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6 - Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, December 4, 1996 Grey Cup Celebrated At Kendal United Church Kendal United Church choir got into the spirit of the day as they arrived as cheerleaders & football players on Grey Cup Sunday. The choir lead the congregation in a rousing cheer at the beginning of the worship service which was based on the Grey Cup celebration. Front row (left to right): Carole Gardner, Joyce Boudreau, Judy Lemonine, Joan Anderson. Back row: Doug Lewis, Don Peddar. Staying In Touch John O'Toole, MPP Durham East December 1, 1996 The Port Perry Santa Claus parade was a popular event on Saturday. The weather did not dampen the spirit. I want to thank all the merchants and volunteer organizers for bring- ing in the Christmas season, especially for the children. I want to thank the individu- al parents who came to our community constituency office to present their views on the proposed changes to education in this province. I am commit- ted to those changes that ensure classroom education is not cut. Our students are at the very centre of this discus- sion. The classroom teacher and the entire school commu- nity is where the money must be spent. Parents and taxpay- ers demand a voice. I have met with many of the teachers, union executives, school board trustees, and directors. I am anxious to hear from the stu- dents and parents. I am certain that each one of us have the same vision - an educational system that offers affordability, accountability and a curricu- lum with high quality stan- dards. The Fair Tax Commission, the Royal Commission on Learning and the Sweeney Report, all sug- gested that the province should fund education. In the upcom- ing weeks, I am certain that the Crombie, "Who Does What" panel will offer choices for the future. It is often repeated that the parent is the primary edu- cator. Your voice must be heard and I am prepared to lis- ten and bring your suggestions forward. In the next weeks, the Honourable David Crombie will bring forward a series of rec- ommendations to the provincial government. Over the years, there have been numerous studies which attempted to examine which level of govern- ment provided which service and which level of government paid for that service. - For instance, education is paid for from the municipal tax base, as well as the provincial revenue. Welfare is also paid for by both levels (Provincial 80% and Regional 20%). Homes for the aged, roads, water, sewer, police, municipal transit, farm tax rebates and many services have a complicated funding arrangement. Most reports have recommended that these funding arrangements must be disentangled. We must elimi- nate duplication and waste so we can afford to maintain those essential services at the most appropriate level. All politi- cians, school trustees, local and regional councillors, mayors, as well as boards and commis- sions, must be examined to clearly determine their roles and accountability to the tax- payer. Provincially, we are reducing the number of MPPs from 130 to 103, the same number as proposed for the fed- eral members. You have heard the argument about the Toronto Super City, the GTA proposal and the smaller Durham Regional Council. Each pro- posal is focused on fewer politi- cians with more clearly defined roles. This item will be an important news story over the coming weeks. Drinking and driving is thé The greatest time of the year Christmas time is coming along with dirty looks, smelly perfume and my favorite pushy people. Yes, it's shopping usu ally a fun sport except for at christmas time. I've began my christmas shopping already, figuring I'd get it over and done with. The first two times I went I was home after an hour. I just kept getting this headache that got louder with every little irri- table smell or look. Do you know though what's even worse than the strong per- fumes (which causes you con- stantly to sneeze) or the people elbowing and walking into you leading cause of accidents. Our government has brought for- ward tougher penalties similar to those in other provinces. The Administrative Licence Suspension (ALS) will mean that any driver pulled over and who fails a breathalyzer test, will have their driver's licence suspended on the spot for 90 days. The fines and penalties ,will also increase for each sub- sequent suspension. The mes- sage is clear don't drink and drive. In the next week or so, the Legislature will be sitting until midnight (Monday to Thursday). It has not been agreed to by the three party house leaders yet, but he Legislature will probably be extended. The extension will mean an extra week before Christmas and will be recalled in January to sit until probably near the end of March. This busy agenda is very exception- al when you consider that some governments meet for as few as 76 days for an entire year. There is a very large amount of legislation to be debated and there will be many public hear ings in the spring. For most people, they are concerned that we are doing too much too fast. I ask you to remrnember, we are spending in one million dollars each and every hour more than we take in as revenue. Do you think we have any choice? Do you really believe that you can spend more than you earn? With a debt of almost $100 bil- lion and interest at almost $10 billion per year and an annual deficit of over $10 billion, we cannot return to the old spend and tax days. Ontario has to go to the U.S. or Japan or Germany to borrow the $10 bil- lion to pay these countries their interest. Don't blame this gov- ernment for the current prob lems; we are simply trying to fix the mess we were left. Do you want to leave your children a huge debt? It is my duty to meet and lis- ten to each and every citizen in my riding. I wrestle with diffi- cult changes every day. I take no satisfaction seeing individu als affected by these changes. I have faith in people, while at the same time, I hope and pray that if everyone takes no more than they give, we will all be better off in the long run. "It is terribly hard to work for money you have already spent, especially if it was for some- thing you didn't need." or even the dirty looks, it's the sales people. There's nothing I hate more than walking into a store and being ambushed by sales people. Crowded by men, or women who the only reason they're being nice to you is because they want to sell you something is no fun to me. Have you ever seen the look you get if you dare to leave a store empty handed? I know the other day when I went shopping I went into a store and the sales girl ran right over tom e and I politely tried to say I was just looking but she kept offering help so I took it. Well after all the running around of sizes and styles she did I left. I had to come back it was for a christ- mas present. Now did I ever get the dirtiest look. I know it must IMPORTANT ISSUES..- with Rachael Jackson . .... . .. Brigitte Brown i FIV EiR'Rs Gift Certificates Pedicures available. Manicures Waxing Fall Specia Nail Extensions 10% OFF ESTHETIC STUDIO 171 Mill St., Orono, Ontario LOB 1MO • 905-983-8169 lis PUBLIC NOTICE REGULATIONS FOR 1996 - 97 WINTER SEASON DECEMBER 2,1996, TO APRIL 7,1997 Area residents are hereby advised of the Provincial and Municipal Regulations applicable to the 1996-97 Winter Season, December 2, 1996,to April 7,1997, as follows: The Highway Traffic Act (R.S.O. 1990): Section 170 (12) prohibits the parking of vehicles on any highway in such a manner as to interfere with the movement of traffic or the clearing of snow from the highway. Section 170 (15) provides the authority for the removal of any vehicles, at the owner's expense, found to be causing an obstruction on a highway. Section 181 prohibits the depositing of snow or ce on a public roadway. Municipality of Clarington By-law 91-58: Section 4-6 (i) prohibits the parking of vehicles on any highway for a period of longer than three (3) hours, and is also applicable to overnight parking on any road under the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Clarington. M1,UNICILTY OF ONTARIO Don Patterson, C.E.T. Manager of Operations Municipality of Clarington 40 Temperance Street Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3A6 Dates of Publication: Wednesday, Nov. 27,1996 & Dec. 4, 1996. P.O.# 5965 be frustrating to run around at someone's every little need and search your little brains out till finally they're satisfied and then having them leave must just drive you crazy. But hey if they had left me alone in the first place I could have found it all myself and saved them the time. They're the ones who insist so I shouldn't get dirty looks. Don't get me wrong sales people can be handy but not when they pester. Which brings me to my point. I can't promise you shopping will be better this year or that you won't want to rip someone's.head off by the end of the night. All that I'm saying is maybe if you smiled and we're nie to people when you went shopping it would rub off and the whole mal might catch it. (yah right) O.K. so that's not very likelv. Well if that fails then resort to what you must. (But remember take no prisoners)