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ha and 2 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, June 27, 2000 "Scugog"s Community Newspaper of Choice" Tories kill moraine protection bill = Celebrating their 65th By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Durham MPP John O'Toole and his Conservative colleagues unanimously defeated a bill last week which called for a temporary stop to development on the Oak Ridges Moraine. Bill 12, The Oak Ridges Moraine Protection and Preservation Act, was defeated by a 46-40 vote in the legislature last Thursday (June 22). It was a private members bill put forth by Liberal Mike Colle. "The bill was the same thing as the Niagara Escarpment Commission; all they did was change the name," said Mr O'Toole, referring to the government's actions a few O'Toole years ago that helped pre- serve sensitive ecological land in the Niagara Region. "That is not the right approach to this. The (Ontario Municipal Board) makes the decisions on the development of the moraine, and I'm confident that development on the NOTICE Due to the fact that July 1st falls on a Saturday this year, our offices will be closed on Friday, June 30. Our newspapers will publish as usual during that week. We, at the Stas, | wish you and yours a safe and PAA Canada 229% hol DRIVE SOBER Boatérs -- Remember life jackets for all your passengers! rr een In-store financing available for as low as S64 per month Oak Ridges Moraine will seriously be addressed in light of the provincial poli- cy statement," said Mr. O'Toole. . "(The government) will do everything it can, but we don't want to interfere with the quasi-judicial process of the OMB." The Oak Ridges Moraine has been a popu- lar subject over the past year, with politicians tak- "ing heat from environmen- tal groups over develop- ment. The moraine is a geological structure more than 160 kilometres in length that runs from Cobourg to western Toronto. Those opposed to development on the moraine claim the head- waters of numerous rivers, streams and lake could be adversely affected if it is built upon. The Ontario Liberals have repeatedly called for a temporary freeze on development until the issue is thoroughly looked at, and a decision on where and how much, if any, development can be carried out. In the meantime, developers continue to purchase land on the moraine and make plans to construct subdivisions and other buildings. The Tories have taken a step back from the issue, leav- ing final decisions on development up to the OMB. Locally, a developer has made plans to build a 2,500 home subdivision on the moraine near Uxbridge. Despite objec- tions from municipal and regional officials, the development will be put before the OMB. If approved there, the development could go ahead, regardless of the decisions by local council- lors. Mr. O'Toole said he is "opposed to extensive development of the moraine" but argues that his government cannot interfere with a judicial process. : "I can't tell a judge what to do; as a politician I can- not fix anything | want to suit my current fancy. I am, in fact, strongly in favour of very, very limited devel- opment on the moraine," he said. "It's sort of a damned if we do, damned if we don't situation. If we agree with the bill, then we interfere with the OMB; if we don't, then we look like we're not interested in protecting the moraine." Taunton Rd CHRIS HALL/PORT PERRY STAR Muriel and Clayton Holt celebrated their wed- ding anniversary last Thursday (June 22), 65 years to the day since they were married in Montreal in 1935. The couple, who reside in Apple Valley, have lived in Port Perry for the past 25 years. They have two children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. A Rossland Rd I Somerville