The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

= -- ER A is - ET Cra > i ny v EE 16- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, April 8, 1997 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" House filibuster has MPP burning the midnight oil By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Durham East MPP John 9 fools is burning the midnight oil. That's because the Tory MPP finds himself working the night shift as a filibuster aimed at stalling the government's megacity bill grinds on, and on. Conservative hopes of pass- ing both Bill 103, the megacity bill, and Bill 104, the Fewer School Boards Act, by the end of last week went out the win- dow when opposition parties brought approximately 13,000 amendments to Queen's Park. Describing the ordeal as "mind-boggling", Mr. O'Toole says that there's nothing that can really be done to stop it. A bare quorum of MPPs sits round the clock in the legislature as clerks drone on, reading pro- posed amendments that refer to every street in the Greater Toronto Area. "As a member I'm very aware of how the system works, and it's a very slow process. It's pretty much futile to fight them about the amendments; it's like arguing with the umpire after you've struck out. "This is a democratic process, but it's very frustrating and there's no alternative," said the MPP. oy While t MPPs now work on rotat- ing shifts, Mr. O'Toole said he spent the first day of the sessions in Queen's Park from 1:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. He now works 7 p.m. to 7a .m. "I'm not in the house every minute, but we have a roster of 40 at a time and we must have a minimum of 20 in the house at all times. If they call a snap O"TOOLE vote we have to have enough to win. It's quite interesting," he said Friday afternoon. "I'm hopeful now that the house leaders will get together. They made their point; they oppose what we're doing, but it's costing the province $10,000 a minute as this goes on." He said the legislature is usually closed at night but now there is security at every door, assembly staff and translators amongst many others, all of whom are working overtime. "Every amendment is the same, except for the street name," he said of the NDP fili- buster tactic. "It's a good attempt, but it won't stand up. The people of Ontario care about how their money is spent and this is not a wise use of money." Bill 103 would see Toronto and the five cities around it amalgamated. The Tories' aim 1s to save money in administra- tion. While Mr. O'Toole knows that Durham is not in favor of amal- gamation, he does say that it could bring some good changes to the area. "The GTA Services Board could examine the way Durham Region runs, and they could link some of the services at a broader level," he said. up Curbside Blue Box Recycling Bethesda House is shelter for abused women Art auction will aid shelter . By Angela Drew Port Perry Star Bethesda House, a Bow- manville shelter for abused women and chil- dren, is holding a charity art auction this weekend. The event is Sunday (April 13), and is hosted by the Z Art Gallery of Pick- ering. It will be held in the Lions Centre at 13 Beech St. in Bowmanville. ole) Vc] V.-N II W.N ie] VFS Congratulations Sarah on being M.V.P. and captain of the team for Sir Sanford dV Ne] Clodd ~ Erhardt The auction will feature the works of Robert Bate- man, Trisha Romance, A.J. Casson and James Lumbers. Anyone can come out early to preview the limit- ed edition paintings from noon until 1 p.m. The sale beginns at 1 p.m. Robert Pinheiro, Be- thesda House founder and co-chair of the fundraising Way to Go "Coyner"! Fleming Knights basketball 1996-1997. Knew You Could Do It, Dave. Angela Marie Clodd and Gary Allan Erhardt were united in commitee, says that the Bethesda House is very . grateful for the help pro- vided by donors. "The art sector contin- ues to be strong and sup- portive. Female victims of abuse will be greatly as- sisted through the efforts of this auction," he said. Because the Bethesda House has no government funding = for operating costs, the auction will help to keep the doors open for women and children, he added. Bethesda House is also raising money through the local A&P food store's reg- ister tapes. For each $450 collected, the shelter will receive $1 from A&P. The tapes wil be collect- ed until Jan. 11, 1998. If you can help this fundraising event please stop by the Bomanville Mall and drop off your A&P register slips in a box outside the store. There will also be a drop box at the art auction. Ifyou need any informa- tion please contact Be- thesda House at (905) 623- 6045. Caring for Children '18 months to 9 years marriage by the Rev. John Griffen on October 19, 1996 at Columbus United Church. The bride is the daugther of Bob and Esther Clodd of Prince Albert. The Groom is the son of Gary Erhardt of Frankford and Julie Guimond of Courtice. The eM = TS | maid of honour was Holly Clodd, sister of the bride and bridesmaid was Kim Mazerolle, cousin of the bride. Best mand was Richard Erhardt, brother of the groom. Ushers were Brad Minnis friend of the groom and Wendy McIntosh-Clodd, sister-in-law of the bride. The bride wore a beautiful full length white Please Recycle: | All Plastic Containers Drop in & See Us! * Quality Child Care * Qualified E.C.E. Staff * Home Cooked Meals * Kindergarten Enrichment * Creative Programming Coded with a A gown with lace covered cut-outs and a short train. She carried a * Large Outdoor Playground For more information, call burgundy and ivory bouquet. The bridesr naids wore mid-length Hours: 7am - 6pm dresses of burgundy topped with a lace jacket of matching colour, Full or Part Days the Region of Durham Works Department at and carried dusty rose and ivory bouquets. The reception was held at Utica Community (905) 668-7721, or 1-800-372-1103 the Shriner's Hall in north Oshawa with Donald Clodd, bother of the Daycare... Monday to Friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm de as master of ceremony. After enjoying a honey-moon in your child's home away from home Niagara Falls, the happy couple now reside in Oshawa. 905) 985-8783