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? V' * v • SINCE 1854 • AMALGAMATED 1999 WITH CLARINGTON THIS WEEK • I'rvssnm 21,400 32 Pages Wednesday, May 31, 2000 Optional 4 week delivery $5/$l newsstand This Saab really flies Wheels Pull out Gaels have great weekend Sports, page 8 program in peril BY JACQUIE MclNNES Staff Writer CLARINGTON - When the John Howard Society saw a need for adult literacy and numeracy numeracy training in Clarington last year, the organization found enough money to fund the program for 12 months. But, the temporary funding source is almost dry and without without provincial funding to take its place, the program will end on June 30, the agency says. Shelley Lawrence, the John Howard staff member who runs the half-day program out of the Clarington Resource Centre on Church Street in Bowmanville, says the program needs $23,000 annually from the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities, to sustain the existing level of service. "It's important the residents of Clarington have somewhere to get basic skills," says Ms. Lawrence. In the past year, she has worked with 24 adult students from the area. If the Bowmanville Bowmanville program shuts down, some students will face hardship hardship trying to get to Oshawa, the closest place the program is offered, she predicts. "These are people who wouldn't be able to fill out an application. It's people,who are in the workforce but may not be able to leave a note for the next shift... or it's people .who can read and write but are unable unable to tell whether their pay- cheque is the appropriate amount," explains Ms; Lawrence. The $23,000 annual cost for the program is minimal in comparison comparison to welfare payments or jail housing costs, points out Ms. Lawrence, who says her clients' quality of life depends on learning the basic skills to upgrade their education or pursue pursue employment. . Local MPP John O'Toole says he supports the group's initiative and has passed on the agency's request to meet with the Minister of Training Colleges Colleges and Universities Diane Cunningham. However, he points out, "there's not a lot of timeline on it," for the ministry to react. Some funding may also be available from the Ministry of Education for the agency's students students between the ages of 16 and 18, says Mr. O'Toole. New funding was added in the recent provincial budget specifically to address literacy for youth, says Mr. O'Toole. ONTARIO'S ACCREDITED TEST & REPAIR FACILITY •An official mark of the Province of Ontario used under licence. WHITBY - OSHAWA HOMDB. 1110 DUNDAS. ST. E., WHITBY LOCAL (905) TOR. LINE (905) 666-1772 686-1745 www.homlBl.oom SSfpsÿ&r.. -j- ' T' â il ■. ■" 'Opinions of600 officers' ignored: union Police Services Board rejects call for chief's resignation W* It-,,;-: •';.Ay-tvwiv ,4!.--1 RON PIETRONIRO/ Statesman photo Is it my turn yet? NEWCASTLE - Natasha Whitley waits patiently for her dance group's turn to take the spotlight spotlight during the Newcastle Family Connection's Dance Recital 2000. It was held Friday at Newcastle Public School. Second Marsh gets more Friends After 20 years of standing up for the Second Marsh, a local volunteer group is making new friends. The Friends of the Second Marsh is forging a new 30-year partnership with Ducks Unlimited, Unlimited, .Environment Canada,. City of Oshawa and the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority to help restore the marsh and work towards its continued health. "I think over the years we've realized it's a huge project for a volunteer organization to take on full-time," says Chris Conti, executive executive director of Friends. Under the arrangement, Ducks Unlimited will undertake studies and work on the delicate marsh to restore its health. The marsh is part of a provincially significant watershed system which runs through Clarington and Oshawa and includes the Farewell and Harmony creeks. The work consists of building a system, including dykes, dams and pumps, to regulate water in the provincially significant Inside It* âtettiman WHERE TO FIND IT Editorial Page 6 Sports 8 Classified .11 Entertainment ......15 GIVE US A CALL General 623-3303 Distribution .. .579-4407 Death Notices .683-3005 Sincerely Yours 1 -800-662-8423 Web site durhamnews.net statesmn@durham.n§t General FAX.. .623-6161 Newsroom FAX .623-6161 marsh to promote ideal conditions conditions for the growth of natural vegetation and habitat, says Bob Clay, manager of Ducks Unlimited Unlimited western Ontario field office. He says the difficulty is in urban development on the watershed and fluctuating lake levels. Due to this, water levels in the marsh are not always conducive to plant growth. The cost of the work is estimated estimated at $400,000 and Mr. Clay says it could begin "as soon as the fall, but more likely the summer summer (2001)." As a result of DU taking on the role of regenerating the marsh, Friends of the Second Marsh will now shift its focus to stewardship and developing interpretive interpretive centres. This role is a return to the group's objective during the early 90s when "the role was really to develop programs programs to rehabilitate the marsh and promote appreciation," says Mr. Conti. As part of their education mandate, Friends will offer a summer program called Kids in the Marsh/Walerfronl at Darlington Darlington Provincial Park in Courtice running through July and August. The program is being offered in partnership with the City of Oshawa Oshawa and will offer kids a fun, interactive interactive program which incorporates incorporates activities with an environmental environmental theme. BY STEPHEN SHAW Staff Writer The Durham Regional Police Services Board has rejected the police association's demand for the resignation of Chief Kevin McAlpine, saying it has "absolute "absolute confidence" in his leadership, leadership, despite decaying morale. The board's support for its embattled chief was swift and unanimous. At an in-camcra meeting held Friday, members gave him a firm endorsement, Chairman Bob Boychyn told a press conference Monday at headquarters. "It was a full, fair and frank discussion. The consensus was, there arc problems and we'll have to deal with them. But there was absolutely no discussion and consideration of the chief resigning," resigning," Mr. Boychyn said. "We have absolute confidence in the chief." The board's response comes on the heels of a survey commissioned commissioned by the Durham Regional Police Association, released May 24, which shows the force is rife with internal dissension. Among other startling findings, findings, the independent survey found less than 10 per cent of members have confidence in Chief McAlpine and that 57 per cent of members are "dissatisfied overall" with their jobs. Of the union's 733 members, 599 took part in the survey, or 82 per cent, a return rate considered high. The vast majority said morale is low and most officers blamed a lack of "clear, understandable guidelines," among other concerns, concerns, the survey showed. "I think the membership will be insulted," association President President Terry Ryan said in response to the board rejecting its call for the chief's resignation. "Obviously the board isn't listening listening to our membership. They're saying the chief's doing a good job - but the results of the survey say otherwise," he said. "Basically what they (board members) arc saying is that they don't give a rat's ass about the opinions of 600 officers," Mr. Ryan said on the phone from Guelph, where the Police Associations Associations of Ontario is meeting this week. Mr. Boychyn promised to work with the association to "resolve "resolve issues of concern" and said the board plans to hold "open forum" meetings across the region region to discuss the problems with uniformed and civilian personnel. personnel. "We want to hear specifics... you can't deal with generalities,., how serious are these concerns?" he said. "The survey docs not express express the degree of seriousness." Union representatives scoffed at the plan. The survey was conducted conducted confidentially and members members would be reluctant to speak openly with board members for fear of reprisal from senior management, management, Mr. Ryan said. The union's executive will hold an emergency meeting today, Wednesday, to plot its next strategy in what has turned into a full-scale revolt against the force's command. Its biggest beef is what Mr. Ryan says is a lack of consultation on key changes the force is undergoing. Currently in his third year of a live-year contract, the chief said Friday he has no intentions of resigning. resigning. In fact, he rated "exceptionally "exceptionally high marks" for leadership during a job review in April, Mr. Boychyn said. He noted the chief was forced to bring about major changes within a very short period after taking command of the force in the wake of scathing reports arising arising out of the Guy Paul Morin inquiry inquiry and a provincial audit. "There's no doubt there's been a great deal of turmoil and change... to some degree this demand demand for 1 change is probably contributing to the dissatisfaction of some members. "I want to assure everyone the police service is not in a state of chaos," Mr. Boychyn insisted. Hwy. 407 just one road to easy streets More infrastructure improvements needed to ease congestion in Durham ; ■- .< K X f, '•rsW'tll■ - sçfii SI P 11 i iliiPP hi WALTER PASSARELLA/Statesman photo Highway 407 construction crews are currently busy at Markham Road. The eastern extension extension of the highway from Markham to Brock Road in Pickering was given approval a year ago; no decision has been made on the timing of construction through to Clarington. BY SUSAN O'NEILL Staff Writer It's a first in Canada, it's one of the largest construction projects projects in the country's history and, before long, it'll be winding its way to Durham. The eastern extension of Hwy. 407 from Hwy. 48 in Markham to Brock Road in Pickering was given the green light by the Province more than a year ago. But, the construction of the toll road to Durham only began last month when Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, announced the 407 extension extension could proceed without a full federal environmental assessment assessment or a public review panel. Local politicians and business business leaders, who have long supported supported extension of Canada's first all-electronic toll highway into the region, 'welcomed the announcement. See NEW page 4 Cowa PONTflAG-BUlCK GMC TRUCK 166 KING ST. E., BOWMANVILLE 623-3396 » Prlcti «r» plm l«»n, llctnt» »nd tdmlnlilrillmi f K . 1998 LUMINA LT2 4 DR. SEDAN Black, loaded, leather interior, power seat, CD player, power sunroof. 3800 V6. Bal of factory warranty, (h*- nnr , 41,500 km.$17,995 iiwmDSMôBWÀütfôRA 4 dr., pearl white, loaded, leather intèrior, high polish wheels, 2 pwr. seats, pwr. sunroof, CD & cassette. Bal. of _ factory warranty. 79,000 km. $Z2,595 1997 PONTIAC GRAND'L,., 4 dr., white, V6, loaded, CD player, steering wheel controls, keyless remote. 56,900 km I $15,999