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err ral) - Pn uy RTS Byerly |e Vol. 128 No. 2 PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1993. Lake Scugog until Jan. '94 By Kelly Lown Port Perry Star Lake Scugog is closed to an- glers, effective immediately. That was the message from the Ministry of Natural Basourees on November 24. "Proposed reductions in the fall/winter fishery for Lake Scu- gog are now approved and the fishery is closed," said David Bell, Area Biologist for the Kaw- artha Lakes Area of the Minis- try of Natural Resources. The fishery will reopen for walleye and perch only on Janu- ary 1 and close again on the fi- nal day of February, instead of the traditional March 15 dead- line. The finalization of the clos- ing came later than expected, but in future years the: fishery will be closed as of Nov. 15. The announcement came last week after months of specula- tion about the fate of the fish- ery. The Kawartha Lakes Fisher- ies Assessment Unit, which monitors Lake Scugog as part of the provincial fisheries assess- ment unit program, has noticed a continuing increase in angler pressure, particularly during the winter season, over the past 12 years. As a result, the catch rate of walleye dropped leading to complaints from anglers about the quality of winter fish- ing. During a public meeting, held in Port Perry on October 7, 1992, six options were intro- duced to the 250 people present, as possible methods of control- ling the walleye harvest. Meet- ings were also held with three local fishing groups, Scugog An- glers, The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. Public input from the meet- ing resulted in 79 per cent sup- porting the motion for further restrictions on the lake to pro- tect the fishery. "Shortening the winter sea- son received the strongest sup- 'port," Mr. Bell said. A winter angling survey is planned for this winter to evalu- ate the effectiveness of the new regulations. :"We:are confident the. chang- .- es will reduce the harvest and assist in protection of the fish- ery, however, it will require a number of years to determine if the fishery is improving as are- sult of the changes," Mr. Bell added. He said the fishery is "indefi- nately closed" during this peri- od of more than a month. With the heavy pressure on the lake, if left uncontrolled, he said the assessment unit is concerned what would happen. "We will look at it over the year and see if it is working. We will also look at the use of other controls if it appears the (short- ening of the season) is not work- ing," Mr. Bell told the Star. Adding, "if people want a summer/winter fishery, every- one has to compromise." - the Sold, wet er Shiga dam, Santa C 'the many people involved were this foursome spectators along the route, They are, from left, - Dodie Bell, * Wray and Ceilidh Cohoon. See more parade photog on page 14. Liberal $6-billion infrastructure program MP wants Durham to get share of funds By Scott Anderson Port Perry Star Durham should come on- stream with a federal works ini- tiative, alocal member of parlia- ment says. Alex Shepherd, Durham Rid- g MP, told regional council- lors last week they should take advantage of the Liberal gov- ernment's proposed infrastruc- ture program. During the election, Liberal leader Jean Chretien an- nounced a two-year, $6-billion works program. This cost would be shared equally among the three levels of government. "T would like to get Durham on course," he said. "A little bit will be on a first come, first ALEX SHEPHERD served basis." Mr. Shepherd said the money will be made available fairly soon. "I can see money flowing by the end. of January or Febru- ary," he said. Mr. Shepherd estimated $3.4 million would be made availa- ble to each riding. This would amount to more than $16 mil- lion across the region with the four ridings taken into consider- ation. Unemployment fares would™ also be factored into the equa- tion, he said. Mr. Shepherd said the pur- "pose of the program was to put people back to work and ensure Jobs are created in the years ahead. Therefore, the money would be available for fixed as- sets and not studies. These projects should be ones which make the individual com- munities a better place in which tolive. "We're looking for something thet will put money in the pock- etsofthe locals," he said. Originally the program was meant to be shared with the three levels of government. Mr. Shepherd noted, however, that private enterprise may be invit- ed into the scheme as possible partners. Regional officials are anxious to get involved in the program, and are willing to pay more than their fairshare. "We are prepared to be a ma- Jor player in this," Works Com- mittee Chairman John Aker told the MP. But they are willing to go be- yond the commitment to one- third funding. He told Mr. Shep- herd that other communities should do the same. "We're looking to fund more than one-third and do projects that your government could be proud," Mr. Aker said. Later Mr. Aker told reporters the government should be 1ook- ing for communities with healthy financial pictures that could go beyond the 33-per cent commitment. He hinted at 70 to 80-per cent funding. "They should be looking for wealthy regions that will Kick- start this thing," he said. While stating that most mu- Turnto Page 10