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Mas ons elect new siate of offîcers $2 billion lnvestment in hos- pital restructuring assistance. I was pleased to present a chequt e in the amount of $2,184,500-00 to Durhamn Non-Profit Housing. This funding was part of a $215 million investment In capital and maintenance of our social housing. In 1992, this fund- ing had been cancelled and we recognlze that keeping Our investmnents i sound repair is essential. 1 was very pleased by the wonderful turnout at my annual levee this past Sunday. Thank you to every- one for your support. It is a pleasure to serve ail the peo- ple of Durhami East. The Masonic Lodge, Orono W.B. Don Rees - P.M., W.B. Alan Plummer - Treasurer, B. instali their newly elected offi- Eric Gareau - W. M., W.B. Jim Irvin - Sr. Warden, B. cers. Pictured from left to right Alan Mote - S.S., James Cowan - Jr. Warden, are: front row, Wor. Bob Back Row - W.B. Brian W.B. Bob Rosspau - Inner MoCutcheon -O.G., R.W. Schoenmaker - Chaplin, B. Guard. George Robbins - D.D.G.M., Staying In Touch John O'Toole Durhamn East MPP The unfortunate weathei- conditions hri Eastern Ontaio and Quebec certainly present a difficult situation. On the darker side, t reminds each of us of how absolutely dependent we are on electi-ic- ity. Think of ail the farrn oper- ations with niilldug machines, poultry and other live stock o)perations, which depend on automatic feedig, waterlng and heatig services. Thilnk of the elderly, hospitals and homes without services. On the biighter side, it is i tmes like this that we comie togeth- er as communities an--dideed a country. From ail reports, this emergency situation is worse than the Winnipeg flood. Imagine the cold and darkness of wiutei- and chul- dren and the eldeiy without the necessities. AUl levels of govemment, as well as busi-' nesses, are workiug together for the greater good. 1 was in touch withi a small local busi- nessman who had just dellv- ered two of his generators outside the Kingston area. 1 know the province is assisting in organizing the delivery of generators and other emer- gency supplies to the trouble spots. When the going gets tough. the tough gets going. Anyone wantiug to assist, oui- office would be more than pleased to put you i touch with the organizers. This Urne of year seems to be the time of serious colds and flu. With the outbi-eak of meningitis in the Ktchener area and a reported case in Courtice, 1 was woi-iied. 1 spoke wth Dr. Robert Kyle, the Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Dui-hamn and was relieved to learn that this was not the sanie variety as ln Kitchener. We must educate oui- childi-en about the dan- gers of coughing and sneezing besides sharing food and other iisks of spreadingf germs. It wasn't long ago that a young teenlage boy died froma meningitis right here i Bowmanville. A gatheing was held last week to mai-k the officiai beginning for a permanient facility for older aduits in Clarington. I was piivileged to make a few iemarks and thought afterwards, that 1 wil qualify as a miember next year. 1 extend congratulations to the oi-gaizing commnittee and the many voluniteers as well as Mayor Hanire and the Clarington Council. Fund raising and volunteers will make ths project a success. 1 was pleased to read the statistics Canada report on unemployment this past week. Ontaio led the way with a rate of 7.8%, the lowest level of unemploymnent i the past decade. Ontario acleved almost 70% of ail net new jobs for ail of Canada. The majoiity of the new jobs were full time and small business played the most important i-oie. As Ontario regains oui- competitive position with lower taxes and less govern- ment spending, we are once agaiu an attractive place for business. Ontario's iecovery, as the largest province, Is obviously conitributling to the recovery of canada. However, 1 amn still unhappy with the youth unemployment num- bers and recogiZe that there is more to be doue to help our youth. The Ministiy cf Education announced the new sec- ondary school cu"-rriculum document. Starting in the 1999 school year, students mill have a four-year prograni with 30 credits (110 hours per credit) wth 1i g compuls- ry credits and 12 optional credits. The real change con- sists of a literacy test in grade 10 and a 40-hour communitY service component over the fou;r-year pro gram. Comm-un-ity service will give our youth the opportuuity to experience sucho~reas as the Uniuted Way, Canicer Society, Senior Services, youth activi- ties and normal citizenry respousibilities. 1Th1S is not al thaqt new as many of our local school comimunities have this i some foi-m today. Many of our young people already help in our hospitals, with the guides or sc 'outs, minor sports and other commnunity activities. The Idea of includ- ig our youth i the activities that oui- service clubs, Legions, 4 H Clubs and church groups have doue for years is positive. lB)eing a good citizen teaches us that we al must coutribute to oui- com- munity and oui- society. We mrust greet this change as an opportunity to learn from each other and woi-k ktogether. Who knows, perhaps by giviug oui- youth responsibil- ity i society today, we will be formiug the leaders of tomor- i-ow. This past week, I was pleased to annotince grants to oui- local hospitals. Bowmanville Memorial Hospital received $160,300.00 and North Durham Health Services (Uxbridge & Port Peri-y) received $215.400.00. The funding was part of a five year R. (DICK) T. MALOWNEY Director of Education & Secretary JUDI ARMSTRONG Chairperson of the Board AlTENTION CLARINOTON BUSINESSES Notice of O rganizational Meeting Clarington Board of Trade Wed., January 21,.1998 Garnet B. Rîckard - Recreation Com p/ex Mark this date down. You won't want to miss this meeting. Be a part of the Clarlngton Board of Trade. INFORMATION: Marketing, Tourism & Economic Development Office (905) 623-3379 =CMUNICPAUTYF ONTARIO Dates of Publication* Wednesday, January 14, 1998 Jennifer Cooke Marketing, Tourism & Economic Development Office 40 Temperanoe Street Bowmanville, Ontario LIC 3A6 (905) 623-3379 P.O. #6307 The 4Northuinberland-Clarlngton Board of Education Lees £ n Learning CLARKE HIGH SOHOOL will be holding an lInformation Night for PARENTS 0F GRADE 8 STUDENTS Wednesday, January 2lst e 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Parents are invited to corne and attend a brie f presentation, ta(k to staff and tour the facillties.