The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

2 Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, May 10, 2000 ORONO Weekly Times East Clarington and beyond since 1937 Subscriptions $23.36 + $1.64 G.S.T. = $25.00/year Publications Mail Registration No. 09301 Publishing 50 Issues Annually at the Office of Publication 5310 Main Street, P.O. Box 209, Orono, Ontario LOB 1M0 E-Mail Address: oronotimes@speedline.ca Phone/Fax (905) 983-5301 Publisher/Editor Marg Zwàrt Planning for the future The Federations of Agriculture in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) have recently completed a study that's well worth getting your hands on. The Federations from the Regions of Durham, Halton, Peel and York joined forces to conduct this comprehensive comprehensive Agricultural Economic Impact Study in the GTA. The Study states that all four regions have strong Official Plans governing land use. Each of the Regions' Official Pans have policies to protect prime agricultural land. Yet, in the 20 years between 1976 and 1996, 150,000 acres of farmland were lost. A significant portion of the farmland in the GTA is part of the .5% of the Canadian land mass that qualifies as Class 1 land under the Canada Land Inventory. Mayor Hamre commented, after the study was presented to local council last month, that it would be an invaluable tool when the Clarington Official Plan next comes up for review. The Study indicates through tracking of historical land use patterns, that where sewers, water and roads are extended, urbanization follows'. The Orono and District Community Association is currently looking at the issue of sustainable development in the Orono area. With the area classified as a 'no growth area', due to the absence of municipal servicing of sewage, we have the time to explore all the options, and to have a workable plan in place for when growth is permitted. There are enough examples around, of the type of growth we don't need. What are the viable alternatives? It's an election year. Are any of the candidates seeking to represent you, able to offer anything other than the status quo? Group to deal with environmental concerns to voice theft opinion at the public meeting in the Council Chambers at the Municipal Administrative Centre, June 5 at 9:30 a.m. Jungle Cat World has also offered to answer any questions or concerns. concerns. Peter Klose Jungle Cat World The final word Dear Marg: Though the Durham Action Network's (DAN) main focus is environmental issues in Durham Region, they do not intend to limit themselves to those issues alone. According to one of the regarding changes in air quality quality and noise levels, and would like to be made aware of areas of great environmental environmental sensitivity or scenic beauty. Leave a message at (905) 439- 6951 or come to our May 16th meeting. Although this response is somewhat overdue, I felt I needed to rethink and also reread Bob Rotz's editorial's of the past few weeks. Now that I have calmed down over his idiotic suggestions. May 3rd editorial included, my distaste for him remains the sam. He may think his comments comments were whimsical and a "FUN REAP", but to the bitten bitten and annoyed JOGGER, the COMMUNITY YOUTH GROUP (our leaders and citizens citizens of the future, whatever condition we leave it in) and to the POOR NEIGHBOUR WHO MUST live beside this attitude, I am very, very glad he is not moving in next to me. So Bob Rotz, my final words to you, and I do mean FINAL are: ORONO'S GAIN IS NAKI- NA'S LOSS!!!! GOOD LUCK, GOOD SHOOTIN' AND GOODBYE! Gail C. Empey & Family groups organizers, Jessica Markland, an area of concern currently, is the environmental impact of the 407. Government assurances that the highway will be built with minimal harm to the environment environment have already proved untrue in the way the clearing is being done for the 16-km section east from Highway 48 to Brock Road, says Markland. DAN endorsed a letter to Hon. David Anderson, Minister of Environment, from the 407 Action Group. Among other items, this letter requests bridging of at least 20 streams (as opposed to burying burying them in culverts) and the establishment of à process to prevent urban' sprawl on the 40,000 acres of publicly owned farmland surrounding the 407 extension, through the creation of a Green Land Trust. DAN would like to hear from farmers and other landowners affected by the proposed route of 407: They can provide information Other matters of ongoing concern are the incursions into Provincially Significant Wetlands by developers in the Courtice area. In a recent Ontario Municipal Board hearing in Clarington, regarding regarding the proposed Birchdale development, members of DAN joined other parties in presenting evidence against this development. OMB chose to ignore all the information information that was presented and ruled in favour of the developer. developer. This has become quite a pattern in recent OMB hearings. hearings. A third area of concern to DAN, therefore, is what they see as the erosion of democracy democracy in our Province. DAN meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month. The May 16 meeting will .be at the Ebenezer Church at Courtice Road and Bloor Street. Everyone is welcome welcome to attend and bring their own concerns for discussion. For more information leave a message at (905) 439-6951. n V Letters to Ed itor Opposition to Exotic Animal By-law Exemption On April 25, Mr. Scott Creed appeared before Council to request, an exemption exemption from Clarington's Exotic Animal by-law. Mr. Creed, under . Immortal Incorporation, independently operates a wildlife outreach program and. zoo camp for Jungle Cat World Wildlife Park. Though Jungle Cat World endorses his programs, programs, they do not support his endeavour to keep animals animals on his Tamblyn Road property that borders on the busy 35/115 highway. Reasons include animal welfare welfare and public safety. "As far as we're concerned," concerned," said a spokesperson for Jungle Cat World, "we're an accredited institution that is more than qualified to house the animals used for his wildlife education programs, programs, and have always done so in the past. It's unneces sary, if not a liability, for Mr. Creed to keep them on his 1.68-acre lot. It would only encourage, others to keep exotic animals on small building lots- We just want the community to 'know 'that ; we were completely unaware of his intentions and oppose any ' exemption of Clarington's Exotic Animal by-law." By-law 93-161 prohibits and regulates the keeping of certain animals within the municipality. Currently, there are only six businesses listed on Schedule "C" that have been granted exemption. exemption. They are: BowmanvÜlë Veterinary Clinic, Courtice Pet Clinic, Durham Veterinary Clinic, East Oshawa Animal Hospital, Bowman ville Zoo Ltd., and Jungle Cat World. Zoological parks and those in the possession possession of exotic animals must also meet the strict criteria criteria of the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The public is encouraged .. CONSIDERED ARMED AND REJUVENATED dolighant@aol.com