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Vol. 133 No. 28 Funding for special ed touches off N war of words | By Jeff Mitchell ort Perry Star The wrangling over funding for special : education in Durham Region has touched off a war of words among local Tory MPPs and the public school board. Durham District School Board chair Doug Ross released a strongly-worded let- ter Friday, responding to what he said were false statements and misrepresenta- ~ tions by MPP Jim Flaherty. Mr. Flaherty, in a letter also signed by Durham East MPP John O'Toole and MPP Janet Ecker, accused the board of provid- ing parents with alarming messages about the demise of special education here, and blaming it on a lack of provincial funding. He said the board has an "abysmally poor record of communicating the facts of | this situation to the parents", and has con- stantly complained publicly about funding shortfalls. Those words angered trustees, who met last week to patch together a funding scheme that will sustain a slightly modi- fied Learning Strategies program for another school year. They propose to top up provincial funding totalling $49.5 million designated for special ed with $3 million in Please turn to page 14 Thugs arrested Seven local men have been charged with a variety of offences after a Port Perry man was threatened with a base- ball bat Sunday, according to Durham Regional Police. Const. Al Robins of 26 Division said a group of thugs showed up at a Borelia Cres. home Sunday afternoon wielding the bat, apparently seeking vengeance for having been chased out of the neigh- bourhood the previous day. The confrontation began Saturday night, when a carload of young men who had been breaking bottles and making noise were told to leave the Borelia housing complex by a resident, said Sgt. Robins. Sunday afternoon Please turn to page 10 gm 2 TUES "8 JUNE 1, 1999 'appeals to Harris opponents Jeff Mitchell ort Perry Star ~ Ontario Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty has made an appeal to oppo- nents of Mike Harris in Durham and across the province to band together and support his candidates Thursday. Mr. McGuinty, appearing at a rally in Oshawa Sunday, said strategic voting is the only way for Ontarians weary of Tory rule to rid themselves of Mike Harris. He made a special appeal to voters lean- ing toward the NDP, urging them not to split the anti-Tory vote in the June 3 elec- tion. "If people want to stop Mike Harris, they have to vote Liberal," said Mr. McGuinty at the noon rally at Camp Samac in North Oshawa. "Tell your neighbours and friends that it's absolutely essential to vote for the only party that can beat Mike Harris," he said, to cheers from supporters. As the days before Thursday's vote wind down, strategic voting has become a hot topic among Conservative foes. Both Mr. McGuinty and NDP leader Howard Hampton are portraying ti.emselves as the . only real alternative to Mr. Harris, and some. organizations, headed by union alliances, have targeted ridings where either a Liberal or NDP candidate has a chance at unseating an incumbent Conservative. And Saturday the Toronto Star, which often endorses the Grits, opted instead to urge anti-Harris voters to support either the NDP or Liberal candidate in their rid- ing who has a chance at winning. The fol- - lowing day, the paper printed a list of can- didates in the GTA ridings. Not surprisingly though, Mr. McGuinty insists only a strong Liberal showing will set back the Tory momentum. Most polls have the Conservatives leading among decided voters, by varying margins. He said even die-hard' NDP supports should consider voting Liberal in an attempt to unseat the Tories. "I am making a special appeal to those people, and telling them I need their help," Please turn to page 4 : SUMAN CTU of 24 2) 2 DQ Ultimate Burger | - With the purchase of a DQ Ultimate Burger | & Fries or Onion Rings at regular price, [fh SEIN One Coupon Per Customer, Hot valid with any other coupon or offer. Valid at Port Perry location only. Frpires June 15/99