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Subscriptions $29.91 + $2.09 GST -- $32.00 per year. Publications Mail Registration No. 09301 • Agreement No. 40012366 Publishing 48 issues annually at the-office of publication. "We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Orono Weekly Times 5310 Main Street, P.O. Box 209, Orono, Ontario LOB 1M0 Email: oronotimes@speedline.ca • Phone/Fax 905-983-5301 Publisher/Editor Margaret Zwart The Orono Weekly Times welcomes letters to the editor on subjects of interest to our readers. Opinions expressed to the editor and articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily necessarily reflect tin-opinions of tire Orono Weekly times. Letters must be signed and contain the address and phone number ofthewnter. Any letter considered unsuitable w be acknowledged (/returned. We reserve the right to edit for length, libel and slander. If your retail or classified ad appears for the first time, please check carefully. Notice o error must be given before the next issue goes to print. The Orono Weekly Times will not be responsiblejordiejossjirjto Ooops Putting a weekly paper together is trying at the best of times, but combine Tuesday's 'preparing the paper for press' routine with a snow storm and we are liable to be distracted. So we're blaming last week's bloopers on the anxiety caused by the heavy snowfall just outside our window on Tuesday. We are however encouraged by the number of inquiries we received from readers looking for the end of the 'Masonic Lodge goes up for sale' story which began on page three and was to be continued on page four. The page four continuation failed to make it to print. The rest of that story was that the Orono Masons were hoping the Municipality of Clarington would buy their property on Centreview Street for a parkette which combined with the Library property next door, could be the centerpiece of the community. Since the Municipality was not interested in buying the property from the Masons, which they purchased from the Presbyterian church in 1944 for $300 and subsequently spent $11,000 renovating, renovating, it will now be listed with a real estate agent. Our second big mistake last week appeared in the front page story of the Mayor seeking a new source for hospital funding. The story states that the Mayor will be asking the province for changes in the development charge legislation, allowing municipalities to charge lot levies on new home construction to pay for the pressure caused by new growth on our local hospital. The story stated that Clarington currently charges a development fee of $76 on each new single detached home constructed. That figure should have ., read $7,600. Ooops. Our proof reading department, often staffed by dedicated volunteers volunteers whom we appreciate more than mere words can express, tries their utmost to catch all the errors. Stuff happens, and by the time we find out, it's too late to make the changes. Last week's big mistakes are unfortunate especially for the parties parties involved--we apologize. They were not nearly as embarrassing embarrassing as the thank you ad placed some time ago when someone thanked her family and friends for their kind thoughts and wishes on the passing of her husband. We dropped the 'r' in friends, and it read 'thank you to my family and fiends for their kind wishes. That to the best of our knowlege remains our worst error to date. Viewpoint by Alex Shepherd, MP Durham Most throne speeches are short on specifics and long on platitudes but I must say there were a few specifics which would have a direct impact on the lives of people here in Durham. First, there is the nagging concern by many parents in our communities that their children are not going to be able to afford post-secondary education.The creation of the new Ontario Institute of Technology is a relief for families families struggling with the cost of their children's education. Now that students can get a post-secondary education close to home accommodation expenses can be reduced. But rising tuition fees and the expense of computers, books, transportation etc. are putting a major strain on communities. communities. The Throne Speech dealt directly with some of these concerns by reworking the eligibility eligibility component for the Canada Student Loan Program by expanding income eligibility eligibility and by recognizing other expenses such as computers. Also there was recognition that, in spite of all these good intentions, there were likely some in lower income brackets brackets that still simply could not afford to send their children to college or university. There is now a commitment commitment for an outright grant to low income individuals to help pay a portion of the first year's post-secondary tuition fee. There is even a focus on the research expenditures of government so government will concentrate on , areas u/lu»rc Canada could seek out a competitive niche in the world. These areas are health research, biotechnology, telecommunications and nanotechnology. nanotechnology. These objectives are all tied together with the desire to promote Canada as a knowledge-based knowledge-based society. Clearly this is the future for Canada. The issue of aging municipal infrastructure is also addressed. While municipalities municipalities currently do not pay the full GST on purchases they do pay 3%. Last year Clarington paid $500,000 in GST and Oshawa $1 million. The federal federal government's 100-percent rebate will now allow municipalities municipalities to take that money and replace aging infrastructure or improve transit, build affordable affordable housing and ensure clean water. Some will argue the rebate will perpetuate inequities since small, more efficient municipalities, spend less and thus get less rebate. But generally generally speaking the program is a pretty good way of getting money into the hands of those who control municipal spending. spending. Of course you and I know that it is the municipal taxpayers taxpayers who actually pick up the tab for this. • The Throne Speech also underlined the federal government's government's commitment to healthcare healthcare by emphasizing the $2 billion that will go to the provinces. One of the things the federal government hopes to achieve is a reduction in waiting lists for major surgery. There are also commitments commitments for greater accountability, accountability, more responsibilities for members of Parliament, more free votes and more responsibilities responsibilities to committees. The intentions of the throne speech will have a major impact on the people of Durham and now the work is before us to deliver on these objectives. Letter to the Editor Clear your walks Merchants and Landlords: The aged gentleman that fell on his arse the other day while walking down Main Street could well have been me. Luckily for him, with a bit of yelling from me, he was able to get up. "Get up before your pants get wet," I yelled. Thankfully he wasn't injured. Some merchants and landlords landlords in this town do nothing but take. They seem to say "To hell with the town and its sidewalks, let the snow build up." To the merchants and landlords landlords in this town, "get with it!" Thank you, Clifford Francis