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Delivered j Free of Charge to 18,000 Homes in Clarington from The Publishers of Wfo Canadian §>tat*0man i Bowmanville, Ontario Saturday, December 31,199* . 17lh Year, Issue 512é^* WMWÊÊÈÊÊêê WwÊïk . 'Wtè ■ WÊÊËM IwMWsÈ ■MBIMBi iàa&A^sr,'âtkr.- cUt-j 7-^ ■ ! • ».rljyfr--: / 7vuiefee*ule*tt New Programs Boost Technology and Jobs Open House Ken and Sheila Klatt watch as their daughter, Miranda, makes a paper chain. The family was one of many which participated in the Lord Elgin Public School open house on Tuesday night, Dec. 20. The school swarmed with activities and, at the end of the evening, there was a carol sing- along outside the school. , by Laura J. Richards One of the newest MPs in Ottawa is happy with his work for Durham residents during 1994. And, while some folks may expect expect him to rest for a while, Durham MP Alex Shepherd doesn't think that way. In fact, he is getting ready for the phone calls that will probably come once two programs get going in this area. The first is a Youth Services Corps which will help young adults ages 18 to 24 take training courses and get experience. Similar to cooperative cooperative education classes in high schools, the program "will boost lost self-esteem young people need," Shepherd said recently. "Some of these young people have been rejected so many times this will bring a positive aspect to their lives." Another positive aspect is the idea Of "getting people off the social welfare programs and into jobs," he added. Shepherd also sees another program program having a positive outcome in Durham Region and that is something something called the "Durham Region Venture Capital Program." The focus of this program will be to "help small and medium sized businesses," he said. In addition, this spring a forum is Alex Shepherd being planned to help bring "the information information highway to small and medium medium businesses" in Durham Region. Region. Shepherd noted the computers in Ottawa, at the Oshawa office and at his home have been hooked into the so-called information highway. In fact, one of his pet projects will be to see a pilot program placed into the area high schools to take advantage advantage of the super-highway of the future. "I would like to see the high schools take advantage of this over the next two years," Shepherd said. Looking on a national level, Shepherd doesn't see Quebec breaking breaking its bonds with Canada. As he sees it, "federalism is flexible." flexible." He believes federalism is the best deal Quebec will have. "Federalist- states are among the most successful in the world," he noted. As far as Shepherd is concerned, most people on Parliament Hill are "ignoring the Parti-Quebecois members members to a certain extent." Most MP's are concerned with keeping the country together. Shepherd is certain that Quebec - - as a government by itself -- would not work. The duplication created would be enormous and would also create a tax burden on the Quebec population. Focusing on Clarington, Shepherd Shepherd would like to see the area's businesses tap into the ever- increasing foreign markets. He noted that while in China in the spring, a number of business owners/managers who went on the trip made viable contacts that have helped expand their businesses. Shepherd said he would like to see the same happen for Clarington businesses willing to take the risk. During 1995, Shepherd will be working on a private member's bill to see the third Monday in February set aside to celebrate Flag Day. "Next year is the 30th anniversary anniversary of the creation of our flag," the Durham MP noted. He has been working on another project which he hopes will go beyond beyond the discussion stage. "I have been working on a Taxpayers' Taxpayers' Bill of Rights. This will de- Turn to page two ; w. i il Disputed ballots from the Clarington Clarington separate school board election election will be reviewed by a provincial provincial judge on January 5th. In November's municipal election, election, the race for the third separate school board trustee's position saw only four votes separating Cecil Mackesey and Donna Lucas-Astley. A further recount by the municipality's municipality's chief returning officer narrowed narrowed Mackesey's lead to just one vote. Consequently, he has been installed installed as the third Clarington repre sentative on the Peterborough, Victoria, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Roman Catholic Separate Separate School Board. But, it will be up to a provincial judge to rule on seven disputed ballots ballots which could change the outcome outcome of the election. Patti Barrie, Clarington's Town Clerk and municipal Returning Officer, Officer, said the judicial review will occur occur in Cobourg on Thursday, January January 5th. She explained that the judge will rule only on the ballots which arc in dispute. The judicial ruling on these ballots ballots is also open to further appeal. Barrie adds that in the event of a tie, the winner would be decided by a random draw from the names of the two candidates. Clarington sends three separate school board representatives to serve on the Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Separate School Board. Caroline Burke and Alan Baylis are the other two Clarington trustees elected to the separate school board. Their election is not in question. A & P Canadian ' dL S o 8 Graham's ("indicates partial distribution) For information about inserting flyers in The Independent, please contact our office at 623-3303