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Oroo e~1yims~Wedr~saO~~~~ ~ Staying in Touch by John'O'Toole, M October 19th to the 301h marks Ontario's Salute te Srnall Business. Ontario has approxi- mately 'One third of Canada's population and represents about 50% cf the Canadian economy. In the last Statistics Canada report, there were 73,000 net new jobs in Canada and Ontario had 85% cf the job growth. Ontario leads the coun- try with the lowest unemploy- ment rate at about 7%. This is the lowest rate in over 10 years. We were elected on a mandate cf "tax cuts equal jobs" and in my opinion,the plan is working. We have had- 66 tax-cuts, including a 30% provincial income tax cul as well as the elimination of the employer health fax on payrolls up te $400,000.00. We are reducing the srnall business corporations' tax as well as reducing red tape and needless regulaions. Since June of 1995, there have been 408,000 net new jobs in Ontario andthis repre- sents'alrnost 50% cf aIl jobs created in Canada. Who creates these jobs? Certainly net gev- ernrnents,-it is clearly small business. Ontario has 312,000 businesses and 98% of thern have less than 100 ernployees. In fact,.57% or 177,000 busi- nesses have less than five employees. Today people are creating their own futures. As we said durmng the last election, "the best welfare plan is a job" Look around your cornmunity. In Port Perry, there are several success stories as there are in Bowmanville. In our rural cornrunity, there are also many success stories, from winerys te very sophisticated lîvestock eperations. Home based bus-messes and technolo- gy are changing the very nature of work itself. 1Yes- the econorny is fragile in Asia and South Amerîca. However, Ontario's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) leads alI G-7 countries and is fore- -ast te s ustain growth over the next twe years and beyond. Our low dollar, faveurs experts, we have low inflation (less than 2%) and interest rates are dropping. Even Federal Finance Minister, Paul Martin is musing about reduc- ing taxes. It is clear that payroll taxes, like Employrnent Insurance and Canada Pension Plan are job killers. Think about it, if you increase taxes, people er business think about moving eut. Our current municipal property tax situa- tion is a case in point -for srnall business. As I1rnentioned in last week's'colurnin, I have spoken te our Finance Minister Ernie Eves and arn confident that there will be legislation this week te address srnall business property taxes. On Tuesday October 2Oth, I arn visiting the Clarington Business Group breakfast te bring congratulations te small business. My Durham Cable TV show is on Thursday October 22nd at 6:00 PM. 1 wiIl be discussing small busi- niess in rny riding with the Par liamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development & Tourism, M.P.P. Ted Arnott. Ontario is open for business and growing stronger. Ontario Public Library, Week is being celebrated October i 9th-25th. This year's theme, 'tOntario's Public Libraries - For Your Information"' highlights the succes-s of local libraries in meeting the information needs ,of communities acro.ss the province. Province wide strategies such as Network 2000 and the Internet-based Information Network of Ontario are important to this development. I encourage you to visit Tom Bonanno at the Scugog Mernorial Public Library in Port Perry or Cynth.ia Mearns at the Clarington Public Library and join in any celebrations they may be planning to celebrate Ontario Public Library Week. In response to letters and articles in the newspapers on the topic of school accommo- dations or new schools in our area, I want-to make it clear that I amn very much aware of the problerns. First, let me draw to your attention that cur- rently seven new schools in my riding have opened since my election in 1995.:There are also several new facilities in the Durharn Boards now scheduled to be built. I1rnust also ask, how corne over the years we have accurnulated so many portables in Durham? They certainly didn't all arrive here since 1995. My children attended a completely inade- quate high school facility and spent rnost of their elementary school in portable classrooms. Ask yourself if this is such a new problern.-In my opinion, we must examine ail existing space and ensure that it is being utilized and meets standards of safety and accessibility. 1 re c- ognize that Kawartha Pine Ridge District Board #> 14 does have a problem. This new board area does appear to have some 3,500 surplus pupil places in their existing facili- ties. However, the surplus space appears to be in the Peterborough area of the board. I arn working with ministry and board officials to validate their capacity factors. At the saine tirne, I have brouight the argut- ment directly to the Minister of Education. My, riding of Durham is the fifth fastest growth area in al of Canada and 1 want proper facilities for the students in rny riding and that does*not mean bussing stu- dents to --Peterborough. Lt makes me wonder if I gave the right opinion to the Minister when I was asked if my area should be joined with the Peterborough Board or the Durham Board of FRIENOS 0F SECOND MARSH Open, houe pllanned for area andov. An Open House Is planned for Wedniesday, October 28th, at the Solina Communîîy Hall, to help landowners and residents living in viclnity of Farewell Creek, lack Creek and Harniony Creek learn about opportunities for Improving the environmental health Of their properties. 1Ti-s unique event is being co-ordinated by Friends of Second Marsh, the Durharn Land Stewardshîp Council and the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority in an> effort to help those living in these areas gain access to Education. Finally, On the debate about the speed limit on our 400 series highways. The CAA did approach the minister to exam- ine încreasing the'speed frorn 100 KPH (60 MPH) te 120 KPH (72 MPH). Sorne lime age, the speed was 70 MPH. Today, on the 401, if you are deing 100 KPH, you could be run over. My opinion is that we must -enforce the posted speed lirait. I arn recerding every cal on this and arn very interested in yeur opinion se I can aàdvise the minister. Please cal me en this er any tepic. The tele- phone numbers are 697-1501 or 1-800-661-2433. iners, information about environ- mentally-sustainable land management practices. Between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., landowners and residents can view displays, pick up materials and talk with experts from a variety cf grouips representing agricul-, tural,, envlronrnental and gov- ernment-based programs. The information that these, groups can provide will help to answer a wide variety of landowner questions, includ- ing how to protect groundwa- ter quality and the quality of their well water, manage a sustainable woodlot, develop an envlronmental farm plan or even attract wildlife and/or improve wildlife habitat around their property. Two haif-hour presenta- tions are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., during which some of the participet- ing groups will provide brief overviews of their programsý. Some of the groups that will be- present include Friends of Second Marsh, the Durham Land Stewardship Council, the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, the Durham East Soul & Crop, Improvement Association, the Wetland Habitat Fund, the Environmental Farm- Plan Program, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Durham Enviroment Network, the Durhamn Field Naturalists, the City of Oshawa and the Municipality of Clarington. The Open House is being planned as part of the Second Marsh Watershed Stewardship Prograin which alms to protect and Improve the heakth of the Watershed that feeds this Provlncially Significant coastal wetland. The Wa'ýýi-shed of Second Marsh is formed by Harmony, Farewell and Black Creeks which together drain an area of approximately lOOkm2 across east Oshawa and west Clarington. Through the Stewardship Program, Friends of Second Marsh and their many part- ners are working with landowners to help them adopt practices that will pro- tect the health of the Watershed ecosystem while plot comprornislng the value or productivlty of their Watershed properties. The Solina Communlty Hall is located on Concession Rd. 6, just east of Solina Rd., in the Munlcipalîty of Clarington. There, is no charge to> attend this event. For more Information, pleaseé contac t Carole Seysmith, Watershed Stewardship Co-ordinator at (905) 723-5047, weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE, 9 83-5301 ....sherry framboise, a woman ini her thirties is missing. Police indicate the circunistarices of' her disappearance are suspicious. UNRAVIEL THE MYSTERY November i 3th... it's a Fnday Orono Town Hall Cocktails at 7 p-m- e Dinner at 7:-30 p.m. Dinner Tickets $22.50/person iTickets àavailabk ait The Apple Bi'ossom Shop, Orono Limited number of seats available,.., catinew t reserve yours. ) Sponsored by Orono DB/A in conjunction wkith the 1001h Ainiversary of Orono Towvn Hall