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> Report from Queen's Park by John O'Toole • MPP Reviews Education Bill • Dill 104, the Fewer School Boards Act 1997, is currently an important topic. Over the past few weeks, I have had demonstrations at my constituency office. I have taken the time to listen. Many of the demonstrators were people that I know and respect. 1 reported in my February 17th weekly column that I had written to the Education Improvement Commission, opposing the out-sourcing of custodians, secretaries and educational assistants. It is my view that we must consult with the CUPE workers workers and determine if there are any opportunities to eliminate duplication and improve efficiency. efficiency. I will state again, that any hard working person earning under $30,000.00 in our school system is not the cause of the high cost of education. Note, Bill 104 does NOT deal with classroom curriculum or teaching issues. Some individuals who were demonstrating Friday, February 28th, asked me to review every section of Bill 104. Capsule Comments with Neale McLean, B.Sc. Phm. MARCH IS KIDNEY MONTH! Diabetes, high blood pressure, genetic factors and infection arc some of die conditions which can lead to kidney failure. Each day, an average of eight Canadians I cam that their kidneys will fail. And there are never enough kidneys available for transplant And also MARCH IS NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH, "All Foods Can Fit" is die message for Nutrition Mondi, brought to you by die Dietitians of Canada. Today's dietitians offer a new perspective on healthy eating called the total diet approach. There arc no "good" foods or "bad" foods ... ALL foods can have a place in a healthy lifestyle. Stay tuned for nutrition tips and trivia diroughout the month of March! Nutrition Month Website opening March I, 1997 at http://www.dictitians.ca/ eatwcll. You'll find a tip of the day, questions and answers and a "virtual" k/tchen experience ... have fun!!! Canada's Food Guide tells us diat a healthy daily diet contains 5 • I2 servings of grain products, 5 - I0 servings of fruit and vegetables. 2 - 4 servings of milk products and 2 - 3 servings of meat and meat alternatives. How docs your diet measure up? TEST YOUR FOOD IQ! You need 5 - I0 servings of vegetables and fruit each day. Which-one of the following counts as one serving of fruit? a) one banana c) one small box of raisins b) one glass of orange juice d) all of die above. If you picked "d" you're right/ Fruits can be enjoyed in a variety of different ways - fresh, frozen, canned, juice or dried. Remember, where this food group is concerned strive for five! Pharmacist Orthotist Bowmanville Clinic Pharmacy Ltd. 222 King St. East Bowmanville, Ont, Free Deliveries (905) 623-7611 @ j.p. Eid-of-Seasow Blow-Owt Sale 75% off All Fall and Winter Wear Sale Starts Today, Marcfi 1st Kids Kloset 34A King 5t, West, Bowmanville Telephone 623-9331 O J.P. The English edition is 13 pages long and deals with reducing the number of school boards (129 to 66 plus 37 isolate and hospital boards). The bill reduces the number number of trustees from some 1900 to 700 and reduces their remuneration. Section 327 of the bill defines the four constitutional groups to be funded. I believe that the Canadian Constitution must be respected. respected. Section 333 outlines the eligibility of board members. I have long felt that teachers or their spouses should not be tmstees. Section 335 deals with non-teaching positions. Subsection (0 states: The Education Improvement Commission shall: consider, conduct, research, facilitate discussion and make recommendations recommendations to tire Minister on how to promote and facilitate the out-sourcing of noil- instructional services by district district school boards. My response is, I do not have a problem with examining examining all options, as this is a sound business practice in any' tendering for service in the public or private sector. Examining this option docs NOT mean it has been decided. Students, parents, teachers, business people and the entire community must be fully committed and involved. The protesters at my office emphatically stated that many of the educational assistants, school secretaries and other support staff contribute as much as some teaching staff. I cannot disagree that people without -. the professional degrees 'do contribute substantially substantially to our school communities, communities, for much less money. , I respect the teachers who were out supporting their non-instructional CUPE staff in their Board, said in the December 1996, edition of, Education Today, "The need for reform is acknowledged and supported". I agree that students, parents, parents, teachers, business people people and indeed the entire community must be fully committed and involved. Our Durham Board of Education certainly has demonstrated excellence by winning the Carl Bertelsmann Foundation Prize for excellence in the field of State and Public Administration. This prize is a great place to start and perhaps other boards could replicate Durham's best practices. Perhaps we should examine examine the best practices in all parts of Ontario, Canada and perhaps the worjd. For our children and our collective futures, we all want die highest highest quality, most cost effective and accountable educational system in the world. 1 would ask that every person person who reads this article to share it with those who asked me to respond to Bill 104 in some detail. Any person or group who want to discuss this legislation legislation in more detail, please call my office at 697-1501 or 1- 800-661-2433. BROKEN WINDSHIELD? WE PAY YOUR DEDUCTIBLE ON MOST INSURANCE WINDSHIELD CLAIMS PLUS FREE TWO AT Expiras March 15th, 1997 Auto Glo // TELEPHONE: (905) 623-4225 19 SILVER STREET BOWMANVILLE O J.P. The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville. March 5, 1997 Page 5 MILESTONES Christian Heritage Party Selects Durham Candidate Durk Bminsma (right) was acclaimed as the candidate for the Christian Heritage Party in Durham Riding last week. He is pictured above, along with Deputy Leader Ian Knight, who attended the nomination meeting held at the Orthodox Christian Reformed Church north of Bowmanville. "We need to bring Canada back to its historical values," Bminsma said. He promised to devote all of his available time towards campaigning campaigning for the Christian Heritage Party in the upcoming federal federal election. Queen's Park Report by Alex Shepherd • Marriage Breakdown is Costly • Graduate Randall Cleveland Randall Cleveland graduated graduated February 28, 1997 from DeVry Institute with a diploma diploma in Electronics Technology and will attend their Calgary campus from March till June this year to obtain his Bachelor of Science in Electronics Technology. Randy is a graduate graduate of Bowmanville High School and also attended St. Stephen's Secondary School. Congratulations from Mom, Dad and brother Cory. Happy First Birthday Derek Mark Hi, my name is Derek Mark and I celebrated my first birthday on January 20, 1997. My daddy and mommy are Chris and Terri Mann. Grampa Ted Mann, Gramma Joan Mann and Gramma Muriel Shackelton were at my party. Thanks for the great gifts. It is clear the first duty of government must be toward the welfare of children. Governments must speak and act in the best interest of those who do not have the ability to speak for themselves. themselves. Government resolution of matrimonial conflicts is always going to be an inferior solution to couples resolving their own problems. Even if we put the issue of child support aside, marriage breakdown is costly, often onerously so. Individuals are trying to divide up less income while often increasing increasing their debt loads. But it is precisely into this environment environment that we bring in the issue of support for children. Parents' obligations, regardless of gender, must extend beyond the mere act of procreation. . The new federal child support support legislation which will come into effect May 1,1997, evolved over many years of consultation between- .the provinces, territories and the federal government. Governments at all levels observed that award orders were often inconsistent simply simply because the orders were left to the' whims of courts and lawyers to resolve individually. individually. Just .the legal fees in this process told us we needed to change the system. As a minimum we would like the main beneficiaries to be children, not the lawyers, wouldn't we? The Province of Ontario decided, after knowing for six years that changes were coming, coming, 60 days before the implementation implementation of the child support support legislation, it can't handle handle the changes to administration administration caused by the bill. Other provinces are meeting the obligations for May 1. Administration and enforcement of family law is provincial jurisdiction. We have to get away from the adversarial system that exists in the family court system. We should move more toward mediation to solve the issue of access. 1 believe noncustodial noncustodial parent groups must persuade governments to move in this direction. The child support legislation legislation takes into consideration the issue of non-custodial income in th.q determination of child support. For example, example, in the extreme, a noncustodial noncustodial spouse who has an income of $25,000 annually must still pay some amount of support to the custodial parent parent who may have an income of $1 million annually. The bottom line: you are responsible. responsible. Then there is the issue linking access with support. I am sympathetic to the desires of non-custodial parents to be able to spend time with their children. 1 can't imagine someone shutting me off from my three children. The issue of enforcing custody orders has not been resolved. The province has to get its administrative house in order. Finally, there is the issue that the support rates are too high, Couple this with the inability to deduct them for income tax purposes and an undue hardship, so it is argued, exists on the non-custodial non-custodial parent. As I said, the federal government's government's main concern is the financial well being of the children. We don't want legislation legislation that creates an onerous financial burden on the noncustodial noncustodial parent. That only thwarts the legislation's objectives. I think the payment schedule schedule is fair. If it is determined that enforcement upon lower income earners results in defaults, the system will need mending. We have to maintain a focus. Governments are poor tools for solving domestic disputes and they should not breach the sanctity of the family unless there is demonstrated demonstrated abuse. The new child support legislation legislation may not be perfect, but it is progress toward ensuring children will be financially cared for. Isn't this a step in the right direction as they travel the road to adulthood? adulthood? Trinity United Church Church and Division Streets Bowmanville, Ontario \ Church Phone Office Phone 623-3912 623-3138 Rev. Frank Lockhart M.A., M.Div., M. Th. SUNDAY, MARCH 9TH, 1997 10:30 a.m. "God's Forgiveness and Our World" Saturday, March 15th - 6:00 p.m. Irish Beef Stew Dinner - : Tickets 623-3138 ID J.P. A Warm Welcome To All Nursery Care and Sunday School B il>t. 3to\)n'$ ÿ Anglican Cfjurdj Temperance St. S., Bowmanville ©j.p. SUNDAY, MARCH 9TH, 1997 LENT IV 8:00 a.m. Holy Communion 9:15 a.m. Contemporary Service 11:00 a.m. Morning Prayer Each Wednesday 9:30 a.m. Holy Communion and Laying-on-of-Hands lor Healing Rector - The Reverend Canon Byron Yates, B.A., S.T.B. |j^| Dr. Bruce Wilson is pleased to announce the joining of Dr. Fiona Hodkinson to his practice of dentistry at 118C King St.W. Newcastle APPOINTMENTS NOW BEING ACCEPTED (905) 987-2155 y? y a lsI „ .-r Y-- • V \ > : ÿe&is 1 n "y -wm ON THE SUBJECT You know that we print great newspapers, But did you know we also print...? Business Cards Letterheads Envelopes • Flyers Programs • Labels Brochures • Statements Bulletins • Newsletters Résumés • Photocopies We Also Offer... Typesetting and Graphic Design Desktop Publishing • Computer Forms Memo Pads • Tickets Full Colour Printing Complete Bindery Service Newspaper Printing and Advertising Flyers Reach Us on the Internet at canadianstatesmanocna.org