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The Cunudian Champion Frîdmy October 6 2000 - 3 'Greater Toronto Services Board's urban sprawl report gets a rough ride at committee meeting By IRENE GENTLE Ttie Champion The Greater Toronto Services Board (GTSB) has a mandate to deal with transit issues in the GTA. But thas didn't prevent is from grtting a rough nde as Monday'a town administration and finance committre. Parsicular wrath waa reaerved for the GTSB's draft Countryside Strategy report, a planning tool aimed at stopping urban aprawl from blanketing the GTA. The report waa blaated by counciliors, who frit the GTSB is clueleas about both planning and countryside issues. Instead, the body made up of 40 GTA polisicians should stick to transit, said Councillor Barry Ler. "They should exelude planning principlea because they don't know anything about planning and they don't know anything about conservation authorisies," he said. The countryside draft ignores the meticulous planning work achieved by Halton Region, said Mr. Ler. "It waa kind of insulsing to ail the work we've done." Councillor Lieven Gevaert was rquaily unimpresard with the report, inciuding the graphie on its front page. "Their vision of the countryside was two horses standing in a meadow. I reaily took umbrage at that," he said. "I have concrrns that peopir are uaing airy-fairy, uffy-fiuffy stuff so that the GTSB can become another levri of govemment." If one level of govemment is done away with n the future, the GTSB wiii likrly take its place, wamed Mayor Gord Krantz, who "They should exciade planning principles because they don't know anything about planning and they don't know anything about conservation authorities." ~y Lu tisa on the board "That's flot fear-mongering. Thatjust happens to be the reality," he said. "It kind of scares me for the 905 areas." Since GTSB votes are weighted by population, Toronso current- Iy haa about 50 per cent of the voting power, he aaid. That means it wouldn't take much to push its own agenda. "If you aiready have 50 per cent of the vote, you only have to Iobby juat a littie bit, flot too much," said Mr. Krantz. "They only need that one per cent and I dont imagine that'd be too hard on a critical issue." The board bas been searching for a purpose froro its inception, noted Councillor John Chalinor. "Some of us kind of tels it waa a body iooking for a responsibil- ity," he said. "In this report, I stili arr it looking for something and in a sense it may be creating straw men to knock down." A GTSB report detailing GTA-wide challenges atong wîth response prnned by Town CAO Mario Belvedere was before committre for approval. But some counciliors frit the commenta may have bren too soft. "This waa a veiy difficuit report to Write. In being diplomatie, I've tried to avoid any political comment," responded Mr. Belvedere. He suggrsted that the committees commenta be included with the staff reaponse and sent to the GTSB. That was approved and will go before council for a final endorsement Tueaday. If approved, the entire package will be cir- cuiated to the GTSB, Haiton Region and ail area municipalities. I ~mm M I~ Public skating starting up Public skating begins this Thanksgiving weekend. Peopie can enjoy one of Canada's favourite winter pass-simes beginning Saturday as Mutons two armas. Memoriai Arma offers public skating Sundays from I to 2:30 p.m., whiie John Toneiti Sport Centre offers the activity Sasurdays from t:t5 to 2:45 p.m. and 8 to 9:30 p.m. The coss is $2 for chiidren, youths and seniors, $250 for aduits and $5.25 for a famiiy of four. For more information cail 878-4163. Creative Artisans will be in the Mail ~ with»autîful decorating & gift ideas or NO GST, there's nothing this sale can't do. lneraduanyehe La-Z-Boy Furnituse Galleses "Saper Sale"! llsefuadessfumlture spectacular nids savm1js, selerssos, quali~, ren~fisst asd s~~îet But dan't take aur wardfar it Sas the "Super Sale" in action. Famaus La-Z-Boy sofas, msrlinen, occasional chairs, isedmomi, sInus8 roams, end tables, lampe and mare -ail as unbelsevably laseprîces! Wisls an amazing "triple zem"finance ajle~ thss sale is savssg she day. Stop by La-Z-Boy Fumisure Gallenes saday. But lsursy! Because wJile tItis "Super Sale" ras daa surssber afassanishiny shisgs-is cons lastfarever Reclinersfrom $399 s Sofas from $799 * Redininq Sofas from $1199 55 Ontarlo St. S ~n.-Fri. .9:30.9:00 878'39O~sopmen Coun ALL Sun.1~i~ Tousssm PaOue