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Chisholm SCHOOL SUCCESS www.chisholmecntrc.com £ MacMaster dazzles Guide dog pups Centre crowd need foster homes A rtsc en e Page B 4 M erced es Benz Q .E .W . & IXtrval Dr. (905) 84-1-3240 w w w .o a kv ille b e a ve r.c o m N O R T A Metroland Publication Vol. 40 No. 150 i l c A 'S M O S T A W A R D E D LLE BEAVER C O M M U N I T Y N E W S P A P E R "USING COMMUNICATION TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES" WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2003 52 Pages Sl.00 (plus GST) Town council rejects recount Final outcome of mayor's race will be decided by the courts By Angela Blackburn O A K V IL L E B E A V E R S T A F F Town Council w o n 't ask for a recount of the Nov. 10 election, but instead will let a c o u rt challenge by Rob B urton, the failed m ayoral candidate by 15 votes, have its day in open c o u rt next M arch. Election hearing delayed to March 9 By Angela Blackburn O A K V IL L E B E A V E R S T A F F The court hearing on resident Rob Burton's challenge of Oakville's elec tion results and Ann Mulvale's victory as mayor has been postponed from Dec. 22 to March 9. "It is in the interests of the parties and of the public that the issues in this application he decided with reasonable dispatch." admitted Ontario Superior Court Justice David Corbett. The judge made his comments in an endorsement decision that came out of a Dec. 10 hearing held via a conference call among all parties -- except the third candidate. Spanish-only speaking Richard Serra who is currently in Peru. However, Corbett added, " That hav ing been said, it is important that the parties have a fair and full opportunity to put their evidence and arguments before the court." All parties agreed to the hearing being set for March 8 and 9. if need be, in the Milton courthouse. "This is a greater delay than is ideal, but given the imminent holiday season, and the balance to be struck between a speedy fair process and the need to ensure a complete record, the delay is not undue," wrote Corbett. A schedule of deadlines for the filing of evidence stretches from now until March 5. just days before the hearing. Corbett indicated there's no need for (See Town' page A4) The newly elected council sworn in Dec. I and Mayor Ann Mulvale, have been beleaguered by accusations of alleged wrongdoing by Town staff in election vote counting since Burton filed his claim with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Dec. 4. Burton is seeking a recount or a byelection. the latter which could cost approximately $250,000. Council had until Monday to ask for its own recount. Under the Election Act that could only be done electronically, the same way the votes were originally counted. It's up to the court to ask for a manu al recount or a by-election. Councillors took heat Monday from half a dozen residents, who wanted Council to order its own recount to clear the air - and they wanted it to be a man ual recount. Speakers were also angry that the court hearing won't occur now until March 8 and 9. if need be. Last week, the Town asked the court for a hearing date in mid-January to give it time to prepare its case. Originally the case was to go to court Dec. 22. Once all parties were consulted, and the court docket accommodated, the ear liest date available was March 8. In their initial report to Council on Dec. 5. Town Clerk Cathie Best and Town Solicitor Doug Gates reported. "A ll questions with respect to the elec tion procedures that were followed and alleged irregularities on Voting Day were investigated to the satisfaction of the Town Clerk prior to declaring the results official on Nov. 13...staff believe the election was conducted in accor dance with the provisions and principles of the (Election) Act." Monday, resident Cheri Bain said the gray cloud that's been hanging over the mayor's head since the election has turned to a black cloud and is becoming a thunder cloud. Bain asked that the Town not oppose Burton's claim in court and asked, "Is this an Oakville Watergate?" (See Residents' page A4) Barrie Erskine · Oakville Beaver FIRST SNOWFALL: A stuffed Santa tries to keep the snow off of his head in downtow n Oakville while a plow clears the sidew alks for Christmas shoppers Sunday morning. Study concludes no link between algae and West Nile virus By Jason Misner S P E C IA L T O T H E B E A V E R The green algae blobs that choke Lake Ontario's shoreline in the summer are smelly and ugly, but they aren't responsible for the transmission of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus. A $3,600 summer-long study con ducted by the University of Toronto with the public health departments of Halton Region and the City of Hamilton - both municipalities share part of the massive shoreline - found the gross algae mats are not good breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Results were released to the Region's health and social services committee last week. " The results clearly say algae blooms don't promote the growth of mosquito larvae." said Peter Willmott. director of Halton's public health department. "It should provide residents "The results clearly say algae blooms don't promote growth of mosquito larvae. It should provide residents with some reassurance ." · Peter Willmott, director o f Halton's public health department. with some reassurance." Algae formation along south Halton's shoreline is a big problem for residents living near it. particularly due to the nasty smell it gives off in the summer months. Halton's health department was asked by an Oakville regional council lor last spring to investigate whether the algae might be responsible for the high number of West Nile human cases, 60 in total, that plagued the region in 2002. Because algae is also a problem along Hamilton shores, the health department was asked by Halton to par ticipate in a joint study to test the algae to determine if it was, in fact, producing mosquito larvae. Three sites were sampled in Burlington, including Burlington Beach. Paletta Park and Sioux Lookout: and three in Oakville, including Birch H ill and Carrington promenades and East Street Parkette. Only three larvae were found in a July 30 dip at Carrington Promenade. Three sites were chosen in Hamilton with a total of 17 larvae identified. The report concluded that the fila mentous algae type found along the shoreline doesn't provide quality food for larvae to survive. "(The algae) should not be of con cern in the possible spread of West Nile (See West Nile' page A3) Pages learned lesson of friendship By Wilma Blokhuis B E A V E R F O C U S E D IT O R Irene Harmgardt · Special to the Oakville Beaver Gabrielle Brunet Poirier and Ju lie Harm gardt became fast friends during their tenure as Queen's Park Pages. Gabrielle Brunet Poirier left her home in Ottawa for an educational experience as a Queen's Park Legislative Page in Toronto and wound up with a close friend in Oakville. Gabrielle, 13. was originally scheduled to stay with a family friend for the duration of the pro gram. but that changed when she formed an imme diate bond with fellow' page, Julie Harmgardt. Julie's mother, Irene Harmgardt. had offered to billet a page, and after learning that the two girls had "hit it off" on the first day. she invited her daughter's new-found friend to stay with them, instead. " Now I get to spend more time with Julie." said Gabrielle of her new friendship. "Julie's coming to my house this summer." Julie and Gabrielle are among 20 pages whose tour of duty started Nov. 24 and ends this Friday for the Ontario Legislature's Christmas break. Gabrielle goes home on Friday. Her mom will be staying with the Harmgardts on Thursday night. Julie is a French immersion student at Eastview School. Gabrielle attends Ecole de la Salle, a French language school in Ottawa. Both girls are bilingual. It is an understatement to say their schedules are full. The two girls, both in Grade 8. have put in 12hour days, traveling to and from Queen's Park by GO Train, to work as pages delivering reports, messages, copies of Hansard and glasses of water to the 103 MPPs " We have to memorize where the MPPs sit. their titles and ministries for those in cabinet, and how to get around Queen's Park without getting lost," said Gabrielle. "It's not that complicated should you get lost." added Julie, "just ask security." When not busy, they must sit at their positions, shoulders straight, hands folded right over left on their knees, and feet flat on the floor, while waiting for their next instruction. Both girls were amused to find themselves sit ting in that position during this interview. (See `Busy' page A5) IN S ID E Editorials.............. .A6 Focus....................B1 `Tis the Season......... Cl Gassifieds...............C5 Artscene................ C6 Sports....................D1 K u H l M i u n : Spurt }ktrt. P a rtia l D rih rry. Spurt C M . M y c n fJ& nt T V Hau Staples Busm en TkpoC Gum &an P rvip. H y A Z d IJttk C aaa n , I'u rtu 1` ackagtr. hm plts JaivO e ix fkm tr Ikp o L M acks Photo (Support Your Local Carrier) 1 Ptfacrtont Uat) ·hodud Agrwwwt S V L C D E L IV E R Y Far hom r d e l n r n A < u iftw r irnnr coil tWS> M i-9 7 4 2 M,wi. T u n . A Thun. 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