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Orone WeekyTmee WedÀesdàlMày5, 193 Receives Environmental Citizenship Award Jim Richards of Orono, The award is in recognition of Mr. Manager of McLaughlin Bay Richards' many years spent 'Wildlife Reserve in Oshawa, promnoting environmental receives an "Environmental activities, particularly in Citizenship" award during GM of connection with T~he Oshawa Canada's recent "Operation Second Marsh and, more recently, Cleansweep." Making the with the development of presentation on behaîf of McLaughlin Bay, Wildlife Environment Minister Jean Reserve, adjacent t'O GM of Charest is Alan Redway, MP, Don Canada's headquarters building. Valley East, white Mayor Nancy (Photo, Larry Kirtley) Diamond of Oshawa applauds. LT WAS A "RUFF" It is not that often that we are able to announce a new addition of bird specie to our lifelist but it happened late Friday and then not to be out-done Bll Bunting adds a single plus to his ifelist on Sunday. t is that time of year when the shore birds make their way up north and the Port Perry Sewage Lagoons are the closest hot spot for the waders from Orono, somne 20 to 30 minute drive. Friday was just about over as far as work was concerned when it was off to the lagoons to see if the shorebirds were coming in any great numbers. One of the lagoons was filled with Bufflehead and Scoup ducks, alI in their most brightest of colouring, which comes about in the spring. These two breeds will soon take off for the summer in the more northemn waters. Ali the action appeared to be in the most southerly lagoon for a number of birders were assembled along the bank. 'Me first sweep with the scope -evealed both Greater and Lesser "-Yellow Legs along wîth a Dunlin and a Semipalmated Sandpiper. There are many more yet to come and should be here within a few days. But the lagoon was also home to Blue Winged Teal and Green Winged Teal ducks, many of which will spend the summer at the lagoons. On entering into conversation with a duo of birders we fmnd that the big attraction at the lagoons is the arrivai of a Ruff. That was a new one for me ini fact 1 had to go to the index even to find it in the book let alone in the muddy flats of the lagoon. 1 was informed it had just flown in and so it meant another sweep with the scope. Yes there was a bird that 1 could well have missed in the beginning and by looking closely it was different, slightly different in coîouring. There is not much in the book as far as Ruffs or Reeves are concerned other than they do occasionally appear in the area -but come from afar, being Eurasian. Anyways it was hot news at the lagoons and on the way out we met a number wanting to know if the Ruff was still present. Bill was not to be outdone for on Sunday there was an excellent sighting of a Black-Backed Woodpecker in the Ganaraska Forest. The bird could well have corne down to the area this winter and has yet to travel back north which it wiIl most likely do before too long. t was a first for Bill. t came about while Bill was escorting a group through the forest trails as a projet of SAGA. On arriving at the Forest Centre on Sunday we were pleasantly surprised to see aIl the activity taking place. The south- west corner was alive with camping scouts while outside the dorms Brownies werescattered about partaking of the noon meal. And then there were others preparing to bike the trails and others preparing to walk the trails. According to Joe Harris who works week-ends at the Centre there were some one hundred visitors on Saturday and a near amount on Sunday. The Centre is a great place for an outdoor experience and it was somewhat surprising the number of spring flowers that were in bloom this early in the year. Queen's Park Report from Gord Milîs, MPP Durham East Las t week at Queen's Park, 1 heard more than one of my colleagues hum or sing the words to the popular song of the day, "If I had a million dollars - we wouldnt have to eat Kraft Dinner, If I had a million dollars we wouldnt have to walk to the store. It's really not surprisi.ng to mie that I have such lyrics cursing through my brain, at alnost every waking minute, and even in my dreares. As 1 look towards the impact of cuts that wilî touch aIl of us, and as 1 look towards tax increases, my mind drifts back to the Summer of 1940. That was the crisis time for everyone in England. Our backs were to the, wall, we expected to be over-run in a mater of days, yet we ail stood together and we came through. Today, we in Ontario face a like crisis. Although Our crisis doesn't include loss of life orbloodshed, it stili is a predicament. Our survival depends upon everyone doing his or her part. L t may require somne loss of pay, it may, require somne days off without pay, it may be loss of services. we take for granted. Somne things we have been used to having for years, for ever may be different. But I'm confident that we have the spirit required to overcome our collective differences-in order to survive our crisis in 1993. Last week, 1 had the chance to talk with Floyd about possible tax increases. 1 said that everyone in Durham East didn't want to see tax increases in the budget. 1 also suggested that perhaps we should "cap" lottery winnings to 1 million, and put the rest back into general revenue to ease theý burden of taxes and tax inecases. He just -smiled - but who knows? In any event, t believe that lottery winnings should be taxed at the time they are claimed, not a year later after much has been disposed of or hîdden away in tax shelters. In the April 13 Throne Speech, the government outlined its 10- point plan for puuting Ontario back to work. That plan includes fundamental reform of the social assistance system. Perhaps the most complaints I hear about are those that relate to social assistance. 1 agree with many of you that the present system isn't working and no amounit of tînkering will fix it. We are now preparing to move foirward with a new social assistance system. We will work to give everyone on social assistance the opportunity to enter the workforce. Individuals will be expected to do everything they can to take advantage of the opportunities given them.-The new systemn will recognize that, increasingly, the face of poverty is the face of a chiîd. More than one in five Ontario children live in poverty. The problem bas ramifications that go well beyond social asslistance. Childhood Poverty sets the stage for poor health, low academic achievement and unfulfilled potential. Social assistance reform will still have a respect for dîgnity, the principles of faimness, responsible fiscal management, and an abiding concemn to provide for the weakest among us, including our children. In keeping with our target to reduce waste by 50% in the year 2000, new waste regulations were introduced last week in the Legislature. Among these new regulations Municipalities with a population of 5,000 or more will be required to put in place and maintain a blue box program. Also, municipalities of 5,000 or more must provide backyard composters to their residents at cost or less (Ministry supported) and provide information on how to compost. They must continue to collect compost leaf and yard waste separately if they, are already doing so. The new regulations do not require residents to participate in recycling or composting programs. The regulations simply require the municipalities to provide these programns. Last Thursday morning in the Legislature, 2nd Reading of Bill 6, to change the naine fromn the Town of NeWcastle to The Municipality of Clarington, passed with support from both opposition parties. 1 expect the Bill to receive Third Reading towards the end of June, and in time for the effective of July ILt A thought for the week - He is richest who is content with the Ieast, for content is the wealth of nature. -Socrates.