Vol. 12, No. 16 Wednesday, April 21, 1982 24 Pages Pr R', E S ILL Choir Festival Some of the most beautiful music.pver written has been dedicated to the worship of God and Whitby's Emmanuel Reformed Church Choir will prove that in their upcoming tenth annual choir festival. The event, to be held at the Iroquois Park Arena on May 8 beginning at 7 p.m,, wlll feature 13 choirs from across southern Ontario. The*hlghlight of the evening will be when Em- manuel choir director Peter Ruttine (centre, in suit) will conduct a mass choir comprising of 420 voices from all atteriding choirs. Admission to the -event is free and everyone is welcome. Free Press Staff Photo WFP guilty of being "irresponsible" m Jovia issue By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff The Whitby Free Press is guilty of "irres- ponsible journalism," according to West Ward Councillor Joe Bugelli. Bugelli made the statement at last Tues- day night's meeting of Whitby Town Council is response to a front page story this publication ran two weeks ago. In that story, 16 resi- dents of Bowman Ave. attacked council for not hiring a lawyér who spe- cializes in planning matters to defend the town's position in an On- tario Municipal Board hearing that was sche- duled to begin Monday morning. The hearing was to deal with an appeal by Jovial Investments Limited and its partners concerning lands locat- ed directly behind Bowman Ave. on Dun- das Street East. Jovial had sought council's permission to construct a Canadian Tire Store on the north- ern part of its land un- der its special purpose commercial zoning. However, area resi- dents vigorously op- posed the proposal citing traffic and other problems. Council later, despite advice to the contrary by its plan- ning staff, turned down the application unani- mously. Bugelli wondered why this letter had gone to the Free Press and not to council. However, the letter upon which the story was based was addressed to the Free Press, not to council. The councillor also accused -<Mic Burgess, publisher. managing editor of Free Press with ha' a conflict of intere the matter. "Mr. Burgess, publisher of the Wh Free Press lives ont street," he told coun However, Burgess not sign the letterî says that he "did urge that the letter written." Those signing the ter were:, Chuckî Carole Spellen; Dee John Gilman; John Fran Townse Dorothy Brown; H and Charles McK Margaret and Rex E kins; Catherine, Herb Visser; Matie Harlow; Ida Dex and, M. and H. V Deuren., Bugelli was also c cal of an editorial1 Bugell says hael newspaper published on has suc and March 24 in which we flict witl the took council to task for don't bel ving not hiring > such spe- journalis st in cialized help. similar The councillor was elected the also critical that while have ha( itby we published the resi- conflict c that dents' views, we did not doesn't s cil. seek anyone else's. case in th did Iwonder if any "IIam and member of councîl was added, not asked for comment?" dim v r be Aside from criticizing publisher the Free Press in coun- being uni let- cil, Bugelli took us com- because and plaints about our cover- agree wit and age of the issuetothe Bugelli and Ajax News Advertiset. his stan end; According to that saying t elen publication he did 50 can't afi ay; "because he didn't additiona Hop- believe hed get a fair cause.tii and hearing in the Free fight thr G. Press." before-C ter; Bugelli told the News pointed Van- Advertiser: "Im also very concerned the riti- publisher of the i paper t ts is an area resident and h a direct con- h the matter, I lieve he's done tic justice. In a situation, an official would d to declare a of interest. That seem to· be the e press." concerned," he because of the iew of the r, council is fairly criticized he doesn't th us." also defended d on the issue hat the town ford to retain al solicitors be- e town has to ee more cases he OMB. He out that the ON PAGE 3 Region .opposes high interest Durham Regional Council has joined those groups, . organizations, individuals and governments in opposing the federal gover- nment's high interest rate policy. Last week, regional politicians endorsed a motion from the City of St. Catharines that called for »the federal government to re- examine its policy and take a. serious look at its effect on municipal services. St. Catharines City Council maintained that the interest rate policy was having a crushing effect not 'only;. on..small businessmen - and farmers but on municipal welfare and social service programs as well. Oshawa Mayor Allan Pilkey told council that.the policy had put "25 to 30 per cent of the Canadian auto industry on its ass." For more, see story on page 5. New DO'C to be built Overcrowding at Whitby's Denis O'Connor High School will not be a problem after Sep- tember, 1983. That is when the Durham Region Roman Catholic Separate Séhool Board intends to have the new and improved Denis O'Connor open for business. Last week, Durham West MPP and Ontario Minister of Revenue George Ashe told the board that the government had allocated $3.23 million for the site acquisition and construc- tion of a new school. However, more moneyhan that will have to be raised by Denis ,O'Connor's private.--, board in order to accommodate an expanded program for grades 11, 12 and 13 students. According to board chairman James Brady, when completed, the new DO'C will probably have a total student population twice the size of its current one. For details on this story, see page 10. -Auùtondustry needs help The Canadian automobile industry needs some form of protection from the federal government if _ it is to survive, Durham Regional Council was told last week. Steve Nimigon, an international repre- sentative of the United Auto Workers, asked council to endorse a letter from the union and the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association of Canada to the government that calls for the implementation of a "Canadian content law." That letter asked the government to force the Japanese to invest in production facilities, parts sourcing and jobs in Canada if they wish tocontinue marketing their products in this country. For details, see story on page 3. School taxes up12½% Town of Whitby residents have been levied a 12.49 per cent increase in their taxes by the Ùurham Board of Education. This action will bring the average Whitby tax bill (for a home assessed at $5,000) to over $1,000.for the first time. In approving the 1982 budget last week, board trustees gave their blessing to expendi- ture requirements of over'$125 million, over $97- million of which is devoted to wages, salaries and benefits. However, trustees also approved substan- tially increased spending in both the elemen- tary and secondary school blocks in an effort to update textbooks and other resource material. For details on the budget, see story on page