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farm presents awards Ruth Gray of Bowamanville, (centre) was the recipient of this year's Trillium Feiiowship Award. The award was by Catherine Sampson at the annual Awards Banquet heid at the New Dutch Oven, last Saturday night. The award is given in recognition for outstanding volunteer work and animal hus- bandry at the Trillium Morgan Horse Farmn on Ochonski Rd. in Orono. Also pictured is Bob Sampson. Staying in T ouch by John O'Toole, MPP Health care has been thie topic on everyone's mmid over the past few weeks. For those of you who are regular readers of my weekly columin, you will be tired of my repeated refer- ences to the fact that the federai govenmnent must return somne of the $6.5 billion~ they removed fromi our health care systemi. I have written ail of our federal members in Durham, as well as federal ministers, to urge themi to listen to Our constituents. 1 believe that important steps have now been taken in last week's feder- al budget, but more needs to be doue. Like you, 1 care very miuch about our health care systemn. The era for inaction and finger polnting lias long since pasted. This is a tm for moving for- ward and supporting the changes requlirled- to ensure that everyone will1 have a quality health care Systemn in the future. The NDP governmient began these important changes, moving fromn a hospitai-based mode] to a communiiiity-based mnode I of heaith care. It will, however, take timie to put the people, services nd structures in place, and wýe are commiitted to Seeing thlese improvemnents through. Last wesfederai budget was a very important fir-st step towýards rebuilding, of our health care sy stemn. You miay be surprised to iearn thlat for every dollar spent in health care, the federai governnent's share was approximnately .07 cents per dollar. Withi the new additional budget dollars, tis figure will increase to approximiately . 12 cents per dollar. Prior to 1995, there was the eqiv\aint of 32 id-sized hospitals closed - once the numiber of emipty hos- pital beds, wNings and floors had been counted. Simiilar effects were also being feit in Durham Regjion. In 1995, the provincial health care budget was $ 17.4 billion, increasing to over $19 billion today. Our plan is to move health care ser- vices dloser to those who need then. 1I want services like can- cer treatmient, dialysis, MRI and other treatmnents here in our area, because patients and their families are better served when the services are dloser to homne. Please caîl rmy con- stituency office for additional information on health care at (905)-697-1501 or 1-800-661- 2433. Post-secondary education is a key to our econIomIic security in the future. H-aving. the righit skiiis ai the righit timie is the answer to finding a job in our global economny. Durhiam College iîs an im1portant asset in our commninty. It wýas miy pleasure to attend the formai announcemnent of the partner- ship btenUnigraphies Solutions Canada Ltd. and Durham College. This oppor- tunity will provide students with the Iatest job-ready educa- tional resources in the class- room. We ail agree that educa- tion is about more than just gefting- a job. However, at the end of the day, Ontario needs g'raduates with the right skills to move toward finding a career and attaining seif-suffi- ciency. Ail 17 Ontario universities and our 25 coliegaes have responded enthusiastically to our government's Access to Opportunities Programn. We have comiiiïtted $150 million for the expansion of enroliment spaces for computer science and technology programis. Two out of every three jobs in the market are reiated to knowl- edge and technology-based industries. Durhamn College lias appiied for these resources. We are mnoving fromn an enroil- ment-based funding formula to a student and employer-based satisfaction system.i At every level of our educational sys- temr, we are enc ouraging a focus on language, science and mnath skilis. As parents and educators, you wiil notice the overali change to a More demnandin g and accounitable educational systemn. Volunteers are always emnbraced by charitable organi- zations. The Canadian Cancer Society has asked for more people Io help with their, upcointg awareness and fundraising campaign as April is Daffodil Monthi. Please cal] 725-1166, 985-7410 or 623- 754-3 to volunteer your time. Remember the oid expression, llask not whîat your country can you do for you, but what you can do for your country". Dur., Central Agricultural Society annual meeting NEWCASTLE FUNERAL HOME ~finera(Vu-ector -Car[Goot( Personal, professional, affordable service. Genesis Bereavement Resource Centre on-site to serve the community. Informative funeral home tours are weftcome. 386 Mill Street South, Newcastle 4Yust nortIloJ4Ol - Paring tffIýpertstfUeQ (905) 987-3964 p