The Pickering 48 PAGES ✦ Pressrun 48,600 ✦ Metroland Durham Region Media Group ✦ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2004 ✦ Optional delivery $6 / Newsstand $1 CLOSER A NEW LOOK BULLIES Roberts is Santa Fund brings Students back on screen families gifts tackle issue Page 34 Page 29 Page 16 Property tax CHIEF CHECKS OUT THE TROOPS rates headed for ‘crisis’ Brenner warns continuous downloading by the Province will eventually strangle d ownloading pressure Durham taxpayers. taking its toll Commissioner of finance Jim Clapp outlined the Economic and on homeowners Financial Forecast for 2005-2009 at Wednesday’s meeting of Regional By Jillian Follert council, stressing that the cost of Staff Writer police services, roads, housing and long-term DURHAM — Calling a financial care facili- forecast presented last week one ties are all of the worst in recent memory, on the rise. local councillors are warning that Regional property taxes are ex- pected to in- crease 6.75 Jason Liebregts/ News Advertiser photo per cent in PICKERING — Pickering’s fire chief for a day, Teesha Richardson, earned a tour of Fire Hall No. 5 Mon- 2005 to off- day, and stopped to chat with firefighters Dominic Browne and Bob Halliday. For story, see Page 31. set these Maurice Brenner costs. The report states that unknowns, such as amalgam- ated transit and further provincial downloading, could see that num- Police hail success in targeting gangs, guns ber climb even higher. “This is an absolute crisis,” More funding needed ful anti-gang operations as evi- vice increased 5.5 per cent to said Pickering Regional Council- dence of a successful year, but 185,080, and the overall crime lor Maurice Brenner. “Things that to keep up with stressing that increased funding rate remained stable. were always paid for through in- workload, chief says will be needed to continue on “This has been a good year. come tax are now being down- that path. We’ve done a lot of work to loaded to property taxpayers one Chief Kevin McAlpine sum- counter gang activities and get By Jillian Follert by one... they are all services that marized 2004, noting that vio- guns off our streets,” the chief Tonight Staff Writer Christmas Tree Lighting are required, but we can’t pay for lent crime is down 3.2 per cent said. “We’re doing everything Free Family Event. everything at this level.” DURHAM — Durham Re- and impaired driving is down we can to make sure people feel Join us at 7:00 pm Coun. Brenner listed hospitals, gional Police officials brought 13 per cent, however Durham safe in their community.” Esplanade Park, City Hall universities, transit and affordable a good news-bad news story saw six more impaired driving- Operation Smoke Break, followed by Midnite Madness @ Pickering Town Centre housing as some of the most trou- to Wednesday’s meeting of Re- related deaths this year than in which began in Clarington and cityofpickering.com/winterfest gional council, citing a drop in 2003. ✦ See Anderson, page 4 some crime rates and success- As of Nov. 30, calls for ser- ✦ See More, page 5 A/P PAGE 2 THE NEWS ADVERTISER, DECEMBER 3, 2004 durhamregion.com 2 DAYS ONLY! SATURDAY & SUNDAY DECEMBER 4TH & 5TH NO GST NO PST ON ANY PURCHASE OVER YEARS IN BUSINESS 2266 “CANADA’S MATTRESS SUPERSTORE” AAJAXJAX OOSHAWASHAWA CCOURTICEOURTICE 85 KINGSTON RD. E. 79 TAUNTON RD. W. 1414 KING ST. E. 905-619-1315 905-433-1052 905-436-3368 DOES NOT APPLY TO PREVIOUS SALES durhamregion.com THE NEWS ADVERTISER, DECEMBER 3, 2004 PAGE 3 P Parish joins others in coalition of support for greenbelt By Danielle Milley The provincial government began like to see all of it protected, as well Mayor Gray only became aware of protect our greenspaces.” Staff Writer planning for the Golden Horseshoe as areas east of Audley Road that the coalition early this week. He Parts of northern Oshawa have DURHAM — Mayor Steve Parish Greenbelt last winter. The pro- serve as a link between the Oak endorses the concept of a greenbelt been included in the plan but they has joined with leaders from across posed area stretches from Niagara Ridges Moraine and Lake Ontario. as a way for the Province to co-ordi- weren’t likely to be developed. the GTA to show his support for the to Northumberland and includes The coalition, which also includes nate greenspace preservation. “The greenbelt doesn’t really im- provincial government’s greenbelt. 1.8 million acres of protected land, Oshawa Mayor John Gray, is glad to “Municipalities will always be pact our municipality as far as de- The Ajax mayor is one of four including the Oak Ridges Moraine, see the government making plans to under pressure to allocate more land velopable land,” he said. co-chairman of Municipal Leaders Niagara Escarpment and the Duf- preserve greenspace and would like for development,” he said. “Growth Mayor Gray said the plan is im- for the Greenbelt, a coalition of 20 fins Rouge Agricultural Preserve in to see even more areas considered can bring great things but there has portant to prevent the loss of valu- members from across the GTA that Pickering. for inclusion. to come a time where we say no and able farmland and open spaces. planned to hold a press conference The draft plan was released at the at Queen’s Park today to express end of October, with public consul- their support for the plan. tation meetings held in November. “Basically we’re concerned that The plan is expected to become law there is a lot of pressure coming on in the next few weeks. the government from the develop- Mayor Parish said there are ques- ment industry and others to try to tions surrounding areas left out of torpedo the greenbelt plan,” Mayor the greenbelt. Shop like Parish said. “We feel strongly the “There are certain areas out- government initiative is a step in the side urban areas that are not in the right direction. greenbelt in the region that certainly “We’re concerned with this pres- need to be looked at,” he said. sure the government could retreat In Ajax, some areas north of from its plan. We feel it is a good Taunton Road have been included policy.” in the plan, but Mayor Parish would MAD! Santa Claus from the North Pole NEWS urham West Dental ADVERTISER A Healthy Smile is always Do you Laser Dentistry in style. 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OPEN WEEKENDS AND EVENINGS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE 2004 FRANCHISE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER P PAGE 4 THE NEWS ADVERTISER, DECEMBER 3, 2004 durhamregion.com Two more suspicious Pickering fires PICKERING — There have been • The first suspicious blaze occurred two more suspicious fires in Picker- Nov. 3, police say. Fire broke out in the ing, bringing the total investigated by early morning hours in an abandoned police this month to five. historical building on the 5th Conces- The latest was last Thursday, Nov. sion north of Whitevale Road. 25, when a real estate sales office on • On Nov. 7, fire crews were called Rosebank Road caught fire, Durham to an abandoned house on Taunton Regional Police said. A fire in the same Road, west of Brock Road. LIQUIDATION building Nov. 1 was originally classed • An abandoned motel on Altona CONTINUESSHERS as suspicious, but had been traced to Road near Finch Avenue was destroyed OOR CRA an electrical failure. The second blaze, by fire Nov. 11. LOTS OF D however, is suspicious, police said. None of the fires caused any injuries NORTHERN AIR TOP QUALITY TACKLE Meanwhile, an abandoned house on and the cost of fire damage is still being SPINNING • ICE CAMPING ROD & REEL COMBO Taunton Road was burned down the estimated, police said. FISHING COMBO ACCESSORIES WITH PADDED CASE KITS night of Nov.