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PMW. ,2, WEDNESDAY. lUI Y2 1986. WHITBY FREE Kid Check The kid check beld inside the Bank of Nova Meînnis, director of the Kinette Club of Whit- Scotia during the recent BIA discovery day by. The kid check was sponsored by the was a buge success. Here four-yéar-old Brent Durham Chapter of Child Find. Lomer has a print of bis hand made by Ann FreePress Staff Photo NEB explosion findings released A. National Energy Board report on an inquiry into the gas line explosion last October that kidled one man and injureci tbreeothers bas concluded that there was Insufficient regard for establisbed proceedures and a relaxation of atten- tiveness" on tbe part of TransCanada Pipelines employee responsible for staklng the line. The report, released last week, states that there was no evidence that TCPL's methods of locatlng buried facilities were deficient or that bunian inexperience or a lack o! training were significant factors. Tbere was, however, a breacb of NEB regulations requiring that application be made to the board for authorization to make a crossing of tbe pipeline. The board furtber found that "in thîs in- stance, as in so many otbers involving rep. titive buman activities, there was insufficient regard for established proceedures and a relaxation of atten- tlveness born perhaps of (the TCPL employee's>, familiarity with tbe work at band. " The accident occurred on October 17 of last year when one or two bigh pressure gas pipelines traversing the Guy family farm north of Osbawa was ruptured SEE PG. 13 Macdon aid Commission 1too littie, too late BY JAN DODGE Free Press Staff There are no viable solutions to scbool fun- ding difficulties in the Macdonald Com- mission's report Ruth Lafarga said. The cbairman of the Durbam Board of Education said the report is a good basis for discussion but, along wîtb the report of tbe Sbapiro Commission, it should bave preceded any major changes in the education system. Former Premier Bll Davis armounced the formation of the two commissions (the Mac- donald Commission to study the financing of elementary and secon- dary education, and the Shapiro Commission to study private scbools) at the same time be an- nounced the extension of funding to grades il and 12 in the separate schools (Bill 30). Now Lafarga said the public is faced with seeing potential changes in the metbod of funding (tbe com- mission report suggests the pooling of commer- cial and industrial assessment between the public and separate boards in the same proportion as they receive from residential and farm assessments) a move in IRoman Catbolic assessment in January of 1987, and the issue of market value assessment. "There is too mucb owners," Lafarga said. "'Recommendations in the report will increase tbis burden." Tbe commissiofl's recommendation that there be an education tax on personal incomne is not a solution she said. "'That money would go into a general fund. There are no guarantees that it would go to education." Under the recomn- mendation residential and farm ratepayers could dlaim a property tax credit from the province equal to an ap- proved portion of the education property taxes paid to local school boards. This rebate could be incor- porated into the annual personal income tax as a part of Ontario's calculation. Lafarga noted that a discussion is now on to simplify taxation. This move to collect money for education through personal Income tax would further corn- plicate an already corn- pllcated system she said. Ever since Bill 30 was mentioned, Lafarga said, the Durham Board bas been asking wbere the money was going to, come from to finanice the duplication of ser- vices for separate and public boards. "We were told to wait for the Macdonald Comn- mission's report." Sbe said that with tbe report does not see how it is going to be compen- sated for losses due to the bill. The issue of capital funding she said, is not addressed by the com- mission. The ministry does not have funds for sehools in growing areas, she said. That's wby Durham and many other boards have to use 50 many portables to accommodate students particularly at the elementary level. Durham, York and Peel are tbe areas of fastest growth in -the province. Durbam's public board will use 247 portables to ýaccom- modate 6,422 students In September, Jim Russell, superintendent of plant, said. Tbese resources will be furtber dralned with tbe extension of funding Lafarga said. "Bill 30 is creating a demnand ia the separate system for secondary scbools. We alieady have the facilities for those students, but in the elemnentary panel our needs are not met." She said the two boards would be ln competition for capital funding: the separate board wanting money for secondary schools, the public board wanting money for elementary schools. Witb Bill 82 which made provisions for ex- ceptional students in- cluding tbe develop- SEE PG. 13<