pots 3 be: Volume 135 Number 29 WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2001 COPY 75¢ (70¢ + 5c Gsm) Island First Nation votes for new chief By Chris Hall Port Perry Star The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation voted for change at the top last week after Tracy Gauthier was elect- ed as the new chief. The local First Nation held its election last Wednesday (June 27). In total, more than 85 ballots were cast in the election, which featured the use of mail-in ballots for the first time. Valerie LaRocca and Angela Johnson were voted in to serve as councillors. "This was the first time people who lived off the reserve were allowed to vote. We used mail-in votes for the first time this year," said Alice Edgar, who works out of the First Nation administra- tion office. Representatives from the Hiawatha First Nation near Peterborough helped with the election. Former Chief Rennie Goose took part in last week's election, but lost his post. Shawn Eade attempted to hold his councillor's- chair, but didn't receive enough support to hold his position. Official results from the election were not made available. Elections on the Scugog Island First Nation are held every two years, and must be completed by the end of June of that year. The new chief and councillors took their new positions immediately. CANADA DAY VISIT: Wet and windy weather didn't CHRIS HALL / PORT PERRY STAR (played by Dave Ellis) from paying a visit to Palmer stop national historical figures Laura Secord (por- " Park on Sunday, when Durham MP Alex Shepherd held trayed by Bobbie Drew) and Sir John A. MacDonald a celebration to mark Canada Day. By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Local politicians have estimated that more than $16 million in taxes are garnered from fuel sales here in Scugog, and they've turned to their federal and provincial counterparts to help return some of those funds to the township. Scugog councillors passed a resolution last week that calls for the two upper-tier governments to refund some of the fuel tax funds back to the township to Council seeks gas tax refund to help pay for roads help pay for the maintenance and construction of municipally owned and operated roadways. According to a report recently presented before council, it was estimated that approximately $53 mil- lion would be needed to fund the capital construction costs needed to bring the township's roads up to ade- quate condition. Using that number, it was determined that each household in the township would need to contribute a little more than $5,000 each year to bring Scugog's roads up to par. Currently in the 2001 budget, the township will collect about $310 per home for road work. In a recent survey by township staff of the gas sta- tions in the municipality, it was estimated that based on an average 2000 fuel cost of 65.3 cents per litre, fuel sales within Scugog resulted in the generation of $8,540,700 of provincial fuel tax and $5,810,000 of fed- eral excise tax. Please turn to Page 16 INE EES A $53 ' n o 8 O k $l 2 EL A% Fo 4 0; ) les 3 ys > A Lr J ad ET Te ay am