The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

1- Orono Weely 17lres. W7enday. Otober 14ý199 Stayingin Touch by John O'Toole, MPP Th anksgiving weekend was absolutely perfect this year. The weather was generally warm and sunny, and the fali colours were at a peak. The students around my Thanksgiving table'brouglit up the new tuition fees. They dis- cussed the issue as follows. One student was in engineering and was paying about $4,300.00 tuition. The other students were paying about $3,100»O0 tuition. They agreed that the -extra,$l,200.0that the engineering student was paying was fair because over the four years, they will pay approxi- mately, an extra $5,000.00 but will have more job opportuni- ties and a higher potential income. They ail seemed to agree that education costs were a sound investment in their futufres. AIl of the students wanted some kinid of tax relief for their student debt. Ail in ail, 1 was very impressed with-these young people and their mature under- standing that the government must first be there in health care to assist our aging popula- tion and those who are unable to help themselves. I was impressed with their compas- sion and self-reliance. In my view, we must listen and work with our youth. They will not have the samne oppor- tunities as we had. This genera- tion will have to invent their own futures in a highly teclini- cal and competitive global economy. 1 will continue to lis- ten and work for the future of our youth; our collective futures depend on their suc- cess. In advance of our govern- ment's salute to Small, Business, October i 9th-ta the 3th, 1 have been visiting and speaking to a number of small business people. 1 was very concemr .ed to hear of their sin- gle biggest problem, that is, their municipal taxes on small industrial and commercial busi- nesses. Some areas of my rid- ing have still not received their final tax buis, while others have received their tax bills with overwhelming increases, in some cases doubling their municipal taxes. I explained that the province had removed the Business Occupancy Tax (BOT) from the levy and -thîs could be folded into their taxes. 1 also advised of changes to the (BIA) Business Improvement A rea levy and how this was to be managed. In cases where businesses were property man- agers or business tenants their lease arrangements would, have to be re-negotiated. In general, with the new assessment sys- tem, there were a number of tools that municipa lities had the option to use. These tools involved mea- sures to smooththe transition and avoid staggering tax increases. Some of the optional tools are: tax relief for low income seniors and disabled persons - rebates for charities and simi- lar organizations - phase in tax changes over an eight year period - a tax cap of 2.5% over the next three years *graduated' tax rates for indus- trial & commercial -properties. (sm-all, medium & large busi- nesses) , tax rates and ratios can be set within each property class within ranges of fairness The exercise of avoiding alarming swings in changes to municipal taxes is best demon- strated when we recail the alarm in Toronto some months ago. It alI seems to have dîsap- peared because Toronto lias used many of the tools avail- able. In Durham, they have decided to use the phase in option.,In Durham Region gen- erally, munîcipalities have used the graduated tax rates for smali to large industrial or commercial properties. There may still be inequities for larg- er employers like General Motors, Goodyear and Blue Circle Cernent. 1 can tell you that 1 would support freezing GM's taxes flot dec 'reasing them and thereby forcing smaller business to pay more. 1 have brouglit my concerns to our Finance Minister the Hon. Ernie Eves and am confident that there will be changes very so001. One aspect of your taxes should be clear. The education- ai portion of the tax rate was, set by the province. 1 feel that this area is where the province, lias to re-examine the tax rate on small business. Staff at our municîpalities were given pre- liminary tax ratios and were involved in preliminary assess- ment data modelîng in August 1997. In Durham Region gen- erally they have made use of many of the mitigation tools. Clearly, the tax payer is tired of ail the finger pointing. For over 20 years, municipalities have been asking the province to' fix the old unfair assessment sys- tem. It is time to stop blaming Harris for everything and start Friends of Second Marsh invites volunteers of ail ages to help plant trees, shruhs and wildflowers along the banks of Haffflony Creek in Floreli Drive Park this Saturday, Oci.ober 17, 1998 between lo:oo a.m. and 1:00 P.m. Florel parF 15 located on the south @!de of Olive Avenue, betvween Harmony Rd. S. and Grýndview St. S. The plantilgs are part of an overali prdject to protect and restore the health of the Watershed tlpat feeds into Second Marsi1. The creeks, which togettier form the "Watershed" of Second Marsh include Harmnony Creek which- is loe-ated almost entirely within the City of Oshawa, and Farewell and Black Creeks whîch, forthe most part, are located in the Municipality of Clarington. The Watershed Stewardship Project was launched in 1996 with three main goals: tc) improve the quality of water entering Second Marsh through its creeks by reducing pollution to work together for the people who elected us ail to elirninate waste and reduce the tax load on our common cnstituents. Please cali rue at 697-150,1 or 1-800-661-2433 with your views. everyone? Are they safe? Who do 1 trust? Subscribe to the Orono Weekly limes NEWCASTLE FUNEIRALHOME itneraiVrector -CadG ood~ -~Personal, professional, affordable service. Genesis Bereavement Resource Centre on-site to serve the community. Informative funeral home tours are welcome. 386 Mill Street'South,Newcastle (Just nortft of 401 ~ Parkng off R.&ert Street) (905) 987-3964 and erosion; to Increase veg- etation along the stream banks, and, to raise commu- nity awareness about the con- nection between Second Marsh a nd Its Watershed. Shovels will be provlded but volunteers are encour- aged to bring their own gloves and appropriate footwear. Even if they are unable ta plant, lnterested community members are stili encouraged to attend since there are other- less physical ways to help out. Interested volunteers can cail (905) 723-5047 between- 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. for more information. ,cNNUAL FZEE EqLL a THE BWf1FNV(LLE MrUSEUM F4 4o&eact. 161L 0 6:30 - 9.30 ~.v Free Admission Refreshments a Entertainment MANIfFE RAFY PECh<AL Buy one at $10 (Tax Included) and Receive one Ballot Ito enter a draw for an 'Erin' Beanie Baby -CALL 623-2734 FOR MORE INVFORMA TION - ~ I 2 eWedding Cakes *Cakes for ail Occasions e I ~ke ePastries - Don uts - Pies iPlp eBread & Buns & Tea 983977 Proprietors: Gary & Carol Vreeker 9 3 9 7 Main Street, Oiono Closed Sunday & Monday N Northcutt EIIilott ~E Funeral Home THOUGHTFULNESS, SERVICE & CONCERN A Farnily Owned Busine~ss, Offering: Traditional Funeral Services Prearranged & Prepaid Services - Cremation Arrangements Alternatives to Traditional Funerals - Out of Town Sbipping CORY KU~IPERS - PRESIDENT 53 Division Street 62M-668 Bowmanville, Ontario LIC 2Z8 OFF STREET PARKING A Tost 'N'Roas t for Mayor Diane Hamre Thursday, October 22, 1998 A fun-filled Eveningl Reception - 6:00 p.m. Dinner - 7:00 p.m. GARNET B. RICKARD RECREATION COMPLEX 2440 Martin Rd. (at Hwy1 2), Bowmanville Sponsored by the Durbam Provinci*al Liberal Association TICKETS $7500 EACH - TABLE 0F 8&$600.00 For tickets please p>hone: Lorna Davey 905-576-2990 Ann Dreslinski 905-983-5903 Bill Leask 905-721-9031 Marilyn Pearce 905-985-9250 Carol Berney 905-797-3222 FRIENDS 0F SECOND MARSH Volunteers needed-to help plants trees and shrubs'