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! Page 12 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, December 2,1998 Church Renovations Almost Complete Maranatha Congregation Spends First Sunday in Expanded Building by Michelle Wyton Stafl Writer Members of Maranatha Christian Reformed Church arc back worshipping worshipping in their own building, but the renovations arc not totally complete. "There are enough rooms done now that we can worship in it," said John Sikma, Church Council Chairman. "During the renovations, we've been sharing facilities facilities with the Seventh Day Adventist Church and Rchoboth Christian Reformed Church. We're very grateful for their kindness." kindness." On Sunday, the congregation congregation had its first service at the church since June and it was a special occasion. occasion. "We invited the area churches and it was a packed house," said Sikma. The offering was for the chaplaincy at Lakeridgc Health - Bowmanvillc (formerly (formerly the Bowmanvillc Hospital). Volunteers have been working on the Church since June to build a 5000 square foot addition. This will include a brand new kitchen and large meting room. "We've also added four new classrooms and a new nursery," said the Church Council chairman. "The offices have been expanded, expanded, with a new room for the pastor and council." There are just a few final items to be finished. "We are still working on three classrooms and waiting waiting for a kitchen sink that's on back order," he said. "After that, it's just a matter matter of putting the hardware on some of the doors and things. The old section that had a flat roof is now under one pitched roof and the main entrance has been enlarged and also features a large car port." The renovations are being done through volunteer volunteer labour and paid for through pledges and a loan First Student Trustee Appointed To Catholic District Board The Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board welcomed Student Trustee, Holly Goulding to her first Board meeting on November 24, 1998. Referring to this as yet another first in the challenging challenging history of education education in the province, Board Chairperson, Gene Brahaney congratulated Holly on her appointment and said, "we are really pleased to have the views of students represented at the Board table and we are sure that this will be a rewarding experience for us all." Holly Goulding is a Grade 11 student at St. Peter's Secondary School. She is the Ontario Secondary School Student Association representative on the school Student Council for the 1998-99 school year. Holly's interests interests include biology, nature and camping and is actively involved in the school's sports programs, playing basketball, soccer and running. Support for Alzheimer Sufferers John R, O'Toole, MPP Durham Bast, along with other members of the Ontario government, have called on the Minister of Health to support Ontarians suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. Responding to constituent constituent calls on this issue, O'Toole has urged the Honourable Elizabeth Winner, Minister of Health to include the new drug Ariccpl in the Ontario Drug Benefits program. This new drug holds hope for many suffering suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. from the Christian Reformed Church's Church Extension Fund. "Our building drive. raised $280,000 in pledges," said Sikma. "Half of that has already come in and the other half will come in next year. Overall, the renovations will cost somewhere in the neighbourhood of $500,000." With free labour, Sikma said it is hard to know exactly when the work will be complete, but if the dedication dedication of the volunteers is any indication, it shouldn't be long. "Some people have given almost their lifeblood, lifeblood, being there every day," lie said. "Quite a number of people between 50 and 65 years old have been the backbone of the volunteer labour day after day. As well, some of our members who are tradespeople tradespeople have put in a lot of work in their free time." "At least 100 different people have been working on the project," he added. Church Council talked about starting the renovations renovations back in 1985, but put the project on hold because the economy was not good. "We finally bit the bullet," bullet," said Sikma. "We felt that in order to be a part of the community, it would be better to have the additional additional space." Sikma is hoping to have the finishing touches to the building completed in the next couple of weeks. Coalition Defends Public's Freedom Former Reform Parly MP Speaks To Clarington Board of Trade "We advocate more freedom through less government." That's how Stephen Harper, president of the National Citizens' Coalition, describes his 40,000-member organization. organization. On Monday morning, the former Reform Party MP for Calgary West, described the goals of the NCC to members of the Clarington Board of Trade. He also praised the newly-formed group for its efforts aimed at taking the leadership of Clarington's economic development into the private private sector. "What is more sensible than making making business development in the community the responsibility of business, business, not government?" he asked. "I don't believe the big decisions in our political political life are made by parliament," parliament," he told an audience audience of about 120 business business leaders at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex. Instead, the decisions are made through factors such as the broad political debate, emotions of the era, and presentation of issues in the media. The speaker explained that the NCC is a political political advocacy group which sticks to its principles principles whether they are popular or. not. Politicians, on the other hand, tend to be caught up in a "popularity contest," contest," he observed. Founded in 1967 by the late Colin Brown, the NCC was originally established to combat the large-scale public spending spending that the founder observed in Canada at that time. He warned that such spending in the public public sector would lead to a decline in economic prosperity. The NCC president described his group as opposing socialism "in all its forms." It advocates advocates measures such as referendums, direct democracy, and the recall of politicians who didn't reflect the views of the electors. It also opposed tax increases, including the GST. "We did all these things long before they were fashionable," he observed. More recently, the NCC launched attempts to unseat Liberal MPPs who would qualify for "obscenely rich" pension plans if elected to another term of office. Another cause undertaken undertaken by the NCC has been the opposition to "gag orders" which limit the rights of groups and individuals (other than political parties) to advertise their views during during elections As part of its philosophy philosophy of less government, the NCC has been a staunch supporter of privatization. privatization. For example, the organization sees no difficulty in having both private and public health care in Canada. "What is the logic of saying that because something is an essential service, it should therefore be funded funded by the government and run by a monopoly?" Harper added that there is actually a double monopoly at work when government controls a particular service, which is also under the control of public sector unions. The guest speaker said after his remarks to the Board of Trade that, although the NCC supports supports the option of private health care services, that wouldn't mean getting rid of the public health care system. . "The issue is whether people have choices," Harper observed. BREAKFAST SPEAKER -- National Citizens Coalition President Stephen Harper (right) and Mike Patrick, President of the Clarington Board of Trade, exchange greetings at Monday's meeting of the Board. Harper addressed a full house in the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex during a breakfast meeting. He discussed discussed the NCC's commitment to more freedom through less government. '• 1 'V ,, •: • ' ' • ' ' V ■ • r \ ", ^ V Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that can have devastating effects j- on some of its victims; leaving fi them unable to work, to pay their ! ; mortgages or to provide food for their families. This is the tragic : human toll of hepatitis C. That's why, in the spring of 1998, F Ontario Premier Mike Harris ! declared his government's intention f to provide financial assistance for j ah individuals who contracted j hepatitis C as a result of receiving ' • blood or blood products in Ontario. It is the government's position that these victims, through no fault of their own, have suffered and arc continuing to suffer. The time for action is now. To that end, the Ontario government is beginning the process of delivering fair and equitable treatment for these people. The first step in this confidential process is to identify all potential victims who may have contracted hepatitis C as a result of receiving blood products in Ontario before 1986 and after June 30,1990. This would include: • All Ontario residents who know or suspect that they have hepatitis C as a result of receiving blood products in Ontario. • All former Ontario residents who know or suspect that they have F; hepatitis C as a result of receiving blood products in Ontario. • All people who know or suspect that they have hepatitis C due to contact with a spouse, partner or parent whose hepatitis C was the result of receiving blood products in Ontario. This would not include: • Those who contracted hepatitis C between January 1,1986 and June 30, 1990 as they fall within the umbrella of federal-provincial assistance being negotiated within class actions. If you belong to any of the included groups, call one of the numbers listed below to receive an information package containing more details. The Ontario government is beginning this process because we bplieve that, for victims of hepatitis C, waiting simply prolongs the suffering. Please call so that together we can help you get on with your life. Call Toll Free 1-877-222-4977 In Toronto (416) 327-0539 TTY 1-800-387-5559 Ontario