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Vol. 119 No. 19 Tuesday, April 9, 1985 32 pages Townships say no to Handi van funds | The councils of Scugog and Uxbridge Township have re-affirmed finan- cial support for the operating costs of Handi- Transit service, but refused to pay anything towards the capital ex- pense of a vehicle replacement in three or four years. 'Efforts have been underway for the past year or so to bring the service to the two Townships, but at a re- cent joint meeting, coun- "transporting cillors indicated strongly they wanted no part of paying for replacement of vehicles. The councils did agree, however, that if the ser- vice gets off the ground, the Townships would pay half the annual operating costs, estimated to be about $9000 for each municipality. It is estimated that to operate one specially equipped van for the come Regional Chairman and former Federal Liberal candidate Gary Herrema (left) and York South-Weston MP John Nunziata (guest speaker, right) were on hand to celebrate the nomination of Don Hadden as physically handicapped in Scugog and Uxbridge, the cost would be about $37,080 per year. Half the amount would from the municipalities and the rest from provincial sub- sidies and user fees. Handi Transit is a non profit corporation now operating in Whitby, Oshawa and Newcastle. The issue received a thorough discussion at a joint meeting of the two councils last month. The service would be used by the physically diabled for transporta- tion to medical appoint- ments, shopping and "Social outings. It is estimated that the cost of a specially equip- ped van would be in the $30,000 range. Provincial subsidies are available for half this amount and in Scugog and Uxbridge so far, about $6200 has been raised towards the balance. Durham York's Liberal candidate in the up- coming May 2 election. Mr. Hadden was ac- claimed at a meeting in Uxbridge last Wednesday night. See story for details.. Durham-York-MPP Ross Stevenson received the Conservative nomination unopposed at a meeting last week in Uxbridge. With him is Ontario treasurer Larry Grossman, guest speaker at the meeting who had very warm words of praise for Mr. Stevenson. (See story) Stevenson to run with Tory banner As expected, Ross Stevenson will carry the Conservative banner in Durham York riding for the provincial election May 2. Mr. Stevenson won the nomination un-opposed at a meeting April 2 in the Uxbridge Communi- ty Centre. In his 15 minute accep- tance speech, Mr. Stevenson told the Party faithful that if elected again, he will continue to give the job his full time attention. Mr. Stevenson also said the Conservative Party remains commit- _ted to the tradition of "imaginative, but cautious change." "That's what the peo- ple of Ontario want. We will be progressive in a conservative way," he told the audience. One of the most satis- fying aspects of his work over the past four years as an MPP was helping secure provincial funds for hospital expansions in both Port Perry and Uxbridge. He also noted projects to' expand schools and libraries in the riding and several neighbourhood improve- ment grants. Mr. Stevenson pledged to continue to support the Lake Scugog Task Force which is currently study- ing the aquatic weed pro- blem on the lake. He said, however, that - if the Task Force does not come up with recom- mendations, both the federal and provincial cabinet ministers may have to intervene. Mr. Stevenson was nominated by Dr. Bill Cohoon, a Scugog Township physician. Guest speaker for the evening was Ontario treasurer Larry Grossman who finished second behind Frank Miller in the Conser- vative leadership race in January. In that race, Mr. Stevenson worked long and hard for Mr. Grossman's leadership bid, and at the nomina- tion. meeting last week, the Treasurer lavished praise on Mr. Stevenson for that support. "His support for me was not an easy choice, comfortable or political- ly convenient. But it was based on principle and that says a lot for Ross," said Mr. Grossman. He expressed disap- pointment that Mr. Stevenson did not get a cabinet post in the Miller government, but added that it won't be very long (Turn to page 2) Hadden assails PC's at nomination meeting Brock Township Regional councillor Don Hadden was acclaimed as the Liberal's choice for the May 2 election in the riding of Durham York A group of approx- imately 100 Grits con- firmed their candidate at a nomination meeting Wednesday night at Joseph Gould Senior Public ~~ School in Uxbridge. The 50 year old farmer has been Brock Township's represen- tative to Durham Regional Council for the last nine years, with strong interest in the agricultural community. That interest was highlighted during his acceptance speech, when he combined his support for farmers with his distrust of the Pro- gressive Conservatives. '""'Maybe we should throw away the red paint and the green paint and paint our barns blue,' he quipped. "Maybe then the Tories will notice us." Agriculture wasn't the only topic he touched on, managing to find time to trade comments on education, jobs and women's issues. He ac- cused the Conservative government of cutting bark on social services and ignoring the plight of the jobless. "People seem to be comfortable with the Tories and | don't know why. Being comfortable is like an old shoe, which is nice to a point, but it's out of date, it's out of style and sometimes it smells a bit too," he said. "I think it's time that Mr. Miller went back to the job he's well trained for and that's selling cars and managing Santa's Village." With less than a month of campaign time, Mr. Hadden urged his suporters to "get out and work to the best of your abilities" in order to unseat Ross Stevenson, who has been the riding's MPP since 1981. Marg Wilbur of Port Perry will be running for the NDP's. Mr. Hadden is depen- ding on his connections with Regional Council and the time he has in- vested in local organiza- tions over a lifetime in the area. He has spent (Turn to page 6)