The Pickering
36 PAGES ✦ Pressrun 48,600 ✦ Metroland Durham Region Media Group ✦ FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2005 ✦ Optional delivery $6 / Newsstand $1 SEARCH’S ON CAMPAIGN PLANS PLAY BALL Looking at ways Pickering Conservatives It’s love for to deliver health ready if election called Barrymore Page 10 Page 3 Page 25
Take another SHACK MOVES TO THE DARK SIDE look, Pickering tells Durham Ambulance station unanimously supported a mo- tion requesting that the Region doesn’t fit city’s vision, extend its search for other sites say councillors in Pickering for an emergency medical services facility. Councillors expressed con- By Danielle Milley cern over the site on Hwy. 2 be- and Carly Foster tween Dixie Road and Walnut Staff Writers Lane, which has already been PICKERING — Pickering wants purchased. the Region to keep looking and Ward 2 Regional Councillor pick a different site for a new Bill McLean, who brought for- ambulance station in the city. ward the motion, said there were At Monday’s meeting, council several reasons why he is against the location. A.J. Groen / News Advertiser photo “The (problem is with) access PICKERING — The Eddie Shack’s Battle of the Badges hit the ice at the Pickering Recreation Complex >>`>Ê>À`Ü`Ê on to Hwy. 2, but most impor- this week, featuring the Durham Regional Police facing off against the Toronto Police, with Mr. Shack, the À}ÊV° tantly (it doesn’t go along with) longtime NHL fan favourite, taking a bow before the opening faceoff. The Ajax Lions Club sponsored the our future designation of Kings- event, with a portion of the proceeds going to Durham minor hockey. WE NOW DO HOME & ton Road,” he said. “We wanted BASEMENT to have a presence on Kingston RENOVATIONS, Road,” adding, an ambulance STAIRCASES, PICKETS station wouldn’t fit that plan. & RAILINGS As part of the City’s develop- ment plan for the Kingston Road Region set to approve $100 tax increase 1547 Bayly St., Pickering corridor, the area is to be urban- 905-420-3285 ized and pedestrian friendly with Health staff, Adding the proposed new as- to find (the extra) $600,000, but prestige buildings close to the sociate medical officer of health, I’m afraid health would add road. shelter increase 8.5 staff and the extra $3 per more people,” said Regional In addition to not fitting with pulled from budget person per day into the region’s Chairman Roger Anderson. the vision of the City, Ward 1 shelters would have meant The health department re- Regional Councillor Maurice tacking an extra $608,300 onto cently prepared a report saying By Carly Foster Brenner pointed out Pickering the Region’s budget, a report to the seven staff, if cut, would Staff Writer 4 fast weeks to had wanted to partner with the Wednesday’s finance commit- make the Region not compli- fabulous! Bikini Blitz Region on a joint ambulance-fire DURHAM — Regional coun- tee said. ant with provincially mandated Register today & facility. cillors refused to add back to And that would add around programs. put those bikini “The City of Pickering felt very the budget health staff and .22 per cent to the budget, al- Durham is also higher than blues away! strongly that an amalgamated extra funds for shelters, keeping ready more than $600,000 over the provincial average when it 905.420.4621 joint facility is not only best for taxes at a 6.22 per cent increase the guideline set by council comes to preventable health cityofpickering.com/recreation or an extra $100 to the average months ago. ✦ See Johnson, Page 4 homeowner. “I would ask that this go back ✦ See Lawyer, Page 5 A/P PAGE 2 THE NEWS ADVERTISER, APRIL 8, 2005 durhamregion.com
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By Danielle Milley “We have an organization ready to go. What we and Keith Gilligan don’t have, and the party has asked us to expedite Staff Writers this, is a candidate search.” PICKERING — The federal Conservatives are The Pickering-Scarborough East Liberal Riding ready to run — almost. association isn’t yet preparing for an election. The Pickering-Scarborough East electoral district “We haven’t heard anything... There has not been association has been getting ready for an election, any directives or communication from the party regardless of how soon or far away it might be. headquarters that would lead us to prepare (for an “The reality of the situation is we have a minority election),” said Bill Leonhardt, president of the local government and as a riding we have been prepar- riding association. ing for an election at any time,” said Michelle Leger, The Liberals have the incumbent in the riding, chairwoman of fundraising. MP Dan McTeague. An official nomination meeting date has not yet In Ajax-Pickering, riding president Maurice been set, “but we expect to do that in the next week Brenner says the party is prepared. or so,” she said. “No one would want to see an election called at “Financially, we’re in pretty reasonable shape,” this time,” he said. “No one in Canada wants to go to added Colin Hume, president of the Ajax-Pickering the polls. But, if one’s called, we’re ready. Conservative Riding Association. “We’re ready to go “We have a candidate elected already, (current infodurhamregion.com in and get a campaign office set up and the phones MP) Mark Holland.” Just one more way to get your community news set up. The NDP couldn’t be reached for comment. NEWS ADVERTISER
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✦ Johnson from page 1 city. partment identified Bayly Street set to bring in an architect right April 20. “We’re not going to gain the as the best location for the sta- now, staff said at a recent com- The station is to cost $2.5 mil- regional and city taxpayers, but benefit for our taxpayers,” Coun. tion. mittee meeting. The matter was lion when it’s complete early in also for service,” he said. Johnson said. But the director of EMS says deferred until the next meeting, 2006. He also expressed concerns “Our council fully supports the study always highlighted the with having emergency vehicles (the station), area north of Hwy. 401 to meet pulling out onto a busy highway, we just think current needs and future growth but Mayor Dave Ryan pointed there’s a bet- in Pickering. out the current facility is located ter location “As far as we’re concerned, Bike for a cure in Pickering just down the road from the pro- for it and a it’s the best place for it,” Richard posed one. better use Armstrong said, adding the land AJAX — The Heart and Stroke tion that wants to build teamwork This issue was also debated at for that site, has already been purchased and Foundation’s Big Bike for Stroke is and get fit while supporting a good a works committee meeting last assessment- the City was consulted through- coming to town. cause. week. wise.” out the whole process. The cross-country program, visit- Each team member must raise a Ward 1 Regional Councillor The City “I don’t know what they expect ing Pickering on May 31 and Ajax minimum of $50 in pledges to get a Rick Johnson, a member of the m aintains us to do.” on June 13, raises funds for research seat on the bike, which will display committee, said then that the site a feasibility Rick Johnson Coun. Johnson said the land into the root causes of heart disease the organization’s name and logo as is considered prime real estate. study done could be still be sold — for a and stroke. Specially built to seat up it travels along the city streets. Inter- The location should be used for by the Durham Region Emergen- profit — and another site cho- to 30 people, the big bike provides ested parties can call the Heart and a commercial building that will cy Medical Services (EMS) de- sen. The works department is an opportunity for any organiza- Stroke Foundation at 905-666-3777. bring more assessment to the s, Need help getting it done? kid the ur Call 310-CASH ing y o op! Why Why spendspend allall BBringr theen jkids,o sh y’ll you they’llthe enjoyhile our weekend shopping m w weekend shopping Pickering Ball Hockey roo PBHL League pplayroomlay while you shop! BALL HOCKEY for for thethe rightright piecepiece Call to Register 905-839-9638 www.ballhockeygta.com of of furniture.furniture. Come Come herehere toto choosechoose your your style,style, colourcolour and and sizesize andand enjoyenjoy your your weekend.weekend.
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✦ Lawyer from page 1 social services committee. He considered unnecessary. $1,581 to $1,679. for the last time and officially also wondered whether other At a home assessed at $250,000, The $329-million taxpayer- adopted at regional council April diseases such as cancer, coun- departments had staff that were regional taxes will rise from funded budget will be debated 13. cillors at last week’s health and social services meeting said. But the Region’s lawyer said cutting the staff would not make Mostly single-digit increases to waste bills; Ajax and Pickering going down a difference, Mr. Anderson said, and challenged the Province’s By Carly Foster Based on licence plate surveys, sit and don’t get (any services). 33 per cent of its garbage, com- health minister to come to Dur- Staff Writer Scugog residents make up almost “This isn’t fair.” posting and recycling from land- ham and audit the programs. DURHAM — While the majority 14 per cent of all customers. The mayor asked whether the fill in 2004, amounting to almost Scugog Mayor Marilyn Pearce of residents will see only a small Scugog Mayor Marilyn Pearce $18,600 the Region will spend to 200,000 tonnes. said taxpayers — especially in increase to their waste bill, people said clever and relentless raccoons promote recycling and compost- In July 2006, every municipality the urban areas — are already in Scugog have to cut back on their crack the top off compost green ing will include telling Scugog resi- will be part of the curbside green- being hit with increased utility, transfer site use if they want to see bins the minute they’re put out at dents how high their bills are. bin composting program, with the water, sewer and waste rates, and taxes reduced. the curb, forcing many residents to “I don’t think they’re going to opening of a mega facility in south that she could not justify adding An owner of a $250,000 home in use the transfer stations. get the message until you tell them Pickering. any more funds to the already Scugog will pay an extra $20.34 for “Every other regional service is how much they’re paying,” she Waste tax rates are based on swelled budget. curbside garbage, recycling and equally allotted,” she said, adding said, adding the education pro- tonnage, per municipality. Brock, The health budget did come compost pickup, mostly because that, while 14 per cent use the gram is obviously not working in Clarington, Oshawa, Uxbridge and in at the guideline, said Brock they continue to use waste transfer station, 86 per cent don’t but still her municipality. Scugog will have a single-digit in- Councillor Larry O’Connor, also stations, a report to Wednesday’s have to pay. “We pay for this trans- But it seems to be across the rest crease to their bills, while Picker- vice-chairman of the health and finance and budget meeting said. fer station, but pay equal for tran- of Durham. The Region diverted ing and Ajax will see decreases.