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\ Page 12 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc. Wednesday, December 16. 1998 MR Says Banks Failed To Prove Case for Mergers Canada's big banks will not be joining forces. On Monday, Canada's Finance Minister, Paul Martin, announced that in the interest of all Canadians the government will not allow The Bank of Montreal to merge with The Royal Bank and The Toronto Dominion Bank to merge with The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Durham MP Alex Shepherd said the banks just did not prove their case for the mergers. "People wanted to see a lot of good arguments for something like that and they didn't prove their case," he said. "There is a lot of restructuring going on in the financial services sector right now arid we want to give that a chance to happen before we allow any mergers." During the debate, concerns were raised about reduced competition, branch closures and less services. These are concerns that, Mr. Shepherd said, were evaluated. evaluated. "We want to ensure that any changes will leave a level playing field," he said. "The mergers just weren't compatible with what we believe is a free market economy." economy." Mr. Martin did not rule out the possibility of mergers mergers in the future, but said that the current revamping of Canada's financial services regulations will take more than a year to complete. Beware of Black Ice by Jennifer Stone Staff Writer The lack of snow may have deceived some local drivers into thinking it's not slippery out there. But it can be -- especially especially first thing in the morning, before the sun has had a chance to melt ice which can form overnight, when temperatures temperatures plummet. The resulting resulting ice has been blamed for a number of fender- benders in the area over recent days. "What people have to realize is that when it's warm during the day and cold at night, it freezes," says Durham Regional Police Clarington Staff Sergeant Ted Dionne. Staff Sgt. Dionne says if you do hit a patch of black ice, hitting the brakes is probably not the best idea. "If you touch the brake and feel sliding, stop braking braking and steer in the direction direction you're going. Eventually you'll hit dry pavement," advises Staff Sgt. Dionne, adding steering steering toward the shoulder, where tires may be able to gain some traction, might also help. "Remain calm and try to steer out. And never put the brake on," says the police officer. But, more important than anything else a driver can do to remain safe under icy conditions is to stay within the posted speed limit, says Staff Sgt. Dionne. "People in Clarington and all over Durham Region are notorious for speeding," he says. "It's hard to avoid an accident if you hit a patch of black ice going 120 kilometres an hour." Council Briefs Durham '99 - Celebrate the Future The Durham Region will celebrate its 25th anniversary anniversary next year and events happening across the Region will be highlighted in calendars coming out in January, March, June and September. To register your cultural or sporting event, call the Region at 1-800-413-0017 or 723-0023. Lioness Club Donates to Nature Area The Lioness Club of Newcastle has sent the municipality municipality a cheque for $500 to be used for the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area. This will be the last contribution from the club, as it disbanded on November 30. Orono Street Safety A number of Orono residents have asked Council to review and correct some traffic concerns in the village. Municipal staff has been directed to look into the speed limit on Main and Mill Streets as well as the need for an adequate crossing area for students. A further request for four-way stops at the intersection of Church and Park Streets and Church and Centre Streets has been turned down because traffic in the area does not meet the minimum minimum requirements. A Day of Compassion May 20, 1999 has been proclaimed A Day of Compassion in recognition of all seniors who have left us a tremendous legacy. The declaration is in conjunction conjunction with the United Nations proclamation of 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons. Bonus Bucks Good for Museum The Bowmanvillc Museum is accepting Pioneer Bonus Bucks as part of their fund-raising efforts. Pioneer Petroleums has agreed to give the museum cash for the Bonus Bucks they turn in. The money will be used to help fund museum projects. Changes to Council Agendas Council has put further changes to the way correspondence correspondence is distributed on hold until the recent changes can be evaluated. In response to concerns from the public, public, the municipality is printing several copies of correspondence correspondence summaries to be available during meetings. As well, the information is being posted on the municipality's municipality's web site. Council will look at the issue again in February. Holiday Break Clarington Council will not meet again until next year. The next meeting of council will be a general purpose purpose and administration committee meeting on January 4 at 9 a.m. in the council chambers. Seen and Heard YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A GRINCII -- The theft of Christmas trees from a lot in Bowmanvillc last week doesn't build up one's faith in humanity. It isn't enough that the trees were stolen. There's also the fact that they were stolen from a non-profit group, namely the Bowmanvillc Optimist Club. A member of the club tells us that the culprits also made certain they took the most expensive variety of tree. And, the fact that 12 of them were stolen suggests that this isn't just a case of somebody somebody swiping some Christmas greenery for their own home. The Optimists have been known to give away trees outright to folks who are down-oii-thcir-luek, But when it comes to stealing Christmas trees for re-sale? Come on, now I 4P Years Accident-Free School Bus Driver Honored For Sate Driving Record School bus driver Bill Skelding was honored recently for a safe driving record that has spanned 40 years. He received a framed print of an antique bus and a plaque from Durham Regional Police earlier this month, during a banquet at the Clarington Beech Centre in Bowmanvillc. The dinner, dance and awards program honored drivers from Bowmanvillc, Cobourg, Osliawa and Northumbcrland/Claringto n, who have achieved milestones in safety. Drivers having from one year to 29 years of accident-free driving were also recognized in addition to Bill Skclding's. Fred Thompson, General Manager for Laidlaw Education Services' Bowmanvillc branch, says Bill Skelding's accident-free record is tops among the approximately 6,000 Laidlaw drivers in Canada. And he continues to drive to this day. Thompson adds that Skelding is especially appreciative of his fellow drivers and the school staff he has worked with since he began driving in 1958. Skelding credits his safe driving record to "a lot of luck" and the ability to try and stay out of trou ble on the road. And, piloting a school bus is clearly a job he enjoys. "I love the morning morning runs. I get to look around the country," he adds. For Skelding, the day starts with a safety check of about 40 different points on the vehicle. Parts such as tires, lights and springs are all inspected. Then, by five to eight, he's picking up the first students. students. His route takes him to Clarke High School and The Pines Senior Public School in an area he has served his entire 40 years. He first started to drive for the Burley Bus company and his first bus route was to the old Orono high school. A lifelong Ncwtonville resident, he ran the local fuel oil business for 35 years and had two fuel trucks on the road. He found the driving of school buses fit in with his business business schedule. He was a school bus driver when Clarke High School first opened its doors and also when The Pines was opened. The biggest change Bill Skelding has seen over the past 40 years is the buses themselves. The vehicles he first drove represented top-notch equipment of that day. But, buses nowadays nowadays have the added safely features of crossing arms, much better heaters, diesel engines and two-way radios. "The radios arc a nice feature," lie says. Thanks to the radios, help is never far away. "I work for a good company," company," he adds, noting that many other drivers with Laidlaw -- both men and women -- have logged excellent safely records. Skelding notes that students students haven't really changed very much in the years he's seen them. "The kids arc pretty good really. They all grow up. It's just boys and girls growing up," he explains. Among the guests of Bill Skelding at the banquet banquet were his wife, Mary; his mother, Elizabeth, who is 92 years old; his daughter, daughter, Belly and her husband, Frank Stapleton and their daughter, Tricia Hyatt. Councillor Charlie Trim, who rode Bill Skelding's bus as a student, student, was among the guests, as were school staff with whom he has worked and representatives of the. Ministry of Transportation. HONORED -- Fred Thompson, Laidlaw's General Manager for Bowmanvillc; Ted Wilson, Area General Manager; Bill Skelding and Kathy Soundy, Laidlaw's Director of Driver Development and Safety, arc pictured at the December 3rd awards evening for Laidlaw's local drivers. Bill Skelding is shown with the print of an antique bus he received from the company in recognition of his 40 year accident-free driving record. ■--mm------ December 10th to January 11th 1999 GM Card Points Accepted GM Employee & Eligible Relatives Discount in Effect PLENTY OF INVENTORY TO CHOOSE FROM!! s 1 *d CC *o DC V *d DC $ 1 Townlin £ Hwy. #2 HjM Ü o 't: D O O 1 1 Hwy. 401 I