The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Wheels/lnsert Newer, slimmer Hummer Sports/14 Winning isn't everything durhamregion.com ♦ Pressrun 24,150 ♦ Founded 1854 ♦ JUNE 1, 2005 ♦ 48 Pages ♦ Optional 3 Week Delivery $5/$1 Newsstand Province won't clear the air Nursing homes, Native-owned- casino exempted from Provincial smoke-free law BY CARLY FOSTER Staff writer .. DURHAM--Proposed changes changes to the provincial smoking ban will wipe out most exemptions under Durham's bylaw -- except the two most controversial ones. While smoking will now be banned in private clubs, legions and bingo halls, designated rooms (DSRs) will still be allowed in nursing homes and the First Nations-run Great Blue Heron Casino on Scugog Island. Continuing to exempt homes for the aged is disheartening to Janet Holtrust, a personal support support worker at Versa Care in Uxbridge. She's been fighting fighting her employer, the Region and Province to get the DSR removed from the facility, where smoke wafts down the hall to employees, visitors and patients on oxygen. "It is ironic that health-care workers, who are dedicated to protecting the health and wellbeing wellbeing of all the patients and clients clients we serve, would be the ones who'receive the least protection as workers under this bill," she said at a recent public meeting in Oshawa. John Ingrao, manager environmental environmental health for the Durham health department, agreed. „ "If the Province does go forward forward with the exemptions to nursing home facilities, it is a disappointment," he said. "We are health advocates first. We're getting the best we can get at this time." Of the 19 long-term care facilities facilities in Durham, 14 of them offer designated smoking rooms. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care maintains -- as the Region did while debating its bylaw -- that nursing facilities are residences. "This is not to legislate what people can and can't do in their homes," said spokesman John Letherby. The smoking bill says that people must be able to smoke unattended or they cannot go into DSRs. This, coupled with the fact that workers have the right to refuse unsafe work, will protect employees, the Ministry said. Currently, Bill 164; the Smoke Free Ontario Act, will not allow smoking in gambling businesses such as bingo halls and casinos. But that should not apply to First Nations properties such as the casino in Port Perry, which is run by the Mississaugas of Scugog Island, said the band's lawyer. "The proposed Ontario laws regulating the use of tobacco products is not likely to be applicable applicable where a First Nation has enacted conflicting regulations with the approval of Indian Affairs (Canada)," said Brian Daly. "It's expected (the laws) will not be enforced on the First Nations, including the Mississaugas." Mississaugas." But around 400 employees of the casino signed a petition that was brought to the public meeting. meeting. Why is it that the casino is regulated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Labour Relations Act, but is not subject to local -- and now maybe not provincial -- smoking bylaws, asked Rick Horwath, representing the Canadian Canadian Auto Workers. "The members of this casino See Ontario page 7 Smaller class sizes ;But local boards brisure how announcement jwill impact fclarington-kids BY JENNIFER STONE Staff writer CLARINGTON -- The Province Province says it will provide money to promote smaller classes, but so far, board officials say they don't know what that will mean for local schools. Monday, the Province announced $126 million as part of its plan to reach a target of a maximum of 20 students in JK through Grade 3 classes by 2007-08. The money also promises to provide more specialist specialist teachers in physical edu- ' cation, the arts and music, said a release from the Ministry of Education. ' , While the local public school board welcomes any new dollars, dollars, it's hard to say how it will actually impact the board's pocketbook, said Erin Brown, budget committee chairwoman with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. "We do not know what the impact will be, and won't know until we get our grant dollars," she said. The board has cancelled all budget meetings until the Province Province announced General Leg islative Grants, the money that makes up most of the board's revenue. Boards must have approved budgets to the Province by the end of August. : But 'announcing new money so late irflie'schobryear'cbukf' present another challenge for,, boards, noted Ms. Brown. "It's very difficult for boards when we get announcements and General Legislative Grants this late. It could potentially mean we have to • hire or make adjustments adjustments to how our classes are laid out for the fall," she said. " S o m e- ■ times it means you have to go in and totally reorganize schools! . "In June, parents go away expecting one thing to be happening, happening, and in September, they may come back to find something something else." KPR will hold no future board meetings till GLGs are announced, and board staff has had a chance to look at the numbers, said Ms. Brown. The local Catholic school See Board page 7 Jason Liebregts/The Canadian Statesman John Mackle Taking centre stage in Courtice COURTICE -- With their production of 'Guys & Dolls' set to open today, Courtice Secondary School students, from left, Andrew Perun as Sky Masterson and Jonny Cawling as Nathan Detroit got in a recent dress rehearsal. The s [j ow ri * n ® ^ or " June 1 to 4 at the school, 1717 Nash Rd., at 7:30 p.m. For tickets (adults $10, students $8, children 12 and under $6), call 905- 436-2074. • BY JENNIFER STONE Staff writer ORONO--The Great Canadian Town Band Festival will continue its tradition as a multi-day festival, but will move into Orono's downtown downtown core this summer. The event, which is set for July 8 to 10, will run with a "new approach" this year, festival president David Cli- menhage told Clarington council Monday. ,.r The event,, which previously took place at Silvanus Garden, will include a new feature this year: hot air balloon rides. As well, there will be vendors in the park, and a dinner hosted by Orono United Church. . This year's .thème will be Ragtime Ragtime Music, highlighting the era from 1900 to the Roaring '20s, said Mr. Climenhage, who spoke to council to provide clarification regarding the event's request for a . $3,500 Municipal grant. Council had requested clarification clarification about the request earlier this year, specifically with regard ySQ<_ V®-- ONTARIO'S DRIVE CLEAN • SERVICE • PARTS MON., WED., FRI. 7:30 am - 6:00 pm TUES. & THURS. 7:30 am - 8:00 pm SAT. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm ACCREDITED TEST & REPAIR FACILITY WHITBY OSHAWA Honda 300 THICKSON RD. S. WHITBY 666-1772 HONDA www.honda1.oom Museum aims to move Goal is to create, pioneer village on opposite side of the street BY JENNIFER STONE Staff writer KIRBY -- Why would a church cross the road? Well, it hasn't yet, but if the Clarington Museum and Archives has any say in the matter, the old joke's punchlinc stands: to get to the other side, The museum is proposing the historically significant Kirby United Church be moved from its current site on the west side of' Hwy. 35/115, to the Clarke Museum grounds; east of the highway, with an eye to eventually eventually having an entire pioneer village village on the property, said Keith Isnor of the museum board. The church, and all its chattels, was offered to the museum for $1. Right now, the property consists consists of the old Kirby school- house, a blacksmith's shop and a volunteer building. The museum has promised to fundraise $200,000, and acquire the rest of the necessary funding through federal and provincial grants, and foundations. Initial estimates by the Municipality Municipality peg the cost of the move at $470,000. But some councillors are concerned concerned the amount of money to be raised is unrealistic. "I applaud the board's initiative, initiative, but I have some grave concerns concerns about the funding," said Regional Councillor Jim Schell. "This is a very aggressive fundraising fundraising campaign, and there are a lot of unanswered questions here." The Municipality will not release any money toward the move of the building until the board can show appropriate funds are being raised. When all is said and done, the Municipality Municipality shouldn't be out money on the project, said an amendment introduced by the mayor. "That entrenches the ideas that our staff can sign off on no risk - on this," said Mayor John Mut-,- ton. "This .takes the element of risk away from the Municipality." Municipality." to the $6,000 in scholarships the festival intended to grant to students students graduating from Clarington high schools. There was also some concern that the event was becoming becoming a one-day event this year, but Mr. Climenhage confirmed it will remain a weekend-long festival. See Band page? Church The museum board has promised promised to nix the plan if fundraising falls.short. "Our plan is to warn people that there is a possibility this project may not go through... but if not, the funds raised will go to projects at the Clarke museum," said Mr. Isnor. The other issue is the transport of the building from its current site to its new home. So far, according to a staff report, no route has been accepted by the Ministry of Transportation. See 'Grave page 7 PONTIAC Bill OK GTYIQ 166 King St. E., Bowmanville U'.M Only 19 GMG Jimmys left in stock! Prices starting from *17,888 Call Peter tods 905-621 i. y