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"A Family Tradition for 128 Years" ra PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 13, 1996 -3 Hall and Pearce back concept of GTA referendum By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Scugog's representatives on regional council say they support the notion of a Durham referendum on the future of the GTA. Mayor Howard Hall and Regional Councillor Marilyn Pearce both said in interviews last week they might support Oshawa's bid for a region-wide vote on the plan, which will be put to regional coun- cil tomorrow (Feb. 14). But they admit to concerns about the cost -- it's been estimated an opinion vote on the golden task-force recommendations for changes to the GTA could cost . taxpayers $200,000 or more -- and the effectiveness of such a measure. Mayor Hall said a referendum to show the province the people of ®@urham reject the GTA proposals might be expensive, and redundant. "I think it's not a bad idea, really, but it would be a high-cost proposal for the region at this time," he said. "The theory is right, but we know the answer right now: The people don't want it Councillor Pearce also fears spending for the vote at a time when local government expenses are being watched closely, but wonders how else to convey the message to the Progressive Conservative govern- ment at Queen's Park. "'I"m certainly going to support it; I think democracy has its price. I don't know how else you make this - government pay attention," she said. "The only way they're going to respond is to the general population. "I think this is absolutely the worst time to ask us to spend money on a referendum, but how do you get them to understand the average Joe doesn't want his prices to go up?" Durham Region estimates tax bills for Scugog home- owners could rise more than 20 per cent if reforms proposed in the Golden report are adopted by the province. Commercial and industrial properties could be hit even harder. | Mayor Hall says that concerned people in Scugog ought to direct their comments to Durham East MPP John O'Toole, who is scheduled to be at the township meeting on the GTA, which starts tonight at 7:30 in the Latcham Centre. "We've got to get to the MPPs," he said, noting that 17 members of the Tory caucus represent ridings on the fringes of the GTA. "We've got to convince them this Golden report is not the way to go." Charges laid From Page 1 brunt of it," she warned. "It's so small and fragile, it's going to put people out of business here. Do we want to see these people heading back into Toronto? Also disturbed by rec- ommendations in the report is Port Perry resi- dent Keith Hobbs, who has spent a good deal of time going through the Golden task force's report. He says people here are largely unaware of the effects adoption of the report by the province would have on Scugog. "The long and short of this thing, as far as I'm concerned, 1s that taxes in Scugog will be going up significantly," he said, also referring to the regional report that says Scugog would have to raise taxes by 21 per cent. Mr. Hobbs 1s hoping people here will raise their voices against the plan. He said a good forum would be tonight's meet- ing, which will be attend- ed by Durham East MPP 1) NE STOP ig CARPET CENTRE A John O'Toole. "The only way for it to be defeated 1s for the peo- ple to say, I'm not paying any more taxes'," he said. "What I'm concerned about is that people do not understand that this _1s going to be a significant tax increase to everyone here." Councillor Pearce agrees that it's important for the people of Scugog to speak up now. Arguments have been made that the province Average increase of $250 will reject the Golden rec- ommendations because they would create a huge government rivaling even the province, but she feels it's best not to be compla- cent. "People keep saying it's not going to happen; I don't know if that's going to work this time," she said. "We're going to wake up one morning and it's going to be a done deal and ask, have we saved any money?" ( oxnttnn FREE MANNINGTON GOLD VINYL | JREE | OPULENCE "TARKETT 2000 VINYL L110, PRODUCTS OFEMSLP Bo) CTI ES BLED, Making a World of Difference 4 INVL ONLY, FLAT AREAS : 1351 TAUNTON NED E., OSHAWA Hours: Wed. - Fri. 9-8 Sat. 9-3 / [INSTOCK| Mon. - Ti -- IMPROVE YOUR NEST Call the Specialists Jim Hood 728-6291 OFF | ALL PAINTS Tod] 205] | TILES | UPTO |custom Sh NE-S TOP CARPE T CENT. RE mar A IN ys Durham Regional Po- lice arrested an Oshawa man in connection with a break and enter af, Port Perry Marinaon Feb. 6 According to police a nearby resident awoke to the sound of breaking glass and saw a man leav- ing the areain a Chevette. The woman called po- lice who stopped the man at John and Simcoe Streets in Oshawa. The 41-year-old Oshawa man was charged with break-- and enter and possession of stolen property. He had two outboard motors in his possession at the time. oe ok oe ok Police charged a 22- year-old Scugog Point man with theft after re- covering a snowmobile stolen earlier from an- other Scugog Point home. According to police there were seven other attempt- ed thefts of snowmobiles inthe same area thatday. In two unrelated thefts a 1991 Polaris was report- ed stolen from a Pete Street resident and a 1971 SkiDoo was reported missing from William's Point. Hd ke ok A passing motorist alerted police to an erratic driver¥ebruary 9 and it reshitedin aimpairéed and --efkceeding the legal limit charge. According to police a motorist called police about an erratic dnver heading northbound on Simcoe Street. Police pulled the vehicle over at Oyler Dnve and subse- quently arrested a 28- year-old Onilha man, who blew more than three times the legal limt. 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