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Bde ct gaan ne ao LB die cond "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2001 - 7 HAPPENINGS & OPINIONS Children age five and up are invited to join in the fun each Saturday at Brooklin Branch Library for a great movie presen- tation. This week's (May 19) is "Air Bud," a - Disney presentation that unites a lonely boy and a fantastic stray dog that has the ability to play basketball. The movie runs from 2 to 3:38 p.m. and is free of charge. The library does ask, however that you phone ahead and book a spot for your child at 655-3191. And don't forget you can renew your library material from the comfort of your own home by using ARNIe on your touch tone phone. Call 430-7913 to find out how. It's as simple as 1-2-3. Tea Dance Whitby Seniors Activities Centre will be holding a Tea Dance in Brooklin on Tuesday, May 29. It will be held at the Brooklin Community Centre on Cassels Road East and is open to all those 55+. Enjoy an afternoon of entertainment from 1:30 to 4 p.m. courtesy of the "Happy Wanderers." Refreshments will be served and the charge is a nominal $2 per per- son. BROOKLIN PROFILE - BY ROXANNE REVELER - 655-4420 Renew library materials by phone... it's easy Festival May is music month in Whitby and the Jubilee Choir, under the direction of Barbara Breckenridge will present: May Festival of Song" at Heydenshore Pavillion Friday, May 25 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 27 at 3 p.m. Tickets for each performance is $7 per person and avail- able at Thomas House of Music in Whitby. The choir will perform a mixture of songs and light refreshments will be served. May Dance The WSAC will be holding a dance at the Activities Centre on Saturday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m. Music will be provided by the great band "Swing Shift." Enjoy an evening of live music, great dancing, cash bar, door prizes, a 50/50 draw and a late night lunch. Call 668-1424 for information and/or tickets. Legion Stuff A lot of new blood on this year's exec- utive at Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 152, Brooklin. Standing from june 01/01 to May 31/02 will be Don Vipond as presi- dent; Doug Cook as Ist vice; Marilyn Blain as 2nd vice; Maureen Heward as secre- tary; Laurie Blyth as treasurer; Mary Jean Heron as past president; Steve Cosgrove s Sgt. At Arms; and the following as exec- utive members: Ella Bell, Terry Blair, Kevin Blakely, Joan Cosgrove, Don Jansma, and Jessie Miller. Congratulations toall. Speaking of Congrats A well done to local Brooklin young men who recently placed exceptionally well at the CGJA - IFJG (lots of letters for the Cdn. junior golf program) North American qualifying tournament. Brad Dyment placed second with a 36-round score of 156, just one stroke off the win. David Arnold placed eighth also an excel- lent showing with a 163 total for the three days of play. Both were in the 14 to 16 year olds age category at the event that took place at the National Pines Golf Club in Barrie. Budding Tigers or what? Hort. Club News Join the members of Brooklin Horticultural Society on Wednesday, May 23 for the Spring Flower Show. Guest speaker Patricia Thompson will talk about insects and diseases. The meeting will take place at Brooklin United Church at 8 p.m. For information call 905-263-4765. Blood Donor Clinic Advance notice that the next blood donor clinic will be held the Saturday after the long weekend, May 26 at the Masonic Hall on Cassels Road East between 10 am. and 2 p.m. There's always a greater need at this time of the year, with more folks on the road, so please take the time to donate. Merchants Brooklin Merchants won't be back home at Luther Vipond Memorial Arena until Saturday, May 26 when they play at 7 p.m. Mark it on the calendar and see you there. Hmm.... Got taken to the Dome to see the Jays game last Sunday for Mother's Day. Imagine my surprise when | opened the door to Gate 5 and was greeted by none other than Jays manager (and former coach) Buck-Martinez. All donned up in his uniform, he gave me a hug, handed me a bouquet of carnations and wished me a happy Mother's Day. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. I'm just thrilled. Too bad I didn't have a camera with me. MPs are elected to serve Province delivers budget As your member of Parliament | am elected to represent all the people of Durham regardless of their voting pref- erence. In a democracy this is pretty straight forward thinking but recent actions and comments by Tom Wappel, the Member of Parliament for Scarborough Southwest has given the public reason to question just who an MP feels he or she represents. I don't know what would possess Mr. Wappel to treat any constituent differ- ently based on the constituent's voting preference. He's caused me a lot of work and has cast aspersions on all MPs who believe they are elected to repre- sent everyone. Not just those who sup- port the governing party. I've known Tom Wappel for eight years, We don't agree on every policy but he has always appeared to be hard working. But my father was a veteran who received a war pension. | would be shocked to hear an MP refused to assist him because of the way he voted. Even more absurd is that Mr. Wappel seems to have an ongoing record of telephone canvassing gathered from the last election. In my case | wouldn't even know where such a list is located. And if | did 1 would never dream of using it to see which way a constituent voted, and based on that make a deci- sion to help him or her. Constituents who contacted my office about Mr. Wappel wanted some sort of discipline handed out. In reality he is a member of parliament, and can- not be made to resign unless convicted of an indictable offence. Also it really isn't for me to debate an MP's membership in the government STA ¢:b Fed Ll Talk by ALEX SHEPHERD DURHAM M.P. caucus. Only the prime minister can remove an MP from caucus. There are methods in which disci- pline is handed out. It's subtle, like what membership you get on what com- mittee or other measures the party whip could use to sanction a member. | believe some of these may be consid- ered. I recognize that Mr. Wappel apolo- gized only after the firestorm erupted that he created. Ultimately it will be up to the people of Scarborough Southwest to decide Mr. Wappel's fate by not voting for him in the next elec- tion. It has always seemed strange to me that many constituents admonish mem- bers of Parliament because they think the MP follows the party line and disci- pline structure too closely. However, when someone crosses those lines constituents want the disci- pline and structure used to sanction the MP. I assure the people of Durham that | am honoured to serve each and every individual regardless of their political preference and even if they failed to vote. But | can't help think Ottawa has become a strange place over the last few weeks with the opposition implod- ing and government members getting into hot water all by themselves. In our 2001 budget, we have met and exceeded our commitments to fiscal responsibility. However, we have not forgotten the needs of youth, students, and those who are most vulnerable in our communities. This is a budget that offers tax cuts and debt reduction, plus much more. Of course, the $60 million commit- ment to the new university at Durham College is the biggest news for Durham Region. The Ontario Institute of Technology (OIT) will offer one-stop shopping for students seeking a mix- ture of academic and hands-on experi- ence. This means university and col- lege now become affordable and acces- sible for the people of Durham. Durham College President Gary Polonsky, along with his staff, board and students are to be congratulated for their leadership in bringing this world-class university program to the Durham Region. I think it's especially important the Mike Harris government and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty have balanced the budget for the third straight year. That's something that hasn't happened in nearly 100 years. The budget also includes $3 billion in debt reduction and $23.5 billion in health care spending. It also delivers the remainder of the 20 per cent per- sonal income tax cut promised in Blueprint. In addition, legislation will be introduced to require hospitals to balance their budgets each year. The Public Sector Accountability Act introduced in the budget will require all major organizations that receive tax- payer dollars to make public their annual business plans and perfor- mance. Staying in Touch JOHN R. O'TOOLE MPP DURHAM EAST To help the most vulnerable, the budget sets aside $55 million in 2001- 2002 to enhance services and supports for people with developmental disabil- ities. There will be a further $67 million invested over five years to build new places for persons with developmental disabilities to live within the communi- ty. In addition, there will be $26 million committed over the next four years to improve the safety and security of abused women and children in crisis. An additional 300 beds will be provid- ed in shelters and another 100 will be refurbished. There will be a further $3 million spent this year - growing to $9 million annually - for counseling, tele- phone crisis services, and other sup- ports. I am confident that our budget offers responsible choices that will make Ontario the best place to live, work and raise a family in the 21st Century. But, a budget is only the beginning. Now we must work together to make the plan a reality. Copies of the budget are available at the John O'Toole constituency office, 75 King Street East, Bowmanville. For highlights of the budget and links to the complete text, visit the John O'Toole web page at www.johno- toolempp.com.