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Clarington Communities/7 Downtown set for facelift Sports/13 Hall of Fame inductees Statesman ♦ Founded 1854 ♦ AUGUST 17, 2005 ♦ 52 Pages ♦ Optional 3 Week Delivery $5/$1 Newsstand Motorists in dollar daze Some industries feeling the pinch as price of gasoline goes over $1 per litre BY DAVID BLUMENFELD Staff writer DURHAM - Although the price of gasoline has continued to rise, GM Canada has not seen any decline in the sale of its less fuel-efficient vehicles. In fact, it's having trouble keeping up with demand. "We're building maximum overtime at our full-sized pickup pickup truck plant - they can't run enough overtime right now to meet demands," GM public affairs manager Pam McLaughlin McLaughlin said. "It's a very interesting interesting phenomena. SUV's would be slightly more fuel efficient than a truck... but we can't make enough of them right now." In recent days, the price of crude oil has topped more than $67 per barrel - the. highest since oil futures began trading in 1983. Another record has been set at the pumps, where the cost of gasoline in parts of Durham Region have lopped more than $1.02 per litre. Canadians have an obsession with gas prices, Ms. McLaughlin said, but GM isn't seeing a real change in purchasing purchasing patterns just yet. "Yes, some of the SUV sales have been lower, but we believe that is more attributed to the simple simple case of there's a lot of choice in that particular segment right ' now, from all manufacturers," she said. "Although it is not altering purchasing decisions, we know that Canadians are quite obsessed with it right now, and rightfully so, because of the increases." On average, Ontario gas prices prices have increased by 10 cents per litre since the beginning of August, and nearly 30 cents per litre since the start of the year. For industries that rely heavily on gasoline prices in order to make a profit, it's getting harder and harder to come out ahead. "From a driver's perspective, it's probably taking ,more than 20 per cent of their income right now," said Chris Pelgrims, owner of Bell Taxi in Whitby. "They're the ones that pay for the gas... so it's cutting right into their earnings." earnings." He said cab drivers in Whitby have only had one pay raise in the past 15 years - a minimal increase in 1990 -- while gas prices have continued to soar. "Now that they've finally gone over a dollar, there should be some compensation in my mind, either through a rate increase or a reduction in taxes for commercial commercial vehicles users," Mr. Pelgrims said. "These guys are making less now than what they were making 15 years ago." Norm Mackie, vice president of Mackie Moving : Systems in Oshavva, said a fuel surcharge of anywhere from 12 to 18 per cent is being added on to every trans- Area Pilgrims head out to Germany Youth, parents, plergy make pilgrimage to [Germany to meet new Pope Benedict XVI BY JENNIFER STONE Staff writer / , CLARINGTON - Just shy of 50 youth, parents and clergy have made the pilgrimage to Germany, to meet the new Pope as he celebrates his first World Youth Day since being elected to the position last April. .The St. Joseph's group, which consists of young people, parents, parents, parish priest Father Garry Leahy, and Deacon Gilbert Dod- datto, left Sunday for Cologne, Germany, Pope Benedict XVI's home country; The event kicked off Tuesday. The St. Joseph's contingent will be among hundreds of thousands making the journey to the event, first organized by the late Pope John Paul II in the mid-1980s and aimed, at reaching young people. Estimates indicate as many. at 800,000 people may attend WYD events this year. In past year attendances climbed as high as several million. million. . The event was the brainchild of Pope John Paul II, and this will be the first such event since his death. "We were sad about Pope John Paul II (dying), but we have a new pope and it's his first World Youth Day ... We'll be the first" to celebrate the event with the new pontiff, said Thomas Bird, who will turn 16 while in Germany. Germany. He js attending along with his mother, Doreen. - r . The last WYD was held in. Toronto in 2002. "We had been hearing about the last World Youth Day in Toronto, and thought it sounded really amazing," said Megan Phillippe, a 16-year-old St. Stephen's Secondary Secondary School, student, who is taking her mother, Louise, along with her. The parish began a youth group, to help raise funds for the trip. Through dances, car washes, 1 and other fundraisers, they managed managed to raise enough that the ' youth attending are only each paying about $500 of the approximately approximately $3,000 the trip will actually actually cost, said Thomas. For most of the event, the Bow- manville contingent will stay in a hotel in Cologne. But the highlight, Megan predicted, predicted, would be an overnight vigil with the Pope. "Everyone will be sleeping outside," outside," she said. "It sounds really neat, because we get to meet all these people." Much of the Bowmanville group will visit the Vatican after WYD is over. Most of the group returns to Bowmanville Aug. 26. M* m Jason Liebregts/Canadian Statesman A group of 44 teenagers from St. Joseph's Catholic Church left for World Youth Day in Germany Germany last week. port load to help offset the rising cost of fuel. "It's not so much gasoline here; it's diesel fuel. But diesel fuel has crept up there as well, it's hovering hovering around 90 cents right now too," Mr. Mackie said. "If I had to run loads right now with no fuel surcharge, it just wouldn't work. It's definitely a grind on the business." business." And there doesn't seem to be any relief in sight, at least for the time being. Gas prices may continue continue to rise, Mr. Mackie said. "I don't have a crystal ball," he said. "I hope that it doesn't, but I mean, who knows?" Christian cyclists roll through Durham Nine, residents on coast-to-coast bicycle ride BY JENNIFER STONE Staff writer DURHAM - When the Sea-to- Sea cycling tour rolled through Durham Tuesday, it was a bit of a homecoming for nine Durham residents, who are taking part in a cross-Canada tour'celebrating tour'celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Christian Reformed Church in this country. Durham participants include Peter Faber and George Vander Kuur of Pickering; Peter Rien- stra of Whitby; Andy Heimstra of Port Perry; Jim Hoogsteen, Marja Slofstra, and John Van- derheyden of Courtice; and Greg Mosterd and Sonia Vanderby of Bowmanville. The ride began June 25 in British British Columbia, and is slated to end Sept. 3 in Halifax. Riders range in age from 18 to 74. Mr. Vanderheyden, for example, celebrates his 60th birthday this week, while on tour. The Oshawa Zion Christian Reformed Church member wasn't a cyclist before signing up for the tour. His training training began Jan. 3. of this year. The trip, so far, hasn't been easy, he said.. "It's tough, I'll be honest," he said. Mr. Vanderheyden's wife met him' at Manitoulin Island last week, as a surprise. She, their four children and nine grandchil- See BICYCLISTS, page 4 y2Qv_ T©--S .«o v, & ONTARIO'S DRIVE CLEAN • SERVICE • PARTS Duwiimuviiic /Aug. t ' • ; ^ Taber killer apprehended without incident ■ • v 'A ' . . . _ . , \r il. Î t-x knfnr#* hf» ant him MON., WED., FRI. 7:30 am - 6:00 pm TUES. & THURS. 7:30 am - 8:00 pm SAT. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm ACCREDITED TEST & REPAIR FACILITY WHITBY OSHAWA Honda 300 THICKSON RD. S. WHITBY P 666-1772 Convicted teen murderer Todd Cameron Smith has family in Ajax area BY CARLY FOSTER Staff writer DURHAM - The convicted Taber killer, who has been the focus of a 24-hour manhunt, was arrested without incident late Tuesday afternoon. Todd Cameron Smith, 20, who shot and killed a fellow student at a high school in Alberta six years ago, walked away from an open custody facility in Toronto around 3:30 a.m. Monday. He was arrested by members of Toronto Police Service's 51 division division in the area of Dundas Street East and Berkeley Street at 4:50 p.m. He had walked way from a Toronto halfway house Monday afternoon. Police, who were "concerned for the safety of the community", community", initially stated lie might be headed to Durham Region where he had family in Ajax. A Toronto police source said Mr. Smith left behind a note indicating he lias no intention ot remaining "caged" any more and does not plan to be taken 'back into custody alive. Mr. Smith was convicted of first degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in 2000 after he shot and killed a 17-year-old. student at his high school in Taber, Alta. Only 14 at the time, Mr. Smith also wounded a second student and missed a third during the April 28, 1999 Shooting. The event grabbed media attention attention around North America since it came a week after the slaying slaying of 13 students at Columbine High School in Colorado. Mr. Smith was transferred to Cobourg's Brookside Youth Centre in 2002 after his family moved to Ontario. In a hearing last February, a judge in Port Hope determined he should remain in custody due to his recurring violent fantasies, lack of remorse for his crime and a family history of mental illness. But after less than five years behind bars, a judge allowed Mr. Smith to be transferred to a halfway halfway house in Toronto in March this year. The sister of the escaped teen murderer spoke at a press conference conference just hours before his arrest- begging her brother to turn him self in before he got himself killed. "Please don't hurt my brother," Jennifer Smith said. "I'm afraid we're going to find a body. I don't want a body, I want my brother back." This week's manhunt was the "first time Mr. Smith's identity has been made public, as he was sentenced under the Young Offender's Act. 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