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*0 - Orono Weekly 'naaSi, Wednesday, December 13, 2000 )» Staying in Touch by John O'Toole, MPP Last week, I attended the inaugural meeting of the new Regional Municipality of Durham's Council when Roger Anderson was re-elected re-elected the Regional Chairman by his peers. Oshawa Regional Councillor John Grey was the only other member to stand for Chairman in the vote. As has been said before, this will be a challenging time for Regional Council as well as for our own Municipal Council and Mayor John Mutton. I briefly addressed both councils and pledged to work with them as a liaison with the province. It is interesting to note that Durham Region was the first area to strike an agreement on the Municipal Ambulance Service some time ago and that it has now completed the transfer of the Provincial Offences Act (POA) administration. administration. The Provincial Offences apply to provincial statutes like the Highway Traffic Act, municipal bylaws bylaws and some minor federal contraventions. This is part of the Local Services Realignment with the province. The Region keeps the POA revenue and has been monitoring this amount for two years now. 1 commend Durham for being proactive with these new forms of partnership. partnership. This past week at Queen's Park was as exciting as usual.. My good friend, Northumberland MPP Doug Galt unintentionally mentioned mentioned the names from a Young Offender event in his riding. Later that evening, Dr. Galt and Minister Rob Sampson resigned fifotn their respective positions' as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Minister of Correctional Services. The Assistant Deputy Attorney General is currently investigating the matter. The v Education Improvement Commission (EIC), whose co-chairs are David Cook, former NDP Education Minister, and Ann Vanstone, former Chair of the Toronto Board of Education, issued a report on the status of education reform. In 1997, our government appointed Cook and Vanstone to the commission and their terms are supposed to conclude at the end of 2000. Of the number number of recommendations made, one stands out - the EIC recommends that the relationship between the province .and teachers improve. I agree with this statement as the husband of a teacher, father of a new teacher, as well as being a member of the government that brought in reforms to education. I am interested in listening to any suggestions to improve this relationship which has become so political. political. There have been a number of investments in health care over the past few weeks. The most recent was the announcement of $34.8 million million for cancer care, which will increase access to chemotherapy as well as new drug treatments. The funding will also advance cancer screening, assist in the hiring of 14 medical oncologists, 34 nurses, 10 pharmacists and 10 technicians. New cancer cases rise three percent annually and this year approximately 50,000 people in Ontario will be diagnosed with some form of the disease. Each of us knows someone who is affected affected by cancer. This past week, Minister Witmer also unveiled plans to expand "Telehealth" across the 416 and 905 areas. Teiehealth is a free call-in -help line where professional nurses are on- hand to advise callers and make decisions, where appropriate, appropriate, about going to the hospital hospital or administering self- care at home. This process * has been piloted over the past year and is part of providing services closer to home. Families living in. remote areas as well as those without easy access to transportation will benefit from this new service. The new organ and tissue donation initiative by our government is also intended to improve and save lives., Ontario falls behind some jurisdictions in this area. Therefore our goal is to double double the number of transplants , by 2005. Signing your organ donor card is a gift that truly lasts a lifetime. After several years of'consultations, of'consultations, the Minister of Health and Long Term Gare, Elizabeth Witmer, has introduced introduced legislation that will outline the management of your personal health records. We know how sensitive your personal health information is .and that you want it protected. It is important to point out that today, your health records are collected and shared amongst doctors and hospitals, hospitals, While some information is available to labs, pharmacists pharmacists or to other medical professionals. professionals. Increasingly, there KENDAL NEWS by Joan Anderson JOTS AND CONCERNS Mae Flayfordis Improving slowly but surely. Our prayers are with you, that your good health will soon be restored. Thelma Westlake Is gaining gaining strength and resting comfortably comfortably at home. Our prayers are also with her. Harley Elliott is undergoing undergoing tests In Peterborough, He, his wife and family all need your prayers of support. Frances Cathcart. husband husband Doug and family are also in need of emotional support since Frances' father passed away last week and the funeral in Lindsay was Saturday. Dora MacDonald and family family are grieving the loss of her husband George. His funeral was on Monday. Prayers on their behalf would be appreciated. appreciated. by the Cool Kendal Kids who are starting their Food Drive immediately. They will be distributing distributing these ' items to needy families. Cool Kendal Kids have no meeting again until January 9, 2001. CHRISTMAS POT LUCK LUNCH Sunday, December 17, 12:30 p.m. at Kendal United Church. KENDAL COMMUNITY CENTRE NEWS ITEMS NEEDED We still need cutting boards, serving spoons and pancake turners, carving knives, and platters, We thank the many generous folks for what they have already donated. Please call Ceclle or Chris Perron for rental information at 983-1081 or with your items for donation. Many thanks for your helpful spirit! spirit! BOARD MEETING Wednesday, December 20 at Kendal Community Centre at 7:00 p.m. NEW TEAR'S EVE DANCE December 31, 2000 at the Kendal Community Centre Auditorium. live music will be provided by Kendal's own Jimmy Haystack and the Redneck Rodeo - a great country band! Tickets are $10 each and the meal is Pot Luck. Kathy Picco at 983- 9988 has tickets. They are going quickly! Call now for your tickets! IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE BINGO WINNERS Bingo runs at the Orange Hall every Tuesday evening at 7:00 for the fall and winter. winter. Everyone is MOST welcome. welcome. The week of November 28 Anne Zealand and Ilona Riggers each won one game. Margaret Krissa, Dorothy Stark, Helen Couroux and Edith Hamilton each won two games. Three time winner was Brenda Lowery. Dora MacDonald was a four game winner. Carol Smale, won five games. Congratulations all! Come on out and have a great time! The winners on December 5 of one game were Anne Zealand and Ilona Riggers. Brenda Lowery was a two time winner. Three games winners were Lovey Cathcart, Edith Hamilton and Carol Smale. Dorothy Stark was a four game winner. Margaret Krissa won five games, and the Jackpot was won by Dorothy Stark. COMING EVENTS POOD DRIVE Donations of non-perishable non-perishable food items are welcomed are more computers and digital digital formats to store your health information. After more than four years of consultations, consultations, we are moving forward forward with legislation that will regulate who collects and uses your records and determines under what circumstances your health information is, disclosed. disclosed. I had the privilege to be asked by the Minister of Health to conduct the last round of consultations. There will be more on this in the future. But, for current information, information, please call my office at 905-697-1501 or 1-800- 66L2433. Community Events EUCHRE TOURNAMENT A Euchre Tournament is being held Sàturday, December 16, Orono Arena, 7:00 p.m., $10/couple with the proceeds going to the Arena Building Fund. ORONO FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION The Association ig holding their Annual Santa Skate on Sunday, December 24th,.Orono Arena from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., free admission, hot chocolate, candy canes for the children children and Santa Claus will attend to greet the children. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. OPTIMIST CLUB OF NEWCASTLE VILLAGE The Optimist Club is holding Breakfast With Santa, Saturday, December 16, 8 a.m. - 11 a.m., Newcastle Community Hail, advance tickets recommended 987-5653. V Let us help % #/ V M finance your dreams! DUCA Mortgages* 6 month closed . . . . .. 6.85% 6 month convertible . . . . 6.85% 1 year closed : .. .k . . . .6.85% 3 years closed 6.95% 5 years closed ..... 6.95% *Rates subject to change without notice =1DUCA ' FINANCIAL SERVICES . CREDIT UNION Oshatva & Bowmanville Branches, Manager Paul Muller 15 Charles Street 136 King Street East Phone: (905) 728-4658 Phone: (905) 623-6343 E-mail: duca.info@duca.com Internet: www.duca.com