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Home My WebLink About2000-01424"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. - 2 - 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. - 3 - 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 - 4 - 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. Is It 1 Mid