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

'W W presents Automotive Rustproofing from $49.99 The new Clean, Clear Odorless Solution for metal protection. I Hwy. 2, Bowmanville 623-5000 „, * I 4 Hi ;v ÊbgtëPInA ■ t&t f V.À i-V " •«' 1 ty v ' VVWiir'S sj, • /^ ; XV V VXV-V:v! ; . . : .V ; HbflHa ■ I ■ 1 i 1 L I I ■ ■ ■ 1 ■ 1 ' 1 mmmt mssm (0. "-Ï A James Publishing Community Newspaper Saturday, December 21, 1996 142nd Year Issue 51 The children from the Lions Centre nursery school entertained favorite nursery rhymes as well as the Christmas Nativity. Above, they members of the Bowmanville Lions Club on December 16th with their are dressed as Santa's workshop elves. Their job was to test the toys, annual Christmas pageant. The children sang and acted out their - phot%by Lorraine Manfredo Circulation: 20,550 After Hours Clinic Will Re-Open Dec. 21st Now that a tentative deal has been struck between Ontario's doctors and the provincial government, government, local physicians will re-open the after-hours clinic at Memorial Hospital Bowmanville. Doctors have agreed to re-open the clinic as of -Saturday, December 21. Hours on Saturday and Sunday are from noon to 3:30 p.m. and weekdays from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Please note that the clinic will be closed for holidays December 24, 25 and 31st as well as January 1. The after-hours clinic was opened in September to give patients non-emergency medical attention without going to the hospital's hospital's emergency department. by Lorraine Manfredo Staff Reporter Municipal government reform won't stop at Toronto. Changes are imminent here too, says Durham Riding MPP John O'Toole. .. O'Toole isn't knocking amalgamation, noting the urge to merge within Toronto's urban core has been around since the 80s. He is pleased, however, that the outlying regions of Durham, Hal ton, York and Peel were not lumped into the re-drawn Toronto to create a single giant metropolis. The "regional hinterlands" surrounding Toronto are all at different stages of growth, he says. For instance, superhighways superhighways to the west are developed. developed. But they are a little bit lacking in the east. Local and regional councils councils will be allowed to restructure restructure themselves under guidance guidance by the newly-appointed GTA commissioner. "I'm happy that the regions will be able to develop their own "Who Does What Panel" and end disentanglement between regional and local levels," says O'Toole. The GTA commissioner will look at the surrounding regions of Toronto and coordinate coordinate inter-GTA issues such as the size of regional councils. It remains to be explored how far service delivery can be combined. Continued on Page 20 by Laura J. Richards Staff Reporter Ontario's plan to amalgamate municipal governments in Metro Toronto is being heard as a wake- up call for Durham Region. Regional councillors generally sided with Toronto's six city mayors mayors and councillors in opposition to the planned megacity. But, Durham's elected officials wonder if they could be the next target of municipal reforms. A discussion of Durham's future was sparked by a letter from Municipal Affairs Minister A1 Leach to Durham's regional councillors councillors on Wednesday. Leach is the architect of a plan to amalgamate Toronto's six city governments into one megacity of about 2.3 million. The move would save an estimated $300 million per year, according to a study conducted conducted for the provincial government. "What scares me is that the government government won't listen to us," said Clarington Mayor Diane Hamre. "We have downsized council and have begun to look at more cost-cutting. But I think he (Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs) wants to wipe us out," she told those attending the December 18th Regional Council session. Mayor Diane Hamre said instead of just talking about the situation situation and the threat that the province may cast its eyes soon to the areas surrounding Toronto, work must be done. "Everyone has known since the government got elected that changes were coming," she said. Speaking about a Regional Affairs meeting which took place this week, Mayor Hamre noted, "the mayors are committed to working together to cut costs." In fact, they decided to have the Chief Administrator of the Region, someone comes in and says 'you Gary Cubitt, get together with the CAOs and city managers of the eight municipalities to work towards more cost saving goals. In reference to action taken in shall do this.' I've read the minister's minister's comments that holding a referendum referendum won't mean a thing." Oshawa Councillor John Aker pointed out: "We've all watched Toronto, Ajax Mayor Steve Parish what has been happening with the told councillors: "The province has provincial government for the last décided on its own that the resi- year or so. There is a lesson we can learn from this. The Toronto mayors mayors and councillors councillors have been caught sleeping at the switch. "Calling for a referendum referendum is like closing the barn door after the stock is gone and the bam has burnt down," Councillor Aker said. Complaints about the provincial government led the councillors to speak about their own situation. Oshawa Regional Councillor Brian Nicholson noted that the "Last June, we held a referendum. referendum. Ninety-five per cent said they, didn't want to be a part in the dream of a bigger government. Oshawa Mayor Nancy Diamond noted her administrative Continued on Page 3 dents would have a better government" without hearing hearing from the municipalities." municipalities." Mayor Parish added that he doubts a referendum on the Toronto amal- g a m a t i o n would have any impact. "I think that early in the new year we should comment on this action by speaking loudly and clearly," he said. "No one disagrees with the province in regards to cost-cut- "We have downsized council council and have begun to look at more cost-cutting. But I think he (Ontario's Municipal Affairs Minister) wants to wipe us out" ...Clarington Mayor Diane Hamre ting," said Pickering Councillor people he represents do not want to Maurice Brenner. be part of Durham Region, let "However, I do oppose it when alone a mega-region. Independent Flyers Canadian Tire (Prices in effect Tues. Ogfc '54, 1996) COWAN Pontiac EîEçziTyno (* Indicates partial distribution) For information about inserting flyers in please contact our office at 623-3303. Clarington wants no part of becoming a piece of the City of Oshawa, says the mayor of this municipality. On Wednesday, Diane Hamre lashed out against the idea of all or part of Clarington joining Oshawa. It's a concept which is being mentioned more frequently frequently at Regional Council meetings. meetings. "I don't want anyone to take this personally, I respect 'that the Oshawa councillors JiaVe' v Q.een elected to represent their citk zens. But,^you were not elected to represent the residents of .Clarington," Mayor Hamre said at a meeting of Durham Regional Council. "Do you not know the meaning meaning of 'no'? We don't want to be a part of Oshawa. We have our house in order," said Mayor Hamre. Her remarks came during a discussion about the province's plans to reform municipal government government in Metro Toronto. Oshawa Mayor Nancy Diamond has vowed that Oshawa will opt out of Durham Region.