WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5,1977, PAGE 5 ]Report rmI Queen's Park By George Ashe, M.P.P. Durham West As I mentioned in this column last week, on Wednesday, September 21st, I was appointed by the Premier, as Parlia- mentary Assistant to the Minister of Treasury, Economics and Intergovernmental Affairs. Like the title, theduties of this position are long and various, but basically the Parlia- mentary Assistant's position is designed to save the Treasurer many hours of meetings and paperwork by keeping him abreast of events. Primarily, I will represent the Minister in matte relating to municipal affairs and economic developmen :rs t. Ihis . will include conducting meetings with municipal representatives to discuss and resolve their problems, and I -may be called upon to chair task forces dealing with particular areas and problems of municipll structure and/or economic development. I will also be working with the provincial staff in preparing legislative presentations, and will serve as the central coordinating figure for the government in assessing and commenting upon private legislation. Under the house rules, I may, with the express permission of the premier and the treasurer, answer for the minister during the question period of any session. , In this new role, I am looking forward to carrying on with many of the projects I became involved in during my years as a municipal representative. For those of you who would like to visit me at Queen's Park, my office is now located on the 7th floor of the Frost Building South, on the Northeast Corner of University Avenue and College Street, immediately opposite the main legislative building. Two favourable decisions were reached this week regard- ing provincial facilities in the riding. The Minister 01f Revenue announced that the Regional Assessment Office will remain at its present location in the Durham Regional Government Building in Whitby rather than being moved to the new Ministry of Revenue Head Office to be located in Oshawa. Also, agreement was reached by provincial and regional representatives to proceed with the construction' of an L.C.B.O. warehouse at Wentworth and Boundary Roads in Whitby. For the ladies, the Minister of Transportation and Communications announced on September 19th that if 'a woman wants to change the name on her driver's licence, she can go to any Ontario driver examination office, present the proper documents for identification and fill'in a name change application form. On completion of the application, a temporary driver's licence will be issued in her changed name at no extra charge, and a permanent driver's licence will be mailed to the applicant at a later date. With this new policy, Ontario women drivers now have the option of using their maiden name, or a former husband's name on their driver's licence. Corridor Capers October is here, hopefully bringing something we haven't seen for sometime - sunshine. Last Friday was a birthday celebration for yours truly. Six of us gaily braved the pelter of raindrops and headed for our favourite eating establishment in Ajax. This proved to be number one mistake. The darling little restaurant and changed owners. No more shrimp entree. No more fabulous salad bar. No more white table cloths. After a quick consultation, it was unanimously decided we would vacate, and relocate. The disappointment prompted the turn-signal lever of our car to collapse, leaving us with only high beams and manual (hand) turn signal. This left us no choice but to go straight ahead and hope it stopped raining before we had to turn around. Pickering, of course we knew a darling little place that we had occasionally visited. You guessed it. It too must have changed hands. It is now a bar with a few brave soles entering the dining room. However, at this point we vere all famished so decided to try out luck. The food was excellent, but the quietness was not. The return trip was something else. The considerate drivers flipped their lights to inform us we were driving with high beams. Our onlyrecourse was to switch to park- ing lights. This prompted cautious drivers to signal informing us to please turn on our lights. low can you win. When we finally arrived at Thickson Road, we decided to visit "Signet Signs" to have a large sign painted "WE KNOW". However, they were closed. A truly memorable evening. Next time we will try McDonald's. Westminster United Church Turkey Dinner - October 22, Sitting 4:30 and 5:30. Westminster Church is noted for the favous Turkey Dinners. Besides the usual turkey and dressing, they have a wide variety of salads and a choice of home made pies. This year there will be two sittings - 4:30 and 5:30, so no more lining up. You may purchase for the sitting of your choice. The cost is $4.00 for adults, $2.00 for teenagers and children 12 and under are free. Tickets are limited, and you may purchase yours from any member of the U.C.W. or call me and I will pass the word along. Westminster Bazaar A bazaar will be held in the church on Saturday, November 12. Novelties, baking and many other items will be displayed. Westminster Anniversary Sunday, Novembei 13. The Rev. Roger Maggs, Chaplain of the Oshawa General Hospital will be the guest Preacher. CORRIDOR CAPERS DANCE Tickets for the fifth semi annual dance are going quickly. Don't delay. Call and reserve your table this week. Have a good week. Call 725-8967 with news items. M. McEachern. D. THAPAR Denture Therapist 214 Dundis St. E. Whitby 668 - 7797 Hours Mon.-Sat. & Evenings by Appointment Only Yacht club wants federals to repair the harbor The Whitby Yacht* Club is making an appeal to the federal government to make repairs at the harbor which will prevent the devastation which occurred during a freak storni the night of Sept. 24. Commodore Phil Finkle said he has contacted the Ministry of Public Works, the Canadian Coast Guard and officials in charge of inland harbors about the damage caused during the storm, which destroyed about 60 per cent of the club's docks and damaged nearly 100 boats. Mr. Finkle lias also con- tacted mem bers of the federal cabinet. The level of Lake Ontario rose at least 18 inches in the storm, and rve to six-foot swells lifted concrete ancliors holding four large sectionsof' dock, piling boats and sections Park supported The provincial government has granted approval for the Town of Whitby to spend $45,000 to acquire a com- munity park for Ashburn. Councillor Joy Thompson says she would like to determine if the money can be used to purchase a tract of land near the community centre, which is favored by the residents. At a recent public meeting, the residents voiced strong opposition to a second proposai for a park west of the hamlet. The province, through lousing Minister John Rhodes,said the money approved should go for the site west of Ashburn. of dock on top of each other, said Mr. Finkle. Mr. Finkle expressed con- cern that the wooden break- water installed by the federal Transport Ministry in 1972 at the east end of the harbor had broken down in the . storm. "It wasn't even doing its nornally ineffective job", said Mr. Finkle. "We feel that it was one of the great contri- butors to our problen". Around the yacht club, this breakwater is known as the "&picket fence". The 'three-year-old dock system which was severely damaged during the storm is evaliated at $135,000. Mr. Finkle estimates that about half are beyond repair but sonie may be salvaged. Work continued last week to remove all boats from the harbor, a month before normal take-out time, Once the boats are removed, work will begin on dock repairs. No accurate figure has been estimated for the damage to the boats, although some estimates range as high as $200,000. Many owniers did not have insurance coverage. Mr. Finkle said the federal government charges the yacht club as "exorbitant rent" for what he calls 12 acres of swamp that no one else can use. The club paid for its own dredging and shore protection. He has expressed concern that unless the federal govern- ment does something, any large marina built by the Town of Whitby in the future could be wiped out by another freak storm. At the top of the hill Whitby Dundas St. W. .683304 West of Thicksonj NNOU1NCING Oct. 6th., 1977 GM r_ lq The fastest way to get your building started and finished is to caol us 655-3381 R. Bibeau Construction Ltd. Brooklin A Division of Dominion Bridge Ltd.