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fs fiat 27 Sian a Volume 134 Number 19 Councillors target 5% tax hike By John B. McClelland Port Perry Star Scugog councillors will sharpen their pen- cils over the next couple of weeks, and attempt to slash a preliminary budget that adds almost 5 per cent to local tax rates. "We're going to have to improve on this," «said finance committee chairman Ken Gadsden Monday morning, as his committee reviewed a preliminary budget prepared by staff that shows a 4.9 per cent tax hike. To keep taxes to their current level coun- cillors are going to have to chop $224,500 in projected spending by the municipality. The committee spent just over an hour Monday morning going over the preliminary budget, but did not make any cuts in the pro- jected spending. However, progress has been made by staff over the last couple of weeks; initial budget estimates showed a tax hike of nearly 10 per cent. There appear to be several areas in the Please turn to page 13 Fall election unlikely: MP By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Don't expect a federal election this fall, says Durham MP Alex Shepherd. Although pundits, politicians and other Ottawa-watchers have been speculating about a possible autumn vote, the local MP says he's not among those expecting Prime Minister Jean Chretien to call a snap election. "Personally | don't see that happening, an early election call, unless there's a significant issue," Mr. Shepherd said last week. "There has to be a good reason, and | don't see what that reason is." It has been suggested that the battle for the integrity of Canada's health care may be enough of a compelling issue for the Liberals Please turn to page 16 COPY 75¢ (70¢ + 5c asm) HU? = Gang ERE Sg PASTA RON Cheddar & Sour Cream THUMBS UP FOR A GOOD CAUSE: The folks at Legion Branch 419 in Port Perry held a dart tournament Saturday, but those with the best aim weren't the only winners. Participants were encouraged to bring donations for the "Sh SHEE Sha > Re ox & i ot } ¥ ipa gary ¥ Mie Te Theet EN = hy ; 4 JEFF MITCHELL / PORT PERRY STAR Operation $ougog food bank, some of which are seen piled up here. The event was McDonald, who is joined here by branch President Fred McMann, and co-sponsored by The Port Perry Star. organized by bartender Heather Trustee prepares motion on creationism By Rik Davie Special to the Star A Durham District School Board trustee is planning a motion that would call for the teaching of an alter- native to Darwin's theory of evolution. Ajax representative Brian Clarke started the rumour mill grinding sever- al weeks ago when he requested a report by board staff on how the cre- ation of life on earth is taught in Durham schools. "NAPOLEON ) y, REIETZIIS sree J Mr. Clarke confirmed after last Monday night's public board meeting that he is considering putting forth a motion calling on the province to con- sider the teaching of what some Christian fundamentalist scientists call "Intelligent Design". "I'm looking into what other boards in Canada and in the United States say about it as a scientific theory," said Mr. Clarke. : The theory (as described in several GDS28 Direct or H-Vent website entries on the subject) con- tends that the scientific chances of ran- dom evolution occurring are mathe- matically highly unlikely. Intelligent Design puts forward the theory that life on the planet resulted from DNA combinations created through the intervention of a so-called "designer", or "constructor" of the universe. The theory does not state that the fundamentalist vision of the creation Please turn to page 16 ATA 21] n)e] = HC EVER ETC BITES 170 Casimir St, |... PORT PERRY y = ance ina s i RE (905) 085-0715