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WHIBY REEPRENS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1991, PAGE 15 Year-.over- year new. home.sales increase continues DAVID ADDisoN conoentrates on bh aing as cartoonist Gloria Bales demonstrates a the easel. A cartoonig workshop was held at the Whitby Public Library last week. Chris Bove photo CANADIAN PACIFIC HOTELS & RESORTS' EMPLàOYEE SURVEY RESULTS lI a previous column, I reotd on the development that Canadian Pacifie Hôtels & Resorts (CPH&R) undertook to establish an environmental* programi for ail of its hotels in Canada. An environmental audit and employee survey were also conducted, and the resuits have now bemn tabulated. The audit was designed to identifyr those areas of hotel operations that could b. changed to introduce more environmientally-benign practices and producta. The survey was to determine the level of support for environmiental initiatives among CPH&R "TheresIteof the survey were astounding Not onlv are employees willing to take measures on behaif of the enviroiment, 89 per cent said that it would make them feel better about their jobs," said Ami Checkley, director of public relations. 'W. interpret this as a mandate to implement the most ambitiaus environmental programn possible." Based on the results of the green audit, CPH&R hotels have developed a 16-point action plan covering the areas of purchasing, waste management, energy and water conservation. Some of the objectives outlined in the OPH&r's surnmary were: te set a target for a 50 per oent reduction in waste going te landfil and a 20 per cent reduction in paper use by December 1992; te introduce a blue box in ail guest rooms; te reduce or eliminate the use of individual sugar paékages, creamers, condiment containers and disposable cups in restaurants and cafeterias; te negotiate with suppliers te eliminate and reduce pakaing; te convert alnecessary paper products to, unbleaced kraft or recycled matenials; te strearnline use of leaning agents and, where available, replace with non-aerosol products; and, te eliminate hazardous chemicals and synthetic perfumes. Anyone wishing teobta. a copy of CPH&R's seven-page surnmary of environmental survey resulta and action plan, or if you have anmy questions about the green program, calMn Checkley, director, of public relations, at (46) 367-7101. CPH&R welcomes your input. I noticed on the 1991 summer and fail schedule of the Stratford Festival a play entitled, 'An Enemy of the People.! It is described as an environmental crisis that involves politics and principles - more cbillingly tepical teday than when it was written over a century ago. The play rune Aug. 20 to Oct. 27. Envirotip: Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator instead ofriunning the tap until the water gets cold. -For the seventh saigt month-, new home sales outpacd sales that were recorded in the correspnding month a year earlier,_ says Peter 'Simpson, executive vice president of the Greater Toronto Home Buildings Association (GTHBA).' Ini the GTHBA7s monthly, report on sales activity in. the Greater Toronto Area, Simpson says 575 new homes were sold, up 14 per cent from the 506 sales in July, 1990. lI June 1991, 826 new homes sold. Sales for the first seven months of 1991 ýtotal 9,201, compared with 4,434 for the saine period last year,- an increase of 108per cent. "W attribute the modest July total te the predictable summer doldrums sudthe fact oly one new prject was introduced during thZ month. Positive economic news on the horizon seema to be improving the overali m ood of the consumer and I believe we will experience a strong autumn, when many new project operings are scheduled," says Simpson. " But despite favourable financial incentive, packages. offered by builders, a growing number ofprospective entry-level buer are finding it difficult te, accuulate a down payxnent. The federal government should act now te implement its 5 per cent downpayment plan for qualified first-time home buyers. ets a great idea whose time is long overdue," he says. Simpson says rising unemployment remains a worry te the hornebuilding industry. "Familles affected by' the unemployment will 'flot be considering a new home purchase until their financial situation improves," he says. Housing Data Report, prepared b y Brethour Research Associates for the GTHBA, stated that July sales consisted of 401 freehold homes (70 per cent of market) and 174 condominiu mns (30 per cent). The west region led in freehold sales with 188, followed by north, 123, east, 62 and central, 28. Mississauga led the west region withi 124 sales,, followed by Oakviile, 30, Bampton, 28 and Burlington, 6. Richmond Hill set the pace in the north region with 26 sales, foilowed by Thornhill with 23, Newmarket with 19, Aurora with 14e Markhamn with 13, Woodbridge with 12, Unionville with 10, and VaughnfMaple with 6. Aýjax tepped ail eaat locations with 20. sales, followed by Pickering, 15, OEhawa, 15 and- WVhitby,12. lIt he central region, Etebicoke and Scarboro recorded 20 and 4 sales respectively. The west region led ail areas in condominium sales- with 72, foilowed by central, 65, north, 29 and east, 8. BARAIN onsece j s.. dse *hoghL the store! We're movIng Labour Day Weekend ta a larger locaiôn at Ksndalwood Park Pla Arts% crafts, educational supplies for schools,' instiutions and individuals. 1501 Hopkins Street,- Unit 3, ,Whtby (beside Ziebart)