Fox criticizes noise,,d'isch ,arg-e. at Atian tie A massive discharge of effluent which forced the shutdown of a ý,south. WhitIby factory could happen again, .a Town counilor has warned. Couinciulor Dennis Fox, je worried that another incident similar to, the one which caused a recent 18-day shutdown o Atlantic Packaging, niay- occur. A SATURDAY snowfail comple- again be offered Saturday afternoon mented hay rides. at Heber Down Jan. 12. Conservation Area. Hayrides will Pete TombUin photo BUSINESSESSUR.VEYED,. Mixed reaction to GST effeet By Mike Kowali As expected, the fit days of the goods and service tax created confusion and -anger among many Whitby merchants and consumers last week. While many shop owners and custemers had dificuty adapt- Mng te the new seven par cent federal sales tax, most mer- chants expect the adjustment pariod te last no more t han two or three months. However, may businesses surveyed by The Free Press pro- dicted that mass resentment o'ver having te pay the tax will hurt Prime Minister Brian Mul- roney~s. government in the next election. Elaine Elliott manages Video Tonite, a movie rental stere on Anderson St., and like most mer- chants, she heard the grumbling from customers firsthand. «We haven't had one custemer saytheotax is a good thing. Even thé little kids know about it they're ail cornpiaining,» said Elliott. But she was quick te point out that her customers know very well who is te biame for the extra cost. wThey know it's not my fault," said Elliott. Although her store offers movios at various pirices, the GST increased the cost of an average video frorn $3.25 te $3.45. *Wlile a 20-cent increase may not seern like much te many peopl1 Elliott said one parson stii refused tepay i t. However, Elhiot does not expect her business te suifer frorn tho GST. Ini fact, with the jumnp i movie thoatre pricos and patrons hav- ing te pay tax on popcorn and Îreehmonts, Elhott said the video stores May do botter.î* "People were complainin g when movies, were $7. Tou can rent two (videos), for. less than that. 'The GST on a movie here is not bad, but on a theatre ticket it's sornething elso." Still, Elliott would prefer the tax ho aboiished. SMarried to an American, Elliott lived in the United States for five years.' « I think its (GST)- terrible my husband said it would nover happen down there. Tracy Rushten, an ernployee of Country Style Donuts on Thick- son Rd. S. said business had dropped off fast week. But this may have been due te a siowdown following the Christ- mas-New Year's holidays, OIt~htg, Rshton .said employees had fà problerna cal- SEE PAGE 4 Despite .company ,assurances that problems with Atlantic's on- site sewage, treatment systern have been corrected, Fox is not convinced. Ho believes the trne bas corne .1 t get tough1 with companies >which cause damage te the environment. Atlantic officiais were ordered by -Durham Region te sëhut the newspaper recIcing plant st monthatr. effluent released, inte the sewer system, flooded.the Corbett (Jreek wator pollution control plant.. ýcould not.handleë.a..ouddori-dls-- 1 charge of four million gallons of water over a 24-hour period. An agreement between the company and egon .,irnits Atlantic te, releasing two million gallons of effluent each day. The Corbett Creek plant, which empties infto Lake Ontario, can handle only eight million gallons daily. Ilo water was rôeoased during < start-up trials for the cornpanys newsprint r ci pration. The Thickson . S. plant will be the oniy facilit of its kind in Canada te, prodce newsp t frorn 00 per cent recycled. fibe While ho wants te be fair and give Atlantic. tirne te, "work out the wrinkles,» Fox expressed con- cern about the incident' «It's time to e ho tuçh with some of these companies. TAie p ast couple of years we've, had too many of these spilsite the sewer system,» said Fox. '«TMe environrnent can' only take so much and we have the area residents' welfare te ho con- cerned about as well. We can't put them or anyone else- in jeo- pardy.' Although a Durham Region spokesrnan. was not availabie for comment, Atlantic general mana- grBob Nelson said the problern lidbeen rectifled. «It appara te hoe under control now. TAie initial start-up was difficult because of thesize and the constraints put on us by the Region, . said Nelson. «Theilst few days it's been running without -serious pro blems. Iles a quetion of getting de-bugged and our own systemi under controlý Nelson said Atlantic will ho recycling a greater percentage of water *during newsprintproduc- tion so that it does not ave e rely on the Corbett Creek plant te the same degree. Although the company 1ill develop a contingenc pI an te deal with future problema, Nel- son said, "We're prettz' confident it won't happen agam. Ho also, pointed out that con- trary te, some published. reports, the incident did. not result. i ME PAGE 8 -" nse IN SIDI....... -P - ----i -----r ---- . ..1 .. .4 .... ......... pe ae Write: 131 Brock St. N. Li N 5S1 Phone: 668-6369 ,after 61t record your com 'mer 668-0594,anyfime Plan tomake ferry -"into restaurant, mseu HM The dereliet ferrM tm eiWMhy harbouir rnay someday becomne a fioating museum and restaurant. The Free Pres as learned that-owner Art Robinson has agred to soUl the controversial Prince Edward Island ferry to Iecouple. Trehusbnd an wifes, aiogwt other investors,ý intend to refizrbish the vessel and tei into a tourist attraction featuring a museuin, restaurant, lounge and dance floor. mhe wornan, who preferred flot to be Wdentified at this Urne, said Robinson bas accepted their offer but would not disclose the purchase price. (Robison was not available for immediate comment.) The couple have* investigated how much it will coot to refurbish the boat, but do not yet want that figuire disclosed. 'We hope to have it finshed by the end of July and open for business' ad the wo1nan. "Whit6y as nothing in the way of tourist attractions (near the lake)... this shiphasagreat deal of ptential." Athoughthe coup1lepreferto keep tAie boat in its current location, they.must fiQ run their proposai hy Ton officiais. Thie rnmcipaiity has charged Roinson with trespassing and is also seeiing a court ixr.unction to remnove the boat from the haibour. The couple have requested a meeting with Whitby officiais later this month to outie their plans.' Aithough two transformers on the boat contain potontially harrnful PCBs, the woman dose not expect this to hinder future' business. She intends to run advertisements declaring there is no, danger to patrons once the PCB. are rernoved.