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OronoWeeky llm1 WenesdaqJmUaàry1294- New year baby The Memonial Hospital's New Year's Baby,, is Michael Christopher Jordan Drost, accompanied here by mom Joy Q4uedfl's Park Report from Gord Milîs, MPP Durhaxn East Drost and Auxîliary president Mary Fletcher. Joy Drost holds the silver cup presented to Michael and.mom by the Auxiliary. Michael Jordon Drost welc omed to the world' by Carol-Ann Oster Welcome to the world, Michael Christopher Jordan Drost. Michael, is the Memorial Hospital, Bowmanville's 1994 New Year's Baby. Michael, unfortunately missed the New Year's celebrations as lie didn't make his grand entrance until Januar y 4, at 6:57 a.m. He was a bit late in making the New Year's deadline, but still early enough to be the first of 1994. In previous years, there have' been more problemrs with New Year's babies that'did not arrive on time. One year a New Year's baby did not arrive ýuntil January 14. Another year there was a surprise as twins competed for the titie of New Year's baby. Five murders in Durham 1993 There were five murders in Durham Region in 1993 up from three in 1992 but not near the number of 14 in 1991, an infamous record for the 340,000 people. 0f the five murders in 1993 three were women, one a man and one a child. 21aringtôn Mayor guest speaker Clarington Mayor Diane Hamre will be guest speaker at the second annual Mayor's Luncheon to be held by the Oshawa and District Cliamber of Commerce on Tuesday, January l8th at the Bowmanville Recreational Centre. Tickets te the 12 noon luncheon are $26.75. Phone 728-1683. Each year the Auxilîary to Memnorial Hospital, Bowmnanville presents the New Years baby and proud mother with a silver ccp inscribed with the words, "New Year's Baby". The 1994 cup was presented by Mary Fletcher, president of the Auxiliary, to Michael and mom, Joy, on Friday afternoon at the hospital. Michael weighed in at 7 pounds, il ounces. His brother Matthew, who will turn three in February, is delighted with the addition. Another festive occasion for the hospital's babies comes on Christmnas Day when they are brought to their mothers in littie red Santa sacks. More Oshawa stores open The number of businesses in downtown Oshawa increased for the first time in four years. The Downtown Board of Management indicate 275 stores' and offices were registered at tlie end of 1993 up somne 5.6 percent from that of a year ago. School board Ward Electors in Oshawa are expected to vote by wards for the two school board elections this year. A proposal is before counicil for approval. The two school boards, Separate and Public, have given their approval. It will affect a number of 13 trustees wlio have always been elected from at large in the city. Letters alpd calîs I have received latply about taxes, indicate that most people believe that Ontario is a "high tax province". The truth is that for 90%9/ of taxpayers, Ontario's income tax rates remains the third lowest in al Canada. Ontario 's Retail Sales Tax rate is the fourthi lowest in Canada. Over 20% of Ontario families have either seen no change in their taxes or have seen their taxes go down. Most taxes in Ontario are based on the "ability to pay" principle. The recent increases in personal income tax feil most heavîly on the top 10%o of income earniers. While on the subject of taxes, I want to write a littie about tax on brew your own beer and wine. Brew on premises operators dlaim the new tax is making themi uncompetitive and destroying the industry. Brew on premise operator's continue to enjoy a clear price advantage over Iregular brewer beer even with the new tax and the prospect of Iower prices from the Canada/US beer trade agreement. U-brew beer is not subject to the 50 cent/ltre charge, 17.6 cent volume levy or 12% retail sales tax applied to regular beer. Twenty-four Bottles of Labatts Blue, provides provincial revenue of $7.95 compared with $2.33 for an equivalent anlount of u-brew beer. According to the Brew on, Premise Association, 10 out of a total of about 240 U-Brew establishments, or 4% have failed in tlie three months since the introduction of the 26 cents a litre tax. This works oct to an annual failure rate of 16%, which is the same failure rate experienced by small business in general. U-Brew loss estimates ignore recovery of revenue resulting from any shift back to 'tregular" beer. Assuming U-Brews hold 2% of market share, the provincial govemnment fo regoes $35 million in revenue that would otherwise come from regular beer sales. Over the' last few years, there has been substantial growth ini the produce-your-own industry. The Brew-on-Premise Association of Ontario estiinates a growth rate of over 90 per'cent. Given this tremendous growth and given the alcohol products produced at these establishments have not been subject to the same charges is asking the industry to bear'a disproportionate share of the tax burden. Even with the new tax, the price of produce-your-own beer and wine is well below the price of beer or wine pcrchased through the LCBO. The typical price of a 48 litre batch of produce-your-own beer will increase fom$8 1.77 to $95.12. This only represents 60% of the cost of regular brewery beer which now cons about $158.40 for an equivalent amount. Similarly, the price of a 19 litre batcb of prodcce-your-own wine increases from about $80.00 to $84.94 or 58% of an equivalent amnount of Ontario wine purchased through the LCBO. Over the years, The Royal Canadian Legion lias become involved in numerouS Projeets which are for tlie good of the community. On occasion, their effort have been delayed through governiment, "red tape", as an example housing projects. As a rescît, the Premier gave his approval for the establishment of a Committee for 'Veteran's Affairs. The committee members are Parliamentary Assistants from, Housing, Health, Consumer Affairs, Tourism & Recreation, Cîtizenship, Transportation and myself as Chair of the Committee coming from the Solicitor General. We have held our first meeting with the Executive of The Canadian Legion, and are at present dealing with two concems placed before us. The first is Nevada break-oct lottery tickets, while the second concemn is the hospital beds for veterans at Sunnybrook Hospital. Details about the.Committee will appear shortly in the officiai Legion magazine. One ofmy recent TV. Shows "Talking It Over With Gord" was devoted te the Royal Canadian Legion's program of outreach in the community entitled, "Facing the Challenge." Branch 178 Bowmanville President Jim Connell is the featured guest. A copy of the video can be obtained for a small fee at Rogers Cable TV, Oshawa. Back in November, 1992, I appeared before the Standing Committee of Justice as a witness before the committee as they debated Bill 15, an Act to Amend the Human Rights Code. Much to my amazement, my contribution has now found its way into a magazine devoted to Senior's Issues in the United Kingdom. Bill 15 was about giving people the right to decide the cirdumstances to his or her retirement and the manner and the time at which that retirement may take place. In a similar manner, my statement in the Legisiature in regard to giving Durham College University status, went out on the Canadian Press wire - service, across Canada. This resulted ini my Toronto staff receiving several cails from universities across Canada, seeking an interview and news about the perceived changes. What one may think of a local issue now has the potential of reaching around the world. Until next week, remember - life is worth livingif you avoid the amusements of other grown- up people- No Regional ta x increase Durham taxpayers have been promised a no-tax increase fer 1994. Regional chairman, Gary Herrema, said recently that taxpayers just could not afford tai increases and that if it came to program and service cuts, s0 bc it. "We are going to do what we can to help people get tlirough these tough times', lie said. Regional coundil will announce its 1994 budget in March., Durham Central Agricultural Society ANNUAL MEETING Saturday, January 22,1994' 1:00 p.m. at the Orono Arena (upstairs) EVERVONE WELCOME - REFRESHMENTS Public Notice To Its Citizens MAYOR'S LEVEE and Officiai Unveiling of the VOLUNTEERS' WALL 0F FAME Everyone is cordially invited to join us at the Mayor's Levee to be held on Sunday, January 16, 1994, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Municipal Administrative Centre, 40 Temperance Street, Bowmanville ____ ___ ____ ___ Patti L. Barre, A.M.C.T. j#~) MUNCIPL I~lF Town Clerk Jjlarington Municipality of Clarington N40 Temperance Street Bowmanvllle, Ontario LI C 3A6 Dates of Publication:' January 5, 1994 January 12, 1994 P.0. No. 5006