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Vol.115 No. 17 Wednesday, March 25, 1981 36 Pages Stevenson romps to Durham-York victory Political newcomer Ross Stevenson had no trouble holding Durham-York riding for the Conservatives in last Thursday's provincial election as his 14,369 total was more than the combined votes of his Liberal and New Democrat opponents. Mr. Stevenson, 38, who operates a farm near Udora, captured 57 per cent of the popular vote in this riding, and won all but three of the 167 polls. Liberal Gary Adamson, a school teacher from North York polled 6326 votes, or about 25 per cent, while New Democrat Marg Wilbur of Scugog Township received 4304 votes, or slightly better than 17 per cent. From the moment the polls closed at 7:00 p.m. and the first results started coming in to the riding returning office in Port Perry, Mr. Stevenson's strong showing was evident. As the evening wore on, his lead continued to grow. In fact, the only polls he lost were in Caesarea, a strong-hold of NDP strength, where Mrs. Wilbur counted 102 votes to 76 for Stevenson and 31 for Mr. Adamson. The man said. FISH SANCTUARY ND FISHING FROM THE FIRST DAY OF APRILUNTIL - THE SECOND FRIDAY IN MAY i ® Minisiryol Natural Resources Ontario 3 Fishing season ends Signs have been posted recently along the causeways of Lake Scugog warning fishermen that after the March 31 deadline, fishing in Scugog waters is prohibited. period in which fishing is not allowed gives the fish a chance to spawn, thus insuring a good fish population for years to come. Ministry of Natural Resources officers announ- ced that the fishing season may be shortened by one month, to the end of February next year. The reason given is because tbo many. adult females are being caught before they are able to spawn. 'This could pose problems in the future if the same program was continued," the spokes- The six week Last week two "others were in Holland Landing, which also went to the NDP. Voter turn-out in the Durham-York riding was considered light with 24,999 unofficial ballots cast, or about 56 per cent of the 44,209 eligible voters in the riding. In Scugog Township, Mr. Stevenson polled strongly in all areas with 3076 votes to 1184 for Mr. Adamson and 1206 for Mrs. Wilbur. There had been some speculation that the after- match of the bitter Conservative nomination battle between Mr. Stevenson and Scugog Town- ship's Reg Rose and Yvonne Christie, might cut into the traditional Tory strength in this part of the riding, but the results indicate that this did not happen. Mr. Stevenson, who is married with three children, told the Star in an interview after the results were known that he was '"'more than pleased" with his strong showing. "I had been getting positive response during the campaign as well as a good reaction to a phone poll conducted by party workers," he said. He said the issue of leader- ship was an obvious factor in the Conservatives gaining a majority province-wide, and locally his campaign may have been helped by the fact that Liberal candidate Gary Adamson is not a resident of the riding. He said his priorities as an MPP at Queens Park will be to represent all the people of the riding. One project that he wants to see completed is the proposed extension of° Highway 89 eastward from Keswick to Highway 12 near Sunderland. That project is currently under study of an environmental hearing. He also said he would work to secure provincial money for proposed expansions to the hospitals in both Port Perry and Uxbridge, apf would assist Durham Region officials in their efforjg'to get additional money #his year for the Regigfal polic budget. 5 Mr. Steveyson said that because the riding is so large, he/does not think it would be advantageous to open a permanent conspituency office, the to}¥ free Zenith phone line to "(Turn to page 2) wen 7 Former Durham-York MPP Bill Newman who retired from politics this year was on hand election night to congratulate Ross Stevenson who had no trouble retaining the riding for the Conservatives. Stevenson polied more votes than his Liberal and New Democrat opponents combined. [See election results story.) Region balks at Police budget Durham Region council will ask the provincial government for more money this year to help cover increased costs for police protection in the Region. The decision to seek financial help from the provincial government was made by the council during budget discussions last week, and the council declined to approve the police department 1981 budget until Durham receives an answer one way or the other from Queens Park. The police budget submitted--to council last week calls for a 1981 increase of $2,523,994, or about $173,000 more than guide- lines council set four weeks ago for all regional departments 1981 budgets. The total proposed police budget for 1981 is $16,747,187 -and that is 17.7 per cent bove the $14,223,193 budget in 1980. Council was told during discussion last week that the increases in the police budget accounts for 85 per cent of the total increase in spending for Regional departments in 1981, and police budget hike will go for salaries and benefits for current officers and new staff. Durham has already received the standard $17 per capita grant from the provincial government this year for police protection, but a majority of members felt last week the Region should make the additional request to help ease the burden on property owners who are facing regional tax hikes ranging from 11.8 per cent in Ajax to 18.1 per cent in Scugog. Discussion on police (Turn to page 2) Scugog faces huge deficit Scugog Township council is staring at a lot of red ink as preliminary figures from the finance committee indicate the 1980 municipal budget may be over-spent by as much as $214,000. That gloomy news was presented to council Monday afternoon by regional councillor Lawrence Malcolm who was in the mayor's chair in the absence of Jerry Taylor who is out of town on personal business. Councillor Malcolm, who is a-member of the present about 87 per cent of the finance. committee, told council that "last year was not a very good one financially," and the over- expenditure presents a "big problem' for the 1981 budget. He warned council that to keep the mill rate at an acceptable level this year, councillors "had better be ready to bring their hatchets when the 1981 budget is presented." Councillor Malcolm told the Star later that last year's deficit, coupled with normal (Turn to page 3)