HomeMy WebLinkAboutNA2005_04_20 The Pickering
52 PA GES ✦ Metroland Durham Region Media Group ✦ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2005 ✦ Optional delivery $6 / Newsstand $1
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[ Briefly ]
SCOPA meets for
annual business
PICKERING — It’s a first for
an Ajax and Pickering organization
dedicated to safety.
A non-profit organization dedi-
cated to reducing the occurrence
of injuries in the community, the
Safe Communities of Pickering/
Ajax (SCOPA) is holding its inau-
gural annual general meeting this
week.
Anyone interested is welcome
Thursday, April 21 at the Petticoat
Creek Community Centre from 7
to 8:30 p.m. The meeting is to look
at SCOPA and its role in the region,
as well as feature guest speaker
Michelle Isaacs, who will discuss
workplace safety. Ms. Isaacs lost
her fiance in a work-related acci-
dent nearly three years ago.
Comprised of various com-
munity representatives and
businesses, SCOPA’s mission is
to implement health and safety
programs, promote health and
safety as a way of life, and compile
and maintain effective and efficient
data regarding injuries and the
cause in order to measure organi-
zational success and identify future
program needs.
The meeting runs from 7 to
8:30 p.m. and anyone attending
should RSVP at 905-666-6918.
[ What’s on ]
Eat up and make
a big impression
AJAX — East Side Mario’s in
Ajax is hosting a day of food while
supporting a worthy cause.
On Thursday, April 21, in
partnership with Big Brothers
and Sisters of Ajax-Pickering, the
restaurant (100 Westney Rd. S.) is
hosting a Community Day. Ten per
cent of the day’s food sales are
being donated to Big Brothers. For
reservations call 905-619-2229.
Big Brothers is looking for
volunteers who would like to be
mentors to the 20 boys on their
waiting list. For more information,
call 905-831-3777.
[ Index ]
Editorial Page, A6
Sports, B1
Entertainment, B4
Classified, B5
[ Call us]
General: 905 683 5110
Distribution: 905 683 5117
General Fax: 905 683 7363
Newsroom Fax: 905 683 0386
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Ajax MPP says health,
education to be focus
of provincial budget
By Keith Gilligan
Staff Writer
DURHAM — When Finance Minister
Greg Sorbara stands up in the Ontario
legislature to deliver the next provincial
budget, he’s going to be walking a very
fine line.
There’s pressure to spend more on
health care and education, along with
municipal infrastructure crying out for
a massive cash infusion. And, with the
deficit running around $6 billion, there’s
not a lot of money to throw around.
The date of the next budget hasn’t been
announced, but is expected later this
month.
On top of all that, Premier Dalton
McGuinty has
promised taxes
won’t be going
up.
“There will be
no tax increase,”
says Wayne Ar-
thurs, the only
Liberal MPP in
Durham, during
a recent pre-bud-
get interview at
his office. “Given
the financial sit-
uation we face, the health premium, or
tax, was necessary to meet the health
agenda. A tax increase is not on the
agenda.”
Ian Skaith, an economics lecturer at
the University of Western Ontario, likens
the government’s position to “trying to
walk with one leg.
“I expect the government to demon-
strate a plan for reducing the deficit over
the period of their mandate. There’s no
quick fix.”
The government will be under “tre-
mendous pressure to respond to the
(Bob) Rae report. How they do that, I
have no idea. McGuinty put his hand on
the Bible and said there would be no tax
increase,” Mr. Skaith says.
Mr. Arthurs, the Pickering-Ajax-Ux-
bridge MPP, expects his government will
continue to reflect its “four-year plan.
One of the priorities is health care.
“We’ve added $2.9 billion in health
care. That’s existing money, federal
money and health premium. The an-
nualizations of the premium will be re-
flected in the budget.”
He adds, “Education is another key
area. There are initiatives in place, an
anti-bullying program, community use
of schools, funding for repairs and up-
grades of existing facilities to recapture
the quality of the facilities.”
The government commissioned Mr.
Rae, the former Ontario premier, to ex-
amine post-secondary education and
in February, he released a report that
called for $1.3 billion in extra funding
over three years for colleges and uni-
versities. He also recommended a grant
program for low-income students.
Arthurs and the Liberals under pressure
✦ See Education, Page A4
Wa yne Arthurs
SOARING Women’s collegiate
hockey taking off
Page B1
IN TUNE
Nissan offers
the Nismo
Wheels pullout
FAIRY TALE
Cinderella
on stage
Page B4
Anti-airport groups gather support
By Mike Ruta
Staff Writer
DURHAM — Trustees have approved
a new expense policy that broadens the
definition of what can be claimed, but
doesn’t increase the amount they can
spend.
The Durham District School Board
did so at Monday’s board meeting de-
spite the objections of Whitby Trustee
Elizabeth Roy, who is against including
child-minding expenses and claims the
new policy means trustees will spend
more.
“The fact is, what we have created
is the ability to spend all of the money
that is allocated to the trustees,” she
said, noting that traditionally trustees
have not used all of their $5,000 annual
stipend.
Pickering Trustee Sherry Croteau
chaired an ad hoc committee to set out
clearly what trustees can claim, includ-
ing the $1,700 in discretionary spending
they are entitled to make use of every
By Danielle Milley
Staff Writer
PICKERING — The proposed Picker-
ing airport’s fall from the public radar is
making it more difficult for anti-airport
groups to keep people interested.
“The attention span is hard to capture
and hold on to for an issue that drags
on three, four, 30 years,” said Stephen
Frederick, president of Voters Organized
to Cancel the Airport Lands (VOCAL).
He added the delay between the No-
vember release of the Greater Toronto
Airports Authority’s draft plan and the
yet-to-be-started environmental assess-
ment has had its benefits.
“The delay has been reasonably good
for us because it allows us to be more
thoughtful about what we’re going to
do,” Mr. Frederick said.
The delay has also allowed VOCAL to
build its case.
“We’ve been putting an awful lot of
work into the communication strategy
— as we raise the profile of the issue we
want to make sure the information is
available for people,” Mr. Frederick said.
He added the group has been working
on keeping its website up-to-date and
having monthly themes for its e-mail
chain (this month’s theme is the peer
review with e-mails being directed at
members of council).
“(We want) to make people aware of
the number of issues surrounding this
because there are so many,” he said.
The group is planning a meeting for
next month and is about to launch a
discussion board.
Land Over Landings, the stewardship
and tenancy group, has also been busy.
In February and March, Transport
Canada (who owns the land) made
the decision to demolish more than 20
buildings and Public Works Canada
(who manages the land) tendered out
the contract. Members of the group pro-
tested the demolitions, as well as voiced
their opposition to the eviction notices
sent out to a dozen tenants with the in-
tent to demolish those homes as well.
“With the crunch of the destruction
over now, we’re focusing more on long-
term stuff,” said Michael Robertson, a
FOLLOW THE BOUNCING BALL
A.J. Groen / News Advertiser photo
DURHAM — A new lacrosse season arrived recently, with training camp for the Ajax-Pickering Rock Senior ‘B’ team. The
Rock hit the floor Saturday in exhibition action at the Pickering Village Arena, facing the Brooklin Merchants.
Pickering
pedestrian
b ridge crosses
another hurdle
Budget earmarks
$300,000 for project
By Danielle Milley
Staff Writer
PICKERING — The pedestrian bridge
over Hwy. 401 is looking at a large infu-
sion of cash in the 2005 budget, bringing
the “pipe dream” one step closer to real-
ity.
During budget committee meetings
recently, $300,000 was added to the 2005
capital budget for Phase 1 of the project,
which is the architectural design.
In Ja nuary, the City released a concep-
tual design for the long-planned project
that showed an enclosed glass walkway
spanning the 401 and connecting the
parking lot of the Pickering Town Centre
to the GO station.
“It is actually moving ahead quite
nicely in terms of design work. It is no
longer a pipe dream, in fact it is a real-
ity,” said Ward 1 Regional Councillor
Maurice Brenner, who has long been
championing the project.
The idea for the bridge first came
about nearly 10 years ago when the 401
through Pickering was being widened
and bridge footings were added. Two
years ago, the City received just over $1
million in a Superbuild grant from the
provincial government for the project,
which was to be funded by the City, the
Province and a private sector partner. It
is expected to cost $3 million for design
and construction.
Last year, the City had signed a mem-
orandum of understanding with a pri-
vate company that agreed to pay for the
construction in exchange for advertising
rights. However, because of provincial
New expenses policy child’s play for Pickering trustees
✦ See Brenner, Page A2✦ See Roy, Page A2
✦ See GTAA, Page A2
laws surrounding advertising, the agreement expired.
“Because there was no hope at that point for the com-
pany when it came time to renew they weren’t prepared
to enter into an agreement with us without advertising,”
Coun. Brenner said.
He believes partnerships can still be found with GO
and PTC. Staff is meeting with GO officials this week to
talk about the south tower of the bridge being included
in the Pickering GO Station’s revitalization plan.
“Nothing has been approved but they are looking at
incorporating it with a redeveloped model GO facility in
Pickering,” Coun. Brenner said.
Wa rd 3 City Councillor David Pickles questioned if
the money should be included in the 2005 budget if it
wasn’t going to be spent this year.
“How close is this to all the ‘t’s being crossed and all
the ‘i’s being dotted?” he asked.
In an interview following the budget meeting, Coun.
Brenner said if the money is included in the final budget
next month the design work would begin immediately.
He said during the discussion the City stands to lose
the Superbuild grant, which it has already asked for an
extension on, if it doesn’t get started on the work.
Coun. Brenner is hoping for construction to begin
next year. Committee members agreed to include the
money for Phase 1 in the budget.
“I’m convinced this is money that’s going to be well
spent,” said Mayor Dave Ryan.
The budget is to be finalized at the May 2 council
meeting.
P PA GE A2 ◆NEWS ADVERTISER ◆APRIL 20, 2005
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CORRECTION NOTICE
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Product: Sony SRFM80/SRFM85 Sports Walkman.
This product does not feature a TV/Weather Band
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it is available in limited quantities due to a
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CORRECTION NOTICE
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