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* By MkeKowaloki A year-long RCMP probe into the awarding of local goverament job training contracts has exonerated the parties under in- vestigation. The RCMP's commercial crime unit bas found ne evidence of wrongdoing by officiais of either Diainond Triangle Inc. or the Durham Region Action Commit- tee for T"raining (DRACT). Allegations of a possible con- flict of interest involving persons associated with both Diamond Trian le and DRACT could not be sbsntiatd, according te, police. The RCMPinv,etioin stem- med from about $300,000 in government contracts being awarded by the Whitby-based DRACT te, Diamend Triangle, an Ajax job training company. Dianiond Triangle president Joe GaglEadi is a former mem- ber c e DRACT board of direc- tors, while former DRACT chair Steve ReilIy owns a percentage of Diamond. In a two-paragraph statement issued last Friday, RCMP said an investigation was launched after allegations of criminal acti- vitycoqncerning DRACT. FTis investigation surfaced nothing which would substan- tiate t he allegations cf criminal activity on the p art cf DRACT its members andlor its diectors!' the statement reads. Const. Michael Scott told The F'ree, Press that although the 1robe did take a year, the nature of the complaint and allegations" warranted a thorough investigation. "It was longer than somne and shorter than others I wouldn't tify it as unusual,ehe said. S1icott said "a great many people» were interviewed and that the investigation was apretty much" limited te Durham relnally don't have any com- ment. It dragged eut an awful lon g time,» said Gagliardi. "I'm glad it's over I neyer doubted the outcome,» fe said. Gapliadi said ho had ne feel- ing o vindicZation, however. "Someone took it upon them- selves te malce accusations which were unfounded,» ho said. A report from the office of federal Solicitor General Doug Lewis prompted the investiga- tion. OfficiaIs in Lewis' ministry were contacted by Oshawa MP Mike Breaugb ttr aIlegations were made te Breaughi's office. DRACT is one of nearly 200 non-governmental agencies in Ontario which are involved te some degree in delivering job training in their respective com- munities. An 18-member board of direc- tors, elected annually at a ganeral meeting, decides how job training dollars are distributed in Durhamn Region. Funding for job tramiig comas primarily from the federal Delay wanted on start of apartment bine boxes By Mike Kowalski Extending the blue box recycling progrante apartment buildings will cost hth taxpayers an additional $18,000 annually. To help reduce the impact on next year's budget, Town council last week voted te ask the Ontario geverninent for "flexibility". in implemeating new provincial waste reduction regulations. According te a public works department report, a nuinber cf regulations aimed at reducing the aineunt cf waste generated in Ontario are scbeduled te take effect next year. Included aniong the new ineasures is one requiring apartmnent buildings te participate in the blue box collection cf bottles, cana and newspapers. No such service is currently provided te the 3,600 apartment residences in Whitby. Since Durham Re gien, wbhich now provides blue box pickup in urban areas and some rural locations, doas net intend te expand its service, local municipalities must foot the bill. Based on current costs (40 cents per month par residence for bi-monthly collection) separate collection cf apartment recyclables will cost Wbitby approximately $18,000 annually, the staff report states. The impact on the 1994 budget will only be $9,000, however, as the prograni will net be in place until July 1, the report adds. The extra costs bad seme counillors questioning the wisdom cf the province's entire appral to waste management. Des this mean blue boxes outside eacb apatnintdoor?" asked coundillor Don "Will thera be blua boxes scattered down the hallway9" ho wondered. Works diractor Wayne Hancock said apartinent building owners will bava te provide large recycling bina at their own expanse. "The province is putting. the hanimer on landlords for a marginal social and environmiental gain,," repliedMitchell. It's another example cf governinent making life bard for landlords," ha said. When councillor Joe Drurnm suggested that Mitchell was being tee bard on the current NDP regime, Mitchell said ho was net "picIng on this governnient alone." ,,It dates back te my government (Progressive Conservative)," ho said. Mitchell was aise criticai of provincial plans te make leaf and yard waste composting proras mandatory. Ho noted that grass clippings dumped into the composting icit Drham's recycling centre on Garrard Road are responsible for a strong odeur which plagues nearby residents on a regular basis. While the province is promoting recycling in one area te belp the envronment (composting) it is creating problems elsewhere (odeur), Mitchell said. Councillor Marcel Brunelle, a member of Durhamn Re *'s waste management committee, saiteboth Durham and the Ontario Ministry of Environznent are exploring methocls cf controlling the odeur problem. Pointing eut that the province lias set a 50 per cent waste reduction target by the year 2,000 Brunelle warned, "As we move te 50 per cent l~e goal bacomes harder. "Recycling is net done cheaply or easily."* Councillor Dennis Fox said the new regu- lations mnay possibly barkfire on the province. "It makas yen wonder wbat people did before recycling," said FOX. "Wy would the province waste time and monay te worry about grass cipping'? I don't see why we bave te take tons and tons of grass away," ha said. DRACT dlidno wrong ýwhere is it?