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

A James Publishing Community Newspaper Monday, December 30, 1996 142nd Year Issue 53 70(? + 5c G.S.T. = 75ç? The Cat's Meow Taxes Mayor Hints at by Laura J. Richards Staff Reporter The new year could ring in a tax increase for Clarington's ratepayers. ratepayers. But, Glarington's mayor also predicts 1997 will bring better times for the municipality. "Clarington's time has come," Mayor Diane Hamre said in an interview Friday, Dec. 20. In 1997, the "drastic cuts by the government" will impact everyone, everyone, Mayor Hamre said. One of her biggest fears for the coming year is that the municipalities municipalities which make up Durham Region will all try to go with a zero per cent increase in taxes. "We've been giving a zero per cent increase for the past four Mother and ter Die Up in 1997? First Local Increase in Four Years ! Vf Xena, the seven-week-old cougar from Ôrono's Jungle Cat World, is already proving quite an armful for handler Chris Klose. Named after the famed warrior princess, this zoo baby won't be so easy to cuddle once she grows into a 250-pound cat. Visitors to Jungle Cat World last week got a chance to meet the little cougar, watch lion cub Savannah play-wrestle with her pal, Axel, the dog, and witnesses the mating of Siberian tigers. Photo by Lorraine Manfredo MP Ready For Election by Lorraine Manfredo Staff Reporter Durham MP Alex Shepherd says the Liberals -- including himself -- are ready any time for a national election. Mr. Shepherd spoke to The Statesman recently about some of the political issues that will continue continue to concern Canadians in 1997. Topping many lists will be jobs. Shepherd has a lot of confidence confidence in the potential here in Durham. He said 11,000 of the 600,000 new jobs created in the country since the Liberals took office have been created right here in Durham. To anyone wondering where all these jobs are, he says the new jobs are "disguised" because they're cropping up in small and medium sized businesses employing 1 to 20 people. "Thirty years ago, GM would have built an addition to their plant and the growth would be visual." In today's knowledge-based economy, we don't need all that infrastructure, he says. Young people especially have to face the fact that the corporate giants are not expanding their workforces. "This concerns me, because here in Durham people are accustomed accustomed to the automotive industry hiring and that's restraining us in a way. It has created a culture we need to break." Shepherd says the full employment employment future will mean capitalizing more on the science and technology technology trend. Durham needs to create opportunities opportunities for new businesses to establish themselves here. And a key attraction is a pool of highly skilled workers, he explains. Shepherd would like Durham College to become more heavily involved in doing research, evolving evolving into "a sort of Waterloo University of the east." Down the road, he sees governments governments at all levels co-operating to steer more investment dollars into science and technology, lending support to rapidly expanding areas such as bio-medical, agri-tech, engineering, and computer technologies. technologies. Young, dynamic companies could be benefactors, Shepherd says, and he envisions a science Continued on Page 2 After Truck Loses Wheels On Hwy. 401 Two occupants of an east- 'I'Oiiiid vehicle died instantly Saturday morning in an accident accident on Hwy. 401 near Harmony Rd., Oshawa. Ontario Provincial Police said at approximately nine a.m., a westbound tractor trailer trailer lost a set of dual wheels from the rear left side of its trailer. The wheels went over the-cement divider on the centre centre median, striking the vehicle. vehicle. Dead are Robina Campbell, 58, and her 40-year-old daughter, Mary Louise Jessiman. Three other family members were treated for minor injuries and released from Oshawa General Hospital. The driver of the truck, Louis Lauzon of Cumberland, Ontario, was uninjured. Highway 401 eastbound wasj closed at Harmony Road to allow officers to investigate the accident. The tractor trailer trailer was seized and will be examined by an O.P.P. investigator. investigator. .egisioîure c ror this B by Lorraine Manfredo Use big words, don't let the critics stump you, and try not to shout. These are just some of the things to keep in mind if you want to be an effective member of provincial parliament, according to Jackie Bakker, former legislative page. The 13-year-old grade eight student from Knox Christian School spent six weeks (from October 28 to December 13) watching Ontario legislators up close at Queen's Park. She stayed with a family in Toronto while working as a page. Her duties were: bringing MPPs water, delivering messages and dropping off Hansard copies at politicians' offices. She also had to study legislative process, participate participate in debates with other pages and memorize the names and ridings of all 130 silting members. Classroom le leenaqer Today, she rambles off the first and last names of elected members with ease. She pronounces the names of party leaders with obvious familiarity. It's pretty good political savvy for a teen who won't be voting for another five years. Jackie figures most kids her age should at least know the names of Premier Mike Harris, and the leader of the opposition, Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty. However, she wouldn't expect the leader of the NDP, Howard Hampton, to enjoy quite as high a public profile. After all, she explains, "they only have 16 members." But MPPs arc not only judged by their party's popularity. They are judged by their owil professional professional conduct in the house and their personal debating styles. Continued on Page 3 years and all the while coping with downloading from the province. Then, this year, with it being an election year, some of the municipalities municipalities may be tempted to keep an increase at zero per cent. "My personal fear is that in 1998 there could be a five to 10 per cent tax increase instead of one this year," Mayor Hamre said. Looking at responsibilities the province is hoping to download to the regions and municipalities, plus the decrease in grants, Mayor Hamre says if there is a zero percent percent increase in taxes this year, staff lay-offs may have to take place. "The idea of no tax increase can't go on without shutting down departments," she stated. The bottom line is the money. But aside from the downloading from the province, Mayor Hamre is looking forward to 1997. First of all, there is the development development of the Markborough property at the southeast comer of Green Road and Hwy 2 in Bowmanville. During 1996, the plaza scheduled for construction at this site received a final green light. Included in the project are: a new grocery store, a department store and other retail stores. Also lined up for 1997 is the completion of the East Side Mario's restaurant on the Cineplex Odeon property. Mayor Hamre also noted that the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project is going ahead "on schedule" now the province has committed itself to one-third of the project. "Now we're waiting for the federal federal government," she explained. Another deadline that is approaching pertains to the removal of low-level radioactive waste at Port Granby. Mayor Hamre says the deadline for the federal government to negotiate a deal with Deep River, Continued on Page 3 HAPPY NEW YEAR! -- We wish all of our readers health, happiness happiness and prosperity as we creep one year closer to the end of the millennium. millennium. All the best in 1997! You'll note that The Statesman has been published two days earlier, because of the New Year's Holiday. Our regular publication dates and deadlines resume with the publication publication of The Independent in its usual Saturday time slot this weekend. weekend. DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE -- Speaking of New Year's Eve, we remind those who are celebrating tomorrow evening to use designated designated drivers or taxis or any other method which will ensure that they arrive home safely and legally. As the public service announcements announcements have been reminding us, it's legal to drink and it's legal to drive. But mixing the two can be deadly. No doubt, the RIDE program program will be operating New Year's Eve. MAYOR WILL SEEK RE-ELECTION -- It's an election year in 1997 for those seeking school board, hydro commission and council positions. In a year-end interview with Statesman reporter Laura Richards, Mayor Diane Hamre revealed that she will be seeking re- election this year. That's the first of many announcements we'll be hearing over the next few months from our political leaders and those who aspire to become political leaders. Since the provincial government has chosen to exclude Durham Region from its reforms of municipal government in Toronto, it seems as though local government government won't be drastically changed in the year ahead. Here in Clarington, however, we will have four wards rather than three and three regional council representatives instead of the current four. Those changes will come into effect with the next municipal election election slated for the autumn of 1997. LEARNING THE ROPES--Jackie Bakker picked up a lesson in political style from Durham East MPP John O'Toole (left) during a recent stint as a legislative page. PLEASE FEED THE LIONS -- While most holiday food drives wrapped up days ago, there is still one that could use your help. It's a food drive for lions, tigers and wolves. Orono Jungle Cat World owner, Wolf Klose, is appealing to residents who might be cleaning out their freezers at this time of year. Clarington residents are asked to bring meat that might otherwise be thrown away to the zoo for the animals. Any contributions would be greatly appreciated, since an unexpected interruption in the zoo's usual supply of poultry meat has left stocks low. Orono Jungle Cat World is located off Highway 115, at Taunton Rd. It is open daily, except New Year's Day. WHERE ARE THE LEVEES? -- To the best of our knowledge, the only New Year's Day levee will be at the Legion Hall in Bowmanville on January 1st. There seems to be a trend towards holding this traditional New Year's Day event later in the month. For instance, Durham East MPP John O'Toole will host a levee in Port Perry January 12th. And the Clarington Levee will also likely be held later in the month. BEST OF TIMES? WORST OF TIMES? -- This has certainly been a year of changes in Ontario as provincial government reforms took effect in areas such as municipal government, health care and education. Inside this edition, you will find our annual round-up of some of the major stories from the first half of 1996. The Stork Market Report Hutchinson - "It's a Boy" Totals for 1996 Boys 87 Girls 88 Harrison Fuel! fCSSo) Specialists in Heating and Air Conditioning SALES • SERVICE • INST 350 Lake Road, Bowmanvlllo 623-5516 UM Shop the Rest ui Buy from the Best! Your local General Motors dealer for the past 25 years. 2Stiit 166 King St. E. f.yih mmM u Tolopliono 623-3396 Canadian - presents Automotive Rustproofing from $49.99 Tlw now Clean, Clour Odorless Solution lor mold/ protection. Bowmanvllle's Movers for 50 Years. Telephone 623-4433 James Publishing COMPANY LIMITED Printing Professionals Since 1854 Telephone: 623-3303 62 King St. West Bowmanville