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M fm 1 A|| 1 1 II £ \/ *-y -' ■ '/ v v. ê/S'B SB aS3> 4w IrVlf # V Wednesday, February 26,1992 Bowmanville, Ontario 138th Year 560 + 40 G.S.T. = 600 Issue Eight A Family Owned Weekly Newspaper Serving Bowmanville and Surrounding Communities Since 1854 y Stay of Execution for GM Plant in Oshawa by Lorraine Manfredo Oshawa's GM plants have escaped the latest round of factory closings revealed revealed by General Motors Monday. However, a GM foundry and engine plant in St. Catharines arc among 14 North American factories scheduled to cither close or be streamlined drastically during the next three years. St. Catharines Catharines was the only Canadian city affected affected by Monday's announcements. The closures, announced from GM headquarters in Detroit, will directly affect affect 16,000 North American employees. The St. Catharines engine plant will have its V-6 production trimmed to produce produce only one line by this fall, and the iron casting foundry there will close in the spring of 1995. A total of 2,300 workers in St. Catharines Catharines will lose their jobs. GM Canada President George Pcap- plcs said not all losses would be through direct lay-offs. Instead, some could be achieved through attrition and early retirement. retirement. No decision' regarding any of Oshawa's three assembly plants was forthcoming. Mr. Pcapplcs promised, though, that a decision would be made "within the next several months." General Motors had announced in December that 21 of its North American facilities would be "idled" in an effort to remain globally competitive in the nineties nineties and beyond. These latest cuts are in response to a record loss of $4.5 billion for the 1991 calendar year. It was announced on Monday that GM's five North American mid-size car plants will be cut back to "no more than four." Oshawa's Car Plant Two, set up to Continued on Page 2 GREAT SHOW - We've no way of knowing if you enjoyed watching the CBC's coverage of the Olympics as much as we did - night after night. It was great viewing, although the oft repeated repeated commercials got a bit boring, but helped pay for the hundreds of technicians technicians and announcers who did all the work until the wee hours of every morning. morning. Now, we're so badly out of condition condition from all that sitting, that we're thinking of buying one of those crosscountry crosscountry skiing machines to restore some lung power. Only problem is we have to use it to get results. Any suggestions? -KEEP IN TOUCH - The March.edition of the newsletter for Seniors' and Volunteers Volunteers just arrived on our desk, and we can't resist a comment. It outlines all the services available to area citizens of advancing advancing years such as: help with Income Tax, Meals on Wheels, Foot Care, Friendly Visits, Help with Yard Work by volunteers and an editorial by Roxy Barnes of Community Care. But, the key to its overall success is the contribution contribution made by unpaid volunteers. Without them, things would really be impossible. Bless 'em! BUSY STUDENTS - A tip of the hat to the students of St. Stephen's High School who are conducting a food drive in parts of Bowmanville tomorrow afternoon, afternoon, Feb. 27 to assist families who are having a tough time for varying reasons. They will be canvassing for non perishable perishable food items. Also, we note, these same students are offering to do free yard work, window cleaning, grass raking raking and odd jobs for seniors on Wednesday, Wednesday, May 6th in the Bowmanville area. Call 623-2261 if interested. 125th BIRTHDAY - So far, there hasn't been too much publicity in this area about any arrangements made or proposed proposed for this community to celebrate i Canada's 125th birthday, corne July 1st. We understand quite a few communities have their celebration preparations under under way, but we seem to be lagging behind. behind. Maybe Joe Clark should have been visiting here recently instead of Mr. Mulroney. It's odd that the PM didn't push that theme a little during his brief stop. LIVE ON REDMEN -- We sec that Bowmanville High School may have to drop the name "Rcdmen" from its various various teams and clubs. Apparently, there have been suggestions that the name may be offensive to native people and women. The school is seeking suggestions suggestions for a new name, but we would sure like to see BHS stick with history and ignore those flakes who have nothing better to do than find such horrific violations violations of human rights. Live on Rcdmen! WHAT'S NEXT? - By the time you read this, Finance Minister Mazankows- ki will have made his first budget speech in the House of Commons and be receiving receiving the normal amount of flak from opposition members for any omissions or inclusions they didn't like. Also, Ontario's Ontario's Premier Bob Rae and other premiers premiers across Canada will have a better idea of how much help they are going to get from Ottawa...and we doubt if it's going to be extensive. Such is life in politics. PHONE HISTORY - Next Monday, March 2nd at 7:30 p.m. a rare treat is in | store for members and guests of the Newcastle Village & District Historical Society. A recently taped video featuring featuring Melville Jones of Newtonville will recall the history of.the Port Hope Telephone Telephone Company started by his father in . the early years of this century. Admittance Admittance is free and it's being held in the Lions Room of the Community Hall, with refreshments to add to the attraction. The Stork Market Report HOYLES - Il's a Girl! BRINKLOYV - It's a Boy! ■ DUECK-It's n Boy! DUNHAM-It's a Girl! SPRACKLIN - It's a Boy! WAODINGTON - It's a Boy! ZOELMAN- Il's a Boy! Total This Year Boys 17 Girls 17 Notices On Page 16 LAND USE - Nobody has been saying anything recently about that deserted bit of land across from Bowmanville's Library Library that, at one time, was to be occupied occupied by a magnificent, high class condominium type structure, replacing the old Dominion, Organ & Piano Company Company building that housed Specialty Paper Paper Products. Seems the project was abandoned for a variety of reasons. The Town might consider making an offer. It would make a great Town Square or parking lot if the price was right. Just a suggestion, DIRTY WORK - If the report we have received is true - and we have no reason to believe it isn't - there's some skulduggery skulduggery afoot in Bowmanville. It seems two quite well-dressed youths were seen canvassing for funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in one of the local sub-divisions, but they weren't legit. Real canvassers issue official receipts and carry canvassers' kits. The Canadian Statesman is printed on recycled newsprint with vegetable oil inks. ôêu Local Farmers Part of 40,000 Member Rally On Parliament A member of the Durham Region Federation of Agriculture says last Friday's Friday's Ottawa rally was peaceful, although although lie feels the general mood was one of scepticism. Dennis Ycllowlccs said fanners still have to wait and see, exactly where federal federal officials place agriculture on their totem pole of priorities. More Ilian 40,000 fanners converged on Parliament Hill last Friday, February 21, in what some RCMP officers reported reported to be the largest demonstration they had ever seen. Over 150 farmers from the Durham Region took part in the rally. The participants, who came from all comers, and both coasts of the country, were calling on the government to push harder to gain support for Canada's trade objectives at the. final round of GATT negotiations. "There is still talk of tariffication," says Karen Ycllowlccs, also of the Durham Durham Region Federation of Agriculture. Despite assurances from government officials officials promising to support the supply management system, Ms Ycllowlccs says: "We can only go on what they tell us. It won't be until that April 15th signing signing deadline that we will know for certain." certain." Over 100 countries participate in the GATT negotiations. Ms Ycllowlccs said the two main players arc the United States and Europe. Canada must work to gain additional support from other countries around the negotiating table, to be an equally strong player, she said. Many farmers who participated in the mass demonstration in Ottawa commented commented that their family farms, as well as entire farming communities, would be threatened if supply marketing is no! protected. I Farmers.are seeking a strong defence of Article Eleven in the GATT talks, which would protect poultry, egg and dairy marketing boards. Ms Ycllowlccs said that the farmers at tire rally wanted to be seen as a force to be reckoned with. "Farmers would like to see an end to agriculture being used as a pawn in various trade negotiations," negotiations," she added. Ü by Laura J. Richards The Town of Newcastle mayor spoke strongly in favor of the proposed Highway Highway 407 during Monday night's council meeting. "We have to look at decisions for today today and 30 years down the road," Mayor Diane Ham re told councillors and those attending the meeting. "The Durham Region Official Plan was passed on June 17, 1991. However, there wasn't any public outcry until this fall before the election. "The 407 is part of this plan and is needed across the region," she said as she explained her position on the issue. Residents and the business people who work here should take heed, she said. "The GM announcement sends the strongest message--Ontario is no longer seen as a good place to do business." • To compete in what is now seen as a global market, altitudes will have to change, she slated. "We have to change attitudes or put a gate on the area with a lock on it," she isaid. The proposed highway will help get goods out to the markets. These arc the products that the economic development teams want to see coming into the Town of Ncwcasde. "We need jobs to pay taxes" to ensure a quality of life people have become accustomed accustomed to, she explained. "People arc now coming to me in my office to say 'We can't have it both ways,"' she said. There has been a lot of opposition. However, there has been support for the proposed highway, too. Mayor 1-Iamre talked about different conversations she has had with two families families who are third generation farmers in the Town of Newcastle. "Even though .this highway will go not only through their property but through their homes, they arc saying to me, 'As tough as it is, it has to be.'" After the meeting which saw former Mayor Garnet Rickard, Hampton resident resident John Burdek and former Orono res ident and business owner Barbara Adamson Adamson speak out against the building of the 407, Mayor Ham re told The Statesman, Statesman, she had made her decision after long deliberations. "Industries that are looking at us are usually looking at three or four other places," she said. In order to compete against the unknowns, unknowns, the Town of Newcastle needs to have a transportation system in place. "If an industry cannot be assured of quick transportation" it will go elsewhere, elsewhere, Mayor Ham re said. The town cannot afford to lose out. Regarding the GM concerns, she said: "The town needs to diversify. We can no longer put all our eggs in one basket." basket." A plant closure in Oshawa would affect affect many businesses by way of the "ripple "ripple effect." There will be the workers without jobs, there will be the suppliers of different different products to the automotive industry which will also be affected and there will be the businesses which supply goods and services to the workers. That includes local businesses, Mayor Hamre added. Mayor Hamre told The Statesman, Continued on Page 2 by Laura J. Richards Newcastle councillors are asking that alternatives to Highway 407 such as public transportation and expansion of Taunton Rd. be investigated. Councillors voted Monday to pursue alternatives to the new freeway, after listening listening to comments from area residents and officials from the Ministry of Transportation. Transportation. Ward Two Local Councillor John O'Toole made a motion, seconded by Ward One Local Councillor Mary Novak, Novak, that "the Ministry of Transportation, Transportation, Ontario, be directed to examine the alternate routes." These included expan sion of Taunton Road and extension of GO and VIA rail service. The Ministry has been asked to report back to the Town of Newcastle. During a question-and-answer session with Councillor O'Toole, Highway 407 project manager, Cliff Lumlcy, said the project would not go through if it was not needed. A Senior Transportation Planner, Pat Reynolds added it was time that the councillors got around to having the 407 highway project explained to them in full. This would be better than feeding the councillors "bits and pieces of informa Guest Speaker Outlines Perils Of Packaging See Page '11 |j^ j tion," as is the case presently, said Mr. Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds made reference to a number of occasions when Mr. Lumlcy and others from the ministry attended council and General Purpose and Administration Administration meetings to explain the routes and reasons behind the 407. Mr. Reynolds suggested an open meeting in the council chambers to explain explain the entire concept.. "We could hold an open discussion right here in the council chambers," he said. Hampton resident John Brudck told Continued on Page two Goodyear Eagles HEP Deadlocked in Playoff Series See Page 8 ii ^ Youngsters Learn All About the Great Outdoors See Page 14 -i et EVERYDAY DISCOUNT PRICES King St, w. 728-4601 Oshawa 3