Wednesdsay November lb, 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A5 Joe Clark rallies troops following positive debate By Paul Mitchison SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Tory leader Joe Clark split his time hammering both the Liberals and Canadian Alliance, during a campaign stop along the Burlington-Oakville bor der, Friday designed to indicate grow ing momentum. About 200 noisy supporters cheered his every sentence during the evening election rally held at the Burlington Conference Centre in support of sever al Tory candidates. Clark described the Bloc Quebecois, and Canadian Alliance as parties rely ing on regional support with no real chance of taking over in Ottawa. "We should be a country that is known for its gifts, not for its rifts," he said. "W hat we propose in this election is to offer change Canadians can trust." Clark suggested last week's leader ship debate signaled a key turning point leading up to the Nov. 27th voting date and argued his party is Canada's only trustworthy alternative. "W hen you have no alternative, governments take liberties, and Jean Chretien has taken his full share of liberties - we will send him a message over the next three weeks," said Clark. He made his remarks on a crowded stage with his daughter, Catherine and several local candidates including Tom Kilmer (H alton).Stephen Collinson eral election. "I wouldn't be surprised if people who had been supporting Alliance up until this week, are now taking a look at that again and seeing if they will stay there or come to us and we want to encourage as many as possible to come to us." Stockwell Day has denied his Alliance Party intends to hold a refer endum on abortion or it will introduce two-tier health care, but Clark believes Canadians don't believe him. "A lot of them (voters) are quite worried about what their real agenda is. It's not just on the question of health care now, but on the question of what they would do with their referendum initiatives." Two Burlington area ridings having chosen staunch pro-life candidates at nomination meetings - Don Pennell in Burlington and Ray Pennings in A n c a s te r-D u n d a s -F la m b o ro u g h Aldershot - and Clark was asked about that. `T here's a right in a democracy for organizations to take part in nomination meetings, but some times if a particular interest group dom inates a nomination meeting it costs the candidate's ability to win a seat," said Clark. "We're running here, and elsewhere in the region, on the strength of our candidates and our alternative we hope that will prove to be decisive." (Burlington), and Gerry Aggus ( A n c a s te r - D u n d a s - F la m b o r o u g h Aldershot). The Halton riding includes all of oakville north o f the Upper Middle Road. The Tory leader also took aim at the Liberals for what he called arrogance in calling an early election, designed to hold back an internal leadership chal lenge from Finance M inister Paul Martin. He also blasted Chretien for cutting back federal support which has "almost destroyed" health care and for having the second-highest corporate taxes among leading industrial nations. Clark accused the Liberals of not having a clear plan for retiring the $550-billion national debt, which he vowed to pay off systematically over the next 25 years. Speaking with reporters after his speech, Clark was asked what he thinks of the local support that seems to have drifted from his party, over to the Canadian Alliance, since the 1997 fed Photo by Ron Kuzyk Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark straddled the O akville Burlington border Friday night in an effort to boost support for the PC can didates in Halton and Burlington. Oakville You wrote the book! You photographed your favourite places... You wrote about your favourite people... You shared your favourite memories... Now, get the book! O u r O a k v ille : A C o m m u n i t y 's S e l f - P o r t r a i t S p a r l i n g : n o r e g r e t s a f t e r tw o t e r m s (Continued from page A1) "It was not just a Ward 4 issue. People don't want the town to lose its character," said Elgar. "People do care in this town, that's what this election told me." Another growth-related issue for Elgar is the lack of an inter-connected public transportation system in Halton and in fact throughout the GTA. Other issues must also be solved by blurring municipal borders. "We cannot work in isolation," he said. Elgar said his first step will be to establish an interactive website wherein he can communicate valuable informa tion to residents and they in turn can talk back to him, and to each other. He is also looking forward to learning the neces sary procedures and protocols of being a councillor. As for Sparling, Elgar said he was gratified that he called Monday to con gratulate him. "I think we both ran very profession al campaigns," he said. After serving Ward 4 for two terms, Sparling said he will miss his duties as councillor, but has no regrets. "Unfortunately it didn't turn out the way I had wanted last evening, but I'm sure Mr. Elgar will do a good job repre senting the community," said Sparling. "I've been proud to represent that area for nine years and I believe that Mr. Elgar will do a good job to continue the work that needs to be done in Ward 4." Important issues include rapid growth, Sparling explained, as well as having infrastructure such as roads in place before development. Sparling will be far from idle: he plans to devote more time to his business and find area charities with which he can work. our oakville Christmas concert to benefit shelter `T h e Practice," a special Christmas concert and gala fundraiser in support of `Lighthouse', the Salvation Army's homeless shelter, takes place Wed. Nov. 29th at the Oakville Centre. Featured that evening will be 2000 Juno Award-winner Deborah Klassen and Juno Award-winning gospel choir Faith Chorale plus many other artists. The Salvation Army, in co-operation with the Town of Oakville, the Region of Halton and members of the local faith community are committed to cre ating a permanent shelter. A temporary house of Ken- Street is currently in use for this purpose. "You would be really surprised who ends up at our doorsteps," said Salvation Army Major Raymond Braddock. The $75 tickets for the concert can be purchased directly through the Oakville Centre at 815-2021 or through Northern Praise Ministries at 844-0909 or (fax) at 844-3962. Northern Praise Ministries will issue a $50 charitable receipt for each ticket purchased. Cash, cheque or VISA accepted. The evening is being co-sponsored by Maggie Newlove, broker with Sutton Group People and Properties Inc. Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Wendy Burton Photo Editor & Designer: Peter Robertson Editor: Shelley Robertson Book Launch & Open House Sunday, Nov. 19, 2000 1 to 5 p.m. at Bookers Bookstore, 170 Lakeshore Road East Retail price: S21.95 A ll profits to the Community Foundation o f Oakville m ed ia p a r tn e r : T h e O a k v i l l e B e a v e r Le arn about co yo te s S atu rd ay Jo in the sta ff o f B ronte C reek P ro v in cial P ark on S a tu rd a y , N ov. 18 th , as w e ex p lo re the life o f co y o tes. B rin g y o u rs e lf o r y o u r fam ily fo r a hike along the M ic e M en and M a id e n s B lush T rail to fin d o u t m o re a b o u t c o y o te s in th e ir n atu ral h ab itat h ere at the park. L earn to how l fo r c o y o te s ... and m ay b e e v en hear them how l back! P re -re g istra tio n is re q u ire d fo r th is e v e n t by c a llin g th e N a tu re C e n tre at 9 0 5 -8 2 7 6911 ext. 231. A d m is s io n into the p a rk is $4 fo r a d u lts (1 8 + ) an d $2 fo r y o u th (417), up to a m ax im u m of $12 p e r c a r lo ad . C h ild re n 3 and u n d er are fre e . B ro n te H o! H o! H o! O akville Transit Welcomes the Santa Claus Parade! When: Saturday, November 18, 2000 8:00 am -12:00 noon Due to the Oakville Santa Claus Parade, Oakville Transit services will be slightly disrupted on the morning of Saturday, November 18. The following routes will be detoured as described below: 11 Linbrook 11 Oakville GO 14 Lakeshore West Leave Oakville GO via South Service Rd, South on Chartwell to Linbrook continuing on the regular route. Regular Route to Linbrook, North on Chartwell to South Service Rd., and West to the GO Station. Cross Ave. to Speers Rd., South on Dorval Dr., West on Rebecca St. and continue on Regular Route. (Those passengers wishing to go into Downtown should take the special shuttle leaving from the GO Station). Regular Route to Rebecca St., North to Dorval Dr. to Speers Rd., East to Cross Ave. to Oakville GO 15 Bridge Cross Ave to Speers Rd., West to Dorval Dr., South to Mary St. and continue on Regular Route 15 Oakville GO Regular Route to Mary St., North on Dorval Dr., East on Speers Rd., to GO Station via Cross Ave. 17 Eastlake/Downtown Leave Oakville GO Station via South Service, South on Chartwell, East on Maple, South on Watson, and West on Lakeshore Rd. continuing on the regular route. 17 Oakville GO Regular route to Lakeshore Rd., North on Watson Ave., East on Maple, North on Chartwell Rd., South Service Rd to the Oakville GO. Community Bus Santa's Shuttle Bus: Service will not start until 12:00 noon. Leaves the Oakville GO Station at 0:25 and 0:55 past each hour. Leaves Downtown Oakville Terminal (Church and Dunn) at 0:15 and 0:45 past each hour. The shuttle will wait at the Oakville GO in the outer bus loop near the bike rack. 14 Oakville GO Why Search for Parking Downtown? There's a shuttle bus between the Oakville G O Station and the Bus Terminal at Church & Dunn. Regular fares apply, children 5 and under are free! O A K V I L L E T R A N S IT C r e e k P ro v in cial P ark is lo cated ju s t 1 km north o f the QEW on B urloak D rive. For fu rth e r in fo rm a tio n on the p a rk ca ll 827-6911. [Route 14 Spctrs Road Speers Lake Ontario