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www.durhamregion.com THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, SEPTEMBER 10, 2003 PAGE 3 Candidates tackle education •BY JENNIFER STONE (Staff Writer ! DURHAM RIDING - As the campaign lor the Oct. 2 provincial election '.heats up, education is ,quickly emerging as one of ■ the main issues facing candidates, candidates, not only across the province, but right here in Durham Riding. How do local candidates feel about the issues? From improving teacher relations to ensuring Durham riding's riding's rural schools continue to thrive, all three candidates candidates - Progressive Conservative Conservative incumbent John O'Toole, O'Toole, Liberal Garry Minnie Minnie and NDPer Teresa Williams - have a number of ideas. Teacher-government relations relations can be improved in a number of ways, say the candidates. "We will treat our teachers teachers with the professional respect respect they deserve," says Mr. Minnie. The Liberal candidate says his party would scrap the teacher testing program implemented by the current government, but would "give (teachers) the tools and training they need to be better teachers." The NDP would also overturn a current Tory initiative, initiative, says Ms. Williams. "First of all, we wouldn't wouldn't ban (teacher) strikes," says Ms. Williams, alluding to a Conservative plan to make illegal such job action by public educators. As well, she says her party would scrap a Tory plan to provide tax breaks for parents parents wishing to enrol their children in private schools. 6 / ' If* ûnaliitn étaltsmatt Mr. O'Toole says his government, if re-elected, would "confirm our support lor excellence in teaching," noting Teacher and Principal Principal of Excellence awards arc being created. As well, he says dollars committed in the last budget to improving improving teachers' salaries will help improve relations. A local burst of new school building will also help, lie says. "Locally, we have unprecedented unprecedented numbers of new schools. We have more new schools, and less portables, portables, so better teaching conditions," conditions," he says. Ensuring Durham riding's riding's smaller rural schools continue to grow and thrive is also important, say all three candidates. That's a vital issue locally, where school boards have faced either closing smaller, more rural schools, or removing administrative staff in an effort effort to cut costs. "We will change the funding formula to reflect the realities of proper funding funding for the province of Ontario," Ontario," says Mr. Minnie. "Rural Ontario is not the same as urban Ontario, and the funding formula needs to reflect the different needs of the community. Schools are an important part of the community, especially in rural and small-town On- APPOINTMENT C 03 E GO CD CD o oo Brad Kelly: Named sports editor of The Canadian Statesman. Canadian Statesman Editor-in-Chief Joanne Burghardt is pleased to announce announce the appointment of Brad Kelly to sports editor of The Canadian Statesman, Statesman, Port Perry This Week, and the Uxbridge Times-Joumal. . For the last four years Brad has served in a number of capacities for the Durham Region Media Group, most recently recently as sports reporter for its publications publications in northern and eastern Durham. Prior to that, he was a reporter with James Publishing Company for 10 years. "Brad's extensive knowledge of the Durham Region sports scene and bis numerous sports reporting awards will be a tremendous asset to our sports sections sections in the years ahead," says Ms. Burghardt. "In addition, his track record of community service will allow us to continue to further enhance our reputation in the Clarington, Uxbridge and Scugog communities." Among Brad's personal accolades are the 2002 Ontario Lacrosse Association Association media award for coverage, a second-place second-place standing in the 2000 Suburban Suburban Newspapers of America awards for Best Sports Section, and a second-place finish for community service in 1992 after running a 3-on-3 basketball tournament tournament in Clarington. In addition, he has a number of other reporting and photography awards to his credit. The Statesman, This Week and Times-Journal are part of the Metroland Durham Region Media Group, a team of seven community newspapers (The Times-Journal, Port' Perry This Week, Ajax and Pickering News Advertiser, Clarington This Week, The Canadian Statesman, Os- hawa This Week and Whitby This Week), the monthly Durham Business Times publication, and a Durhamwide Web site (www.durhamregion.com). 03 ■+--' CO C CD "O lo 03 I C LO 03 O O CD £ E o o GO CD 5 I tarm." Money was recently allocated allocated to rural and remote schools by his government, says Mr. O'Toole, noting local school boards have received received some of that money. 'They did get significant dollars and they've been arguing arguing that case for quite some time." he says, noting under new plans for rural schools, each school would have at least a full-time sec retary or principal at all times, to help ensure student student safety. Increasing education funding would go a long way toward ensuring smaller smaller rural schools continue to grow and thrive, as opposed to being closed or having staffing levels drop, says Ms. Williams. "With better public funding. funding. there would be less need for closure," she says. M m »-- Turn Clarington 1 on/lino fho LV//v " 905-623-3379 info@municipality.clarington.on.ca Say Cheese! Enter the Clarington Sports and Recreation Photo j Contest today! Contest closes at 5 PM Friday, Nov. 14, 2003. Please visit www.municipality.clarington.on.ca for more information. T Calling All Tourism Partners P roduction of the Clarington Visitor's Guide will soon be under way. To ensure you are included please forward your business or organizations contact information by September 26, 2003 to the Communications and Marketing Department, 40 Temperance St. Bowmanville, ON, or fax to 905-623-0584. Advertising opportunities are still available. Call 905-434-6741 today to book your space. kr met * u V'"- tAM-L Ox INAUGURAL INDUCTION CEREMONY SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2003 cocktails 6:00 pm dinner 7:00 pm $50 PER PERSON TICKETS AVAILABLE AT COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPT & GARNET B. RICKARD RECREATION COMPLEX For more information call 905-623-3379 www.municipality.clarington.on.ca T' S X 3 1 jë N t ■ Hhomton Rd. | Champlain Ave. J 1 Wait 401 E.it lz: During La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® Anniversary Celebration, we've got savings you'll never forget. 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