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

Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, June 21,2000 * 5 ) Board members retire Who do es Rita Wilsbn and Glenn Front received plaques of appreciation appreciation from the Clarington Older Adult Association for their years of dedicated service. Both had been on the Association Board since it started 10 years ago, Wilson as Treasurer, and Prout as Fundraising Chair. Touch by JoKn O'Toole, MPP This should be the final week of the Legislature's current current session. The reason I say "should" is because this week each of the three House Leaders will attempt to reach agreements on "what will be covered in the Legislature and what issues will be sent to committees for public hearings over the summer summer recess. Finally, they will need to decide which legislation legislation will stay on the order papers when the House resumes in the Fall. Generally, the government tries to fill the agenda and the opposition tries to slow down legislation. To fulfill this schedule, MPPs are scheduled to sit each night this week until midnight. I enjoy the debates and the tactics, however, however, to the visitor or viewer who doesn't see the entire strategic process, it might look like a rather raucous process. The first report of the Canadian Institute for Health Information, an independent national not-for-profit organization, organization, has been published. This organization was established in 1994 by Canada's Health Ministers to provide sound health policies and educate the public. Their report, which can be accessed at www.cihi.ca, presents the status of Canada's health care system by, reviewing each province and other countries as well. For more information or assistance with any provincial provincial matter, please call my community office at 697- 1501 or 1-800-661-2433. The issue of health care is important important to all of us and I urge you to stay informed. Recently, I received the Durham Digest from our Durham MP, Alex Shepherd. I've had a number of calls and letters about how Mr. Shepherd views his level of Public Works services across the RegioP of Durham employs 1,100 full time staff, and has a collective budget of $800,000. A recent independent study identified areas where the Region and the area Municipalities could streamline streamline a number of services. This looking at streamlining streamlining of services, was a commitment commitment made by Regional Councillors at their Governance Retreat earlier this year. The Who Does What 'Stage 1 ' report was presented to councillors at their General Purpose and Administration Committee Meeting, Monday. Consultant, Ainslie Wood, government's support of health care. He has entered an area that every one agrees is in need of our collective attention. attention. Members of Parliament, like Mr. Shepherd and Health Minister Alan Rock, know that the Canada Health Act committed both the federal and provincial governments to a 50-50 agreement and put simply, this is no longer happening. happening. Why is Mr. Shepherd moving moving into this provincial matter at this point in time? In an article that appeared in the June 5th edition of the National Post, it states, "Mr. Shepherd added he might not run in the next election partly because of the limited independence independence of backbench MP's". The matter of our health care is something that both the federal and provincial provincial government must work on together so that we can continue to have a quality system. system. I was very disturbed by the violent demonstration that occurred last Thursday at Queen's Park. The activist demonstrators, led by the head of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty John Clarke, were intent on causing damage damage to the police, the horses and the Legislature. Of course, individuals and groups have the right to disagree disagree with the government and to demonstrate their concerns. concerns. However, the trend today from the "Battle in Seattle" that erupted around the recent World Trade Organization conference, to similar events in New York, and most recently in Windsor, seems to be the intention of provoking violent confrontation. confrontation. As an elected member of the Ontario Legislature, I am prepared to listen to ideas, arguments and suggestions - not to threats of violence and destruction. Violent demonstrations demonstrations are not fair to the people of Ontario and our democratic system. of Wood-Sloan Inc. presented the report which made four main recommendations. The report proposes reducing works depots from the current 22 to 15. That all road maintenance maintenance be done by the area municipality. Solid' waste be taken care of at the Regional level, and a rationalized road network be developed. Public Works Departments throughout the Region already share equipment, services and resources in some instances. They also participate in joint purchasing arrangements, to realize cost savings. Ms. Wood will be presenting presenting stage one of this report to area councils over the next 3 to 4 weeks, and then move on to stage two of the report. The next stage will provide a detailed business case for those cqncepts endorsed by the Region ' and area Municipalities. It will also provide an implementation strategy. Further funding would be required by Wood-Sloan Inc. to enter into the next phase. Get tt 1 1-888-334-9769 www.paguide.com The Roaster Friday, June 23 48A Mill Street, Kendal Featuring Take-Out Pizza • Suds • Pitas & Kawartha Dairy Ice Cream Tel: (905) 983-1081 Toll Free: 1-877-983-1081 l With a $12 purchase i 1 at The Eeasfer i I Receive 2 Litre bottle of pop j with this coupo-' fll Good lune 23 to 30th HOURS: Tues - Thurs 10-10 « Fri & Sat 10-11 Sunday 12-9 * closed Mondays