..~ .4 v Guaranteed GAS BARBECUE * 15,00() BTU hurners *304 sq. in. cooking area VISIT Wanda & Tony Martin at COMPLETE HARDWARE STORE I WHUTBY DOMINION HARDWARE 319 Brock St. S. 668-345 Insulation problem must be solved installed to determine what the danger is and to take sub- sequent action by instituting a nation-wide retrofit program to deal with the problems presented. To date a comprehensive plan has not been implemented. Anxious to have the situation clarified, the Government of Ontario is exerting daily pressure on federal authorities to in- form the provinces of the federal government's course of ac- tion. Ontario health minister Dennis Timbrell has pledged the technical assistance and advice of the ministry's staff and the fine-tune testing equipment of the ministry of labour has been offered. The Government of Ontario is ready and able to assist the federal government and provide greater security for any On- tario residents affected. The responsibility for the task, however, rests squarely on the shoulders of the federal Lodge expansion CONT'D FROM PG. I were to have eliminated 25 beds from the home, however, agreement has already been reached by the province and the region to replace them. The funds that are curren- tly being sought to provide for an additional 25 beds to increase the home's capacity by that amount. The renovations were un- dertaken as a result of a study completed after an outbreak of salmonella at the home in 1979. If the additional grant money is approved, the region will spend some $3 million on the home over the next few years. DeHart told council that it makes good sense to con- struct the expansion while the renovations are being done. He also said that the ex- pansion was needed if the region is going to reduce the list of 500 names of those people applying for admit- tance to one of the region's three homes for the aged. The size of the list, DeHart said, proves the need for DOG TRAINING CLASSES 10 week basic obedience course, outdoors, Starting June1, 1981. Location KLAUMAR KENNELS BROOKLIN Information- 686-1612 655-4871 new beds and that the region has a good chance of getting the grant. During the last provincial election campaign, the then minister of community and social services, Keith Nor- ton, announced that the freeze on funds for capital improvements to homes for the aged would be lifted. Regional officials said that the new beds would not be ready until 1983. While regional councillors gave their full support to the Fairview Lodge expansion, they were hesitant to sup- port another motion that called for the construction of a new home for the aged in the Town of Newcastle. That motion was referred to the finance committee for further study. Airport defeated CONT'D F ROM PG. 6 should not support the idea of an airport unless coun- cillors knew what they were getting into. The council should make a decision on whether or not to support the development of an international airport when the federal gover- nment shows them the plans, she added. Regional Councillor John DeHart (Oshawa), who in- troduced the motion along with Alex Robertson (Pickering), told council that the airport was needed in order to encourage economic growth. "If we don't go after it, it'tl end up around Hamilton," he said. government. It is at this level that the problem was initiated. It has the necessary resources to do the job and is directly responsible to all Canadians who may be affected. Approximately 100,000 homes have been insulated with the urea formaldehyde product across the coiuntry. One-quarter of these homeowners obtained federal assistance for this in- sulation. We can only discover the extent of the problem and tackle it effectively if the recommendations are followed. The matter will have to be reassessed if the federal gover- nment refuses to exercise its responsibility. I am personally concerned that any potential threat be identified and removed as quickly as possible and am disap- pointed that the federal minister has not implemented the report's recommendations with greater haste. However, I do believe the concerted effort demonstrated by this gover- nment will result in the development and implementation of a co-ordinated, comprehensive plan. National Book Week in Whitby Judy McIntosh, the children's librarian at the Whitby Public Library, took time out to browse through some Canadian books last week with Joel Gingrich, 6, Meghan Udall, 6, and their first grade teacher Beverley Dunn. The two E.A. Fairman students stopped off at the display celebrating National Book Week, May 11-15. - Free Press Staff Photo Safety around electricity is no shock to you. ontario hydro uun VISA - HE