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Wheels/Insert Equinox shines for GM Sports/11 Gaels strike Lightning CLARINGTON'S AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER SINCE 1854 Ik Canadian Statesman Pressrun 24,150 Wednesday, July 28,2004 • 32 Pages • Optional 3 Week Delivery $5/$l Newsstand durhamregion.com Oetspoker is back on the job | Council votes ] unanimously : to reinstate man * after termination < BY SHELLEY JORDAN ^ Staff writer . ' l CLARINGTON--A local -firefighter who was terminated for speaking up about public safety during the recent federal election campaign has been reinstated. reinstated. Municipal council voted unanimously to bring Frank Azevedo back to his position 3m Clarington Local 3139, following following a special meeting that ■was called July 21. • During the federal campaign, campaign, Mr. Azevedo, who is chairman of the Clarington Fire Fighter's Political Action Committee, ■ made comments to Liberal candidate Tim Lang that were included in a 'Toronto 'Toronto Star' article published June . 22. The article discussed elec- . tion issues, including emergency emergency preparedness, with Mr. Azevedo telling the candidate that the Clarington Fire Department Department was in urgent need of training so it could respond safely and effectively in the event of a major disaster in the community. Mr. Azevedo was suspended suspended without pay following publication publication of the article, and was terminated July 6. His rein statement is considered a victory victory by the union, which supported supported Mr. Azevedo. "Clarington council has done the right thing by returning returning this firefighter to work," International Association of Firefighters General President, Harold Schaitberger stated in a press release. "They heard our message and they saw that the IAFF was not-goiiig to back down for a second." Mr. Schaitberger took a personal personal interest in Mr. Azevedo's case, saying reinstatement was an important recognition of the right of local IAFF leaders to raise awareness of public and firefighter çafety issues by speaking on behalf of the association. association. "The strong and united front that we have shown in Clarington is the source of our strength as a union," he said. "An attack on one firefighter is an attack on all firefighters, and we will respond with the full weight of our resources, backed by 267,000 members across North America." Jim Lee, assistant to the general president said reinstatement reinstatement came with a three- day suspension that Mr. Azévedo will have the opportunity opportunity to grieve in front of an arbitrator, though a date has not been set. "We don't think Frank did anything wrong, and we're confident the arbitrator will feel the same way," said Mr. See FIREFIGHTERS' page 5 Celia KlemenzZThe Canadian Statesman Up in the air Logan Walters, left, and Dakota Seward, both of Bowmanville, scramble to catch a fly ball during drills at the Academy of Basébâll summer camp Ht Whitby's Irtiqtiois Park. Clarington MP chosen as Canadian Heritage critic Conservative Bev Oda appointed to shadow cabinet BY SHELLEY JORDAN Staff writer CLARINGTON -- Bev Oda, Conservative Party MP for the riding of Clarington Scugog Uxbridge, is bringing her business experience and her understanding of multicultural issues into the arena as Canadian Canadian Heritage critic. UOIT puts Canadian Heritage is comprised comprised of the arts, media, cultural cultural affairs, international and intergovernmental intergovernmental ' affairs, tourism, multicultural and Aboriginal Aboriginal issues, Canada's digital future, official languages, sports and youth work programs. programs. Ms. 1 Oda was appointed to the position July 22, and as a member of the official opposition opposition party will shadow Liberal Canadian Heritage Minister Liza Frulla. Ms. Oda said there are a few areas she would like to tackle immediately. "I think we need to review union But Polonsky says university not hurting Durham BY MIKE RUTA Staff writer DURHAM -- The growth of Durham's new university shouldn't come at the expense of the college that preceded it, say faculty at Durham College. ! The faculty concerns were sent to the Province recently in a 1 letter, regarding the relationship relationship between the two institutions, institutions, fearing it is "at risk be cause of the impact of UOIT on the operation of our college." ' The University of Ontario' Institute of Technology opened last September in Oshawa, sharing a campus with the college. college. Peter McKeracher leads Ontario Ontario Public Service Employees'Union Employees'Union (OPSEU) Local 354 at the college. In a letter to Mary Anne Chambers, Ontario minister of training,' colleges and universities, he says college college and UOIT president Gary Polonsky is in "a clear conflict of interest" filling both roles. See DURHAM page 6 File photo Gary Polonsky, seen here against the backdrop of construction construction on campus, is defending his joint role as president president of both Durham College and UOIT. the mandate of the CRTC to make sure it is still relevant in the way it regulates the industry, industry, that it's in tune with today's broadcasting world," she said. Ms. Oda is prepared to use her background as commissioner commissioner of the Canadian Radio-tele- vision and Telecommunications ■Commission, as well as a position position she had as advisor to the Secretary of State on multicultural multicultural issues to investigate a decision decision by the CRTC not to renew the licence of CHOI-FM in Quebec for airing negative comments about African students students of Université de Laval. INDEX Editorial Page ...... .4 Sports .. .... .11 Classified . . . .87 GIVE US A CALL General .... 905-579-4400 Distribution 905-579-4407 General FAX 905-579-2238 Newsroom FAX 905-579-1809 As well, she is looking at the ' CRTC decision for network approval approval of an Al-Jazeera channel amid criticism ,the station broadcasts anti-Semitic content. content. "There seems to be a mixed message here," said Ms. Oda. Ms. Oda said it is her job to make sure the government is accountable for their actions and policies on any matter that falls under the department of Canadian Heritage, and to ensure ensure that issues and ' policies benefit the country. See BEV page 6 durhamregion.com ©-V ONTARIO'S ms • SERVICE • PARTS MON., WED., FRI. 7:30 am - 6:00 pm TUES. & THURS. 7:30 am - 8 pm SAT. 9 am - 4 pm ACCREDITED TEST & REPAIR FACILITY WHITBY OSHAWA Honda 300 THICKSON RD. 8. WHITBY 666-1772 honda www.honde1 .com COWAN PONTIAC BUICK GMC 166 King St. E. 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