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SECTION TWO WEDNESDAY. JUNE 26.1991 Sfit Canadian gtattsmau cn Durham Region's Great Family Journal © Established 137 years ago in 1854 ■ » Also Incorporating The Bowmanville News The Newcastle Independent The Orono News Second Class mail registration number 1561 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited 62 King Street West, Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 416-623-3303 Fax 416-623-6161 John M. James Editor - Publisher Richard A. James Associate Publisher Peter Parrott Brian Purdy Donald Bishop Associate Editor Advertising Mgr. Plant Mgr. All layouts and composition of advertisements produced by the employees of James Publishing Company Limited are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Although every precaution will be taken to avoid error, The Canadian Statesman accepts advertising In Ils columns on the understanding that H will not be liable lor any error In the advertisement published hereunder unless a proof ot such advertisement Is requested In writing by the advertiser and returned to The Canadian Statesman business otllce duly signed by the advertiser and with such error or corrections plainly noted In wrklng thereSn, and In that case If any error so noted Is not corrected by The CanadlervStatesman Its liability shall not exceed such a portion ol the entire cost ol such advertisement as the space occupied by V» noted error bears to the whole space occupied by such advertisement. Former M.P.P. Warned ofHwy. 407 Problems June 29,1990. Hon. William Wrye Minister of Transportation 3rd Floor, Ferguson Block Queen's Park, Toronto. Dear Bill: PROPOSED HIGHWAY 407 Proposed Hwy. 407 from Markham East as outlined in the study area prepared by Fenco Engineers Inc. and Parker Construction Ltd. is a serious intrusion into the lives of my constituents in Durham East. Not only is this fact obvious from the possible lines of construction outlined on the assessment there has been an opportunity opportunity for people of my constituency constituency to make representations representations on the location of the study area itself and the general question of building a highway over the territory indicated. Objections I wish to raise a number of objections that have been expressed to me and with which I feel considerable sympathy as well as agreement. agreement. Planning Objections It occurs to me that there is considerable truth in one of the main objections raised from my constituents that studies but is also brought. the planning of this highway forcibly to my attention by is too shortsighted. Develop- Editorial Comment Long Road to Recovery Building permit statistics have been a pretty good barometer of the Durham Durham Region economy in recent years. This eastern fringe of the Greater Toronto Area is definitely a zone for growth. Therefore, the prosperity of much of the southern Ontario economy can be mirrored in the amount of building permits taken out during any given period of time. If you want to see just how bad the recession has been, just take a look at the building permit statistics for the Durham Region during the first quarter quarter of 1991. In all of the Durham Region, the estimated estimated value of building permits issued issued for the first quarter of 1991 amounted to $61.9 million. That's a decrease of 63.4 per cent when compared compared to the same time period of 1990. Residential construction declined by 68 per cent over the first quarter of 1990. And the value of non-residential construction plunged 60 per cent. In reading these figures, one should keep in mind the fact that most analysts analysts have suggested that the present recession has bottomed-out and that conditions hit their lowest ebb around the first quarter of 1991. But there is also every indication that it's certainly not time to start dancing in the streets. In addition to presenting the first- quarter building statistics, the Durham Durham Region planning department has also presented details about the local employment conditions. They note that the unemployment rate for the Oshawa area was 11.2 per cent in April compared to 6.4 per cent for the same time period in 1990. And a poll by an agency supplying temporary temporary workers notes that approximately 66 per cent of employers in the Durham Durham Region have no plans to alter their number of staff during the months of April, May and June. A total total of 24 per cent expected to reduce staff during that time period and only 10 per cent said they were expecting to hire new workers. Whatever the building permit statistics statistics might suggest, the news of the possible closing of one of the General Motors Oshawa plants in 1994 will not add to the confidence of local businesses. businesses. Although the Durham Region has diversified its economic base, the fact remains that automotive manufacturing manufacturing is the foundation on which so much of the Oshawa and area economy economy is built. And, as the automotive industry industry goes, so goes the rest of the Durham Region. Given the overproduction overproduction capacity available in North American car and truck plants, we can only hope that it's not our plant which goes under. Although economists claim to see signs of recovery from the latest recession, recession, we would be so bold as to suggest that the signals are mixed and that any predictions for the future must be inconclusive. _ _ J And*it would âppïàr as though/de- spite what some optimists might think, the road out of the recession will be a long and winding one. inquiries and complaints from my constituents. There can be no disputing the need for a highway of this size proceeding east from Metro Toronto. The present congested highway situation, aggravated aggravated els it has been by the ex- Ç losive development east of 'oronto is virtually intolerable, intolerable, even assisted as it is by the expenditure on GO Train extension to keep cars off the road. Assumptions It is a reasonable assumption assumption from the description description given in the information brochures that this highway will be a sizeable intrusion on the community, being 10 lanes wide from Hwy. 48 to Courtice Road, and 8 lanes wide from that point on to Hwys. 115/35 and, in addition addition to that, a transit right of way alongside from Hwy 48 to Courtice Road. Geographical, Geographical, roadways, utilities, utilities, and environmental severance severance represented by this highway will represent a sizable sizable impact on the communities communities it crosses. From Durham Durham Road 23 EEist, the end of the highway traverses my constituency and represents almost two thirds of its length. This is going to be a main artery ana we can assume that it will be carrying heavy loads of Toronto bound and through traffic, including trucks, trailers, and semi-trailers, some of this cargo being environmentally environmentally sensitive. While considerable effort has been made to inform . people of my constituency of what the planners have in store for them and comments comments have been invited on what alternatives might i seem more or,less objectionable objectionable from the private standpoint standpoint of various constituents Highway Concerns F amilies Hon. Ed. Philip Minister of Transportation Legislative Building, ? ueens Park, oronto, Ontario, M7A1A1 Dear Mr. Philip: Re: Proposed Highway. 407. The technically preferred route for Highway 407 is of grave concern to many families families in the Town of Newcastle. Newcastle. It is noted that the preferred preferred route is the recommended recommended choice of the Ministry Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture Agriculture and these are all legitimate legitimate concerns. However, nowhere nowhere do we see any repre- for "people" 29,1990, which appeared in depî sentation concerns. Granted, there were many presentations of the alternate proposals of which we attended whenever possible. possible. However, all expressions expressions of concern were attended attended to by 'ribbon' clerks of a consulting firm, and at no time was enough interest shown to record any personal personal privacy concerns. Our names were, however, recorded recorded at the door for a mailing list. There are many very pertinent pertinent and intelligent expressions expressions and recommendations recommendations in a letter from Mr. Sam L. Cureatz to the Hon. William Wrye dated, June by Gord Mills, M.P.P. By the time you read this there will be just one day left in this session of Parliament. Parliament. I tun looking forward to spending more time in the riding during the summer months and getting a chance to meet with more constituents. constituents. Commencing in July and through until the end of August, August, I will be touring the province with other members members of the Standing Committee Committee on Justice to hear from the public about the proposed Common Pause Day legislation. In the Legislature Legislature last week the Minister Minister of Housing, Dave Cooke, gave details about the creation creation of 10,000 non-profit and cooperative homes ns announced announced in the Spring Budget. Budget. These housing starts will generate ten-thousand person-years of employment. Last week Treasurer Floyd Laughren, after consultations consultations with workers and business, introduced the Ontario Ontario Program _ for Worker Ownership which will give tax incentives to workers who buy shares in the companies companies they work for. This announcement was made to ensure that employees and employers can work together together to help Ontario companies companies keep pace with economic economic realities, Further information about those government pro grams can be obtained from my office at 623-6663. This week, I would also like to mention that if any organization in Durham East is interested in making application for a grant for a Public Education Campaign against wife assault, please call my office for details, On Thursday, on behalf of the Solicitor General, I presented long-service medals medals to 45 Toronto area firefighters. firefighters. Tributes and awards were also paid to wives of firefighters tor their many years of support. I was particularly pleased to have the opportunity to pay tribute to firefighters. These dedicated individuals place themselves in danger every day to keep us safe. In Durham Durham East we have many volunteer volunteer firefighters who give up time with their own families families to provide firefighting services to residents in our area. On Saturday, I participated participated in the Many Happy Returns Program launch at the Retail Browers Store in Bowmanville. Under this now program, all items purchased purchased at the store, bottles, cans, bottle caps, cardboard boxes, can be returned for recycling. I was pleased to bo on hand to giye customers customers details of this how initiative initiative to help reduce waste. On Sunday afternoon, I Plonso Turn to Page 4 the Newcastle Independent on July 25,1990. A copy of that letter is enclosed enclosed since you may not have seen it. It is unthinkable that none of the content of that letter was considered in the Highway route selections. You must not be thinking of the private residential congestion congestion that will occur in this area within the next 15- 20 years. The Consultant, Mr. Coutts, has indicated that "it is costly and creates more impacts to extend major roads to get up to the north," however, no mention is made of the added cost of Highway 407 caused by the added length of routing it to the most southerly route. "Beginning further south is more effective-in terms of the demand aspect" says Mr. Coutts. The demand is to get from Highway 35/115 to Toronto Toronto in the shortest possible possible time. The proposed route is obviously adding to this time. It seems to us that there has got to be an opportunity for those of us who are most severely affected by an 8 lane Highway next door to express our real concerns. We are aware of the forthcoming forthcoming public information presentations, however, these sessions will tell about Agriculture, the Environment Environment and the power corridor, corridor, and your obvious reasons reasons for selecting the preferred route. There are many lives which will be adversely affected affected by the preferred route, and many property values similarly adversely affected. In the case of our family, you have to take a good look at what it means to plan a retirement homo during the many years you are working, and acquiring something you put your whole life and savings into. And then something comes along, for which you cannot seem to grasp nor can you control. The options are to live it out and listen to an 8 lane highway next door, or sell and suflor the economic conséquences, You will never know the quiet, and peaceful life within within an 10 acre wooded development development with all the nature sounds of crook and birds, that vary from season to season, unless you personal ly experience it. This has been a hard letter letter to write, and we don't feel we have properly expressed expressed our concern for the intrusion we anticipate as a result of your decision to select select the preferred route within 75' from our home. In particular, we feel privately violated by this decision, and strongly urge you to reconsider reconsider based on the recommendations recommendations of Mr. Cureatz. A change of location as recommended recommended would have the least impact on the citizens of Newcastle. Your personal consideration consideration of our objection to the 407 proposal in its present location is appreciated. Yours Sincerely, John and Rita Ballentine R.R.l Middle Road, Bowmanville, Ont. L1C 3R2 ment elsewhere has been sufficiently rapid to drive home even to the casual observer observer that the fact that our planning has not looked too far enough ahead with consequent consequent wastage of public money in trying to rectify or improve on earlier errors. The present proposal is shaping up to be another example example of this type of situation. situation. It can easily be recalled that when Hwy. 401 was constructed through Toronto as a bypass for that city, it had hardly been finished and opened before construction construction began on tearing up the overpasses and widening it to a considerable extent at tremendous cost both in terms of traffic disruption and in terms of capital outlay. outlay. Until now that roadway which was planned as a bypass bypass for the City of Toronto is simply an arterial highway highway that cuts through the city emd results in considerable considerable north south traffic congestion congestion by motorists seeking to avail of south of the overpasses overpasses and underpasses to get by it. Accordingly I submit submit the following: 1. From the planning standpoint this highway is too close to the lake. It does not seem that way now but we can assume that the area of Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa and points east will become concentrated urban areas in the not too distant future. The proposed highway, highway, even at this northern extreme of the proposal area, will one day constitute a traffic bottleneck for these developing areas, to illustrate, illustrate, based on general observation observation of the map of the area and without being able to make precise . measurement measurement from, derailed- scale, the followihg'atatistics will illustrate the point that has been made. The general area of this proposed hii centre round Hwy. continuation in Hwy. 3 of Durham Region from Brook- fin eEistwara. Taking points along this route as a basis for comparison it is to be noted that the survey for this Eirea to the by no means perp< to the detailed lake edge Which takes a sharp swerve to the northward from the foot of Yonge Street in Toronto Toronto to reach its apex at about the top of the lake- shore at Whitby and Oshawa and Ajax and Pickering. Pickering. The following are distance distance measurements along that Hwy. 7 - Hwy. 3 line of travel: i. From Hwy. 7 Langstaff down Yonge Street, representing representing the fine of survey, the lake is 14 miles. ii. At Markham, again down Hwy. 48 the line of survey to the lake, is 11 miles. iii. Green River, East of Markham, similar distance righway seems to ra Hwy. 7 and its measured to the lake 7 1/2 miles. iv. At Columbus calculated calculated distance is 9 miles. v. At Haydon the distance to the lake is 7 1/2 miles. vi. At the intersection of Hwys. 115/35 the distance south to the lake is calculated calculated at 111/2 miles. By way of interesting comparison we might note that the Hwy 401 intersection intersection at Yonge Street the distance distance to the lake is 8 miles. From the 401 intersection at Hwy. 27 the distance down the line of survey which has now tilted substantially further further northwest, resulting in the gored townships Malton, Woodbridge, Bolton area, the distance is 14 miles. It is a reasonable conclusion conclusion that looking into the future, future, the proposed study area and resulting alternative alternative routes are too close to the lake from a standpoint of sound planning. 2.The second planning objection objection to the proposed routes are that they are disruptive disruptive of municipal government government throughout the area. This disruption is already noteworthy at the planning stage for this highway where the very mention of it has caused the municipality to freeze activity and hold things in limbo for the people people seeking developmental decisions along the length of all of the proposed routes. Regardless of which of the proposed routes is chosen, the fact remains that these municipal areeis are going to be seriously severed by this huge arterial traffic structure. structure. We can assume that when these municipal boundaries boundaries were relocated in the 1970's in areas such as East Whitby Township next to Oshawa this was done according according to planning study emd that the municipal boundaries then estEiblished were a reasonable estimate of what was needed for efficient efficient municipal organization. organization. It does not make sense to sever these municipalities creating problems of traffic, one side to the other and the installation of utilities, adding adding greatly to the cost of developing developing and maintaining these urban areas in the future. future. 3. Wherever this highway is built in the planned area, it is going to affect the quality quality of life for a significant population who have already already established themselves themselves in my Durham East riding. This interference with private fife should be kept to a minimum which means, because the population population thins out as you go north, that the northernmost northernmost of the proposed alter- tne natives within : planning area is the one tnat will have the least impact on human human life and will be the advisable advisable one to have built, however, confined as it is, the established study area does not permit the minimization minimization of the human or social social impact of this huge development. development. Environmental Objections 1. If you look at the topographical topographical map of this area you will observe there are extensive waterways flowing into Lake Ontario. All these waterways are short in length. They rise in the Oak ridges within 15 miles of Lake Ontario, and they flow rapidly down to the lake, gaining size as they converge converge to form larger streams. The proposed routes traverse the. Rouge River and the east and west branches of the little Rouge River at a point where these streams are sizeable. However, However, in view of thé fact that the highway has been approved approved in its present location location south of Markham there is little that esm be done to avoid this. However, it proceeds eastward to cross the West Duffin Creek, at a point where it is likewise of some considerable size, it crosses the tributaries of the Ecist Duffin Creek, about 6 of them in number. It crosses crosses further creeks in the Greenwood and Kinsale areas areas and these creeks are of sizeable proportions and flow volume. In the Brooklin area it crosses several branches of Lynn Creek when they are of sizeable proportions and further east it crosses several tributaries of the west branch of the east branch of Oshawa Creek, proceeding eastward it crosses creeks flowing southwards to Courtice, Enniskillen Enniskillen and Haydon and Tyrone and finally it traverses traverses the Wilmot Creek waterway. waterway. Again, the northern most proposal is the least objectionable from the standpoint of exposing these waterways in the Lake Ontario Ontario basin to the risk of environmental environmental damage but even at its northernmost extremity extremity the proposed fine of passage poses considerable environmental impact. 2. Environmentally it is not to be ignored that the proposed highways consume an immense amount of fertile fertile arable land putting it permanently out of use for farming, as at present, or later in our development, for use in urban planting both private and public. 3. AgEiin from the standpoint standpoint of environment, construction construction of this highway and its use when complete constitutes an unsightly and noisy intrusion to residents of the towns of Pickering, Whitby, City of Oshawa, the Town of Newcastle and Manvers Township. These invasions are to be avoided or minimized if possible. Cost of Construction The proposed highway even in its most northerly proposed route traverses land that is selling in most of its length for $8000 to $20,000. an acre according to recent land sales. By the time of expropriation the cost will even likely be higher higher bearing in mind the volume volume of foreign land investment investment in the area and the rate of development that is presently under way in the area east of Toronto. The expropriation expropriation of the land needed needed for this area of projected road the transit development development is going to cost an enormous amount of money. Wherever possible, land acquisition acquisition costs should be minimized before it becomes too late to effect a substantial substantial reduction. Alternative Routes The study area should be extended to the municipal boundary fines in my constituency. constituency. At its western edge I should like to see this highway into my constituent cy on the 10th concession which represents the boundary boundary fine between the Town of Pickering and the Town of Uxbridge. I should like it to continue eastward on that boundary fine between the Town of Whitby and the Municipality Municipality of Scugog and between between the City of Oshawa and the Township of Scugog and a portion between the Town of Newcastle and the City of Oshawa and between the Town of Newcastle and the Township of Manvers. I have personally traversed this route in response to requests requests from my constituents to investigage the western approach to my constituency. constituency. _ 1 would like you to respond respond to me or better yet to put me in contact with that senior planner so that I can review my concerns in further further detail which I have prepared. Yours sincerely, Sam L. Cureatz. <F Pressing Matters In One Small Town - by John E. James - "Something Fishy" Oh, oh. Something smells awfully awfully familiar. Ten days to The Bugle's Bugle's 8th annual Walleye Tournament. As usual, most of the thousand tickets needed to cover expenses aren't sold. They were available two months ago, but locals locals know better than to rush things. Why bother when you can pick 'em up at the last moment, and drive the organizers crazy? crazy? Besides, folks would have to go outdoors to buy them. These days nobody nobody goes outside unless absolutely necessary. For two weeks Amity- ville has been, locked in the grasp of n wickedly humid, early season heat wave. Anybody stuck with unavoidable outdoor business wants to get at the task around 5 a.m., and finish by noon, Ca- rumba, cct's too darned hot to work after lunch, Scnor. That's not to say folks 'round here don't know how to deal with heat. A few years ago we had a ten week stretch where the temperature never cooled off below 75F, not even in the darkest part of night. How hot was it? Well, Mayor Billy, whose ancestors ancestors go Back to when Amity ville was British one day, American the next, and back to British the day after, went and bought an air conditioner. Boy, did that news make the rounds in short order. But more important concerns are at hand. Just like last year, the fish have disappeared. No kidding. From the day after the ice goes out 'til late June, this place is a Pickerel Parking lot. Lately, news of good catches had been quite spotty. Now the well has gone completely dry. When you hear guys like Walleye Wally, Mud' dy Waters, and Lee St. John are motoring back to the dock with nothing except a peculiar aroma called Eau Du Skunk, you better believe the fish are gone. Of course, Old Man River still produces fish with his midnight prowling. prowling. However, not many of us relish sitting out there on The Big Muddy all night to accomplish the task. Especially now. with all the motorized crazies blasting up and down the river in their overpowered Don Johnsons. Johnsons. If the machos don't S etcha, you'd still end up uclling with mosquitoes that outweigh most of the fish; or explaining your quest to one of the patrol boats trying to catch some of our more industrious industrious local import-export firms in action. The walleye eventually came back last year, about five days before the tournament. The guys on the committee nad a tough time with priorities during that short stretch. Whenever they tried slipping slipping away for a crack at the fish pack, somebody would run out of tickets, or hats, and they'd get called back for a delivery. That's one reason why this year's event got dumped in the lap of tne A.M. &A. Sportsmen's Club without so much as a whimper of protest from the committee. When the subject was first broached, we thought there'd be hell to pay. But nosirree. the old guard concluded there weren't that many summers summers to go, and it was damned foolish to be running running errands, or worrying about tickets and ball caps when fishing could be done instead. When The Bugle first decided (at Fishbob's, urging) to sponsor a fishing fishing derby, sr onl; three hündro were sold. Then the event off. two or tickets took Suddenly there were a thousand entrants, a major major beer company was a co-sponsor, and the grand prize was a boat, motor and trailer! Life got a tad more complicated; Among other things, the value of the prizes prompted the lower levels of humanity start showing up. No problem for some of our elderly tournament committee members. There are only two ways to run things in their opinion; right or wrong. That rigid inflexibility made for some interesting interesting discussions during the award presentations. One of our favourite memories occurred the year when the oldest member of our group was confronted by a guy suspected suspected of being an all "round dink. That year he'd been disqualified for submitting a frozen fish in a daily category worth $100. Not at nil embarrassed by being exposed, the jerk wanted a full $100 worth of chewing on somebody's ear as compensation. He picked the wrong guy. You could see trouble developing, as the conversation conversation grew more animated. animated. Two of us were in the midst of coaxing the beer company rep for more bucks next year, and couldn't get close enough to them in time. Next thing you know the guy was flying across the room, courtesy of our seventy seventy year old pal. Thankfully, Thankfully, he didn't land on the beer rep. No doubt the fish will show up before the tournament, tournament, and once again •the tickets will be sold. Only difference this year is that we'll be concentrating concentrating on winning, rather rather than folks flying across the room. That's a situation we can handle with no prob-. lem at all.