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euur.'m-'<'.|u!3x4 i Total Market Coverage of Clarington from the Publishers of The Canadian Statesman • A James Publishing Community Newspaper Saturday, February 7,1998 144th Year Circulation: 20,600 bbh--naagaa--a aaaBaPMMWOPWPgaaaaBaBi Once Children aged three to five are all cars as Paul Axford, information services technician, brings storybook characters to life during a .storytime.hpur, at. the Çourtice Public Library. Preschool storytime continues Wednesday mornings from i0:30 to.. 11:00 a.m. until March 11 at the Courtice branch located in the Courtice Complex. ' --Photo by Loirame Munlicdo Premier Meets Local Leaders by Lorraine Manfredo Staff Writer Hospital restructuring, education reforms, and diversion programs for offenders, were some of the issues batted around over lunch when the provincial premier paid a visit to the Whitby on Tuesday. Premier Mike Harris sat down to sandwiches and conversation at Cullen Gardens with 17 community leaders selected by Durham area MPPs. The purpose of the round table meeting was to hear suggestions from a cross-section of Ontarians as the government prepares its throne speech and budget for the spring. The number one priority that will come through in the throne speech will be the government's goal to "make Ontario the number one jurisdiction jurisdiction in the world to invest in, to live in and raise a family in," Harris said. "For us not to be the leading province in Canada is a gross under- achievement, given our geographic location and human resources," Downloading In response to questions about off-loading costs onto the municipalities, municipalities, Harris replied lie was prepared to stack his own record against previous previous NDP and Liberal governments who also put the squeeze on taxpayers, taxpayers, Most municipalities have been very good about finding efficiencies, Harris admits, but lie remains optimistic optimistic that finding more is within their reach. "If municipalities can't find savings savings and efficiencies - if they do nothing - the net affect could be a 2% or a 1.7% tax increase." Health Care Restructuring Harris also defended his government's government's move to restructure hospitals, saying there is general agreement the restructuring is necessary. He acknowledged concerns about emergency emergency room back-ups, but said the answer is not fighting the changes, but working to implement them. "If it had been done five years ago we might not be having problems today," he remarked. Education Reforms Education reforms were also dis- GETTING THE PREMIER'S EAR -■ Bowmanvillc greenhouse operators operators Hcnk and Lisa Mulders discuss farming legislation with Ontario Premier Mike Harris during a 'town hall' style meeting in Whitby on Tuesday. The group of 17 Durham residents was invited by local MPPs to share their concerns with the premier in advance of the spring throne speech and budget. Horse Races Turfed From Orono Fair There won't be any harness racing at the 146th annual Durham Central Agricultural Fair in September of 1998, The decision to suspend the races came on Saturday, Jan. 31, during the annual meeting of the Durham Central Agricultural Society. The move was not made without without discussion. . ... One man attending the meeting mentioned that "people arc not coming out to bet and another observed, "you only get 'meat horses' at this race." A woman at the meeting suggested: "Give it a try (one year without races) and sec if it makes a difference." ' It was noted by one of the Agricultural Society members that the Sunday afternoon races cost $5,300 and the society lost about $3,000. Bob Allin then noted the board of directors has made the decision to close the horse barns, and said it would probably take a year before all the renters ol the barns are out. Other changes to the fair this year could sec the demolition derby being moved to Saturday, the horse pull to Friday, and a dance featuring Blue Rodeo on Saturday night The dance would be organized by the Newcastle Optimist Club. This year's slate of directors includes: A1 Barnard; Charles Cameron, Allison Cathcart, Mary Ann Found, Jenny Hardsand, Kate Lang, Norma Lee, Gail McKenzie, Helen Robinson, Donna Scott, Rita Budar, Charlie Harris, and Lloyd Sharpe. Put Children's Interests First Inquest Concludes Jury Calls for Reforms to Child Services cussed. Sally Mcllvccn, a principal at Anderson High School, urged the government to clarify its new curriculum curriculum initiatives soon, so schools would have ample lead time before bringing it to the students. Phyllis Price, a retired teacher from Bowmanvillc, also expressed concerns about the new grade three tests being too stressful on students and teachers. Harris responded by saying that the teaching curriculum in Ontario had shifted from being very rigid in Continued on page 2 by Laura J. Richards Staff Writer Children's rights and safety should take precedence over family wishes, said one of the recommendations from an inquest into the deaths of two Bowmanvillc residents. The jury's findings findings were handed down Wednesday, Feb. 4. Jennifer Koval's'kyj-England was six when she died of multiple stab wounds to her chest and neck on April 2, 1996. Also killed in the tragic attack was Marion Johnston, aged 79, who died from multiple multiple stab wounds to her chest. Durham Regional Police arrested Ronald England for the murder of his stepdaughter and mother. It was discovered discovered later that England had been given custody of Jennifer after a long custody battle. He was found not criminally responsible responsible for the killings and was remanded indefinitely to the Penctanguishenc Mental Health Centre. At his trial, the court was told Ronald England, a paranoid paranoid schizophrenic, was off the medication medication he look to control his delusions and believed his mother and Jennifer were possessed by Satan. A 32-page report containing 126 recommendations recommendations was presented on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 4. A two- woman and two-man jury made the recommendations recommendations through Chief Coroner Pc ici Clark of Peterborough to numerous ministries, the Children's Aid Societies, and the office of the Chief Coroner. The jurors want the Child and Family Services Act to redefine the term 'child in need' to include neglect, exposure to domestic violence, substance abuse and other situations where the child's safety and security is at risk. The jury wants changes in reporting suspicions of child neglect and a provision allowing the Children's Aid Societies to advise the person making the report of the outcome of an investigation. Setting up a 1 -800 number and web site regarding children's children's services would help to assist in reporting such suspicions. There is a call to set up a data base so information can be shared between the different CAS's and other agencies and for the Child and Family Services to provide provide early decisions about children's future over a party's right to counsel of choice. The jury's rationale was explained as follows: "During testimony, we heard that the parties seeking custody of Jennifer changed their legal counsel numerous times, resulting in unacceptable delays." In regards to England's mental health and the failure to take medication prescribed prescribed for his condition, the jury wants to see the act "amended to empower the Family Court to order as a supervisory condition that a parent or caregiver maintain maintain medication to control any illness." They want a permanent interdisciplinary interdisciplinary death review mechanism to be established established to review all suspicious deaths of children. That information would be integrated integrated into a province-wide computer system system "so that trends and preventative information information can be collected." The jurors want the Chief Coroner to hold a media conference in February 1999 Continued on page 2 Clinic Site Would Include Seniors' Apartments by Laura J. Richards Staff Writer A a 47,000 square foot clinic with emergency services and related retail space, plus a separate seniors' apartment building is being planned for the north- cast corner of Varcoe Road and Hwy 2. The apartment building would have 110 units. This location is zoned General Commercial Exception and rezoning would be needed to increase the amount of office and personal service floorspacc. Other details such as parking, height of buildings and setbacks would be covered in the rezoning, states a report from Clarington's Planning Department. The corner lot is four acres in size, and it is proposed that the building height be four storeys. On Monday, Feb. 2, Harry Horricks, the administrator for the Oshawa Clinic, told Clarington's Planning Committee the Oshawa Clinic "is now the largest medical medical group (practice) in Canada," with 70 specialists. Some are affiliated with Memorial Hospital Bowmanvillc. Horricks noted during the past decade the group has been looking at Courtice as the site for a new clinic. "Many of our physicians live in Courtice and know that Courtice is under- serviced," Horricks said. A survey showed that "30 per cent ol patient visits arc from Courtice and many of them don't have a family physician," he added. The Courtice Health Centre would have room for up to 16 doctors and space for other health care professionals. The centre would also have diagnostic space, Continued on page 3 Independent Flyers /instate" m, W ,-zn "Itaidraiu tilobtaws m trUHiuot *Allstate (Darlene Ferguson 987-1611) *A&P (Prices in effect from Sun., Feb. 8 to Sat., Feb. 21/98) *Canadian Tire (Prices in effect from Sun., Feb. 8 to Fri. Feb. 13/98) *Durham Farmers County Co-Op (February Specials) *Graham's IGA (Prices in effect from Sun., Feb. 8 to Sat., Feb. 14/98) *Home Hardware (Prices in effect until Feb. 21/98) Loblaws (Prices in effect from Sun., Feb. 8 to Sat., Feb. 14/98) ^Majestic Maid (Cleaning Service) *Newcastle IGA (Prices in effect from Sun., Feb. 8 to Sat., Feb. 14/98) *Port Hope Value Mart (Prices in effect until Sat., Feb. 14/98) ('Indicates partial distribution) For information about inserting flyers in Ojc Onvington/Cottvti ce 31 itbepenb en t, please contact our office at 623-3303.