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

A Metroland Community Newspaper ‘ © _ Vol. 32 No. 34 HATS OFF TO SPRING! Hilary Walls and Natalie Frondella model their hat creations made at a March Break workshop Friday at the Oakville Museum. And yes, that is snow in the background. Hopefully, it‘s the last we‘ll see of the ’white stuff until next winter. ‘? INSIDE Today‘s Paper Politi v Next provincial election could be wild Pg. 4 Waiting game Time will tell for Erik Lo PetNet High tech identification system for pets Pg. 13 HOMES.. uio 17â€"20 SPORTEE Emm 21824 ............... 1315 CLASSIFIED.... «es 2223 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS Toys R Us, Woolco, Moores The Suit People, Holland Park, Overdrive, Ren‘s Pets Depot H R BLOCK THE INCOME TAX SPECIALISTS 343 Kerr St.............. 8A4â€"7986 Oakville Place R Sears.................. 8429410 ext. 450 BBY: Mss :3111« BA2A811 on. 324 NEW 288 Lakeshore Rd. E..842â€"7600 LE"/ONLY ... Ask for details Canadian Publication Mail Product Agreement #435â€"201 LE BEAVER >, 1 “’Canada ‘s Best Communtty Newspaper’ CCNA Better Newspapers Competition 1993 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 1994 [ BURNS hy 9.06% > o (416) 359-4633 00% Government Guaranteed Strlp Coupons Maturing in 2004 to dwn;e 68 Pages Don‘t touch that turtle! 75 Cents (GST included) owners in the region to stop selling turtles to the public after seven of eight store aquaria were found to contain Salmonella bacteria. Tony Amailfa, area supervisor of environmental health for the department, said the request was made because there is a potential risk of disease transmission, particularly to young young children. Salmonella is a bacteria that is sometimes found in the intestine of animals and is spread to humans through their feces. The bacteria causâ€" es diarrhea, vomiting and fever in humans. It‘s especially hard on chilâ€" . dren and the elderly. Amalfa said pet turtles often carry Salmonella and can contaminate aquarium tank water when they defecate. People can get Salmonella on their hands when touching the pet turtles or coming into contact with the aquarium water. If they then touch their mouths or eat something without first washing their hands, the bacteria could enter their body and make them sick. The health department did a similar study 18 months ago and found The Halton Regional Health Department has asked pet store (Photo by Peter McCusker) Walâ€"Mart boss says local business has nothing to fear from company except healthy competition By HOWARD MOZEL Oakville Beaver Staff Local retailers have nothing to fear except "healthy competition" when Walâ€"Mart opens its Oakville store, says the company‘s president and chief executive officer. Bruce West made his comment Monday during a packed pressâ€"conâ€" ference at Walâ€"Mart Canada Inc.‘s Toronto head office. Asked whether the U.S.â€"based giant will undercut area retailers to the point of possible extinction, West said Oakville‘s "vibrant" downtown community, for example, will not be affected. "I don‘t expect that will change at all," he said. "Retailers have learned how to merchandise their stores." Pressed for whether consumers can expect a prlce war in the comâ€" ing months, all the Oakville resident, would say is lower prices will be offered at each store after they‘re renovated. "We will be competitive," said West, sitting against a backdrop of overâ€"sized slogans such as "We Sell For Less" and "Why Shop Anywhere Else?" As for what the overall impact Walâ€"Mart‘s entry into the Canadian retail market will have, West again pushed the positive. "Tthink Canadians will have an increased standard of living because of it," said West, who formerly headed the Woolco operation. According to Bob Martin, president and CEO for Walâ€"Mart International, the way was cleared late last week by Investment Canada for the company to convert 122 nonâ€"unionized Woolco stores across Canada. Renovations began at 18 locations on Monday with the mamâ€" moth renewal project scheduled for completion by year‘s end. The Oakville store, located in Trafalgar Village on Cross Avenue, is slated (See ‘Local‘ page 8) about half the water tests showed Salmonella contamination. Under the health promotion and protection act, the health departâ€" ment has the power to order stores to stop selling turtles but Amalfa said that this was deemed necessary at this point. (See ‘Tips‘ page 2) Bruce West: better standard of living (Photo by Peter McCusker Province support good news for Lear Seating plant By JOHN VINCIC Special to the Beaver Local politicians, company officials, and workers gathâ€" create more than 500 jobs. $4.1â€"million in loans and grants a ‘vote of confidence‘ in economy ered at the Lear Seating plant last Friday to hear MPP _ the new plant, and a conditional grant of $1.6â€"million from Brian Charlton, chair of the Management Board of jobs Ontario to hire and train 200 longâ€"term unemployed Cabinet, announce provincial support to help the company people. In total, the funding is expected to help create begin new operations in Oakyville and St. Thomas that will _ more than 300 new jobs at the 2,700 Bristol Circle facility. _ and productive factory." When operations hit full stride, Lear estimates it will Charlton announced the Lear Seating plant in Oakville employ 400 hourly and 55 salaried workers at its 93,000 has been awarded a $2.5â€"million loan to build and equip â€" $q. ft. facility that will provide seats for the Ford Windstar Two teens face charges after father and son were stabbed A father and son were stabbed during an altercation with three young males on Belyea Street, Friday night report the Halton Regional Police. Police said the father was stabbed in the left shoulder and required 12 stitches to treat the wound. His 18â€"yearâ€"son was stabbed twice in the back of his left arm and required eight stitches treat the wounds. The altercation occurred at 11 p.m. Police would not comment on how the incident started, but said the young victim knew his three assailants. A 16â€"yearâ€"old Oakville resiâ€" dent faces twoâ€"counts of assault with a weapon. Scott Moffatt, 19, of Trudale Crescent, is charged with assault and assault with a weapon. William Rutherford, 18, is charged with assault, assault with a weapon and breach of probaâ€" tion. in Mexico this week. attract more than 15,000 business people. One of the reasons for the opti Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to expand sales in sectors previâ€" removed over five to 10 years. ~The show, sponsored by the g Department of Foreign Affairs and . International Trade, is expected to . mism of these local businesses is â€" the reduction of Mexican tariffs : and trade barriers achieved . through the North American Free . Because of these changes, . Canadian companies will be able : ously high restricted. Some of the Mexican tariffs and import licensâ€" ing requirements were eliminated immediately while others are to be miniâ€"van being built at the Oakville plant. The decision by Lear to set up shop in Oakville was applauded by Charlton who described it as a stellar example of government and business working in partnership to create new jobs. "It is a vote of confidence in our work force, our auto industry, and our economy," said Charlton. "It is definitely a winâ€"win situation for all of us involved in this pleasing Mayor Ann Mulvale described the occasion as "truly an afternoon to celebrate," and vowed to work hard to seize (See ‘Lear‘ page 8) Local firms looking to Mexico for new business Companies on trade mission this week his week marks an important milestone for 11 Oakville companies. They‘re among the 400 small and mediumâ€" sized Canadian firms taking part in ‘Canada Expo ©94‘ Proâ€"Eco‘s Robert March: expanding markets. (Photo by Peter McCusker) [ Maximize Your Financial Planning With A Free MAX Computer /" Call 338â€"3030 For Details. Oakville‘s Proâ€"Eco Limited is one firm that is taking advantage of the new changes in Mexican trade laws. The company produces machinery and equipment for the strip metal processing industry and has been in the Mexican market since 1980 but trade restrictions meant sales penetration was very limited. Despite these problems, the Proâ€"Eco built up a strong customer base so when trade liberalization came to Mexico, the company was in (See ‘Companies‘ page 2) a RBC Analysis. D SECURIMIES Member of Royal Bank Group