HomeMy WebLinkAboutNA2005_05_04 The Pickering
44 PAGES ✦ Metroland Durham Region Media Group ✦ WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2005 ✦ Optional delivery $6 / Newsstand $1
Check out theCheck out the""Couples & Family PCouples & Family Plan"lan"
Share minutes, call for free & saShare minutes, call for free & save!ve!
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÌÀ`ÕV}ÊÌ iÊiÜ
,}iÀÃÊ iÌÌiÀÊ
ViÊ Õ`iÃ
ÊÊ Õ`iÊÓÊÀÊÀiÊ,}iÀÃÊÃiÀÛViÃÊiÊ
>Li]ÊÌiÀiÌÊÀÊ7ÀiiÃÃÊ«À`ÕVÌÃÊ>`Ê
Ã>ÛiÊ£x¯ÊÊÞÕÀÊÌ ÞÊÃiÀÛViÊviiÃt
#!",% ).4%2.%4 7)2%,%33
ONE PLAN. ONE BILL. UP TO FIVE PHONE LINES.Come See Our New Look!
PICKERING TOWN CENTRE
UPPER LEVEL SEARS WING
905.420.0744
• UNLIMITED WEEKEND MINUTES
• 100 WEEKDAY/EVENING MINUTES
family planONLY $35/MONTH
2 PHONES
CAN SHARE:
Basic cable and digital terminal rental required. Some restrictions apply. Subject to error and change without notice.
™Rogers, Rogers Wireless and the Mobius design are treadmarks of Rogers Communications Inc. Used under license.
[ Briefly ]]
Board has l unch
with Fantino
AJAX — Former Toronto
Police chief Julian Fantino is on the
menu next week.
Mr. Fantino, now the Ontario
commissioner of emergency man-
agement, is the guest at the Ajax-
Pickering Board of Trade lunch
Wednesday, May 4. He will discuss
his new role and how the position
relates to other levels of govern-
ment and to emergency manage-
ment. In addition, there will be
table-top displays by organizations
that respond to emergency-related
issues and concerns.
The lunch is from 11:30 a.m.
to 2 p.m. at Deer Creek Golf and
Banquet Facility, 2700 Audley Rd.
Tickets are $45.
For more information, call
the board office at 905-686-
0883. Registration can be faxed
to 905-686-1057 or e-mailed to
info@apboardoftrade.com.
[ What’s on ]
Girls Inc. plans
a girls’ day out
PICKERING — Mothers and
daughters can have a day all to
themselves next month.
Girls Incorporated of Durham
is inviting all mothers, aunts, and
grandmothers and girls, ages 10 to
14, to share stories, goals, dreams,
and to learn something new about
themselves and each other.
All participants receive a com-
plimentary copy ‘Chicken Soup for
the Mother and Daughter Soul,’
donated by publisher Health Com-
munications Inc.
The session is from 11 a.m. to
4 p.m. on Saturday, May 14 at Dun-
barton Fairport Church in Pickering.
Registration is required, along with a
$30 fee per couple, which includes
all workshop materials, a catered
lunch, and door prizes.
Girls Inc. offers mentoring and
group programming to girls across
Durham Region.
For more information, call Deb-
bie Miles-Senior at 905-428-8111 or
e-mail at girlsinc.durham@girls-inc.
org.
[ Index ]
Editorial Page, A6
Sports, B1
Entertainment, B3
Classified, B4
[ Call us]
General: 905 683 5110
Distribution: 905 683 5117
General Fax: 905 683 7363
Newsroom Fax: 905 683 0386
Pressrun 47,600
infodurhamregion.com
SERVICE HOURS
MON., WED., THURS., FRI.
7:30 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
TUES. 7:30 A.M. - 8:00 P.M.
SAT. 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
(905) 831-5400
www.pickeringhonda.com
575 KINGSTON RD.
Email: service@pickeringhonda.com
CHARGED UP Dodge legends are
now on display
Wheels pullout
CUP BOUND
Ball players mark
a silver milestone
Page B1
New headquarters
to be at capacity in
less than three years
By Carly Foster
Staff Writer
DURHAM — With the new head-
quarters reaching office capacity by
2007, the Region will have to rent
space — the very move they were
trying to avoid by building the now
$84.1-million facility.
“We knew we were building a build-
ing that would be built to capacity in
five years,” said Regional Chairman
Roger Anderson. “Don’t forget, we
started this process three years ago.”
As departments such as ambu-
lance, social services, police and
health grow, the Region will need
more staff, he said. While there is
room on the site at Rossland Road
and Garden Street in north Whitby to
expand the building onto the south
east corner, “that’d be a ways off.”
“We’d have to rent space again,” Mr.
Anderson said. “That’s very similar to
what other municipalities do when
they’re full.”
The news came as a shock to Whit-
by Mayor Marcel Brunelle, who came
up with the Regional headquarters
idea and was its biggest proponent.
“There’s been a misrepresentation,”
he said. “That certainly wasn’t on the
table. I do think it was in the back of
everybody’s mind, but nobody would
admit it.”
In the business case for the original
$67.7-million building, there were no
allowances made for having to rent
out additional space beyond some
existing satellite offices, said Finance
Commissioner Jim Clapp. But the
document did factor in moving into
an addition on the new building in
2007.
The biggest selling point in con-
structing the new headquarters was
the $14- to $121-million savings over
a 20- to 30-year period.
During 2002 and 2003, when the
PLANTING ONE ON IN PICKERING
Jason Liebregts/ News Advertiser photo
PICKERING — Scout troops across Durham Region returned to the earth
Saturday, taking part in Scoutrees plantings at a number of different loca-
tions. Matthew Steinsky put the finishing touches on this tree as the 7th
Pickering Cubs worked in Alex Robertson Park.
Local union says
provincial teachers’ deal
only a starting point
By Mike Ruta
Staff Writer
DURHAM — Framework or not,
deals between the public school
board and its teachers by the provin-
cially-imposed June 1 deadline seem
downright dicey.
On Monday, the Province an-
nounced it had reached an agreement
with the Ontario Secondary School
Te achers’ Federation that would see
members receive the same 10.6 per
cent, cumulative pay increase over
four years announced last month for
public elementary teachers. Howev-
er Durham union presidents don’t
consider those salary levels as set in
stone, with Peter Tumey, the Durham
OSSTF president, bluntly stating he
expects the Durham District School
Board to kick in money above and be-
yond what the Province is providing.
That position baffles Sally Mc-
Ilveen, the board’s employee ser-
vices superintendent, who said she
was “perplexed” since the provincial
teacher unions have signed off on
the deal. She noted that all ETFO and
OSSTF locals in Ontario are in take-
over mode, meaning the provincial
unions are in charge of bargaining at
the district level.
“They’ve got to start to commu-
nicate with their local bargaining
teams,” she said. “This should be a
non-issue.”
Ms. McIlveen says the ministry has
provided a framework and told boards
to stick to it.
The Province says the agreement
with the OSSTF means roughly 1,300
more teachers in high schools by 2008
to support struggling students. But
as in the elementary deal, those new
positions, including an estimated 45
in Durham this coming school year,
are contingent upon boards reaching
contract agreements with local teach-
ers by June 1 that include pay hikes
within the framework.
Mr. Tumey has complained in the
past about Education Minister Gerard
Kennedy’s involvement in the local
bargaining process. Setting a salary
ceiling has done nothing to allay his
concerns.
“I’m going to look at that ceiling as
a basement,” he said. “That’s the level
of intrusion we find problematic.”
Mr. Tumey says a recent agreement
between York teachers and its school
board involved funding beyond the
provincial money. He notes the Dur-
ham board recently received, by its
own description, a windfall of cash
for school renewal. If the board has
been able to meet its needs in the past
without the extra money, that should
free up dollars to go outside the pro-
vincial framework for teacher salaries,
Mr. Tumey says, adding, “we think our
expectations can easily be met by the
Budget finalized,
$14 million earmarked
for capital projects
By Danielle Milley
Staff Writer
PICKERING — Kevin Ashe believes
Pickering went too far with its 2005
budget.
“I was supportive of what we were
doing as a committee in terms of mov-
ing up high-priority items and buying
down the increase,” said the Ward 1
City Councillor. “I just think we went
a little too far, in the tune of $500,000
too far.”
Despite Coun. Ashe’s objections,
Pickering council did pass the 2005
budget Monday evening. It included a
5.5 per cent tax hike for residents and
many capital projects.
One of the ways the City was able
to achieve an additional $1 million
in spending and decrease the rec-
ommended staff increase of 6.7 per
cent to 5.5 was by using money it re-
ceived in a legal settlement. (The City
received $2.5 million and removed
some agricultural easements from
properties in the Duffins Rouge Agri-
cultural Preserve).
“The money we got from the set-
tlement is diminished by $1.4 mil-
lion and I think
that’s too much,”
Coun. Ashe
said.
Ward 3 City
Councillor
David Pickles
said if money
stays in reserves
it just stays in
the bank until
it’s spent next
year or the year
after.
“There are a number of capital proj-
ects that we could take out and say
we’re going to do them next year,” he
said. “If we do hold off on some proj-
ects what occurs is we can’t do those
Region staff work on borrowed time
Pickering teachers want a better deal
Ta x es going up another
$49 for P ickering residents
✦ See Durham, Page A4
✦ See Capital, Page A2
✦ See Headquarters, Page A4
PICKERING — A Pickering man is
dead after an early-morning crash at
a major intersection.
Durham Regional Police respond-
ed to a report of an accident at the
intersection of Whites and Kings-
ton roads around 4:20 a.m. Saturday.
Upon arrival, they found two heavily
damaged vehicles, one in the inter-
section and the other resting against
a utility pole at the southeast corner,
police said.
A man who had been ejected from
one of the vehicles lay on the grass
not far from the car. He was pro-
nounced dead soon after police ar-
rived. Each of the cars carried two
people; three were treated for minor
injuries.
Dead is 32-year-old Matthew
Smith, of Memory Lane in Pickering.
Police said the accident involved
an eastbound Ford Focus that ap-
pears to have been hit broadside by a
southbound Chevrolet Cavalier.
The traffic management unit was
called to the scene and closed the in-
tersection to traffic for several hours.
Police are still seeking witnesses;
anyone with information is asked to
call 905-683-9100, ext. 5231, or Crime
Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Pickering man dies in crash
Ke vin Ashe
projects until summer and we have trouble
completing them by fall.”
Other councillors were pleased with the
final budget.
“I was bound and determined to see that
rate cut substantially and we have achieved
that,” said Ward 2 City Councillor Doug Dick-
erson.
He pointed out major projects such as
the pedestrian bridge and seniors’ centre
addition, as well as road, sidewalk and park
projects.
“We’ve done all of that and we’ve come in
at 5.5 per cent,” he said.
That means a $49.40 increase for a home
assessed at $250,000.
“Which in today’s
day and age is not con-
sidered to be unrea-
sonable in my opinion,”
Mayor Dave Ryan said.
He pointed out
spending on capital
projects has increased
from just under $10
million last year to $14
million this year.
“Every one of those
projects is a good project... They are invest-
ment in roads, in parks; an investment in
an expansion on our seniors centre and an
investment in our museum,” he said.
Ward 2 Regional Councillor Bill McLean
also defended the budget.
“(There) are things that some people might
say are unnecessary, but I disagree,” he said.
“These are projects that are all required to
improve the quality of life for everyone across
the board.”
Ward 3 Regional Councillor Rick Johnson
reflected on his years on council where zero-
per cent increases were the norm.
“As I look back on it now, it maybe wasn’t
the right thing to do,” he said, adding he be-
lieves this is an increase that is acceptable to
the public.
“No one likes to see tax increases, but
every once in a while you have to fix the
house and paint the barn and this budget is
more maintenance than new projects,” he
said.
P PA GE A2 ◆NEWS ADVERTISER ◆May 4, 2005
AUTO AND HOME INSURANCE
For a mu ch bet ter quote, lo g on to belairdirect.com.
And shop for your auto insurance in just five easy steps. It’s that simple. Buy online and get 5% off your auto insurance.
“The cashier gave me change.”
Certain conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. Not everyone will qualify for a phone or online quote. BELAIRdirect represents The Nordic Insurance Company of Canada.
NOTICE
ASI Group Ltd. (ASI) of St. Catharines is applying
to the Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE) to
provide supplemental effl uent treatment to assist
with the control of zebra mussels within the Ontario
Power Generation Inc., Pickering A Nuclear Power
Generating Station raw water supply system.
The zebra mussel was introduced to the Great Lakes
in 1986 and has since adversely impacted industrial
and municipal water consumers throughout the region
by colonizing the inside surfaces of facility piping.
ASI is proposing to dechlorinate treated low pressure
service water. The effl uent (discharge) will be
stringently monitored under guidelines set forth by the
MOE for the removal of trace total residual chlorine
prior to fi nal discharge. The length of the program
may be as long as six months and will be performed
on an annual basis as required. The 2005 operation
could begin as early as May 15, 2005.
Questions regarding this application may be
forwarded to ASI Group Ltd.:
James Mook, Biofouling Control Operations Manager,
Biofouling Services Group
Telephone: 905-641-0941
email: jmook@asi-group.com
Seasonal Pass Sale
on until May 8 th only
SAVE 20-25%
CHARGE BY PHONE (905) 686-1600
order in person at 300 Taunton Road West, Whitby
For upcoming events, visit our website
www.cullengardens.com Sale E
n
d
s
May 8 th
Cullen Gardens
& Miniature Village
BROKEN WINDSHIELD?
www.premiereautosalon.com
Serving Durham Since 1985
1010 Brock Road South (Northwest corner at Bayly)
905-831-4290
AUTO GLASS & CUSTOM UPHOLSTERYAUTO GLASS & CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY
■ Custom
Upholstery
■ Boat Tops
■ Mooring Covers
■ Automotive &
Marine Interiors
■ Convertible Tops
$300.00 Deductible
We Pay Up To
based on insurance coverage
3#!,% 3!,%3 s 3%26)#% s 2%.4!,3
#!.!$)!. "2!.#( /&&)#%
#ARDINAL$ETECTO 3CALE
)RONSTONE -ANOR
5NIT !
0ICKERING /NTARIO ,7 7
0HONE
&AX
%
MAIL CANADA CARDETCOM
WWW#ARDINAL3CALECOM#ANADA
MOTHER’S DAY MOTHER’S DAY MOTHER’S DAY
SPECIALS SPECIALS SPECIALS
1615
Dundas St. E .
W h i t b y W h i t b y Whitby
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK rrs TM
9 9 9
0 0 0
5 5 5 4 3 2- 1 1 00 4 3 2- 1 1 00 4 3 2- 1 1 00
Fully Licensed L.L.B.O
Located at Whitby Mall in the South East Corner
of Dundas St. East (Hwy#2) & Thickson Rd.
C R A B S E R V E D C R A B S E R V E D
CR AB SERVED
F O R D I N N E R F O R D I N N E R FO R DI NNER
N E W S P E C I A L NE W SPECI AL
CHINESE, JAPANESE,
CHINESE, JAPANESE, CANADIAN FOOD,
CANADIAN FOOD, PIZZAS ETC. PIZZAS ETC. OF OVER 100 ITEMS
OF OVER 100 ITE
M
S
ALL DAY $12.95 ALL DAY $12.95 ALL DAY $ 12 .95
FREE Carnation FREE Carnation FREE Carnation Flower to all Mother’s Flower to all Mother’s Flower to all Mother’s
L UNCH
Mon. - Fri.
$7 .9 5$7 .9 5$7 .95
Sat., Sun.
& Holidays
$8 .9 5$8 .9 5$8 .95
D INNER
Mon. - Thurs.
$10 .9 5$10 .9 5$10 .95
Fri., Sat., Sun.
& Holidays
$11.9 5$11.9 5$11 .95
10% Discount for Seniors 65 and over
& 1/2 Price for Children under 12
2 6 0 S E AT S • TA K E O U T • D E L I V E R Y260 S E AT S • TA K E O U T • D E L I V E RY 260 SEATS • TAKE OUT • DELIVERY
we’ll give you a
reason to smile...
...at the
Deegan
Denture
Clinics
Full & Partial Dentures
Same Day Relines & Repair
Soft Liners
Implant Dentures
BPS® Dentures
Complimentary Consultations
Michael C. Deegan D.D. 134 Harwood Ave. S.
905-683-6074
infodurhamregion.com
4HE FOLLOWING IS A BREAKDOWN OF SOME ITEMS APPROVED
-ONDAY NIGHT FOR THE 0ICKERING BUDGET 4HE #ITY COL
LECTS MILLION IN TAXES
9pk_\eldY\ij
&