Ashe looking forward to energy ministry challenge, but opponents say he may not be the man for the job Premier Frank Miller named Durham West MPP George Ashe Minister - of Energy when he formed his new administration last Friday morning. Ashe, 52, has represented this area in the Ontario Legislature since 1977 and held the portfolios of revenue and government ser- vices under former premier William Davis. Energy is not a new ministery to Ashe. Before named to cabinet in 1980, Ashe served as the parliamentary assistant to then minister of energy Robert Welsh. Prior to being elected to the legislature, Ashe was Mayor of Pickering. In a brief telephone interview from his Queen's Park office Monday morning, Ashe said that he was looking forward to the new challenges the energy ministry will bring. "This job will bring new challenges, ex- citing and interesting challenges," he said, adding that his primary job is to ensure that the energy interests of On- tario are protected. "This is a significant policy ministry," Ashe said, "And my job will be to ensure the energy future of Ontario. "This ministry has to be aware of energy issues and has to protect Ontario's interests within the energy field," he continued adding, "The most important job is to protect the in- terests of the Ontario consumer." As energy minister, Ashe can expect to come under increasing pressure from the op- position parties to deal with such items as On- tario Hydro's ever in- creasing debts and the cost of purchasing 25 per cent of Suncor. While the minister said that he will be reviewing these situations he points out that while Ontario Hydro's debt has been increasing, so has its assets. He said he would also like to see the utility become more accoun- table for its actions, however, he still believes it is the finest organization of its kind in the world. "It is the most highly regard utility in the world, bar none," Ashe said. "And that must count for something." While he admits some changes will have to be made, he promises to do "what is best for the On- tario taxpayer." Ashe's appointment as energy minister didn't sit too well with the two men who hope to take his seat away from him after the next provincial election. Durham West NDP candidate Don Stewart said that "Ashe is part of that wing of the con- servative party that favors free reign for the giant utility. "Ashe went on record," he added, "in 1980 as favoring nuclear power plants in Ontario for the purpose of elec- tricity exports to the United States." This, he claims, was a contrary position to that of then energy minister Robert Welsh whose parliamentary assistant Ashe was at the time. Stewart also believes "that Ashe's thinking is more in line with the empire building men- tality inside Ontario Hydro that resists the Legislature's attempts capital costs of nuclear power plant construc- tion while providing the northern tier of American states with more energy to attract industries that might otherwise provide jobs George Ashe to influence Hydro's planning." He also accused Ashe of favoring power ex- ports to the states at the cost of Ontario jobs. "Ashe's position in 1980 favored Ontario paying the enormous I in Ontario," Stewart said. While he took time to congratulate Ashe and wish him well in his new job, Liberal candidate Brian Evans voiced CONT'D ON PG. 6 Schooltaxes could jump 10% this year Brown says The thrill of victory - how sweet it is. In last week's edition of the Whitby Free Press we repor- ted on the International Silver Stick Tournament win by the Brooklin-Whitby Minor Bantam team. This photography, taken by a staff photographer of the Port Huron Times Herald of Port Huron, Michigan, shows the Whitby boys' moment of triumph afterdefeating Chatham, Ont. 2-1. On the way to their Silver Stick victory, Whitby lost their first game to Forest, Ont. but went on to defeat Huntsville, Alabama and the host team - Port Huron Falcons. They won the charnplonship in the second sudden death overtime period of the final game on a goal by Brian Munro. The Times Herald had this to say about the Whitby boys after they defeated the Falcons: "Even 120 per cent (effort) was not nearly good enough...when the Falcons were blitzed 7-0 by Whitby-Brooklin, Ont." The Silver Stick wili be on display at the Iroquois Park Arena. Photo courtesy of the Port Huron Times Herald, Michigan Whitby residerits can expect to pay about $1.68 more *a week in education property taxes this year. Whitby Trustee Ian Brown, vice-chairman of the Durham Board of Education's finance committee, said the amount is "not more than you pay for a pack of cigarettes a day." Talks for the 1985 budget are still in the early stages while the committee gathers all pertinent revenue in- formation. Based on the infor- mation presently available, Brown is estimating a five to ten per cent increase in education taxes over last year. Figures still missing are various aspects of property con- siderations, transpor- tation committee figures and the special education budget. The board is also waiting for the provin- cial government to an- nounce its grants for 1985. According to Brown, the government is late in telling Durham their grants for this year. However, the board is going ahead in the calculations with the assumption of a four per cent increase in provin- cial grants. Last year-the gover- nment provided for about 50 per cent of the cost of education. The ratepayers of Durham raised the remainder, about $75 million. This year the preliminary budget was projected at $164 million with a local revenue of $86 million. The overlevies for 1984 have also yet to be calculated which Brown attributes to an increase in assessment. Overlevies is the amount over and above the budget spent last year. The amount spent has to be returned by the government in the next year's tax in- crease. Obviously the higher the overlevies the higher the assessment of the following year. After the grant has been calculated the board then has to review various programs and ascertain whether they can be afforded. "We then look at requests from other departments and justify the expenses," said Brown. In March the budget goes to the board for final approval. Vol. 15, No. 7 Wednesday, February 13, 1985 24 Pages That championship feeling 1 rrr ýPRESS