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Blackout victim wants more tree trning Page 5, Steel sti cofltiflu ike Toronto award for es Sean McQuay Page 8 Pages9 Warriors close to berth hm senmfinal Page I I By 1<1ke Kowalskl A drastic reduction ini goverament spending is essential to put Ontario'. fiscal -house ini order, says Durham Centre MPP Jim Flaherty. Although the ma'ntudeof cuts unveiled by Financeinse Ermie Eves last week may upset Borne People, Most Ontario residents accept the need for tougli measures, Flaherty insista. In fact, if telephone calse to laherty's Whitby law office are any indication, local reaction to the $1.9-billion hit delivered by Eves on Friday is generally supportive. Tm pleased that the majority of calis we've received are favourable," Flaherty told The Free Press on Monday. "There will always be some opposition to change, but our job is to look out for the welfare of ail the people of Ontario and I think our programn will b. understeed by ail." Flaherty admitted that plans to slash welfare rates by 21.6 per cent have drawn the most negative reaction, but he claimed the cut is not as severe as it appears. Effective Oct. 1, a single person who ie able te work will get $143 less per month, for a total maximum of $520. A couple with two children will get $335 a month lese, for a total maxidmum allowance cf $1,2Ï4. The measure is expected te save the province $469 million this year and $938 mlin next year.. "I must remond peopile tliat this money is tax-fr-ee, most (reupîents) are living in rent-geared-to.ineome heusing and if there are chiidren, there is money for school clothing," said, Flaherty.* "Even aftr the cut, it's (Ontarios9 rate) stüi 10 per cent aboye the 'other nine provinces. That's hardly a radical 'cut." Although 'social *assistance- programe !ill bear thé brunt, cf the. cuts, virtuaily ne area went untouched. For instance, two projects. near and dear te the hearta cf many Durham Région politicians and résidente have been put on hoid. The future Highway 407 and GO Transit expansion, such as resuimption of ail-day train service from Pickering te Oshawa, are included in a deferral of $200 million in transportation projecte. But neither bas been cancelled, Flaherty stressed - both will b. reviewed before more money is spent on either project. "The 407 is net dead, that's imnportant to realize, but it is being re-evaiuated," said Flaherty. Yet* Flaherty anticipates a favourabIe decision - the 131-kiiomnetre highway. from Missiseauga te Ciarington will be Ontario's first fully electronic tel highway and on. involving private sector financing. "The consensus is thi. 407 is important, if net crucial te tcononiïc growth -in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) and it will be seif-sufficient," h. said. H e W e v e r ý- t h e muiti-bilien-dollar project requires a considermble outlay of SEE PAGE 2 Reductions both praised, condemed Initial reaction te, the Ontario governmnets massive spending cuts has been decidedly mixedi. The nearly $2 billion in reductions contained i Finance Minister Ernie Eves' economic statement have either been hailed as much needed medicine for an ailing economy or branded a recipe for disaster. But no matter how anyone personally feels about the' goverrnment's proposaIs, most would agree the measures announced by Eves on Friday were the toughest Ontario has seen in many years. "There's no question that Mr. (Prmier Mike) Harris was given a mandate toecut the deficit and I comniend him for that," said Whitby Mayor Tom Edwards. "But I wish h. had gene about it differently." Edwards is stili uncertain how the municipality will be affected by the cuts, but is "confident that we will not be getting more money than in the past." However, in bis roi. as chair cf Durham Region council's health and social services committe., Edwards predicta difficuit times for- the majority cf social assistance recipients.- He points to a 2 1.6 per cent reduction in welfare benefits scheduled te take effect Oct. 1. "WVe've got 18,000 te 19,000 individuals in the Region cf Durbâm on welfare, cf which 6,500 are children," said Edwards. "The effecta of the cuits won't be realized until we get into it, but I'm confident that the food banks will be used as neyer-before," he said. For exaniple, a single person with on. cbild currçntly receives a basic allowance cf $569 per nionth, pluse $652 for shelter for a maimum cf $1,221, -Edwards explained. As cf Oct. 1. the $569 will be SEE PAGE 3 end of one-so care pa By Mike KowaRleki Local, volunteer organizations are breathing- easier now that Ontario's new* government lias guaranteed their future. Groupa such as Cominunity Care and the. Victorian Order of Nurses (VON> support a reconl agenciesý-intended',tcý.p-ntr4lize, long-term health carèi serv-ce' The so-oelled 'one-step shopping' appreach te caring, for the chronically iii and elderly wav' implemented by the former New Democratic Party government. But earlier this month, Premier Mike Harris announoed that legisiation (Bill 173) creating multi-service agencies ZMSA) will b. scrapped. During the next two menthe, HeaIth Minister Jim Wilson wili meet with Ieng-term care providers across the. province te devise ways cf streamilining the system. 'This is really gcod, he's (Harris) following up. on bis election promise," said VON executive director Sheila David. "We tried very liard te. get amendments (te Bill 173) in place, but they (NDP) didn't listen. This now gives everyone an epportunity (for input)."i Despite opposition from VON and ethers, Bill 173 was passed last December., Ontario's 1,209 vohmnteer agenciés Would b. amalgamated into 200 larger. bodies te avoicI duplication cfsexvices andmake it easi.r for recipients te obtain in-home assistance ranging from palliative car. te light housekeeping. "Vie always supported tong-term car ieformi, ;but the go. rnment e~t it get'off the 'rils," said David. 'There were a lot of things put in the legislation that limit.d people and community groupe," she said.* For example, a provision of the bill stipulated that 80 per cent of gevernment fùnding would go te n on-profit groups and the --m-ind-rt-1 the-Ivate sector Beating the. heat ZACHARY COX, MOIcS almo)st 3jofufld running througb the fountain at Rotairy dentennial Park an ideal- -- and fun - way to cool off durig a mrent hot speil. Poto by Mark Reesor. WhItbyý Free Prees