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ci Stayi ng In Touch John O'Toole Durham East MPP Bill 103, known by the short titie, The City ofToronto Act, 1996, is currently before the legisiature Commnittee of the Whole House (C.oW.). The legislation has completed second reading as well as extensive public hearings. On Wednesday, April 2nd, the houise convened as the Committee of the Whole Hlouse, to consider and debate the ameiments to Bill 103. As you probably know, we have unfortunateiy, mun into an opposition delay tactic. The Liberai opposition, h ave joined the NDJP to intro- duce over 10,000 amend- ments. The amendments in question are in reference to subsection 24 (4). Ail axnend- ments are exactly thie same, wlth thie exception of the ref- erence to thie narning of the streets of Toronto. I mlght add Hiat these computer generat- ed ameridments, have a num- ber of errors. These errors are for instance, ameridments wli no reference to a street, or reference to parks, recre- ationai fadilities and indeed reference to other towns etc. This NDP & Liberal tactic couid possibly delay thie pass- i ng of the legisiation for a cou- ple of months. I might add Hiat this tactic is costing the taxpayers of Ontario about $10,000.00 per hour. Democracy is a veryinterest- lng process. I amn sure that those people who may be watching these proceedings, are as frustrated as almost every member i the house. We are sittlng 24 hours a day, ifact I am wrlting Hils arti- cle at 6:00 a.m., Saturday momning (April Sth). We are trapped by the standing orders of the house which permit these ill-conceived * axnenclments to be presented. You might ask how we get out of this conundrum? There are three options: lst - thie governrent couid withdraw thie legislation. 2nd - thie opposition couid withdraw'their amendments. 3rd - the house leaders couid strike a compromise. At hits point i time. 1 feel that thie mtedia and the people j of Ontario will put pressure o n ail parties to return the legisiative process to normai and allow thie govermmient to govemn. In fairness, I can under- stand fhat not everyone is in agreement with Bull 103. 1 can also underst-and that the opposition parties have no recourse, but to try and staîl thie passing of this legîslation. It Is a case of temporary con- trol of thie proceedings by thie minorlty. I respect thie rits ofHe iort adtheir right to express their frustration, bu:t it doesibeg He qýuestion of Hl-ie rights of thie mrajority. - The MaJority have the righit to rule, - The Minority have the r:ight to be heard and - The People have the righ-t to be informied. I have attempted to keep ail of miy constituents informned on the proceedings at, Queen's Park. I have com- mented extensîveiy on Bill 103 i my weekly articles in January, February and most recently March lOth. I1rnight add that the government has aiso presented a number of amendments wYhlch respect many of the suggestions from the public. If you 'require any information, please cail my office at 697-1501 or long dis- tance i1-800-66 1-24133. Bill 104, The Fewer Sehool Boards Act, 1997, wili be the next piece of legisiation to be considered for third and final reading. I have written exten- siveiy on this legisiation in prevlous articles. The govern- ment has a number of signif- icant amendments to put for- ward on this legisiation. I want to thank the many peo- pie who have called to sup- port my Private Member's Resolution on Bill 104 335 (f). I state again that our non- teaching employees are hon- est, hard working citizens who deserve to be supported. Due to the deiay by the NDP & Liberai actions, rny resolu- tion will now not be heard until after Bill 103 & Bill 104 have received 3rd reading. I hope that I wili present this resolution on April 24th. I willl continue to work with the minister of education and the government to ensure that we do not out-source these non- teaching positions. I want to thank the demonstrators at my office, who are i fact sup- portlng the iegitimacy of my resolution. Again, the demo- cratic process is a very impor- tant process. In the democratic process, the opposition serves an important function, they keep the govemnment focused on faimess. Today, you just have to look at the federai gove- ment with the weakness of the opposition ti Ottawa. We need a natlonaily recogized opposition party in Ottawa to ensure we h 'ave a govemment that is responsive to the peo- pie in ail provinces. Stay informied and invoived. 29th Annual Juried Art Schow The Oshiawa Art Associa- tion is holinig it!s 29th Annual 'Juried ArtILShiow fro"mi Al24 (to May 11, 1997 at the 'Robert McLauglin-1 Rebekah Loc On TtuesdlY ev'enînrg Heather Rebekalai Lodge #334 Orono, BwaivleBeeh-ive Lodgee # 125 and Port Perry Maybelle Lodige #348 joined together~ to welcomie the Wardlen Sister Pat Sith llan-d friend Sister Murial, also Sister Lois Crider D.D.P. and Sisters to a dlimner ait tle New Dutch Oven. Beehive Lodge openied Lodge.. Hleather Lodg din tlhe buisineuss and Maybelle closing iLodge Sister 1Bairb )Patteýrson NG welcomed everyone and asked "he dignitaries to please assemble in thle centre of the floor and the escorts to fal-i in. Thie remoaining visitors were given a special welcomne - the distiniguishing guiests were brouight back in by the escorts and welcomed by the Noble Grand. Sister Betty Major initro- dluced Sister Pat Smrith, Warden of the Rebekali ,Assemibly anid she was gîven the honours. Roll call showed 3 officers and 1 side support -absent. The minutes of the last meet- ing were read and approved. The Secretary of' Beehive Lodge Sister Doris Walsteini and the Secretary of Maybelle Lodgse also read their min- utes. Sister Bertha White reported on the Dyer Bus Load Banquet and they served 47 people, ail enjoyed the lovely meal. A letter was received lrom~ Clarke High School asking us to once again prescrnt the 'Rebekah Award at the Commencement exercises on Wednesday June 25, 1997. Our Noble Grand will be pre- sent to give the award. Other invitations were accepted and a car load to attend the Birthday Parties. Sister Barb reminded everyone of our next meeting. We are celebrating our 5th Birthday Party on April 8, 1997. Also on April 19 there is a School of Instruction at Cobourg Lodge at 9:30 a.m. Ail offîcers are to wear their long white dresses. The Warden escorted Sister Pat Smnith and Noble Grand Sister Barb to the back of the Hall where they were m.et by Vice Grand Sister Gwen. Our new chain collars were displayed there and Sister Pat did a very impres- sive' ceremoniy dedicating our new collars. Theywýlll be womi at our next meeting our 5th Birthda-y Party. Gallery. Artists fromn the Durhami Region are weicomie to enter in the categories of oil, acrylic, watercolour, m--ixed m.edia, pastel, prînts (not photographis), dra-wing and' sculpture.Lmt 2 works per artist. Prizes are awarded for best in each category". Regu),tios and entry forilns are available frn th Gallery o)r Phyllis Harris, Siîster Pat tmankecievery- one for the way the meeting had been conducted and f'or hier flowers and f'or Sister Violet f'or providing accom, mnodation ovemight. She was also presented with a lovely gift from ail three Noble Grands. SMaybelle Lodge closerd Lodge and a social time and a lovefy lunch was enjoyed by ail. recoras nor magazines. 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