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PORT PERRY "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2000 - 7 Blackstock resident among those honoured by college On Friday, June 16, Durham College celebrat- ed the success of 1,500 graduates. As well, Durham paid tribute to six top achieving graduates. The highest ranking grad of any two or three year full-time diploma pro- gram was Roberta Gjaltema, advertising. The college presented her with the Gowernor General's Academic Medal and the W. Bruce Affleck Memorial Scholarship. Durham College Medals were awarded to: a Kristopher Spencer, Information Systems, who was the top ranking grad in any three year post sec- ondary program; a Lisa Coulson, Office Administration - Legal, who was the highest rank- ing graduate in any two year post secondary pro- gram; 0 Andrea Johns, General Arts & Science, who was the highest ranking gradu- ate in any one year post secondary program; Q Paul Wilson, Automotive Service and Technician, who was the a Frank top graduate in any apprenticeship program; Andrea Johns is congratulated by Durham College President Gary Polonsky. Conditioning Techniques, who was the highest rank- Salvagna, ing grad in any skilled Hearing, Ventilation & Air trades program. Summer Games, United Way on agenda for Chamber The Chamber of Commerce Business for Breakfast meeting on June 29 at Haugen's Barbecue Restaurant, will fea- ture guest speakers from two community organizations. Bob Howard, campaign director for the United Way of Oshawa, Clarington, Whitby, and Scugog and Brock Township will lead off the meeting with a presenta- tion on United Way programs and events that are taking place in Durham Region. The United Way's service and pro- grams as well as the traditional fall fundraising campaign will expand into Scugog and Brock Townships this year. The many ways that individuals and businesses can participate to benefit the community will be explored. Skip Crosby, general manager of the Ontario Summer Games will complete the moming meeting with a session on the games and the sponsorship and vol- unteer opportunities for Durham Region businesses and residents. Four of the games events are being held right here in Scugog - canoeing, rowing, lawn bowl- ing and beach volleyball. The games banners which we are now seeing throughout Durham Region and downtown Port Perry provide a sponsor- ship opportunity in which individuals and businesses of all sizes can partici- pate. The breakfast will be held from 7:30 to 8:50 a.m. at Haugen's Chicken and Ribs Barbecue Restaurant, 13801 Highway 12 at 7A (Manchester), The cost is $10 per person, including breakfast, for both chamber members and non-members. Everyone is welcome. Please call the chamber office at 985-4971 for reserva- tions. Durham MPP John O'Toole has intro- duced a Private Member's Bill which would see the use of a cell phone, or any other electronic device, while driving prohibited. The legislation, brought forward Wednesday (June 21) moming entitled Highway Traffic Act (Cellular Phones), 2000, addresses the dangers posed by indi- viduals using cell phones, lap-top com- puters or other electronic devices which would distract them while driving. Those with a hands-free feature would be allowed to use their devices. The idea for the bill came from a con- stituent in the region back in April. Since then, Mr. O'Toole says he has held dis- cussions with police officials as well as other parties with an interest in the law MPP introduces cell phone bill amendment. A regular commuter himself, Mr. O'Toole notes that on his daily drives into Toronto he notices "people filling out orders while driving, talking, eating, typing... who has their hands on the wheel while all this is happening? "This is all about public safety. We can't have people doing all these things and driving safely at the same time. It all comes down to multi-tasking, and you can't operate a motor vehicle safely while you're talking and typing. You need both hands free to deal with any arising emergency." If passed, the amendment to the Highway Traffic Act would make it illegal to use such devices on any road in the province. Fall could see confrontation on bill From page 1 with a strike mandate already in place," Ms Page said. One of the most contentious elements of Bill 74 - a section giving the govern- ment the power to force teachers to take part in extracurricular activities - was not passed with the rest of the bill. But Minister of Education Janet Ecker has made it plain that the power is there, if necessary. Extracurricular activities in Durham schools have been severely curtailed since secondary school teachers were forced two years ago to take on extra teaching time in the classroom. Minister Ecker told the Star that she doesn't intend to flex the government's legisla- tive muscle on the issue unless teachers attempt to "do as they have in Durham, and use the students as bargaining chips." Mrs. Ecker told the Star last week that "Ms Page has nothing to fear from this government as long as she follows the rules set in the Education Act. "I simply will not allow the students of Ontario to become part of the negotiation process between teachers and individual boards of education," said the minister. "We have said this all along; this is not new." Contract talks between elementary and secondary teachers and the Durham District School Board continue under a news blackout. Another session winds down in Touch JOHN R. O'TOOLE MPP DURHAM EAST This should be the final week of the Legislature's current session. The reason I say "should" is because this week each of the three house leaders will attempt to reach agreements on what will be cov- ered in the Legislature and what issues will be sent to committees for public hearings over the summer recess. Finally, they will need to decide which legislation will stay on the order papers when the house resumes in the fall. Generally, the government tries to fill the agenda and the opposition tries to slow down legislation. To fulfill this schedule, MPPs are scheduled to sit each night this week until midnight. 1 enjoy the debates and the tactics, how- ever, to the visitor or viewer who doesn't see the entire strategic process, it might look like a rather raucous process. This is often the time of year that many legislative commissions publish their annual reports. | review these reports over the summer recess and would encourage everyone who is inter- ested in doing the same to visit the Ontario Legislative Assembly's website at: www.ontla.ola.org. Some of the reports are ones issued by the Ombudsman of Ontario, the Information and Privacy Commissioner and the Auditor's Report. These reports com- ment on issues within their purview, as well as overall government perfor- mance. The issue of "Smart Card" technology, e-commerce and security are issues that have received much attention in recent months. Recently, Jane Stewart, the Federal Minister of Human Resources Development Canada, faced criticism when the federal Privacy Commissioner revealed that her min- istry had information files on all Canadians. | understand the importance having an available patient record sys- tem, for example, for doctors and nurses working in our health care system as this could help in emergency situations, organ transplants, blood issues, inter- provincial health care and a whole range of more efficient delivery of health care. However, at the same time, the issue of information privacy and security is para- mount and this must be looked at care- fully. The first report of the Canadian Institute for Health Information, an inde- pendent national not-for-profit organiza- tion, has been published. This organiza- tion was established in 1994 by Canada's Health Ministers to provide sound health policies and educate the public. Their report, which can be accessed at www.cihi.ca, presents the status of Canada's health care system by review- ing each province and other countries as well. For more information or assistance with any provincial matter, please call my community office at 697-1501 or 1- 800-661-2433.