HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-01424"Keeping in Touch" is one of the ways that I am using to maintain a
line of communication with you, the constituents of Durham -York.
Accordingly, you will receive newsletters of this kind from me from
time to time.
These mailings will enable me to keep you posted on my activities as
your MPP at Queen's Park and on matters occurring in the Legislature
which are of interest to all of us.
If, after reading this newsletter, you want to write to me about any
of the topics discussed, or on any other matter, please feel free to
do so. My mailing address is:
Bill Newman, MPP Bill Newman, MPP
Legislative Buildings OR R. R. #1
Queen's Park Ashburn, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario
Toll -Free Telephone Service
I feel very strongly that an elected representative should be readily
available to constituents when they need him. That is why I have
arranged for a special telephone service for people in all corners of
Durham -York Riding.
As you may know, Durham -York is a very large area with 15 separate
telephone exchanges. Until now, this has meant that constituents
have often been charged long distance telephone rates to reach me.
I do not believe this is fair to you so I have made arrangements that
anyone in the Durham -York area can now call me toll -free.
Here's how it works. Dial "0" for Operator and ask for ZENITH 33130.
The Operator will then put you through to my office. If I am in the
Legislature or attending a meeting, then my secretary will be pleased
to assist you or take a message.
This new ZENITH system is there for you to use, so feel free to call
me whenever you have the need.
Area Contacts
In a large Riding like Durham -York, it is often difficult for me to be
kept fully aware of local events and local concerns. To help solve
this problem, I have decided that it would be useful to appoint a
liaison person in each municipality to help serve the local community.
It will be the job of these people to direct any community problems,
or information, or requests, to me as they hear about them.
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They can also perform other functions of a general nature such as
advising me of events scheduled in each area.
In this way, constituents can talk with someone they know locally
about my availability for various functions which come up in their area.
The name and telephone number of the local contact in your area can
be found on the list below:
BROCK
EAST GWILLIMBURY
GEORGINA
Beaverton
Cannington
Keswick
Pefferlaw
Sutton
Larry Hartmier
Hazel Jewell
Stu Blizzard
Howard Smith
Steve Pallett
Cathy Robinson
PICKERING Molly Newman
SCUGOG Nestleton Jean Ferguson
Port Perry Riding Office
Port Perry Dianne Hogg
Reach Roberta Baird
UXBRIDGE Scott Norm Lyons
Uxbridge John Paxton
(705) 426-7368
(705) 432-2054
(416) 473-3320
(416) 476-5218
(416) 722-3783
(416) 722-3931
(416) 649-2626
(416) 986-4220
(416) 985-2886
(416) 985-3893
(416) 985-7582
(416) 852-6584
(416) 640-5684
Riding Office Now Open
In addition to the above local contacts, a further Riding service is
available to residents of Durham -York through my new constituency
office at 108 Water Street in Port Perry. Telephone 985-2886.
This new facility will enable me to gain more regular contact with the
people of our Riding and, of course, constituents don't need an
appointment to drop in or to telephone.
I will be at my Port Perry office as often as time permits but when I
am personally unable to be present a representative will be on hand
to receive your problems or concerns.
The hours of the Port Perry office for the time being are:
Thursday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday 10 a.m. to 9 P.M.
Saturday 10 a.m, to 1 p.m.
New Riding Name - Durham -York
As I have promised, the provincial electoral district that was known
as Durham North has been renamed Durham -York. This gives equal recog-
nition to the two Regional Municipalities whose boundaries fall within
this provincial Riding.
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As Minister of Agriculture and Food
In addition to my primary job of serving as your MPP at Queen's Park
I have also, since last October, the added responsibility of Minister
of Agriculture and Food in the Ontario government. There are many
active farmers in Durham -York area and I am pleased to be able to
represent them in this double role.
Since my appointment, I have met more than 150 delegations of farm
groups across the province and my schedule is equally full for the
days ahead. It makes a heavy load but I enjoy the challenges.
In recent weeks I have been pressing for a National Income Stabilization
Plan with the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Food. This is a
matter of great concern to all Ontario farmers and I will keep up
my efforts to have Ottawa come forward with a national plan.
The Cow -Calf Stabilization Program of the Ontario Government netted
Participating farmers $72.19 per cow this year. This program will be
continued. I invite farmers from the Durham -York area to contact me
if they are having any difficulty in obtaining 1976 applications for
voluntary enrollment in this 'insurance' program.
GO Bus Service For Uxbridge -Claremont
A new GO Bus service has now been put into operation, taking travellers
from Uxbridge and Claremont, through Markham, to the subway connections
in Toronto. The result will be increased convenience for bus travel
between these points, especially for commuters. This increased
availability of public transit is proving very popular in competition
with the growing cost of driving private cars.
Wintario Grants for Durham -York
The proceeds from the Wintario Lottery are dedicated to helping our
groups in the fields of culture, sport, recreation and other worth-
while community endeavours. Wintario grants are funded solely
through the sale of tickets for the Wintario lottery - no tax money
is allocated to the Wintario program.
In recent months, about $350,000 in Wintario grants and other grants
through the Ministry of Culture and Recreation have been distributed
in our riding.
Applicants must qualify by the simple conditions of the Ministry of
Culture and Recreation in order to receive recognition. A pamphlet
describing what projects are eligible for a grant is available through
my office. I will be happy to send you a copy on request.
Government Restraint Program
As was indicated in the recent Speech from the Throne, the Ontario
government has promised to curtail unnecessary spending. Ontario
believes that government spending at all levels is a major cause of
inflation and accordingly, programs are being reassessed and priori-
ties are being defined in terms of needs rather than wants. This
government will continue to urge other governments to do the same.
The Speech noted that the Ontario budget on April 6th will reflect
necessary restraints while at the same time providing more money for
health, education, social and municipal programs.
It should be understood clearly that the Ontario government is not
reducing its traditional financial assistance to municipalities but
rather is limiting the increases in its transfer payments and asking
municipalities to live within these budget limits.
Minority Government
Despite the Minority situation at Queen's Park, your P.C. Government
has advanced strong, positive legislation to meet the needs of this
province and its people. I believe the Minority situation is working
well and that a provincial election is not necessary now. Premier
William Davis and our P.C. Members are committed to making Minority
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Rule work for Ontario. But if the two Opposition Leaders are to
withdraw their support for the Minority Government and combine their
votes to defeat the Government, there is nothing we can do but to
dissolve Parliament and request the people to decide who should
govern Ontario.
Busy Days in the Legislature
Because of the political balance of things at Queen's Park, it is
necessary for all MPP's to stay fairly close to the Legislature while
it is in session. It is thus a little more difficult for me to
accept every engagement with Riding groups or farm groups, to which
I am invited. Occasionally, it is even necessary to reschedule a
meeting that I have already accepted.
I know that this is hard on the organizers of these functions but
however difficult this may be, most people seem to understand. I
keep my fingers crossed that such disruptions for events in Durham -
York will not occur in the future. In any event, it has not kept me
from attending such recent functions as the Ontario North -South
Plowmen's Association, the York County Soil and Crop Improvement
Association, the Sunderland Agricultural Society and in helping open
ARC Industries at Sutton.
It is through such functions that I become more familiar with our
Riding people and their concerns. I will continue to try to be on
hand as often as I can.
me.
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