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2- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, April 27, 1999 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Election in the air: Candidates hit the trail Grit Minnie touts McGuinty plan By Chris Hall Port Perry Star With a provincial elec- tion call expected within the next few weeks, the local Liberal party has given their campaign in Scugog a jump start. Speaking before a small crowd of just under 30 peo- ple in Port Perry last Tuesday, Durham Riding Liberal candidate Garry Minnie praised party lead- er Dalton McGuinty's elec- tion platform. "I think the 20/20 plan is the perfect basis for a winning campaign," Mr. Minnie said. "The Tory government has wanted it out for a long time, and the basis is out there for them... but there is a lot yet to be made public. It hits the right issues." The Liberals say they would scrap the Tories' education funding formu- la, make English as a sec- ond language and adult education a higher priori- ty, and put money back into Ontario's health care system. "We're restoring: to Ontario, the pride and stability 'that always has been associated with Liberal candidate Garry Minnie with local sup- porters, Ken Carruthers and Marilyn Pearce. Ontario as well as fiscal responsibility," said Mr. Minnie. He said that during his campaign, he plans to check into the status of the regional cancer centre in Oshawa, and stress the need for more public trans- portation for Durham Region residents. Port Perry resident Marilyn Pearce, who will serve as Mr. Minnie's cam- paign manager during the upcoming election, said she's tired of paying for the government's mis- takes through her taxes. "I know I said I was get- ting out, but I'm back into politics now," said the for- mer ward and regional councillor. Prince Weigela, Carnival & Minuet Weigela & Yellowroot 1 gal. size Regular $10.95- $12.50 Now Lilacs - Common Purple From May 1st to May 31st. $1 320 50 cm (20") Regular $18.00 Less 25% = (905) 985-7667 *Free Delivery in a Limited Area Greenbank Garden Centre LTD. Flowering Shrubs -....:nowe se Varieties include: Alpine Currant, Bushclover, Burning Bush, Silverleaf Dogwood, Golden Mock Orange, Pussywillow, Buckley's Quill Mock Orange, Purpleleaf Sandcherry, Bridalwreath Spirea, Goldmound Spirea, Shirobana Spirea, Goldstar Potentilla, Mount Everest Potentilla, Red $G 26 if busy call (905) 985-4862 Located on NE corners Hwys. 12 & 47 JAR PLELA & SU ® 80 Water St., Port Perry ror Vi A A rd) TM Find us fast in the "Yellow Pages ROSES until June 15th J to ike Climbers if Rey. 1200 iF O'Toole ready to defend Durham By Chris Hall Port Perry Star While a provincial elec- tion has yet to be called, Durham East MPP John O'Toole insists he's been on the campaign trail since his first win in 1995. "The campaigning and preparing for the next election really comes the day after the last one," Mr. O'Toole said last Saturday afternoon at the Scugog Chamber of Commerce office, where he hosted an open house. "We've been meeting in various communities every single Saturday since February; it's part of the job, to get out and meet people and listen to them, good or bad," said Mr. O'Toole. "You have to talk to them every day to try to make improvements because in the end, it's their decision." With Premier Mike Harris expected to call an election within the next two weeks, Mr. O'Toole says that his campaign platform will be simple. "I don't think there will be any big surprises... we have to look at health care; there is a whole range of services to be 56 [AR) . THE ORIGINAL J "Durham incumbent MPP John O'Toole with Sandra Holdsworth and Linda Rumble. looked at, and, most importantly, home-based community care," he said, noting that the proposed cancer centre in Oshawa will also be addressed as well. "Education is also a very important issue; year after year we have "increased our funding to the system and we've brought out a new cur- riculum, more text books ard new report cards," said Mr. O'Toole. "And, we are very sup- portive of classroom teachers; they are the cor- nerstone of the whole edu- cation system." Locally, the push will be on economic and busi- ness growth in the region, he said. "Growth in Durham is very important; from that comes hundreds of other things that will benefit the communities. But, the question on the top of everyone's mind in this area is the GTSB... what role Scugog, Brock and Uxbridge will play in it is the big question for this area." Looking back over his first four years as an MPP, Mr. O'Toole figures he's served his constituents well. "I feel that I'm very committed to my job and that I do listen to people whenithey come to me. I've learned a lot in four years," he said. "I haven't hit any grand slams, but I have played the game well. At the end of the day I'm very satis- fied with what I've done."