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\ Report from Queen's Park bv John O'Toole ns • Constituency Week • Remembrance Day was marked this 'past weekend at the Port Perry and Orono -cenotaphs and Royal Canadian Legion Branches. On Wednesday, November . 11 til Remembrance Day memorials called all Ontarians, indeed all Canadians, to slop at precisely 11:00 a.m. and remember remember all those who have given all or part of their life so we today have peace. While attending the weekend memorials, memorials, I was impressed with the mingling of veterans with the Scouts and Guides along with our local military cadets. Our youth need the relationship with those remaining veterans (men and women) to understand that the values and traditions we enjoy today are their gift to ;us. Colonel John McCrae's poem said it jail. • Take up our quarrel with the foe, v To you from failing hands we throw ! The torch; be yours to hold it high. ■ If ye break faith with us who die ; We shall not sleep, though poppies 'grow •' In Flanders fields, i On this November 11th, when the iparadc square leader says, "We shall •remember them," repeat the pledge and commit to stand firm against those who •would tear down what they have given to us. This week, the Ontario Legislature will not be in sessions as members will be attending to constituency business. I am scheduled to meet with members of the health care community, attend a high school class, a school board meeting and a commencement exercise as well as a number of other community activities. In fact, this week is probably more important important than most weeks because I will be meeting with the people who elected me to serve as their member. ! As your member, it is critical that I hear your views and am rooted in the community where I live. Often when we arc busy in session at Queen's Park, we begin to think of things from that point of •view. In reality, my constituents are where it is at. Every call or letter is my link with 'niy constituency. I do not take your observations as a personal criticism. Whether your call is a criticism or simply a comment, I listen ■and try to understand your message. It is your contact that empowers me to speak !to Ministers or indeed our Premier. The calls and the news this past week were mainly on the following issues. The school accommodations grant or, as the boards like to call it, the school closure issues, has been controversial. As I said in last week's column, for the past few years, over crowded schools and the -growing number of portables is not new. - Our policy addresses an age-old,prpb-, lem of allocating new school facilities to where the need is, not to respond to election election or political announcements. Growth areas should get the new school grants not because of politics but because of heed. That being said, there is no taxpayer who thinks we should maintain vacant or empty schools. Of course, I was pleased when our Premier announced on Friday, November 6th that he was going to allow more time to make the changes. The second issue that comes up frequently frequently is the new assessment system and our tax bills. Last week, Finance Minister Ernie Eves announced additional measures measures to address the transition. This announcement was as a result of members listening to constituents concerns concerns about small business and also apartment apartment building owners. Yes, there will be relief for both commercial businesses and multi-residential property owners. Furthermore, municipalities like ours will not see a loss in revenue on provincially owned facilities. Provincial properties pay taxes referred to as payments in lieu of taxes or PIL's. The 10% cap will not apply to federal or provincial properties. In this case, once again, I am encouraged that your government is listening and prepared prepared to change where necessary to ensure we can move forward with our reforms to a system everyone agrees needed changing. This past week there were two reports, which need to be respected. First, the Provincial Auditor, Erik Peters issued his 1998 Annual Report. Second was the Finance Minister's 1998 Fiscal Review and Financial Outlook Report. For a copy, call me at 1-800-661-2433 or 697-1501. The Auditor's report is a value for money audit. In his report, he clearly recognized recognized that over 50% of the Ontario's approximately $55 billion budget is spent by our transfer partners (municipalities, school boards, colleges, universities and hospitals). He offered criticism and recommendations recommendations on a number of ministries. Most importantly was the contract by the Ministry of Community and Social Services with Andersen Consulting and a new computer system to handle Family Benefits and General Welfare Assistance. I have spoken to the Minister and agree with the auditor that we need a serious accounting for this contract. The auditor also offered serious suggestions suggestions on school boards management of school capacity. For instance, one board of the six audited, had 84 schools, 16 of which were operating at less than 50% capacity. He challenged the Ministry of Education and school boards to examine a modified school year to make better use of facilities. The Finance Minister's report reaffirmed reaffirmed our commitment to balance our budget by the year 2000/2001. The 1995 Ontario deficit was $11.3 billion and is now $3.6 billion. We have the lowest unemployment rate in 10 years at 7% with over 408,000 net new jobs in Ontario. 7ll QnlarÂ9ihfi.Sr.t l hc l ,str.9ngq,st 1 Gros§ l Dpmestiç-, ; Product (GDP) growth in the G-7 countries. countries. Canada's GDP is forecast as 2.6% while Ontario's forecast is 3.3%. Despite a 30% provincial income tax cut, overall revenue is up. Our changes have not been easy but we all contributed in some way to Ontario's recovery. New Slate of Officers for Order of The Eastern Star ", On. Tuesday, October 27, 1998, the Officers of the "Autumn's Golden Splendor" Year, Durham Chapter #181, O.E.S. were Installed at Nightingale .Centennial Temple, Queen ■St. Bowmanville. ' Installing Officer was •jMrs. Kathleen Martin, P.M. assisted by Mr. Mcrion Griffeths P.P. Installing Marshal: Mrs. Shirley Grecnham; •Installing Chaplain: Mrs. Audrey Martin, P.G.M.; installing Organist: Mrs. Eleanor Jones P.D.D.G.M.; also assisting in the east were: Mrs. Kay Bring, P.D.D.G.M.; Mr. Ken Sumersford P.P.; Mrs. Greta Brown P.M.; Reverend Roy Taylor P.P.; Mrs. Eleanor Jones P.D.D.G.M.; Soloist, Ms. Lynda Clements P.M.; Flower Ceremony Mrs. Jean Sumersford P.M. Officers for 1998-1999 arc: Worthy Matron - Mrs. Angela Devonish, Worth Patron, Mr. Allan Devonish, Associate Matron - Mrs. Shea-Lea Latchford, Associate Patron - Mr. Keith Latchford, Secretary - Mrs. Eleanor Walker, Treasurer - Mrs. Helen Lockhart, Conductress - Mrs. Brenda May, Associate Conductress - Mrs. Diana Blacklock, Chaplain - Mrs. Hazel Raby, Marshal - Mr. Elgin Greenham, Organist - Mrs. Dorothy Taylor, P.D.D.G.M., Adah - Mrs. Kay Pring, Ruth - Mrs. Norma Lewis, Esther - Mrs. Peggy Boyd, Martha - Mrs. Gwen Holmes, Electa - Mrs. Anne Waller, Warder - Mrs. Laura Chesboro, Sentinel - Mr. Ron Brittain. After W.M. and W.P. were installed, The Worthy Matron Mrs. Angela Devonish, from her station, station, sang "Lead Me Lord" which was later joined by Ms. Lynda Clemens in the west, completed the song. The effect was very moving. moving. Short remarks were given by the Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron; this was followed by the presentation of Jewels to the immediate Past Matron Mrs. Diane Garcau by Mrs. Frcida Solima and the immediate Past Patron by Mr. Eric Garcau by Mrs. Peggy Boyd. The meeting closed with the singing of Now Thank We All Our God, and the Mizpah Benediction. The large crowd included included Members from Markham; Ontario Pickering, Sunbeam Osliawa; Sunderland; Blue Ray Port Perry; Laurel; Scarborough; BirchclilT, Whitby and Fcnclon Falls, Other guests included Michelle and Latricia Devonish, daughters of the W.M. and W.P., Burnadcltc Williams, Joan Haring, Cathy Moulton, Bill Paterson, Gary McCormick, Oswald Mntluirin, Warren and Marg Tail, Padre and Marion Saunders, John and Sylvia Ameslniry. CORRECTION NOTICE We wish to draw your attention to the following in our current "Early Holiday Sale" flyer. Page 9 - Item #2, Kamik Limited Edition Boots, 87-3131X Selection may vary by location and only limited quantities are available. No rainchecks will be issued. Page 24 - Item #6,1/4" Air Die Grinder, 58-7905-0 Copy reads: 9.0 SCFM at 90 PSI Should read: 6.1 SCFM at 90 PSI - Item tt7, Air Hammer, 58-7907-6 Copy reads: 13 SCFM at 90 PSI Should read: 6 SCFM at 90 PSI The illustration is also incorrect and shows an Impact Wrench instead of an Air Hammer. We wish to draw your attention to the following in our current "Great Gifts, Great Prices" flyer. Page 20 - 85 pc. 1/4 and 3/8" Drive Socket Set, 58-9998-6 Copy reads: Reg. 139.99, Sale 99.99, Save 40%. Should read: Reg. 149.99, Sale 99.99, Save 33%. Page 27 - 4-Gauge Booster Cables, 11-1219-0 Copy reads: Reg, 42.99, Sale 34.99 Should read: Reg. 42.99, Sale 36.49, Save 15% Page 31 - Computer Code Readers, 25-1001X Copy reads: For most makes Should road: For most Ford or GM Models - Item M, Digital Multimotor, 25-1031-2 Copy roads: Rog. 42.99, Salo 29.99, Save 30% Should road: Rog. 46.49, Salo 32.49, Save 30% We sincerely regret any Inconvenience we may have caused you. fi ,|p. cnoln (I344/IM5 • Zoiioa WOT The Clarington/Courtice Independent, Bowmanville, Saturday, November 14, 1998 Page 13" Block Parent Flaq Raiser Block Parent Week was held October 26th to October 31. To mark the occasion, students students from Central Public School in Bowmanville got together with municipal councillors and Block Parent representatives on Monday, J] October 26, for a flag-raising at the Town Hall. 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