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* 6 - Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, March 18, 1998 Sýtaying In Touch John O'Toole Durham East MPP The new Fair Assessment systemi may be fair and new but it is certainly causing many calîs to our constituen- cy office. As I mentioned last week, I have had two Rogers Cable shows on this issue and written letters on the new assessment system. Your calîs are important as it allows me to follow up with the commissioner and under- stand the unique questions that you have brought to my attention. My final advice is to encourage everyone to attend the open house in your area. Please caîl if you need more information. (905) 697- 1501 or 1-800-661-2433. Youth employment contin- ues to be an important unsolved question facing all levels of governmrent, employ- ers, as well as many gradu- ates and their famnilies. The news just released by Statlstics Canada indicates that youth employment grew by 12,000 durinig February. The unemnployment rate dropped to 7.6%, from 8% in Jarnuary. Ontario's economy is hot with over 265,000 niew private sector jobs in the past 12 months. This is the hlgh- est recorded job growth in the private sector since 1984. Ontario accounts for over 6 1% of alI net new jobs creat- ed in Canada. Ontario coin- mitted to 725,000 new jobs when we were elected: So far, there have been 345,000 net new jobs created in Ontario since our election in 1995. There is a Youth Career Info Fair scheduled from March 23rd and 24th. 1998. The Career Fair will be held at the Adult & Continulng Education Centre located at 240 Simcoe Street South in Oshawa. I would encourage students to attend. Our Minister of Education and Minister of Economlc devel- opment also encourage youth to consider the Young Entrepreneurs Prograrn. This workshop will qualify youth between 18 & 29 years of age for a boan guarantee for up to $7,500.00. I know of students from my riding that have qualified and been successful in creating their owu job. For college and unlversity stu- dents, the ministry will now require post-secondary insti- tptions to provide information on graduation rates and job placement rates. This will allow students to choose to invest in education that leads to a job. The Ontario Student Opportunities Grant is now available to students who * have high student debt. There is also continued support through the Ontario student Opportunity Trust Fund. Education is an investment in your future. According to Statistics Canada, by the year 2000, 65% of ail new jobs will require post-secondary edu- cation. Youth Opportunities Ontario is a combined effort of three ministries with five programs to co-operate in support of the promotion of job creation for young people, In coming weeks, I will pub- lish a complete liet of the pro- grams and the Ontario Sumrner Jobs program. I have a confession to make. This week is March Break and since my wlfe is a teacher, I amn taking a week off so we can have a break together. A couple of weeks ago was reading week for our children at university. In fact, two of them stayed at school because they had exams, papers and their part time jobs to complete. If I had to pay for a holiday for them, I would have had to work this week. So please excuse me if I take a week off. Thanks to my great support staff, my office will be operating as usual. The Education, Quality and Accountability office (EQAO) have released a con- sultation paper on Education Indicators. In keeping with national and international trends, the EQAO is develop- ing profiles, on student achievement. Tests are only one measurement of achieve- ment. You are ý-ncouraged to participate in this consulta- tion. Your responses will be kept confidential. The docu- ment is available at my office or cail 1-888-327-7377 or directly on the Internet www.eqao.com. As educators, students and parents are al interested in preparing our students for the future, 1 strongly encourage your par- ticipation. As we prepare for St. Patrick's Day, 1 am pleased to share with you that 1 have brought forward a private miembers bill to recognize "Irish Heritage Day." 1 recog- nize that many cultural groups have their day of recognition. We celebrate Loyalist Day on dune l9th, Emancipation Day on August lst, Canada Day on July lst as well as annual Fiesta Days and October Fest. I recognize that every group likes to cel- ebrate their heritage. Belng a Canadian of Irsh descent, 1 have always listened to my ancestors' stories of the Irish Immigrants. The Irish are an integral part of Canadian cul- ture. I am a Canadian frst but once a year I like to rememnber. Since we already collectively celebrate St. Patrick's Day, why not have it officiai and recognize ail Irish, i will sign off by quoting my father's favourite Irish Blessing: "May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be -always at your back May the sunshine upon your fields and until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand" LIBRARY EVENTS - April) Canada Book Day The Third Annuai Canada Day will take place on April 23, 1998. This is a day to cel- ebrate the literacy accom- plishments of Canadian authors and take a moment to examine their works in a little more detail. Each branch 'of the Clarington Public Library will display information about Canada Book Day, and a varled selec- tion of books written by mnany popular and internationaily acclaimed Canadian authors. Any of the books on dlsplay can be taken out with a valid' Claringtoni Public Library Card. Suggestion Boxes The Clarington Public Library vaiuies your input and wants to provide the best facilities, services and prod- ucts we possibly can to the people of Clarington. To gain a better understanding of what the public wants in a library, we have placed sug- gest ion boxes in each branch of the library system-r. Feel free to give us anly constructive input or suggestions you May have about the library. Easter Holiday Hours AUl locations of the Clarîngton Public Library will be closed on Good Friday, April lOth, 1998. The Library will open as usual on Saturday, April 11lth. spring Reading Spring is here! Now is the perfect time to build that deck you've aiways wanted, hike in the beautifful parks and forests in and around Clarington, or plant that per- Ject garden. Whatever your interests, the helpful staff at the Clarington Public Library can assist you in locating the books, videos, magazines. and audio cassettes you need. FOOD COLUMN by Angela Dey On occasion, I lîke the mild flavour of cuny and it goes especially well with chicken. Curry powder consists of chilli. coriander, cumin, fer- mel, fenugreek and tumeric in varying proportions. CHICKEN ini CURRY SAUCE 2 tbsps. butter 1 medium onion (diced) 2 medium granny smith apples (peeled & chopped) 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 tbsp. medium curry powder 2 tbsp. flour 4 cups chicken stock 1 bay leaf 1 tsp. lemon juice 1/3 cup raisins 8 halves boneless, skinless chicken breasts 2 tbsps. butter (second amount) CURRY SAUCE Meit butter in a large saucepan and saute onions, apples and garlic, Add curry powder, continue over low heat, then add flour, stir to prevent bumning. Pour on stock and bring to a hoil, stirrîng frequently. Add bay leaf, lemon juice and raisins. Curry flavour develops with cooking. Set aside. CHICKEN Rinse your chicken. Saute them gently in butter on each side until slightly browned. Arrange in a large casserole dish, pour the curry sauce over. Bake covered in oven for 1 hour at 325 degrees F. VEGETABLE STIR-FRY 1 tsp. grated ginger 1 can baby corn 1 can water chestnuts (drained & sliced) 2 carrots chopped 2 celery sticks chopped 1 green pepper chopped 6 large mushrooms chopped 2 cups brocolli chopped 4 tbsp. oul 1 tbsp. soy sauce 1/2 cup plum sauce Heat oil in wok, vegetables, stir-fry, add sauces. 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