The Pickering 20 PAGES ✦ Pressrun 46,600 ✦ Metroland Durham Region Media Group ✦ SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2005 ✦ Optional delivery $6 / Newsstand $1 POLICING PAST GREAT DIVIDE MEDAL WINNERS Proud tradition had Durham hospitals make Gymnasts reach for humble beginnings do with less, report says stars in competition Page 9 Page 3 Page 17 Coffee coup THEY’VE BEEN WORKING ON THE RAILROAD at hospital Redevelopment leaves auxiliary shop off plans By Danielle Milley Staff Writer DURHAM — The Ajax and Pick- ering hospital auxiliary is losing a major source of its fundraising revenue. The coffee shop it has oper- ated in the Rouge Valley Health System’s Ajax location for 35 years is coming to a close at the end of July — a decision made by the hospital. “We’re very upset about it,” said Ella Joel, the auxiliary’s president. “We don’t really understand it.” Hospital spokeswoman Katie Cronin-Wood explained there are ✦ See Move, Page 4 Mike Pochwat/ News Advertiser photo PICKERING — C.P.R. and Signals & Communication Construction workers, were doing some prep work on train tracks off Dixie Road, north of Finch Avenue, for an undercutter machine used to clean and remove dirt in and around the tracks, while replacing it with gravel. SEE US ON SHOP TV CHANNEL 21 WEEKENDS AT 3PM Pickering hails its new taxi committee 905-686-2445 Group will hear lies. lems that arise in the future we can feeding,” Mr. Kumar said. “They Council passed a motion May have the questions answered,” said are not a burden on the city, they Blaisdale concerns, review 2 creating an advisory committee Surinder Kumar, who has been are hard-working people and they MONTESSORI regulations to review the taxicab bylaw and driving a taxi in Pickering for 12 need your support.” School other issues that might be brought years. “We would like to bring this Kewal Manocha has been driv- NEW WHITBY CAMPUS OPEN HOUSE to the committee’s attention. It committee into effect because it ing a cab in Pickering for 10 years. FOR TODDLER & CASA By Danielle Milley Staff Writer was created in response to mem- can help us in the future if we have “The taxi drivers should be con- Thursday, June 16 at 7:00 pm bers of the industry wanting open any problems. If we have a prob- sidered one of the best citizens 200 Byron St. S, Whitby (Whitby Campus) OPEN Thursday, June 2 at 7:00 pm PICKERING — Several people communication with members of lem with a plate, with the public, because he goes through a medi- HOUSE 56 Old Kingston Rd, Ajax (Village Campus) recently came out to show their council and City staff. this committee can help.” cal check and other checks before NEW PRE-TODDLER PROGRAM (12 mo.-18 mo.) SPACES AVAILABLE IN AJAX & PICKERING support for a new Pickering ad- “My issue regarding the com- He said there are at least 125 becoming a taxi driver,” he said, Call Head Office 905-509-5005 visory committee that they say mittee is all the taxi industry has drivers in the city but that this adding the mayor and councillors 12 mths - grade 8 www.blaisdale.com 5 Campuses in Durham makes life easier for 125 “hard- been going through trouble, with committee isn’t just for them. working” people and their fami- this committee at least the prob- “It is (for the) 125 families we are ✦ See Longtime, Page 2 P PAGE 2 THE NEWS ADVERTISER, MAY 15, 2005 durhamregion.com Longtime driver tells council of poor treatment from staff and management ✦ Longtime, From Page 1 lic.” Maurice Brenner. “These nicipalities. Ward 2 Regional Councillor committee was necessary. Council’s support was individuals have been the It is to be comprised Bill McLean were chosen as “It’s something that we as don’t have to do that. stronger than victims of abuse, of two drivers, two taxi- the council representatives. a committee can do to pro- Mr. Manocha stressed ever after hearing exploitation and cab owners, two business “This committee will tect the rights of the drivers, how needed the committee from the guests. they have not had owners, one member of provide a funnel of vent- the community at large, the is. “There is no regular commu- the industry at large, two ing to allow the industry to owners and the industry,” “We are going through question after nication with the members of council, one organize themselves to be he said. “There is no tough- a very tough time... most hearing from municipality that member of the community able to speak openly with- er job that I can imagine of the drivers are getting our speakers to- regulates this in- at large, and staff from the out fear of reprisal,” Coun. than a cab driver.” assaultive behaviour from night the need dustry.” clerk’s and bylaw divisions. Brenner said. The motion passed dispatchers, owners and for this commit- He brought for- Coun. Brenner and Coun. McLean said the unanimously. managers,” he said. “We tee to be struck ward the motion need this advisory commit- as soon as pos- for the commit- tee in Pickering to protect sible,” said Ward Maurice Brenner tee, which is simi- taxi drivers and the pub- 1 Regional Councillor lar to those in other mu- A Beautiful Bathroom NEWS Renovation is Your Dream... ADVERTISER Do you Making it Come True is Ours have HOME DÉCOR some MERCHANDISE CERTIFICATE news $ * up 1to 000 OFF Bathroom, Kitchen & Home Accents to share with a complete bathroom renovation with our readers? We’d love to hear about it. Send ideas to news editor BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS & BATHS. PERFECTLY BUILT! Bathroom Renovations Starting $ from 183/mth David Plumbing Mart In-house Financing Options available RCAC RENOVATION CAPITAL ACCEPTANCE CORP. Since 1959 Stell ED B CKE BY A We Design. We Supply. We Install. NO Extras! 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Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. 4HEREFOR *ANE#AMERON)NS!GCY)NC +IMBERLEY&ROST)NS!GCY)NC 3COTT!NDREWS)NS!GCY)NC *ANE4#AMERON !GENT +IMBERLEY!&ROST !GENT 73COTT!NDREWS !GENT +INGSTON2OAD7EST !,IVERPOOL2OAD +INGSTON2OAD ).352!.#% 4// 9OUgVETRUSTED3TATE&ARM®WITHYOURCARANDHOME YOUCANCOUNTONUSWITH LIFEINSURANCE TOO7HENYOUgREREADY GIVEONEOFUSACALL 6IC/(EARN)NS!GCY,TD 0AUL7ILLIAMS)NS!GCY)NC 6IC/(EARN !GENT 0AUL7ILLIAMS !GENT #&0 7ESTNEY2OAD3OUTH "ROCK2OAD3OUTH 0#. 3TATE&ARMs#ANADIAN(OME/FFICES3CARBOROUGH /NTARIO!VAILABLEONLYIN/NTARIO !LBERTAAND.EW"RUNSWICKSTATEFARMCA durhamregion.com THE NEWS ADVERTISER, MAY 15, 2005 PAGE 3 A/P Durham hospitals underfunded health report shows Gap between rest Released earlier this month, ing and asking for council’s ern Ontario as those areas Durham and the 905 under- This costs the health- the report pegs the gap be- support. cost more to service. funded. care system more as it costs of province pegged tween hospital funding in “We hope you will con- If the funding in Dur- “Hospital budgets in less, on average, to treat the area and the tinue to add your ham were increased to the high-growth areas are far each case at a 905 hospi- at $544 million rest of Ontario at voice to the call provincial average it would below budgets in commu- tal ($3,391) compared to $544 million and for fair funding,” mean an extra $86.6 million nities that are growing less Toronto teaching hospitals By Danielle Milley growing. he said. “The for hospitals here. Hume quickly,” Mr. Martin said. ($4,860) and all Toronto Staff Writer “As the alliance more resolu- Martin, the Rouge Valley More than three million hospitals ($4,187). Those PICKERING — The resi- has made clear tions we can have Health System chief execu- people live in the GTA, figures are for treating a dents of Durham and the on numerous oc- passed, the stron- tive officer, said that would which represents 25 per standardized patient, re- rest of the 905 area are not casions, we do ger our voice.” ease their funding struggles, cent of Ontario’s residents, gardless of the complexity getting their fair share when not receive a fair Durham’s per- adding 905 hospitals should and that number is growing. of the procedure and the it comes to health care fund- share of funding capita funding in get more than the provin- Many of those people have patient’s characteristics. ing, according to an alliance for our local hos- 2002-03 was $527, cial average. to leave their community to “You wonder why we of 10 hospitals. pitals,” said Tariq Hume Martin compared with He explained hospital get health care because the have backups and delays The GTA/905 Health- Asmi, executive the provincial av- budgets are based on his- services are not available at in our emergency depart- care Alliance report, ‘The director of the association. erage of $704. The number torical data, which has left home due to lack of fund- ments, we just don’t have State of Hospital Care in Recently, Mr.