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Constituency Week Report The Ontario Legislature took its traditional mid-session mid-session recess last week to let MPPs get caught up with meetings, correspondence, phone calls, speaking engagements, engagements, and the many other matters that get put on hold while the Legislature is sitting. sitting. Being in the Riding all week, I had the opportunity to discuss details of the announcement on capping hydro rates at 4.3 cents per kilowatt hour, along with the price cap on the fee we pay our suppliers for delivery of power. Essentially, these announcements mean our electricity costs will only rise if our consumption increases. Another article in this column column provides information on some of lower profile announcements last week on conservation and building more capacity for generating electricity. Getting our hydro bills back to a reasonable level is just the first step and it is certainly our priority. At the same time, we must not overlook overlook the long-range importance importance of a stable supply of energy and also conservation. Speaking to students is one of the most pleasant duties I have as MPP. Last week, I visited classes at the St. Joseph's French Immersion Centre in Bowmanville and also Lord Elgin School. Kids always ask great questions -- especially ones that yoü might not expect. It's a lot of fun for me, and I hope the children find it interesting to learn about my role as a Member of the Provincial Parliament, representing representing Durham. My week also included a meeting with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board last Thursday, lunch with the Bowmanville Rotary Staying in Touch MPP John O'Toole Club, speaking to the Durham Chiropractic Society and attending a SuperBuild announcement at the Bowmanville Library. As noted in last week's column, I was privileged to attend Remembrance Day programs around the Riding November 11th and the in the days leading leading up to Remembrance Day. There were also meetings with constituents in Scugog Township on a number of local issues. It seems there is never enough time. I noticed the noise barrier in Newcastle is already under construction, and there is resurfacing on the eastbound 401 as well as Highway 35/115. Too often, politicians at all levels get bogged down in the details of the political process and don't spend enough time talking to the folks on Main Street. It was great to have an entire week to work on constituency constituency issues. When the Legislature resumes sitting next week, much of my time will be committed to Queen's Park. However, I'm still just a phone call away. (Telephone: 1-800-661-2433/ 697-1501) Thank you for keeping in touch. Increasing the Supply of Electricity While the province has enough electricity to meet current current demand, we need more generation to keep prices at reasonable levels and to meet long term needs. Our action plan announced last week would: • Provide a comprehensive tax holiday to help create more electricity from cleaner, alternative and renewable energy sources, including natural natural gas, hydro-electric, solar and wind power. We need to do all we can to end our dependence on old fossil fuel Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, November 20,2002 - 9 generation and support renewable renewable portfolio standards. This would also help Ontario to meet the Kyoto standards. The Iter project is another example of an alterative fuel project with excellent potential. • Allow the Beck Tunnel Project at Niagara Falls, an expansion of the Sir Adam Beck Generating Station, to proceed. Proposed tax reductions reductions would help support this project. • Introduce measures to provide provide a property tax holiday for newly created assets that generate generate alternative electricity. (With appropriate compensation compensation provided to municipalities.) municipalities.) • Provide a sales tax rebate for building materials used to construct alternative energy facilities. • Establish a Centre of Excellence for Electricity, jointly located at Hamilton's McMaster University and The University of Waterloo. Conservation The cheapest, cleanest and most efficient electricity is still the electricity we don't use. Through conservation initiatives, initiatives, the Government proposes proposes (subject to approval of the Legislature) to reduce electricity consumed in its own operations by 10 per cent. We challenge all consumers to match this reduction. Here are some additional initiatives: • Ensuring that every newly constructed government and other institutional buildings are energy self-sufficient using alternative or clean sources of energy. • Establishing a Centre of Excellence for Alternative Energy, jointly located at Queen's University and The University of Toronto. • Launching a public education education campaign that shows electricity consumers how to reduce their consumption and Dickens Day Continued from page 8 a flea market table. Hot dogs and chili will be available. Proceeds from this day's events will go towards the Newcastle Community Church's Christmas food hamper program. thereby their electricity bills. • We propose to allow individuals individuals to claim a tax credit for the cost of solar panels. Our goal is to convert 100,000 homes to solar power within five years. • We believe that every new home should have the opportunity opportunity to take advantage of interval meters. (These meters record the time when electricity was consumed, so that the homeowner can benefit benefit from using power at off- peak hours.) We propose that all local hydro companies should be required to offer this service. Lowering Our Hydro Bills • Price of power lowered to 4.3 cents per kilowatt hour and frozen there. (Retroactive to May 1,2002). Refunds will be provided for the difference. • A cap on the price of delivery delivery charges at current levels. (Municipalities running hydro companies have the option of becoming non-profit operations operations to lower rates even further.) further.) • A review of all other charges on electricity bills and a standard province-wide utility utility bill that's easier to read and understand. Living Life to the Fullest? Habitat for Humanity would like to thank the thousands of volunteers from all across Canada who have been busy building homes in 2002 with families in need of decent, affordable housing. We're going to need more volunteers next year in order to build more homes and hope than ever before. Are you living life to the fullest? Come and see what all the fim is about! Volunteer, join a committee, or donate building materials and supplies. <er w Habitat for Humanity Bowmanville Lions Club annual Turkey Roll Friday, December 6th, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. 26 Beech Ave., Bowmanville Draw $1,000 cash 6 for $5 or $1 each J! CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON PUBLIC NOTICE www.muiiicipality.clarington.on.ca APPOINTMENTS TO NEWCASTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY HALL BOARD The Council of the Municipality of Clarington will be appointing three (3) members to the Newcastle Village Community Hall Board for a two-year term. If you are a resident of the Village of Newcastle and interested in seeking appointment to this Board, please submit your application to the undersigned by December 4, 2002. Application forms are available at the Municipal Administrative Centre. For further information regarding the Hall Board, please call Gabrielle Worsley at 905-987-3856. Marie P. Knight Stanley, C.M.O., CMMII 40 Temperance Street Deputy Clerk Bowmanville, Ontario Municipality of Clarington L1C 3A6