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Durham.policejoýinprts By Mark Reesor Durham Regional Police are today (Wednesday) joining the hatiesa protest of officers in Metro and Peel protesting the Rae government's "anti-police actions." Durham' police association members voted unanimously to stop wearing their uniform bhats at a special police association meeting Monday night. The?ob action is to begin today to coincide with the start of a police sup port rally at ueen's Park. Cadets and pro tionary constables are exempted. The association also voted to urge ail members to continue wearing bhie'. ribbons,* participate in the police support rally, cali on Premier Rae to meet with police and begin a public awareness cainpaign using the slogan "police and public safety firat." President Dale Allan says more members turned out for the meeting than any other the association bas ever had. He says the membership is concerned about the government's decision to require officers to write a report every time they draw ae firearm, expand the public complaints- commissioner and. special investigations unit's mandate, and give credence to "pnartisan committees of anti-police groups." In a resolution also passed unanimously, association members declared "a lack of confidence" in Rae and bis government and called upon al legislature members to "put an end to the government harrassment of police and to consider an approach to. policing that will, place police and public safety as a first priority." ThMe. association bas formed a job action comnittee and Allen.saes actions *will be reviewed "with the intent of furthe expanding such if the premier does not commence the meaningful consultations." Durhamu Police Chief Trevor, McCagherty wasn't imniediately available for comment on Tuesday. Deputy chief Alex McMurray says the police service doesnt agree with the decision to stop wearinhiý,ts, -but plans no irnmediâte action. "We'1 be monitoring it on aý day-to-day basis -- our primary concern is the safety and security of the* public; we don't feel wearing or not wearing the hats willjeoparize that safety in any manner... " if there's- any escalation of, the job action particularly if it comes to issues of safety, wel cer.tai maybe take a different view on i. McMuray says . he' expects officers to continue performinig their duties in a professional manner, "and the president has assured me that they intend todo that."'. 'No'i no surprise for some B y Mke Kowalski Canadians' rejection of the Charlottetown Accord in Mon- day's referendum came as no big surprise to local officiais. But how the outcome of Canada's first national plebiscite in 50 years will impact .oný',the country'a problems remains to be A randomi survey of area politi- ciana .and 'business leaders pro- duced a general consensus that Can adians are more concerned about economic issues at this tie, than a revamping of the country's political and cultural, framnework. .However, most.tend to agree that the vote to reject the Accord hbas only postponed dealinig with the problems the Accord was purportedly aupposed te rectify By 'a majority of approximately 53percent, Canadians said no to the agreement reached by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and the provincial premiers last August. <Locally, residents of Ontario riding, which includes Whitby south, of Traunton Rd., voted yes by amargin of 46P078 te 40,34 While OntarioIRiding MP ]Rene Soetens was plased with the local resuits, e oexpressed dis- appointment in the national figures. "I expected a Yes vote in this r ding but it's not what I forecast nationally. I told people, we would Win (the Yes vote) by 55 to 58 per cent,» said Soetens. Soetens said no single factor could -ho cited as the reason for votera in seven. provinces reject- ing the Accord., Hlowever, he felt backers of the agreement had a much tougher selling job than their opponents. ..TIle 'problemn the Yes side faced was that it was a large package. T!here were 60 clauses in it, although there Were only six major issues in those clauses, Soetens explained. Soetens said that despite its length the Accord was «fairly easy te read,» but it did not specifically speli out what the, proposais meant. "Te Yes side had te, explai n it and also refute the lies and mistruths of those campaigning on the No aide.» Soetens said three «misconoep- tions» may have caused people te SER PAGE 16 0W O N RAILCARS carrying 1993 Chevy yminas from Oshawa derailed Frlday a4fternoon, west of -Thickson Rd. just north of Atlantic Packaging, damaging a signal tower, bending' track and ripping the wheels off the two car carriers.. Two other railcars were also involved, but stayed on heý track. The Luminas stayed in place and they appeared to have littie damage. A. ON worker on the soene said a faulty switch. may have caused the mishap; he said it. was fortunate the train was.only going 5 or- 10 mph. ON says %they had the ,track back' in service by, 8ý.rn. that night. Pooby Mark Reesor, Whiby Free Press v RCMP, probe, for possible violation of interest guidelines, 1«By Mike Kowalski An RCMP probe inte the awarding of igovernment contracta to a local job training flrm bas been welcomed by principals involved in the investigation. Spokesmen for both Diamond Triangle Inc. and the Durham Region Action Conunittee for Training (DRACT) are "confident" police will1 find no improprieties ini DRACT's tendering proces. Since'April, Diamond Triangle, an Ajax Job- training company, bas received about $300,00 in contracta fr-om the Whitby-baed DRACT., Diamond Trage resiYe nt Joe Gagliardi is a member'of the DRACT board of directors, while DRACT, chair Steve Reilly owns 1a percentae of Diamonid. "I nt- see that they (RCMP) will find anything that we did wrong," said Gaglardi. "Everything we do is upfront and open," he stressed. DRACT spokesman Charlotte Janssen, a Toronto lawyer, was more. emphatic. "Weé told the RCMP we wilco-operate with* them," said Janssen. 1 "DRACT is confident they have. done their. utmnost to come, up, with a blind. and fair tenderig procedure,", she'added. The'. RCimp investigation it hte conflict of interest guidehnies were violated *as prmpted by a report from the office of federal: Sictor. General Doug Lewis. Officiais. in Lewis' ministr-y had :been contacted by Oshawa MP Milce 'BraughW SEE PAGE .79 businss news (I '4 j v 'I '11 t) SeePags 8& 4 '; t' - . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144.