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Civilian helps police nab robbery suspects Page 3 vxmn Province stops funds for Tali ship to dock newschool's daYcare >i Whiotby 1 "45Ua*Wf 1 ut5 , a Redmen swept m Ontario finalC Page 15 MPP, nânister discuss ospital futr Mayor: By Mike'Kowalski A major reduction lu provincial iransfer payments could mean fewer services or biglier municipal taxes, Wbitby officiais warn. Mayor Tom Edwards sud coundillor Don Mitchell expect éther or both scenarios te be a distinct possibility wlien the provincial government announces the extent of its proposed municipal funding cuts later this year. While an exact figure lias yet te be determined, tlie cute could be as higli as 20* per 'cent, Ontario municipal leaders learned last week. "Tiie Town of Whitby will b. in dire straiglits' if forced te make due with fewer dollars from the province, said Edwards, wlio estimated Whitby's chars te be more thsu $400,000. 'That's three and a lialf per cent of our total budget, whicli means tliat before we do anything else, w. have te come up with three and a hlaf per cent on top of our '95 budget just te sty even," lie said. That will likely translate inte a tax hike of some kind, "unless w. reduce the level of services te the commulnity," Edwards added. Last week, Municipal Affairs Minister AI Leacli told delegates te the annual meeting of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) te expec>d massive "direstraights" if cutýýbacks cuts iu transfer payments. (This le money provided by the province te lielp municipalities defray the cost of sucli items as welfare, road maintenance and public transit.) Aithougli le did not mention a figure during bis speech, Leacli later told.reporters tlie cuts could be as bigli as 20 per cent. However, botli le aud Premier Mike Harris made it clear that no more money will be comlng from Queen's Park. "In fact, you cun plan on reoeiving lesu as we carry tlirougli our commitments te reduce tlie size sud cost of the provincial goverminent,"e Harris told delegates. But wbIle promising te reduce the level of provincial assistance, Harris also lield branci. out an olive According te a news release from the premier's office, the government intends te give local coundils more control over liow tliey use their resources; te provide stable funding and te allow more local input , inte the decision-making process. "In other words, Fm offering a true partnership i whicli eacli partuer listens te tlie otlier, understands tlieir point of view and works together on reaching common solutions," said Harris. While lie appreciated the premier's promise of more consultation with local government, Edwards remains to be convinced. "I was pleased to hear it and I commend Mr. Harris on that," lie said. "I agree tliat wliat we need in soutliern Ontario and tlie GTA (Greater Toronto Area) is stability, but liow can there be if the mouey te do it is taken away?" Instead of cutting sud tlien consulting, Edwarda said it sliould be tlie opposite. 1. .I li opo tliey don't do that, I liopo tliey discuss it witli us firot . Council budget chie fMitchell liad maixed views of the government's .message. "le~s a two-pronged smord, Harris la also saying lie's getting the province out of the way," sald tlie MERPAGE 2 Wmni Wlkilled on 401 A motorist wlio left lier car.te pick up sometbing from tlie roaid was struck sud killed by suotlier vebicle on lgliway 401 east of Brock Street on Monday. Tlie womsu, wliose name is being withlield by police pending notification of next of kin, was pronounced dead at the scene sliortly after the accident occurred about 7:15 p.m. According te OPP Staff Sergeant Peter Scandian, tlie woman drove lier -car onto tlie shoulder of tlie medisu seperaing tlie eastbound sud westbound lanes of tlie higliway. .Slie left lier car te, remove su object from tlie road wlien slie was bit by anotlier vehlcle travelling in the far left passing lane, Scandian "ild. Police liave no knowledge of what the woman was attempting to retrieve -wlien the accident occurred, Scandian said. There were no otlier vebicles invoived sud no charges. are planned, lie added. Aithougl tlie victim's identity liad not, been released as of Tuesday morning, Scandisu, said she was not a local resident. By MBu" Kowalskl Whitby General Hospital's tam unoertain future lias been brouglit to -the attention of Ontario's new hieatiinitr Durliam Centre MPP Jim Flaherty met witli Healtli Minister Jim Wilson and ministiy officiais last wveek to press tlie case for retention of acute care services at. tlieliospital. While Flahierty dedlined te disclose tlie outcome of tlie meeting, lie did say tlie "situation is evolving" in, bis and otliers' efforts te prevent a restructuring of Whitby General's future role. "Mince the'election rPve met witli ail groups interested ini this issue, including meeting witli the minister ofliealtli," said Flaherty. ."Were working on the problem...I can't say mucli .mo re than tli'at at this time." Preserving Whitby General as an acute carslio spital was a major, component of Flaherty's succesaful campaign in the June electio n. During a early cmpaign appearance in Whitby, now-Premiér Mike . Harris promised that no clianges would b. made te the liospital witliout the support of local residents. If tlie government lionours'tlie premiers pledge, then recommendations pertaining te Wbitby General Hospital ina controversial report now before Wilson will not be enacted. Specifically, a proposai from thé Durliam Region District Healtli Council te convert Whitby General into a rehabilitation treatment centre serving tlie entire region would be scrapped. Therefore, Whitby residents i need of surgery and emergency services would not liave te travel te expanded liospitals in Ajax sud Oshawa as tlie study. suggests., But in a recent interview, ministry spokesperson Barbara Selkirk said the report is stil being scrutinized sud no deadline for a decision lias beer establislied. It'iin tlie minister's office. He's been going through intensive briefings but tlieres no time lins because ail program areas are under review,«. said Selkirk. Altliough the report contains several proposais for restructuring liospital services 'in Durliam R.egioir those dealing witli Whitby General have provoked the most. concern. In fact, aresolution expected te come before tlie iospital's board of directors neit montli could be tlie subject of heated debate. Submitted by Whitby councillors Gerry Emm sud Shirley Scott, it calse on tlie board te support Whitby General remaining su acuts cars facility and that sufficient funding be found to restore 24-hour emergency service. (In su attempt te reduce costs, liospital officiais last ysar closed