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

fi - Orojftq Weekly Wednesday. May 31. 2000 ^ Staying in Touch by John O'Toole, MPP "Durham Region's.water is free from the E.coli bacteria," reported Tony Wong, Manager of Durham's Environmental Health Division. Mr. Wong stated, "We haVe a very extensive monitoring and testing program program in Durham". These reassuring reassuring statements were made following problems experienced experienced by people in the community. community. of Walken on. Essentially, it all comes down to individuals doing their job right the first time - every time. Even with 10, 20 or 30 years of on-the-job experience, experience, we all need to be reminded about the impact our decisions have on the lives of others. This : small community, where spine residents have died and hundreds of others remain ill, has come under tough scrutiny from the "big city" media. The media wants a story and will push relentlessly relentlessly to get one. It is my impression that Walkertoh residents have a little more patience and understanding than the reporters. It appears that area citizens are not rushing rushing to judgement and seem prepared to let the investigation investigation process take its course. As a result, patience along with "wait and see" attitude do not make for big headlines or the readership engagement. The media want answers and names, and they want them now. This is not to say, however, however, that the media is not performing performing their journalistic duty because it is important to apply pressure, thus holding the sÿstem accountable. I know each of us pray for those families who have lost a child or a grandparent and to those enduring the agony,of fearing the worst. I was pleased to learn that Clarington has been selected as Canada's site choice for the International Thermal Energy Reactor (ITER) project. Mayor Diane Ham re has been a large supporter for the fusion-based energy research facility. If this research project project gets support from other countries around the world, the bidding may take place within the next couple of years with Clarington being put forward as Canada's host site. I might add that the Ontario government has committed committed a considerable amount of money to the ITER project, while Ottawa has very little in the project at this point in time. This multi-billion dollar international research project has great scientific and eco nomic potential for Durham, Ontario and indeed Canada. You will no doubt hear more about this in the future. In the last Ontario Budget, a commitment was made for tax harmonization with the federal government. A "Made-for-Ontario Tax System" will be established and while we will not be completely completely harmonized, our intention intention is to reduce ta-xes as well as paperwork. The Ministry of Finance will be conducting seminars on joint Provincial Sales Tax, Goods and Services Tax and Harmonized Sales T^x. Small business owners are encouraged to attend these free seminars scheduled in Whitby on June 14th and June 22nd. Please call my community office at 697-1501 or 1-800-661-2433 for more information. Last Friday, May 26th, there was a protest outside my community office. Due to long-standing scheduling commitments, 1 was unable to meet with the protesters. I want to say that I have met with teachers unions' members members twice in the last month and that I will continue to meet with and listen to all teachers in my riding and elsewhere if requested. I am aware of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) and Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation opposition opposition to our government's education education reforms. Generally, the unions have strongly opposed every piece of education legislation. legislation. 1 can still hear the chants from the last demonstrations demonstrations in 1997, "six out of eight and we won't back down". Bill 74, The Education Accountability Act" is' now before the Legislature and I agree that the wording in some sections needs to be re-visited. 1 agree that the wording around "extra-curricular or co- instructional" teaching time must elijminate any suggestion that teachers are forced to do extra-curricular activities. I would like to make it clear that teachers would not be required to be on call 24 hours a day. In reality, most of the union propaganda is simply false. The fact is that Bill 74 is designed to ensure that extracurricular extracurricular activities cannot be withdrawn as part of a union's "work to rule" campaign. I have had many students, parents parents and teachers call me in the past year, frustrated with • the withdrawal of extra-cur- ■ ricplar activities from the stu- TYRONE NEWS by Jacqueline Vaneyk J A lot of corn has been planted in fairly wet soil in an effort to have a long enough growing season. We just can't wait any longer. We need a long period of sunshine. The Community Park is a busy place these days with soccer and baseball practices and games. Rev. Paul Irwin led the service at church on Sunday, May 28. Rev. Irwin is one of the chaplains at Lakeridge Hospital, Oshawa. He describe a typical day in his work, and how just being there and holding a hand is important. We tend to underrate underrate the time spent with people. people. Lunch after the service was arranged by Sandy Milne, and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Coming up are two special services. On June 4, we celebrate celebrate Long Sault church, June 14, beginning at 7:30 p.m; The Women of the Church are sponsoring this open meeting. ; Everyone is welcome. ' Sharon Trudeau is looking for oversize articles for Vacation Bible School in August, If you have any ideas or items, call Sharon at 263 1022.; mUSIQN RIPAIR PROFESSIONALS Fred Devries Proprietor FRED'S AUTOBODY LTD. Estimates • Repairs • Restorations 163 Baseline Road, Unit 1 Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3L4 Tel: (905) 623-6353 Fax: (905) 623-3913 school and community, with stories and photos. Coffee and fellowship will follow. We are hoping that anyone interested in a bit of history will come. On June 11 is the Charge Picnic at Enniskillen Conservation Area. The service service begins at 10:30 with lunch to follow. Tyrone' people are asked to bring a first-course dish; Enniskillen will provide dessert. This is also the Sunday for the Grand Pyramid of Kraft Dinner to be built. All contributions gratefully gratefully accepted. Enniskillen UCW is holding a Yard and Bake Sale on Saturday, June 3 at the church. Agriculture in Durham is the subject of a talk given by Karen Yellowlees, Secretary of Durham Region Federation of Agriculture. This event is at Tyrone Church on Wed. dents. In fairness, many wonderful wonderful teachers continued to offer their bands, school clubs, and sports teams the opportunity to participate in vital non-curricular school activities. I have an internal OECTA union document directing their local affiliates to prepare a work to rule strategy. strategy. This is simply not fair for students, parents and to most of the teachers who want, and have always provided, these school-based activities. Our schools must be a safe, positive positive and supportive environment environment for our children. I am prepared to meet and, listen to any education stakeholder. We must have the safest, highest quality, accessible and accountable publicly funded educational system in the world. kOREM'S uz ART GALAXY Saramer programs 5323 Main Street, Ordno - Call 261-1657 ta Register Ages 5 to 12 sign up for anywhere from one to seven weeks! We will be exploring different one-week themes throughout the summer. Every day we'll integrate visual arts, music, drama & creative' movement. We Can Fly! (July 4 - 7) Things in the Sky (ages 4&5) ©= The Art df Being Green (July 10 -14) Nature & the Environment <§= Walk On the Wild Side (July 17 -21) Animal Safari @p Magic Carpet Ride (July 24 - 28) Adventure Stories cm Dragons, Unicorns & Other Creatures (July 31-Aug 4) (Y Ocean Voyage - (Aug 8-11 ) The Sea; above & below... <®= Around the World in 5 Days (Aug 14-18) Stories and art forms from arouqd the world. Check out our Website: www.korenscreativearts.com 4 N < H < M < N « N