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I)' 1 • Wheels/Insert Monte Carlo rules the road Sports/12 | Eagles take sting out of Trenton ♦ Founded 1854 ♦ JANUARY 19, 2005 ♦ 52 Pages ♦ Optional 3 Week Delivery $5/$1 Newsstand Transit Surprises Clarington 'It's very unfortunate:' Mayor Mutton BY JILUAN FOLLERT Staff writer I CLARINGTON -- Councillors Councillors were surprised and disappointed disappointed this week, after casting a vote in favour of an amalgamated regional transit system at Monday night's meeting, only to discover the next morning that Oshawa and JVhitby councils had stopped the project in its tracks. «■'"It's very unfortunate," said Clarington Mayor John Mutton of *Oshawa council's decision not jo support the bylaw unless certain certain conditions relating to financial jmpact and the transfer of assets w t ère added. "They effectively killed it by throwing conditions îif.; I don't understand why they would do that when this is one of ftje biggest issues with Durham résidents." ; Irhé transit bylaw would have .transferred all lower-tier transit powers to the Region, creating one transit system in place of the existing four. A triple majority meaning support at Regional Council, as well as five of Durham's Durham's eight municipalities, representing representing at least 51 per cent of the electorate -- was needed in order for the bylaw to pass; Regional council recently voted 26-1 in favour of the bylaw. While Uxbridge and Brock councils councils had already voted against the bylaw, and Whitby had expressed concerns, it was widely expected that Oshawa would provide the needed support to move forward. "I find it bizarre that they turned this opportunity down, especially when there was so much support for it at the Region," said Clarington Regional Councillor Councillor Jim Schell. " For years, we've all been talking talking about improving improving transit, transit, and this was the perfect opportunity. opportunity. I really thought this was going to fly." While Ward 4 Councillor Gord Robinson voted in favour of the by • law on Monday night, he said he, was pleased to hear that Oshawa - had put a stop to it. -li//' "I've had concerns about it myself,* so I'm glad to hear that Oshawa voiced their concerns," he said. "I represent a lot of mral Gord Robinson Jason Liebregts/The Canadian Statesman n! : Vy lit i ; See CLARINGTON page 7 TYRONE -- Betty Hamdn, left; and Edna Fraser, both of Bowmanville, were presented with the Girl Guides of Canada Medal of Merit Award for their years of exceptional service to Guiding, during a ceremony at the Tyrone Community Centre held by the Guides Blue Heron Division on Sunday. Ms. Hamon has given 41 years of service to the orgamztion, while Ms. Fraser has given 34 years. v Money to help with balancing budget BY CARLY FOSTER Staff writer ; DURHAM -- The details have yet to be released, but Lakeridge Health Corporation is hoping for a piece of the Province's transitional funding pie to help offset a $42.5- fnülion deficit. "jt's very difficult to anticipate how we could fare at this point," said Brian Lemon, the chief executive executive officer of Lakeridge Health Gqrporation's (LHC) four hos- » SERVICE • PARTS : MON., WED., FRI. 7:30 am - 6:00 pm : TUES. &THURS. 7:30 am - 8 pm SAT. 9 am - 4 pm ACCREDITED TEST & REPAIR FACILITY WHITBY OSHAWA Honda 300 THICKSON RD. S. WHITBY pitals in Oshawa, Bowmanville, Whitby and Port Perry. "But it's good to hear the goyemment has recognized there is a need for extra funding." Just 1 how much, though, is yet to be seen. On Monday, the Province Province announced $200 million in one-time 'transitional funds to. assist hospitals in balancing their budgets. Last' year the Ministry of Health' and Lbng-Term Care said Ontario's 154 hospitals had to have balanced budgets by March 31,2006. The Ministry announced $91 million for severance costs, $65 million to hospitals with financial difficulties but that.are working on becoming more efficient, $20 million in bridge funding to assist hospitals that need a lot of help to bring budgets under control, $19 million for small rural, hospitals and $5 million to reward hospitals that will balance their budgets. V Mr Lemon said Lakeridge may receive part of the $65-million and $20-milliori pies, as well as some ' funding for Port Perry as a rural hospital. : y'", ) "But quite frankly, more than half of it is for severance," he said. "So that means they're expecting layoffs." /:■/:; The Ontario Nurses Association has said the equivalent of 757 fulltime fulltime nurses and 1,145 full-time administrative staff have already been laid off across the province as hospitals stmggle to balance the books -- and that more layoffs are to come. - Lakeridge, facing a $42.5-mil- liori deficit for 2004-05 and 2005- 06, is being forced to make cuts to administrative staff, the executive team and security personnel In Port Perry, the hospital's maternity, .ward is facing closure as part of the cuts. Mr. Lemon said their budget plan has already been submitted to and approved by the Province, but that LHC has been told not to make any cuts that would affect patient services without consent from the Ministry. "Everything we have proposed, the various options at that time will be finalized," he said, adding adding that he hopes by early March Lakeridge's budget plan can be released to the public. Mr. Lemon cautioned against thinking Monday's funding announcement would affect any programs or services -- such as the maternity ward -- that are currently currently on the chopping block. "At this point, there would appear to be no money in the provincial provincial announcement that would be ' earmarked for specific programs," Mr. Lemon said. "This money is being announced for this fiscal year. And the budget we proposed is for next year." -- With files fmm TorStar News Seivice' . Metroland Durham comes up a winner Fifteen awards at North American . editorial contest The Suburban Newspapers of America (SNA), announced Friday that Metroland Durham Region Media Group has been honoured with 15 awards in its annual Editorial Contest. SNA is a non-profit professional trade association whose membership is comprised of approximately 2,000 suburban newspapers published by the leading multinewspaper multinewspaper publishing companies around North America. The Metroland Durham Region Media Group (DRMG) community community newspapers include Oshawa This Week, Whitby This Week, Clarington This Week, Ajax News Advertiser, Pickering News Advertiser, The Canadian Statesman, The Uxbridge Times- Journal, the Port Perry Star and durhamregion.com. The Metroland Metroland DRMG was honoured with the awards announcement Friday, having been selected from 2,246 entries. "This is an outstanding achieve- • ment," says Joanne Burghardt, editor-in-chief of the Metroland DRMG. "I am extremely proud of the work our journalists do each and every day covering the events that affect our readers. It's a great team." Awards announced Friday for the Metroland DRMG newspapers newspapers include best in: • EDITORIAL WRITING, 1st, Tony Doyle, Ajax-Pickering News Advertiser • FEATURE SERIES, 1st, Ajax- ' Pickering News. Advertiser, Diversity Durham • LOCAL ELECTION COVERAGE COVERAGE Class D, 2nd, Ajax-Pickering Ajax-Pickering News Advertiser, Federal Election 2004 . ENVIRONMENTAL COVERAGE, COVERAGE, 2nd, Keith Gilligan, Ajax-Pickering News Advertiser, Ontario Unplugged • BUSINESS PUBLICATION, 2nd. Ajax-Pickering News Advertiser, Advertiser, Durham Business Times • OPINION COLUMN, 3rd, Tony Doyle, Ajax-Pickering News Advertiser . NON-PAGE ONE LAYOUT, ■3rd, Ajax-Pickering News Advertiser Advertiser • GRAPHIC ARTWORK SUPPORTING SUPPORTING EDITORIAL, 1st, Oshawa This Week • NON-PAGE ONE LAYOUT, See AWARD-WINNING page 7 666-1772 honda www.honde1.eom Clarington in good shape for 2005, mayor says Mutton delivers annual address to kick off council meeting Lacrosse Bowl will hold its grand opening 'on Jan. 22, and that construction on Courtice Fire Station No. 4 and Community Police Station is well underway. underway. J On the engineering front, 401 interchange improvements improvements and the reconfiguration of Liberty Street are CLARINGTON -- Mayor John Mutton gave his * on the list for 2005, as well as improvements to Bow- 1/uuuiiu J ... :iu PAmmtinthi Doric find Snnp.r Creek Trail. Jaon Liebregts/The Canadian Statesman Mayor John Mutton, pictured speaking with Orono résidents Jean and Stewart Wood after the Mayor's levee Sunday, delivered the State of Clarington Address Monday. annual "State of Clarington" address at Monday's council meeting, highlighting ongoing and upcoming upcoming projects in the municipality. With commercial building permits up 495 per cent in 2004, and industrial permits up 105 per cent, Mayor Mutton said that growth is a trend that will continue in 20051 He noted that the Bowmanville Indoor Soccer/ manville Community Park and Soper Creek Trail. The Municipality will continue to work on plans for the Clarington Energy Park in Courtice, and the Clarington Technology Park in Bowmnaville. "To sum up the year in a few words, more recreation recreation wave, more bricks and mortar, more transportation transportation infrastructure, waterfront reclamation and jobs, jobs, jobs," Mayor Mutton said. START SOMETHING NEW. '■ ", f ^ H Fr.- : f! r v*v H E ! CHEVROLET BODY 1 PAINT SHOP Chev & Chev Trucks HWY.»8 jW 2 > NICHOLS Ê 5 401 2728 COURTKG RD., KWY. 12, COURTKE 905-436-2222 TORONTO UNO 806-427*4444 roynleholsmotors@flmoinada.com 1 §~ Vll 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT WITH AIR AND AUTOMATIC Mw.f 11 189 [Ï GoodwnrndfiJEarvkc See dealer for (lentils. mm