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14 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, May 18, 1999 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Tory minister slams board over special ed cuts By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Incambent MPP John O™Toole got a boost in his re-election campaign Friday when social ser- vices minister, Janet Ecker accompanied him on tour of the Durham riding. The minister, who's seeking re-election in the neighbouring Pickering-Uxbridge rid- ing, joined Mr. O"Toole on a swing through FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL US AT 1-888-ONT-VOTE (668-8683) OR TTY 1-888-292-2312 VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT www.electionsontario.on.ca June > 1999 Bowmanville, then met with local voters at the home of Dave and Carole Noble in Port Perry. In the basement of the Noble's home in the Canterbury Commons subdivision, a group of just over 20 people gathered to listen to the MPPs' cam- paign pitches, and ask the candidates questions. Education issues topped the list of tough questions fired at the 'best social Ecker tours Durham with O'Toole MPPs. Defending their educa- tion reforms -- and taking a few shots at school boards and teachers -- the two incumbents answered the questions asked. "Public education is the investment that can be made," said Mrs. Ecker, when asked about proposed cuts to the special education pro- grams within the Durham District School Board. "We want our children to com- pete with the rest of t h e world, that's ~ why we brought Ecker in standardized report cards, new curriculum and testing for teachers. We had to change the way education was funded for the benefit of the kids," she said. According to Mrs. Ecker, funding for Durham's special educa- tion programs were "very generous last year, and they topped it up, which was good. This year, we didn't take any money away and they even got more money, but they say they can't top it up again? Q x £ O 2) ELecTO ONTARIO PROVINCIAL ELECTION CERI CITE Rf] T=) receiving the Notice *of Registration card that is being mailed out over the next few days. It confirms that they are on the Voters List for this election. LOOKS LIKE THIS. If you are qualified to vote and DO NOT receive your Notice of Registration card, be sure to apply for a Certificate to Vote by 8:00 p.m. on June 2nd, the day before election day. THE NOTICE OF REGISTRATION To vote on June 3rd, your name must be on the List of Voters. Most Ontario voters will be 0 vs awe § ee ne [og STOMA 00 9 TALON EY SCOOT COLA COO) 1 VC IN 0 0 OY ORF The phone numbers for electoral district returning offices are available from Directory Assistance. If you require information specific to your electoral district, ask for "Elections Ontario" and then the electoral district by name. Returning office phone numbers can also be found on our website at www.electionsontario.on.ca IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF YOUR ELECTORAL DISTRICT, CALL US AT: 1-888-ONT-VOTE(068-8083) OR TTY 1-888-292-2312 DISTRICTS our website. 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Mrs. Ecker also expressed her disappoint- ment with the way the Durham board put for- ward the proposal to cut special ed programs, and mainstream the students. "(Durham Board super- intendent) Bev Friedman told the board that 120 teachers would lose their jobs because of this... that's insubordination for telling something the board hasn't decided upon yet," said Mrs. Ecker. "She's just trying to aggravate the teachers and make them think they're losing 120 jobs. I think of the board office and its leather chairs; I think of every dollar we could wrench out of there and put into our class- rooms." Mrs. Ecker expressed optimism about Tory for- tunes when voters go to the polls here June 3. "I'm just trying to help John campaign; we' re all on the same team," she said of her visit to Port Perry. "Being out here allows me to get feedback, and so far people seem to agree with what we've done and where we're going." | Advance polls will be open May 26 to 28 According to officials at Durham's Returning Office, at least 70,800 people in the riding 'will be eligible to vote in the upcoming June 3 provin- cial election. And that number is rising as revising offi- cers target new subdivi- sions and nursing homes for those legally entitled to cast a vote. On June 3 voters will be able to go to a num- ber of polls in the town- ship to cast ballots. Between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., voters can cast a ballot at Port Perry High School, Scugog Memorial Public Library, the Lions' Club Hall, Scugog Island Community Hall, Port Perry Baptist Church, Caesarea Community Hall, Nestleton Community Hall, and Blackstock United Church. Advance polls will be May 26, 27, and 28 at Emmanuel Pentecostal Church from 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Voters will have the chance to re-elect incumbent Tory MPP John O'Toole or give Liberal candidate Garry Minnie or NDP chal- lenger Jim Morrison a chance to represent them at Queen's Park.