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Staying in Touch by John O'Toole, MPP This past weekend was sunny but cool for the many events that were held across the riding. Some of these events included the 4th Annual Durham Region Countryside Adventure, which had 48 destinations to visit and included everything from hang gliding to pottery as well as plenty of church luncheons, , As our population ages, home care and long-term care will put extreme pressures on our health care system. The recent agreement between the federal government and the provinces should help, but there is still going to be more demands than our system of free health care can support. On Sunday morning, along with hundreds of oilier people, people, I took part in the 20th Annual Terry. Fox Run -for saucer research. Event organizer organizer Walter Gibson and all of the volunteers did a great job getting ' the public and the business community to come out in support of a very worthwhile cause. Also on Sunday, I attended the National Truckers Association meeting in Oshawa. Trackers, farmers, commuters and indeed every one of us are affected by fuel prices. Eventually, this will affect the consumer price index and potentially cause inflation, which could slow down the economy. In 1995, crude was approximately $15 per barrel, but today an international international problem has been created by the price of crude moving over $35 per barrel. With each one dollar increase in the price of crude, we see a .04 cent per liter increase at the pumps. Ontario has frozen the tax on gasoline since 1994 at 14.7 cents per liter while , the federal government tax is 10 cents per liter plus the 7 percent GST on the entire purchase (a tax on a tax). Our government, has committed to arrange a meeting with all the stakeholders, which includes the petroleum industry, the federal government, industry and consumers. Stay tuned because as winter approaches, this issue will heat up. This past week was very busy as I was asked to be part of the Rural Economic Task Force. This involved traveling to a number of provinces and other jurisdictions to witness first hand the actions that have proved successful in maintaining rural communities. communities. The key factors of suc cess appear to be regional cooperation, bottom-up initiatives initiatives as opposed to government government driven, top-down programs, programs, involvement with local universities or colleges as a resource and adding value to local products before they are simply shipped to market elsewhere. One example example was a popcorn manufacturing manufacturing process adjacent to a corn producing operation, another was a cheese manufacturing manufacturing next to a dairy operation. operation. The main concern was keeping our young people close to thejr home communities. communities. Our Minister of Agriculture announced last week $1.3 million to initiate joint ventures creating 129 internship positions for youth and .rural economies. The project, , "Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium" .(EMC) was started in Owen . Sound. The EMC's will share learning, expertise, knowledge, knowledge, and resources to address training needs for their community community and assist youth in transition from - school ■ to work. The Rural. Youth Job Strategy is a $35 million commitment commitment by the government to form partnerships and job opportunities for rural youth. I have more details in our community community office. Presently, there are several consultation papers that have been issues looking for public input. These include: • Personal Health Information Privacy: Your personal information, information, for example your health information contained in computerized patient files, must be protected. • The Motor Vehicle Dealers Act: This will enhance consumer consumer protection and involves consumer complaints. ■ The Real Estate and Business Brokers Act: This includes a section dealing with potentially fraudulent information and the use of e- commerce transactions. • The Trayel Industry Act: The proposal includes protection protection for consumers in the * event of bankruptcy, fraud or forgery and also requires more comprehensive disclosure disclosure by agents. • The Employment Standards Act: This document attempts to balance traditional employment employment practices with the changing nature of work especially in the new economy. economy. These consultation papers are available on our web site (www.ccr.gov.on. ca) or you ( Prone Weekly Times, Wednesday, September 20, 2000 - 5 Vets to hold subsidized inics re: rabies Veterinarians of Durham Region, in co operation with Durham Region Health Department, will be holding a number of subsidized rabies can call my office at (905) 697-1501/1-800-661-2433. If you or your group wish to arrange a briefing and discussion discussion on these or another provincial government topic," please call my office. Please remember that Thursday, September 21 st is the 5th Annual National Alzheimer's Coffee Break Day, Our government has a $68 million, five-year plan on Alzheimer's Disease. There is a 10-point plan that includes research, education, training intergenerational volunteering volunteering and support groups. Please call if you would like more information on this important issue. vaccinations clinics to help residents meet the requirements requirements of the province's Rabies Immunization Regulation. Regulation 567, under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, requires mandatory rabies vaccinations vaccinations for all cats and dogs throughout southern Ontario. Earlier this year, Durham Regional Council asked the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to Include Durham Region In this regulation to help curb the threat of raccoon rabies.. "We're very pleased that Durham Region vets are subsidizing subsidizing the low cost clinics for area residents this year," says district veterinarian Dr. John Churchill of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. "With the Implementation Implementation of mandatory rabies vaccination and the threat of raccoon rabies from eastern Ontario and New York state, It's Important that all pet owners have access to these clinics; making it easier to ensure that their dogs and cats are immunized against rabies. "The clinics fulfill an Immediate need of getting all cats and dogs up to date in their rabies shots. Of course, owners ^should be consulting their vet about pet health care and other Important vaccines that are not offered at< the subsidized clinics." Clinics will be held across Durham Region at the following following locations. Aj ax/ Pickering September 21, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Works Deport, 2020 Salem Road and Taunton Beaverton - October 14-1 p.m. - 3 p.m., Beaverton Crossroads Veterinary Clinic, Regional Road 15 Blackstock - September 23, 9 a.m. - 12 noon, Blackstock Arena Bowmanville - September 20, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Garnet Rickard Recreation Complex, Hwy #2 and Regional Rd. 57 You're Invited to a Fund Raising Dance For the Troy Young Campaign For Mayor Tit *et» on / y $io pèr (former Orono Tree Nursery) Tickets available at The Natural Nut, Bowmanville Apple Blossom Shoppe, Orono Chapman's East, Orono or by calling 983-5654 fill QS a V Check out our website at Person r Cas h bar * Friday, September 22 Starting at 8:00 at Silvanus Gardens