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Wednesday, April 8, 2009 Orono Weekly Times - 9 A group of 60 students from Cl. larke High School particpated in the 30 Hour Famine last weekend and raised $1,570 for World Vision. O’TOOLE Continued from page 2 no clear indication of where all the money for the $50 bil- lion Metrolinx Plan is coming from. The govemment wants us to commit $5 billion per year for 10 years. That's $50 billion for the Move Ontario 20/20 Plan. Furthermore, there is no mention of transit money (That's roads and bridges) for small-town and tural Ontario. The latest round of transit announcements also fails to include Durham Region, although it does pro- vide funding for York Region in the amount of $1.4 billion to acquire more buses and extend its Viva bus lanes. We should also keep in mind that this transit funding is not new. There were three previous announcements: one in June of 2006, during the 2007 elec- tion and in the 2007 Throne Speech. In other words, what we have here i announcement of re- announcement. Local munici- palities, MPPs, transit riders, and citizens in general must keep up the pressure to ensure ed speeches by people from all walks of life who support our hospital. Ontario's Health Minister will be receiving hundreds -- if not thousands -- of letters from our community. That's in addition to the peti- tions, signed by thousands of local residents, that I am read- ing in the Ontario Legislature. It is important to keep in mind that proper funding for com- munity hospitals is important to all of the community hospi- tals in Durham Riding and also all of the community hos- pitals across Ontario. The Province of Ontario needs to understand that Ontarians do not want a handful of super- hospitals delivering most of the services. What we need from the Province is a com- mitment to a complete range of quality hospital care deliv- ered close to home. Then we need to ensure local hospitals have the funds to support these services. Meanwhile the opportunity for public feed- back on the Central East Local Health Integration Network's Clinical Services Plan is sup- posed to end by April 19. This complex report must be fur- ther explained to the commu- nity before it is adopted. Citizens Object to More Provincial Sales Tax I would like to thank those who have called, written, or spoken to me directly about concems over the harmonized sales tax. The original intent of a harmonized tax was to eliminate red tape for Ontario's businesses by only requiring a single tax. But, in Ontario the two taxes appar- ently can't be combined with- out adding an eight per cent tax on many goods and ser- vices on which the provincial sales tax is not charged. The eight per cent PST will Ley be added to the 5% federal goods and services tax. This new "harmonized" tax of 13% will apply to almost all goods and services, including many that are not currently subject to the PST. This means almost eight per cent more for things like gas, home heating fuel, cable TV, haircuts, legal fees, real estate _ transactions, clothes, and even funerals. The provincial government's announcements of rebates in the first year of harmonization is an admission that the tax will hit consumers hard. Unfortunately, the rebates of $1,000 per qualifying house- Newcastle United Church 84 Mill St. S. » 905-987-4515 hold or $300 per individual are a one-time grant. The tax will continue forever. I esti- mate this tax will cost the average consumer about $25 more per week. Given the state of the global economy, including the loss of 300,000 manufacturing jobs in Ontario, this is not the time to increase taxes of any kind. If the provincial government can't scrap harmonization altogether, it should at least revisit the issue to ensure Ontarians won't pay more PST. This means consumers (You and I) will pay more. Orono United Church 111 Church St. N. 905-485-5502 Rev. Jim Feairs, B.a., MDiv. Friday, April 10th 10:30 am Solemn Observance of Good Friday Rev. Dorinda Vollmer 905-697-9715 Sunday March 29th Mies smnounestiet ~ S Fifth Sunday in Lent translated into shovels in the ~ . Sunday, April 12th Minister ground and projects complet- a : ‘ Reverend Boyce Elliott ed on time and on budget. MORRIS FUNERAL CHAPEL LTD. Service begin at Ta Meanwhile, the province must with children’s Easter Nursery Room provided. overlo bead funding han SERVING DURHAM REGION SINCE 1841 Tableaux Wheelchair Accessible overlooke for ~=Durham Nursery Care Provided smaller communities. , BURIAL —- CREMATION - TRANSFERS Anglican Churches Hospital Supporters “WHERE PROFESSIONAL Rev. Canon David R. Saunders, CD Make Their Case ETIQUETTE IS IMPORTANT” am encouraged by the St. George's - Newcastle St. Saviour's - Orono continuing support for the FUNERAL DIRECTORS 250 Mill St. S. + 905-987-2019 27 Mill Street » 905-987-2019 i PAUL R. MORRIS GARY M. CONWAY . campaign fo ensure DOUGR RUTHERFORD DEBRA D. CAMPKIN mm. - Holy Communion Bowmanville Hospital does not see a reduction in services. There was a rally at the Bowmanville Town Hall March 29th that attracted hun- dreds of residents and includ- 905-623-5480 4 DIVISION ST., BOWMANVILLE - AT QUEEN ST. Bau 11:45 a.m. - Worship, Sunday ‘choo! Holy Communion ‘st & 3rd Sunday Moming Prayer 2nd & 4th Sunday Coffee and Fellowship to follow 9:30 a.m. - Worship, Sunday School, Youth Group Holy Communion - 1st & 3rd Sunday Morning Prayer - 2nd & 4th Sunday Coffee and Fellowship to follow