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...iv 14 - Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, December 17, 2003 Staying in Touch MPP John O'Toole Cell Phone Safety Bill Reintroduced Last week, I reintroduced my private member's bill on the safe use of cell phones while driving. I have been promoting the safe use of cell phones for about five years. Many provinces and indeed other countries have contacted me on my legislation. A growing number of jurisdictions jurisdictions around the world have passed legislation banning banning the use of hand-held cell phones while operating a vehicle. vehicle. Most recently, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and UK have introduced cell phone safety legislation similar to my Private Member's Bill. I am optimistic that the time is right for a made-in-Ontario cell phone safety law. Essentially, my bill would allow the operation operation of cell phones in the hands-free mode. In addition, drivers would still be able to use cell phones to report emergencies emergencies such as an accident, crime, or safety hazard. My new bill (now called Bill 23) also includes the following following initiatives: • Banning novice drivers from using cell phones when driving driving - even with a hands-free device. • Allowing the Minister of Transportation to add additional additional devices to the banned list through regulation. This would enable the legislation to keep pace with changing technology. technology. • Mandating that awareness of driver distraction be part of the test to receive an Ontario driver's licence. Research has shown that driving and cell phones don't mix. No phone call can be worth the risk of injuring another driver, passenger or pedestrian. Your comments on safe driving and cell phones are welcome. We have also prepared prepared a petition in support of Bill 23. Please let me know your views at: 905-697-1501 or 1-800-661-2433. My email address is: john_otoole@ontla.ola.org. Paid Advertisement Port Granby Project Moving Ahead What stakeholders are saying municipal boundaries have recently been -- nput from stakeholders has been sought ^ m ° ved . from consideration at the request of r ° tho N/Tiinimr>Q litige nt f mrmnrtnn Ann Pnrr I and considered throughout the Environmental Assessment process for the Port Granby Long-term Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Project. As the proponent for the project, the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Office (LLRWMO) has been collecting stakeholder input for two years - since the Project was initiated. So far, three workshops, three open houses and two Expos have been held to gather community input to the Environmental Assessment. And there are more events to come. Stakeholder input is used In an Environmental Assessment, the term stakeholder is used to describe a person or group with an interest or concern in a project, As a regular reader of this column you could be a stakeholder in the Port Granby Project. Stakeholders for the Port Granby Project include the nearby residents in the site area, the Municipality of Clarington, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Natural Resources Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and non-govemmental organizations such as the Lake Ontario Waterkeeper. Over the past year, the LLRWMO has carefully weighed and assessed all the information received to arrive at feasible concepts for the future Port Granby Waste Management Facility. Further study of these feasible concepts will result in qualified concepts that will undergo detailed assessment. Stakeholders toured the East Gorge at the Port Granby site in November. the Municipalities of Clarington and Port Hope. Concerns Vary In late October, the LLRWMO hosted Expo 03 - an event in Port Hope that brought together over 15 different stakeholder groups as exhibitors, all interested in the Port Hope Area Initiative. Comments and input provided by these groups to the Environmental Assessment process vary. A number of stakeholders in the Port Granby area have consistently expressed opposition to the concept of relocating the historic low-level waste to an engineered above-ground mound facility on a near-by site about one kilometre north of the shore of Lake Ontario. To bolster the case for leaving the waste in place, local residents interested in the Port Granby Waste Management Facility have provided many ideas to support the concept of managing the waste on its current site. On the other hand, concerns are often expressed about the long-term management of low-level radioactive waste at its present site on the shoreline of Lake Ontario. Issues for these stakeholders include: potential shoreline erosion, long-term monitoring and maintenance, potential for harm to or destruction of fish habitat and technical challenges entailed in ensuring public safety and decommissioning a facility immediately behind a shoreline bluff. Comments to the LLRWMO will continue to be gathered and considered throughout the Environmental Assessment of The feasible concepts were developed by the Project. expert technical teams using the community proposal in the 2001 legal agreement, ideas expressed at public workshops, at the Clarington Community Advisory Committee and from submitted comments. Stakeholder input has been very instrumental in the comparative analysis process. Concepts that involve moving any historic low-level radioactive waste across Would you like to know more about the Port Granby Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Project? Please contact the LLRWMO at (905) 885-0291 or by e-mail to info@llrwmo.org and make your comments known. Approaches may differ, but all stakeholders want to leave a clean and honourable legacy for future generations. Visit the Project Information Exchange, 110 Walton Street, Port Hope 1:00-5:00 PM, Monday to Friday Call (905) 885-0291 or 1-866-255-2755 Visit our website: www.llrwmo.org Resolution Bans Retroactive Legislation The Liberal government at Queen's Park has not only ended the Equity in Education Tax Credit, but also made its decision retroactive to the beginning of 2003. In my view, the new government has overstepped its authority to reverse a decision made by a duly elected previous government. government. Families across Ontario who have chosen independent schools counted on a tax credit credit in their budgeting. Now, they have seen the tax credit disappear because of the retroactive legislation. Even individuals who disagreed with our independent school tuition tax credit were opposed to the retroactivity clawback provision in Bill 2. Many have referred to it as mean-spirited, and a dangerous dangerous precedent. Last week in the Ontario Legislature, I introduced a resolution resolution that would prohibit this kind of retroactive legislation legislation that negates policies of a previous government. In effect, the Liberals are breaking breaking the promise of a previous government. This should not be tolerated. Students Work and Learn at Queen's Park The Ontario internship program program offers a great opportunity opportunity for graduates of colleges and universities to expand their horizons and learn about career opportunities in the Ontario public service. This is a program that gives hands-on experience in a variety of career paths. It gives recent graduates new skill sets and a valuable addition to their portfolio. portfolio. For further information, you can apply online at www.internship.gov.on.ca. For younger students, the parliamentary parliamentary page program provides provides an opportunity for young people in grades seven and eight to assist the Speaker, MPPs, and staff in the Ontario Legislature. I'm proud to say that many Durham Riding students students have been chosen for this program. While members of provincial parliament do not have a say in selecting the students, I would be pleased to provide further information at 905-697-1501 or 1-800-661- 2433. My email address is: john_otoole@ontla.ola.org. Does Ontario Need Fixed Dates for Elections? Setting fixed dates for provincial elections is one idea being considered at Queen's Park as MPPs look at ways to get more people involved in the democratic process. Fixed terms are certainly certainly the norm south of the border. However, they are not in keeping with? Canada's parliamentary parliamentary tradition. At present, present, the federal term of office is five years and the provincial term is five years. Many years ago, the municipal term of office was one year. It was later increased to two years and is presently three. Some want to see this term extended. extended. Under the parliamentary system, a government that loses the confidence of the O'TOOLE continued page 15 Holiday Greetings piotn/ific' New Dutch Oven Restaurant All-You-Can-Eat Buffet ~ $ 12.95 (Seniors: $t i.95) Buffet or Full Menu Licenced by LLBO HOLIDAY HOURS Closed Dec. 25 Dec 26:10am-9pm New Year's Eve: 7:30am-9pm Jan.l: 10am - 9pm 905-983-5001 Hwy. 35/115, Orono . x,{ 1 i K-) / \3