$1.00 www.oshawaexpress.ca “Well Written, Well Read” Vol 4 No 31 Wednesday, May 27, 2009 Board considering City has consolidation of schools no say on Two schools harbour By Lindsey Cole may soon The Oshawa Express Boats floating casually become along the harbourfront. Families walking along a boardwalk, watching as the ships roll in and out. Colin Carrie one It’s a picturesque scene Oshawa MP that some are saying will be By Katie Strachan no more thanks to a decision by Canada’s The Oshawa Express Transport Minister John Baird to create a Canada Port Authority (CPA) in Oshawa. This It could be another bout of See FEDS Page 8 bad news for Oshawa schools. Just shy of one year after the Durham District Catholic School Board (DDCSB) made the decision to close six of Police get the school system’s elementary schools, the Durham District School Board (DDSB) is now looking at the pos- sible consolidation of two high schools in Oshawa, caus- results ing one to close. Dr. FJ Donevan Collegiate Institute and Eastdale Collegiate Vocational Institute (CVI) may be forced to consolidate after the board makes its decision, which downtown won’t likely come until next year. Durham Regional Police seem to be mak- The reasoning behind the possible joining can be ing an impact in central Oshawa. attributed to declining enrolment. Police have been increasing foot patrols, The City of Oshawa has experienced unprecedented created strong partnerships with local mer- residential development in north Oshawa, which led to a chants and downtown homeowners and are decrease in student enrolment in east Oshawa. using targeted enforcement approaches, which A report from the DDSB shows that by 2018, only 56 all seem to be paying off. per cent of Donevan will be utilized. The report also states As of May 21, police arrested 139 people, just 49 per cent of Eastdale will be used. laying 304 criminal charges. Photo by Katie Strachan/ The Oshawa Express Typically, students have been heading north for Most of the charges stem from public schooling due to rapid residential development in that intoxications downtown. area. Directed patrols have placed 80 of these Incineration debate This need for a new highschool in the north created individuals on conditions to remain out of the Maxwell Heights. A woman kneels with her granddaughter at a recent rally protesting the proposed Durham Consolidating the two schools wouldn’t be too compli- York Energy From Waste facility in front of the Durham Regional Headquarters. See MORE Page 8 See story Page 3 See LOW Page 8 GM and CAW agreement a “no brainer” By Lindsey Cole ment package, says the latest agreement reached a tentative agreement. Oshawa. I think there’s a good chance we’ll be The Oshawa Express between the Canadian Auto Workers Union And parts of the agreement mean some afloat in Canada,” says Mr. Stewart. “Some of (CAW) and the company has to go forward in good news for employees and pensioners. the concessions I never thought I’d have to Peter Stewart and his wife have worked at order for the government to provide the one- Such is the reason why Stewart, along with make. I think it’s despicable that the govern- GM in Oshawa for more than 20 years. time leading automaker with the money to many others, gathered at the GM Centre in ment allowed this to happen.” Never in their lives did they expect to see keep afloat during these harsh economic times. Oshawa on Monday to vote yes to the agree- According to CAW Local 222 President what is happening with the company now. After weeks of negotiating back and forth ment. Mr. Stewart, who wishes he took a retire- the CAW and General Motors Canada have “It’s a no brainer. You need to keep jobs in See ROBBING Page 8 Frustrations reach a breaking point Residents grill Mayor Gray By Katie Strachan As for the $14.8 million City Hall ence,” says Gray of the students liv- Mayor Gray tried to explain the For Bill McConnell, the issue of The Oshawa Express renovation, most in the crowd were ing in residential areas near the col- process of how they’re calculated. paying taxes frustrates him even furious over the project. lege and university. “I don’t deny that (the taxes are more as he is a senior concerned What was supposed to be an “It’ll cost $2 million to pave and “There’s some darn decent stu- medium-high) but that’s how it about making large payments. informative town hall meeting very landscape (where the chamber is to dents out there. We are trying to cre- works out,” he says. “We expect you as a Mayor to be quickly turned into a grilling session be built) and you can put the Cullen ate student purpose built housing.” According to Gray, property concerned about the availability of for Mayor John Gray. miniatures there. Either that or I But for Barb Hanzelka, a resident taxes are based on the total property seniors to pay their taxes,” About 30 Oshawa residents, want one for my backyard,” living near the college, that’s not value of a home and simple mathe- McConnell says. some homeowners, some students, demanded resident Angie Youroukis. enough. matics. Gray says in order to help seniors gathered inside the Oshawa Civic She also suggests councillors use “You can not expect these houses But for some, as long as things out he would have to raise taxes Centre waiting for their turn to have facilities like the Civic or the Arts to be rented. It’s illegal. One build- get done, property taxes aren’t an across the board. their voice heard. ing is not enough,” she shouted issue. “I hope that City Hall is learning Among the more obvious “It’ll cost $2 million to pave and of the proposed Dundurn build- “I’m not against raising taxes if from their mistakes,” adds Zena concerns of residents were the ing. it’s going to get the harbour cleaned Burns, an Oshawa resident. city’s high property taxes, the landscape (where the chamber is Amy England, president of up,” says Larry Ladd. Cullen Garden miniatures, stu- to be built) and you can put the Durham College’s Student dent housing and the renova- Association says the value of tion of City Hall. Cullen miniatures there. Either homes in Oshawa is actually Mayor Gray had intentions that or I want one for my increasing because of students. of speaking on these contro- Development downtown versial issues, but the session backyard.” was a key issue as well. Man stabbed at house party soon turned into an attack with Angie Youroukis Most seemed infuriated that A 40-year-old man ended up build. He was wearing a red, residents demanding accounta- Oshawa resident Oshawa gives money or land to in the hospital after he was grey and black t-shirt with a bility. developers for little to no cost, stabbed with a broken beer bot- collar and a black and red base- When Oshawa City Council Resource Centre to host meetings such as the Regent Theatre, which tle at a house party over the ball hat. voted in favour of purchasing the and keep the $14.8 million in the was sold for a low price. weekend. The second suspect is a Cullen miniatures from Cullen reserve fund. The City of Oshawa purchased Police were called to a home white woman with a thin build. Gardens in Whitby, residents quickly Mayor Gray says council offices the Regent Theatre back in 2001 to on Elgin Street for a reported She has long blonde hair and a made it clear that it was not a wise are required and that during these save it from demolition for $700,00. stabbing on Sunday around 3 pointy nose. She was wearing a decision. times it’s important the community During the sale of the theatre, the a.m. dressy top. She probably uses “It didn’t quite work out for them is separate from them for security agreement was made between the The victim was treated at the the name ‘Jackie.’ so we had intended to do it different- purposes. owner, Glyn Laverick and the City scene for a laceration to the The last suspect is a white ly,” says Gray. “Unfortunately we do live in a of Oshawa that a guarantee of 1,000 torso and later transported to man with a thin build, who was “As of now we haven’t had any time where people want to do dam- live performances over a period of hospital for serious but non-life- wearing a green and white pin- solid bidders and we’re not going to age,” he says. ten years would occur. threatening injuries. striped polo shirt and a Boston sell them for a great loss.” Another resident shouted it was- The theatre was sold for The first suspect is a white Celtics baseball cap. Gray says council plans on sitting n’t fair that the public had no input $700,000 exactly what the city paid. man between 18 and 19 years He may use the name ‘John on them until a firm buyer comes on the renovation project. Laverick also received $700,000 old, is about 5’8’’ with a heavy J.’ along. “There’s no secrets at City Hall in loans under Oshawa’s Central for goodness sake,” retaliat- Business District Renaissance ed Gray. Community Improvement Plan, Sketch released in assault But for some, that state- which are forgivable as long as the ment caused havoc.