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J Wheels/Insert GMC crosses over to Acadia Daily News EVERY WEEKDAY AT NOON 'videoclurhami-esion.com Canadian Statesman __durhamregion.com ♦ Pressrun 24,150 ♦ Founded 1854 ♦ JULY 26, 2006 ♦ 50 Pages ♦ Optional 3 Week Delivery $6/$1 Newsstand Transit talks remain in park Both sides wait for the other to move BY ERIN HATFIELD Staff Writer DURHAM -- Both sides involved in Durham Region Transit's contract negotiations say the ball is in the other's court. At a membership meeting of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union local 222, which represents 290 DRT workers, held Sunday, John Johnson said the full membership voiced support support for its bargaining team. "They want to send the mes- , sage to the Region that the ball is in their court," said Mr. Johnson, chairman of the DRT branch of CAW local 222. "And we want to get back to the (bargaining) (bargaining) table." Talks have been stalled since July 17 and no further dates for negotiations have been scheduled. scheduled. DRT presented what it called the Region's final offer on July 14 but Mr. Johnson said the CAW membership didn't even vote on it at the meeting Sunday. Sunday. "If we take something to the ■ membership it is going to be something -the bargaining committee committee can endorse," he said. Matthew Wilson, the Region's director of labour relations, said the last offer, however, was a good one. "In our view the final offer is a fair and reasonable one," he said. "There hasn't been any change in the offer. Durham Region Transit is waiting for a Where they stand on the July 14 offer from Durham Region Transit The Union 'If we take something to the membership it is going to be something the bargaining committee can endorse.' - John Johnson, chairman, DRT branch, CAW Local 222 Durham Region Transit 'In our view the final offer is a fair and reasonable one.' - Matthew Wilson, director of labour relations, Durham Region response from the union." The collective agreement, which saw four pre-existing agreements carry over when local municipal transit services services amalgamated in January, expired on July 17. DRT had 'earlier requested a no-board report, therefore the Region can lock workers out or the union can vote to go on strike at any time. "So there is no collective agreement agreement in place right now," Mr. Wilson said. "Any time when there is no collective agreement there is a risk of a labour disruption." disruption." Whether or not DRT will lock workers out, Mr. Wilson said, is a decision yet to be made. wife appeal $40,000 load of chicken stolen: police BY JEFF MITCHELL Staff Writer DURHAM - Donald James Woods's grieving widow wants the world to know her husband is ■ more than a crime statistic. "Donny was a husband and a father," Nicole Woods told reporters reporters gathered in Whitby Monday morning. "He's not just a picture on TV. He has a family and that family, needs answers." Ms. Woods made an for information from the public as Durham Regional Police continue to investigate the murder of Mr. Woods, whose body was found in his tractor trailer behind a Pickering Wal-Mart store June 23. Police believe the man was shot when the load of chicken he was hauling was stolen. Since her husband's death Ms. Woods has been actively assisting the investigation, circulating flyers and contacting trucking companies companies in hopes information may be passed along to Durham homicide ' cops. At a press conference Monday morning, investigators released new details of the cargo the 35- year-old Mr. Woods was hauling when he died. The Brockville area man's truck was about two-thirds full, carrying a 14,000 kg load of fresh whole chickens valued at $40,000, said Detective Mitch Martin. The meat, processed by the Avicomax company company in Drummondville, Quebec and destined for delivery in the Toronto area, was likely unloaded into either another track or a warehouse, warehouse, Det. Martin said. Police are releasing the information information in hopes anyone who may have purchased some of the chicken chicken may be able to offer information. information. It's believed the haul of meat would have been sold within about five days, perhaps to restaurants or retail outlets. "Whether they knew it was stolen stolen or not, I'm sure they had no idea it was involved in a homicide," Det. Martin said. Investigators are also hoping to hear from anyone who may , have seen Mr. Woods's track - a white 2006 Volvo tractor tractor hauling a tri-axle trailer with a company logo, AK Brothers Transport on its sides - between the time it was 1 last seen in Belleville Belleville June 21 land its discovery early June 23 behind the Wal-Mart store on Brock Road. Mr. Woods said goodbye to his wife around 9|p.m. June 21 in Brockville and headed west on Hwy: 401 for Toronto. He stopped at the 10 Acre truck stop in Belleville Belleville just before midnight, and the track was seen heading west again shortly thereafter, Det. Mar- See FAMILY, page A8 For more on this story [étmiCH VIDEO Walter Passarella/ Metroland Durham Region Media Group durfwnv«glon .oom Hard to watch NEWCASTLE -- Cousins Tammy Rogers, right, and Bailey Duetta embrace as their emotions get the better of them having watched the demolition of the family home in Bond Head. The municipality recently purchased and levelled three of the waterfront waterfront homes on Bolton St. Crime down in Durham: StatsCan \ DURHAM -- The crime rate in Durham Region decreased in 2005, a new study has found. According to records given to Statistics Canada by Durham Regional Police, the total rate of all criminal code offences.is down in the region by 11.2 per cent over 2004. The statistics show that 4,916 offences were committed throughout the year in Durham Durham Region, with the majority (2,324) being property crime. The study also showed a slight increase in violent crime, which at 646 is up by 0.2 per cent. Durham's 'crime, rate follows follows the national trend, which showed overall crime rates down by five per cent driven by declines in non-violent crimes. while the violent crime rate remained unchanged from the previous year. On average, Canadians experienced experienced a four per cent increase in homicides (first and second degree murder, manslaughter, and infanticide). That translates into two homicides per 100,000 people - the highest rate since 1996. Rates of attempted mur ders in 2005 increased by a significant 14 per cent. Official crime statistics, also known as police-reported crime data, can be used to examine examine the prevalence, nature and ; impact on crime. In Canada, these stats have been systematically systematically collected since 1962. To read the full report, visit www. statscan.ca. ONTARIO'S •SERVICE • PARTS vote attracting a lot of candidates 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 OSHAWaI Honda 300 THICKSON RD. S. WHITBY 1-866 240-6192 www.hondal e BCOlVtJD^ l.com J wmnmmuiwmir BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer . CLARINGTON - With about 10 weeks left to go before nominations nominations for November's municipal municipal election close, there arc already more candidates registered registered than appeared on the 2003 ticket. In 2003, 25 people filed nomination nomination papers in Clarington, to run for the various municipal posts, including mayor, councillor councillor and school board trustee. Of those, two withdrew their names before election day. As of July 19 of this year, Clarington counting People signed up so far to run in the November 13,2006 municipal election: 28 Number of people, in 2003, who filed to run: 25 Number of people, in 2003, who had filed to run by July 19:10 Number of people, in 2003, who filed to run in the month of September: 13 Number of council seats (out ot seven), in 2006, with no incumbent currently declared: 3 28 individuals have filed their' papers, and the traditionally busiest busiest time for people to sign up hasn't yet hit, said Clarington clerk Patti Barrie. "Generally, September is the busier month" for nominations, said Ms. Barrie. For example, in 2003, 12 people people filed between January and the end of August while, in September September alone, 13 people went to Town hall to sign up to run. To this point in the 2003 nomination nomination period, only 10 people had signed up, with one of those eventually withdrawing. As of July 19, no one had signed up for the available positions positions on either the French public or Catholic school boards, but that is "very typical," said Ms. Barrie. In 2003, nominations had to .be briefly re-opened to allow a name to come forward for the French public trustee position. The number of nominations is relatively high, said the clerk. "I would say. yes, it's probably higher than we've had in previous previous elections," said Ms. Barrie, declining to speculate on why. It's hard to say what's causing it, said Dr. Andrew Sancton, pro- See NUMBER, page A4 si V Here at Cowan s we want know . Oi jS W 6 everyone'to know what th purchasing. Our vehicle Certificate for every Gene Motors product in war ire A*,6cyL,4*o« l owd*»'MS, ,, M.pÈ.pw.wi^.kwtMiwtry.w, ' M «bags, tit & more. 36,810 kin., itors product includes, full rant/history, the vehicle's Id, original warranty start 9, original selling deafer! commetely documented! 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