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Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, March 6,1996- 7 More Help For The Orono Ice Resurfacer Fund The Orono Ice Resurfacer fund raising campaign is winding down, but 9till donations keep coming in. The total revenue to date is $52,934.50 (still $2650.50 needed tP fully pay for the new Olympia). Recent donations from the Town Hall Board, Orono Figure Skating Club, Charlie Reid, Kids Love Hockey and the Newcastle'Lions Club have brought theni close to their goal. Other donations have recently come in from : Mr. and Mrs. Jack Moffat, M/rs. Gertrude Gray, Mrs. Dorothy Robinson, Mr. and Mrs Alan Crashley, Mr. and Mrs. Don Sèott, Mr. John Lowery, Hogle Holdings Ltd., Mr. and Mrs. Darren Collier, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bouley, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Reader, Mr. and Mrs. Klaus Schoenmaker, Mr. Wayne Bailey, and Mercer's Garage. John Rutledge, representing Kids Love Hockey, Krystyna Jones representifng the Orono Town Hall Board, and Joan Moffat, president of the Orono Figure Skating Club all present Ray Bester, president of the Orono Athletic Association with cheques to go towards the nlew Olympia. Kids Love Hockey donated $200, the Orono Town Hall Board gave $250, while the Orono Figure Skating Club gave $700. Staying In Touch John O'Toole, MPP Durham East This week, I felt it would be good to cover several of today's more important issues. I was pleased by the turn out at the Newcastle public meeting on the GTA. Naturally, people do not want to accept more taxes, I completely agree with this sentiment, but the issue is more complex than that. At the same time, we do need a vision for the future that positions not only Toronto, but all of Ontario for the future. What we need is less government, a governrnent that is more accountable to the people. This past week, I had Mr. Howie Herrema, President of The Durham Region Federation of Agriculture on my Rogers Cable TV program discussing the GTA, Bill 20 the Planning Act amendments and highway 407. This past weekend, I spent over eight hours on the telephone speaking with constituents. These friends and neighbours included OSSTF & OECTA (teachers), OPSEU members and Power Workers Union members (from Ontario Hydro). I recognize that I represent many different union members in my riding and many of them threatened, perhaps even intimidated by the governlent's agenda. I tried to explain to them that we cannot simply borrow more money to solve these collective bargaining problems. Overwhelmingly, people agree that the province has hit the wall financially, but they are worried that the leadership, on both sides of the issue, have become entrenched in their rhetoric. Many are worried about the fundamentals in their lives; family, children, their homes, their jobs, security and the future. I do not believe that Ontario's financial dilemma was deliberately caused by any previous government and certainly in our first few months in office, we have not had the time to either cause or ègrrect the problems. I encourage people to have faith and to give us a chance to balance priorities. yes, we are examining every service and priority of this province, we can no longer sustain every single service theway it was once thought wC could. I can now understand that even Bob Rae realieed that we were unable t continue to spend. "Ray Days' were the NDP's short terTn answer to the problem. We cannot simply borrow nore money to solve today's problems. I try to encourage people to look at our local small business people, who along with sales people and farmers, do not have security or a guaranteed pension. I fully understand that public sector workers also pay taxes and spend their wages in our community. However, the public sector is paid with taxes and the people of Ontario cannot afford to pay anymore taxes. There must be a balance of growth in the private sector including agriculture to allow us to pay off the mortgage the province has created in the past ten years. The hope is to stop borrowing and balance the budget so hard working people get to keep their earned income rather than have it taxed away. The Substitute Decisions Act, Bill 19 has completed public review and will go to the Legislature for 3rd reading in the spring. This legislation effects everyone of us. This bill, will return the power of decision making, regarding your affairs, to members of your family or others whom you have entrusted this responsibility, should you become unable to make your own decisions. The Public Guardian & Trustee in the previous legislation could override your substitute decision maker. We promised these changes during the election and we intend to deliver. The family, not the state, should have the final say on your treatment, property and care decisions. If you have any questions, please call my office (697-1501). The release of the "Ontario School Board Reduction Task Force Final Report" (school board amalgamation) has resulted in many calls to my office. I have written all the boards in my jurisdiction encouraging them to work together and I am asking you to advise me on your concerns. The report suggests that we reduce the number of school boards from 168 to 87. The reality is that the cost of board trustee's administration and staff has grown. We need to downsize out-of-classroom expenses. Over 50% of your municipal tax bill goes to support education, the local school and classroom is where your child needs these scarce resources. Do you know who your elected trustee is? Do you know who your board's director of education is? 1 encourage you to contact them. Educational costs must be controlled by eliminating duplication. The question is, how much administration do we need? In the next few weeks, I will continue to keep you posted on the GTA as well as other issues. The Red Tape Review committee, which 1 am a member of, is examining the many regulations that cause problerns for business and create barriers to jobs. I am also involved with the Hon. Cam Jackson on the Workers' Compensation Reform. Our constituency office receives over 50 inquires per day and we try to help resolve your problems or answer your inquiry. I personally try to contact as many people as possible. Please advise us if there is any way we can improve our service to you. Remember that the Ten Commandments are not multiple choice. Please take care and keep in touch. Sonbon Publishing "For Ail Your Printing Needs" 983-5301 PUBLIC NOTICE TO THE CITIZENS A Task Force on the future of the Greater Toronto Area was informed in April, 1995, to deal with the property tax crisis and to provide direction for the future governance of the GTA. The Golden Task Force was released on January lGth, 1996 and contained 51 recommendations with respect to these and other issues. The Council of the Municipality of Clarington passed a resolution which contained its stated position on the recommendations of the Golden Task Force and part of that resolution reads as follows: "COUNCIL WILL NOT SUPPORT ANY CHANGES TO CLARINGTON'S MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES AS THE CURRENT MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON IS A VIABLE, ECONOMIC UNION OF COMMUNITIES THAT WOULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY ITS DISSOLUTION BOTH ECONOMICALLY, SOCIALLY AND HISTORICALLY". n order to determine the views of its electorate, the Council had directed that a survey be taken. The question which wilI be asked of Clarington residents is: "Do you support Clarington or part of Clarington being a part of the GTA under the Greater Toronto Council as recommended by the Golden Task Force Report?" Polls will be held on March 28, 1996 at 5 locations throughout the Municipality (locations to be announced at a later date). In order to complete a survey, it will be necessary for you to be an eligible voter in the municipality and to bring identification to the poll. Patti L. Barrie, A.M.C.T. MUNPALITY OF Clerk E Iarington Municipality of Clarington 2"1• 40 Temperance Street ONTARO Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3A6 Dates of Publication: Wednesday, March 6,13, 1996 P.O. 5782