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By Drinmond White Much was said duing the municial election campaign about the need to have open and accoun e ocal government. As it 19 now, council deisions can be made behind closed doors without the public being able te hear the debate or how their representative voted. Open local governiment wiIl soon be the law. The municipal reforme that are currently before the legisiature include a direction that virtually ail council meetings will be open and public. With only a very few exceptions, deisions will be made in public. By doing this, taxpayers will know how their representative is voting on their behaîf. When proclaimed, the legisiation will make it illegal for any local rlitician to accept any gifts or bribes. We have seen reventfy how developers in the Toronto area have reveived special considerations for civic politicians. Ail provincial politicians are similarly precluded from accepting such benefits. As MPPs, we are obliged to disclose ail of our assets every year. Municipal politicians will soon have te disclos their source of income, but not the amounts. Although the system of dieclosure is complex for MPPs, municipal politicians will have te fil out a half-page form that amnounts te only a bore minimum. Over the sumnmer, I sat on the legisiative committee hearing testimony on this bill. We went inte most parts of the province, including a day hearing from groupe in Oshawa -- we brought Queen's Park te Durham. In some locales, politicians said that good people would be discouraged from running for public office due te these new requirements and that councils couldn't work unless they held secret meetings. I know that our previously existing, much teugher provincial rules have not discouraged many from running for provincial parliamrent. Similarly, I didn't know of any municipal politicians who deided not te seek office again in order te avoid their lesser public scrutiny. Certainly, a high level of public scrutiny does create some problerns, but I think that taxpayers should expect no lese in accountabilhty from our representatives. Our systemn of municipal goverament is far from perfect, but, with these reforms,, it is being made more open and more accountable te the public. Drummond White is MPP for Durham Centre riding which includes Whitby south of Taunton RcL To reach his constituency office, caU 430-1141. Grant for 'Rose~ Rose of Durham, an agency providing a range of supports and services te, teen parents throughout Durham Region, will receive a $35,000 provincial grant te provide counselling services te pregnant teens, and teen-aged parents. Rose of Durham's services include support groupe, counselling, liaison with public assistance, educational, health and legal services. The agency assista teen parents and ether young people at risk, as well as those who have experienced abuse, conflict with the law, and difficulty with the educational system. King St. E. in Oshawa. VOLUNTEERS The Rose of Durham seeks volunteers te provide care for infants and toddlers while their parents are involved in educational programs. Responsibilities include working as part of a team te, provide mature and responsible care for time periods of two hours, mornings or afternoons. For further information or te arrange an interview, caîl Sandy Flynn at 436-3622 during office hours, Tuesdays or Thursdays. 'A Christm Carol' at Ail Saints'9 Church Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol' will be presented by the AIl Saints" Anglican Church choir on Sun day Dec. 4. Elaine Brougfton je directer, Judy Maddren wrote the script for the presentation which will include readers, directed by Bert Heaver. There will be two perfor- mnances at the church, 300 Dun- das St. W., Whitby, at 3:30 and 7 T*ickets, $5, are. available at Lafontaine Trading Post (430- 3774). The show is revommended for those aged 10 and over. Proceeds will go to the Whitby Ministerial Association Christ- mas hamper program. Kds' troupe seeks puppeteer One more volunteer puppeteer is reqired to complement the Kide on the Block day troupe. The volunteer is required te learn how te, operate the life-size puppets, memnorize small plays and perform te Durham-area school children. The performances for the school year are two skits dealing with cultural différences and physical abuse. Volunteers must attend a six-week training, be mature, possess a good voice, enjoy children and work well with a team. Caîl Carol Hatton at 576-0597 or Katherine Henderson at 655-5680. Whitby Free Press, Wednesday. November 30, 1994 Page 17 Read y our9e SC hewdule0... arnd r'emeniber: * When te put, your Blue Box eut; 0 What goes lui your Blue Box; * How te prepare your Blue Box materil;and *Who te cal! for more information. If you do net receive your 1995 Blue Box Collection Schedule or would like more information, please cal your Local Municipality:- Oshawa 725-7351 Scugog Brock 985-7393 (705) 426-7723 or 432-2920 Another Recycling Program of the Region of Durham und the Municipaities of Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clringion, Uxbridge, Scugog and Brock. Pickering 0ý F p,0 420-4630 Clarington ONTARIO 623-3379 1994 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1995 VOLKSWAGENGOL Power locks, tinted glass, dual "World's Best SeIIing Car!" mirroms, advanced saiet system, P ower locks, tinted glass, dual AM/FM cassette 8 speaker sound mirrors, advanced safety system and much more. system, and much more. FROM FROM $14900 $12995 Both avallable In gas or turbo diesel with a ist of standard features too long to menton. 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