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Insert Meet Durham's Faces of the Future Municipal See how your local Report Cards politicians scored 2006 , . Page A7 durhamregion.com ♦ Pressrun 24,150 ♦ Founded 1854 ♦ JUNE 21, 2006 ♦ 52 Pages ♦ Optional 3 Week Delivery $6/$1 Newsstand OPG prez likes Darlington's chances But, Province will have final say: spokesman BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer CLARINGTON -- Comments from Ontario Power Generation president and CEO Jim Han- kinson, indicating Clarington is the best place to build new nukes, have Mayor John Mutton even more certain it will happen here. Speaking to the Toronto Board of Trade last week, Mr. Hankin- son reiterated OPG's long-held stance that Darlington is the place for new nuclear reactors reactors to be built: "We believe that the best site in the province province is at the Darlington Darlington nuclear station for these reasons: there's room to build on the site, and it is well- served by the transmission transmission system; Darlington has ' a strong, positive and supportive relationship with its host com- Jim Hankinson munity of Clarington, and OPG works .hard'to maintain this relationship; Darlington Darlington has been the bestperforming bestperforming multi-unit CANDU station in Canada for the past two years; and, OPG employees , are highly skilled, experienced, and up to the task of operating additional units," said Mr. Hankinson Hankinson in his speech. The remarks came on the heels of an announcement announcement by the Province last Tuesday, Tuesday, which, among other things, called on OPG to "begin a federal federal approvals process, including an environmental assessment, assessment, for new units at an existing (nuclear) facility," facility," said a news release. But, though OPG has been clear in its preference preference for the Darlington site, OPG spokesman John Earl was quick to point out that the Province, Province, through the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), would have the final say. Mr. Hankinson's comments simply indicate that "OPG John Mutton believes Darlington is a good site, and that the site is readily available, but that's not a decision OPG will be making," said Mr. Earl. "We believe that the Darlington site is well-positioned for another nuclear site, but the OPA will ' make that decision." Still, Clarington's mayor said he's "99.9 per cent sure" the OPG-owned land next to the existing Darlington facility will be chosen for new reactors. "Everyone I've been talking to in the industry, from suppliers of nuclear reactors to people in the regulatory agency to people at OPG (say) basically, it's Darlington, Darlington, because transmission capability is the key factor," said Mayor Mutton. "I'm 99.9 per cent sure it's coming here, and so arc the trade unions and people in the industry," he said. "I've heard everyone's ramping ramping up in the expectation that it's going to be here. There are no bets to hedge here." Municipality, Legion to on street-naming Matter sent back to planning staff for study BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer CLARINGTON - Streets named to commemorate historical historical families should not have poppies added to the signs just because someone sharing the last name eventually participated in a war, says a proposal from the Municipality. Clarington is in the midst of revising its street naming policy with regard to War dead and veterans. Veteran services officer, John Greenfield, Greenfield, of Bowman- . ville's Royal Canadian Canadian Legion, Branch 178, suggested poppies poppies could be added to a number of signs in the Municipality, including the ones at Jackman Road in Bowmanville and Millson Hill Drive in Orono. That's because descendents of those for whom the streets were originally named went on to serve their country. But, according to the planning department's report, that would detract from the original reason Jim Schell for the streets' monikers, since they were named for earfy settlers settlers and community builders. ."It is proposed that the poppy symbol would not be placed retroactively on street signs for those streets that'existed prior to the (veteran street naming) program program unless there is proof that the street was specifically named for a veteran or a soldier killed in action," said the report. Regional Councillor Jim Schell suggested that, instead of using the existing street signs, new streets could' be named, using the full name of the veteran. veteran. "In terms of Jackman Road, wouldn't you be more in favour of naming (a street) Fred Jackmân Road (after the man killed in the war), instead of taking away from the Jackman family" by using the street originally named for the historical family, asked Coun. Schell. Confusion over streets sharing a name by emergency services would be avoided by the street name having having a different prefix, suggested Coun. Schell. The matter was referred back to planning staff, who are to meet with Legion officials before bringing back ■ a subsequent report. Jason Liebregts/Metroland Durham Region Media Group A little party in the garden BOWMANVILLE - Susan Mariglia Bosgraaf, right, program coordinator of the Bowmanville Museum, held a garden party in which a variety of plants transplanted from the grounds were put up for sale. Cora Versendaal came out to help and looks at some of the plant displays. Region wants to hear from Dads Input sought into needs of fathers DURHAM - The Durham Region health department wants to know what new fathers need. Launched on Father's Day, June 18, the department is distributing a survey, available at local community community centres, to fathers with children up to age six. The campaign is designed to learn what programs and services services would best support new dads. ' "More" often, .we're seeing fathers actively involved in raising, raising, caring for and interacting with their children," said Kathleen Kathleen Piehl, a public health nurse. "To help support fathers in their role, we're asking for their input about the types of programs and information that's important to them." Surveys can be completed online (www.region.durham. on.ca) or mailed to the Durham Durham Region health department, P.O. Box 730, Whitby, ON, LIN 0B2. For more information, call 905- 666-624 Lor 1-800-841-2729. 5cN__ (y ONTARIO'S • SERVICE • PARTS WON., 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 A REPAIR FACILITY WHITBY OSHAWA Honda 300 THICKSON RD. S. WHITBY 1-866 140-6192 © HONDA www.honde1.com > Debt loads of residents never r in 35 years Credit Counselling Service of Durham Region celebrates anniversary of helping residents BY JULIAN FOLLERT Staff Writer DURHAM - The bottle on Sandra Shcrk's desk can best be described as a credit card graveyard. graveyard. Filled to the brim with tiny slivers bearing the VISA and Mastercard logos, this is where hundreds of maxed out credit cards cud up after meeting their fate at the hands of her scissors. "It actually makes people feel better to see all these cards, because they realize they're not the only one," Ms. Shcrk says. "Finances are kind of the last taboo in society, people people arc sometimes embarrassed embarrassed to admit they've having having trouble or to ask for help." At the Credit Counselling Service of Durham Region (CCSDR), the staff try to alleviate alleviate this worry, by providing confidential financial advice - minus the judgement. This year marks the 35th anniversary anniversary for the small, non-profit organization, and as executive director for the-last 17 years, Ms. Shcrk says their biggest challenge challenge is still getting people to take that first step and ask for help. Those who do make the call are invited to come in to the CCSDR office in Oshawa, for a one-on- onc interview with a counsellor. They start off with a financial assessment to pinpoint the problem.. problem.. From there, some clients arc able to turn, things around themselves, while others require years of help to gel back on even footing. CCSDR services include budget Ron Rietroniro/Metroland Durham Region Media Group Sandra Shcrk is the executive executive director of Credit Counselling Counselling Service of Durham Region. planning, education on the wise use of credit, bankruptcy alter natives - even debt repayment programs where counsellors act as intermediaries between the client and their creditors. Clients come from a wide range of ages and backgrounds - everyone from students coping coping with loans, to seniors coping with pensions. While the services haven't changed much in 35 years, Ms. Shcrk says the debt load that clients carry lias. Flipping through the organization's organization's first annual report, she notes that the average client's debt in 1971 was about $6,000. This year, it's $33,220. See VALUABLE, page A4 o % $1000 . Financing ON MOST 06 « MODELS OWNER LOYALTY BONUS fOII SlINHRE. CAVALIER. SUNBIRD. MALIBU. GRAND AM. Al Ellfl fill OWNERS III QAI/F CAR HEAVEN THE 1% PROGRAM GST $ 1000 N nini for your U W TRADE DIRECT LINES. Parti 905-436-2227 Service 905-436-2228 Body 4 Paint 905-436-2229 ° / ndv £ 'V NICHOLS 401 2728 Courtice Rd„ HWY. #2 Courtke Toll Free 1-866-885-8822 roynicholsmotors@gmcanada.com www.roynkholimoton.com See clouter for delntls.