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rOrono Weekly TimesWednesday, Atigust 24,1994-3ýý gjJessica Eileen S tec, daughter of Denise and Ed Stec, will be one year old on August 27. Pmoud grandparents Adamn and June Stec, Don and Eileen Stephens of Orono. gueen's Prk Report from Gord Milis, MPP Durham East In last week's column I finished up talking about wbat Mike Harris proposed te do about non-profit housing if elected to forin the government of Ontario in 1995,-and 1 promised te finish that subject off in this week's column. It isn't any secret, Provincial Conservative Leader Mike Harris bas already announced that sbouild lie bc- Premier in 1995 hie will end ahl subsidies te non- profit housing and sell off ail tue present public housing stock to private landiords. H-is substitute for non-profit bousing will be shelter allowances. Shielter allowances do nothing te increase tbe supply of affordable housing. In times of bigh vacancy rate (such as now), landiords are only toe happy to accept low-inc ome tenants under such a program. During boom- times, tuese people find tbemselves in the streets in favour' of more "desirable" tenants. The Conservatives usually forget te mention that tbey also want te abolishi rent controls. Under tuis agenda, botu rents and the cest of shelter allowance programs would go tbrougb the roof. Landlords w ould jack up rents, knowing tbat the taxpayer was on tue hook for wbatever amount tenants could afford. So, those folk who tuink thiat by cutting out building ~ordable bousing saves tax dollars, mray want te think about it again. A couple of weeks ago, I was in Cobourg at tbe official opening of a non-profit building wbichi contained 60 geared-to-încome apartmcnts for seniors. After the ribbon cutting was over, 1 had tue opportunity te chat te many of tue residents of the new building. Some were moved close te tears as tbey expresseil their joy te me and our govemnment for providing funds wbicb allowed tbem to Ilive witb dignity in coifortable surroundings in the twilight of tbeir lives. ln my short speech 1 empbasized tbe role played by seniors in our society, and tue fact tbat most have neyer called on anyone for help in tbeir entire lives. Now, when many seniors live on small incomes, when many have lest their life-long partner and are forced to live on haif tue pension income tuey once had, isn't it fait that tuose of us who are perhaps bette' off, belp te pay for "affordable" bousing turough our taxes to help those who fmnd tuemnselves less able te, cope? 1 feel many people like me have tue samec feeling as 1 do. This week, along with Mayor Hamnre, I will be able te announce that stage, one funding had been allocated by our goverumnent to proceed te tue development phase for a proposal to build a seniors non-profit apartinent building in Bowmanville. This site, close to everything, wil be a boon to our local senior population. Non- profit housing continues to be a key part of our governments strategy. Since the unilateral withdrawal of the federal goverrument, in 1992, ours is tue only gevernment in Canada building non-profit housing. We know tbe Censervatives will abolisbi non-profit bousing, but what about tue Ontario Liberals? Until recently they joined witu us in arguing against the Conservative platform. In Lyn McLeod's latest response to Our budget of 1994, she called non- profit bousing a waste of Money. I suspect local seniors longing for the Bewmanvîlle facility te be buîlt, where tuey will bc able te live in dignity, wont agree witu tuat statemnent. A recent report by informetrica Ltd. has confirmed Celebrates lst Birthda what our governi7lCflt SUSPMCCd ahl along - Ontario is getting a raw deal from the federal government. Federal cutbacks have cost Ontario 2,600 new social housing uRuts over the past seven years. The continued federal policy will result in the future loss of 4,500 new social bousing -units each year the report said. This will mean a loss of about 8,000 construction jobs annually. The federal government has off-loaded billions of dollars in annual costs to our government and its taxpayers, with massive federal cutbacks in transfers. Ontarios unemployed and our government are bearing the additional burden of between $1.3 and $1.*6 billion annually through cuts to U.I.C. In the area of immigration, Ontario gets more than 55 per cent of newcomers to this country, but only 39 per cent of federal immigration seutlement allocations. Quebec in contrast, received only 19 per cent of immigrants but got 34 per cent of federal allocations. And in industrial development Ontario contributed 48 per cent of taxes received by the federal govemmient but got only 28 per cent of federal subsidies te industry. AIl of the above is not political mean spirited tick-for- tac, its the truth as prepared by a consultant our government commissioned to see if Ontario was indeed being short changed by tue federal governinent. Just recently I have received a number of calîs from worried people over a column in tbe Toronto Star written by Alan Silverstein unider the beading- "Act will let province usurp property". This story leaves tue impression that the Substitute Decisions Act renders powers of attorney no longer effective and that the Public Guardian and Trustee will take over the financial management of all who become financially incompetent. Tbis is not correct. Hopefully, My letter on this subject will be appearing in this newspaper soon. Tbis should set the record straight. The Minister of Health recently announced $750,000 for an innovative study of paramedics in 21 communities across the province. Included in the study are Port Hope, Cobourg, Peterborough and Lindsay. This is the first time a study of this kind bas been conducted to answer important questions on cardiac arrest survival. Once completed the study will provide Ontario and the international emiergency services community witu the information te prevent disability and' save lives. Ambulance- attendants will receive paramedic training once it bas been demonstrated that defibrillation - a treatment tuat starts tue lbeart -- an be provided in time te prevent disability or deatb. Pîrefighters, usually the first on the scene, will also be trained in defibrillation. In addition to tue $750,000 provided for tbe research study, the rinistry's Emergency Healtb Services Brancb will pay the ambulance-related costs of employmnent, training and Talent Show new at the, Pair When the Mundeli Fa mily present their show at the Durhanm Central Pair on september 10 a new feature will be added. A Talent Contest, open to ail ages, classes for 8 and 'under, 12 and under, 18 and under, 19-49 and 50 and over will be offered. Pirsi, second and third prizes will be given in each category. Any musical talent, singing or playing an instrument will fmnd a category and the Mundeil FamilY will be on hand to supply any backup requited., In terested parties may pre-register by writing te the fait at 2 Princess St., Box 90, Orono, LOB iMO or by registering prior to the contest at 1:00 p.m. on September 10 in the Orono Arena. me to complain about the waiting time te enter hospitals. In next week's column j will explain just why you shouldn't be blaming Our government and the social contract for, "the amnount of time it takes mny Dad to get bis hip replaced." Sece you ail next week. Vying for the titie Stephanie Clapdorp, Ambassador of the Durham Central Fair will bc vying for the titie of 1994 CNE Ambassador of the Fairs against over 100 orner local fair winners in Toronto next week. The contestants arrive ini Toronto on Friday, August 19 and spend three days touring the city. During this timne, three judges observe their attitudes, behaviour and how they interact with others. In'intensive interviews, the contestants are questionedi and judged on their knowledge of cuitent affaits, agriculture, faits and agriculture societies. Final judging for the Ambassador of the Fairs Pageant begins at 5 p.m. in the Coliseum Main Ring on Sunday, August 21, Three finalists are selected and asked te make a speech and answer an impromptu question. In the days following the competition, - the 1994 Ambassador of the Pairs winners will become an officiai representative of the CNE. Throughout the year, the reigning CNE Ambassador travels extensively promoting Ontarios fairs. THEN CALL US. FOR YQUR BETTE *IC HAF RI* SAE NCHIN (7,3,4,1