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si the tribune tuesday december s1997 p parents can cash in chits mikeadler staff reporter its almost time for parents of local schoolage children to cash in their chits the provinces new payback law means residents can claim up to 40 in childcare costs for each day their younger children were out of school during the ontario teachers strike by filling out a form that will be available through local schools a par ent can ask for 400 thats except for york region catholic school supporters who cant ask for more than 200 the exception was made in the law because the regions separate school teachers began a legal strike nov 3 the board had argued this discrimi nates against its parents last week chair tina molinari said she had asked catholic school councils help convince mpps to change the law on friday labour minister jim fla herty announced that payment forms were available and set a return deadline jan 16 the application form is easy to fill out and simple to submit flaherty said and i expect that school boards will be prompt in making payments to eligible families he added the forms had not yet reached local schools yesterday although some par ents had already got one through the internet or their local library we havent got them yet but were expecting them in today said bob harper a public board superintendent the separate board is asking its par ents to wait for an amended form one that reflects the boards unique situa tion theres no rush said a board spokesperson by the end of january everyone will have a cheque she said education the catholic board is inviting people to call 4162215050 ext 7500 or 7040 to hear more both boards are planning to send the forms home with students and collect them at schools for processing only families with children who were under 1 3 or in specialneeds pro grams when the provincial strike began on oct 27 can apply and the form warns that its a punishable offence to submit false information the fairness for parents and employees act also protects parents whose children prevented them from working during the strike the law says these employees cant be fired or disci plined this second part of the act however doesnt apply to york region catholic parents for what happened after nov 3 may day daryl may left presents a cheque for 6000 to susan harmscn 2nd iccpad committee secretary and mayor wayne emmcrson in front of the already completed facility the money is from the brad may celebrity golf classic held in june at the mill run golf and country club photo by sjoerd witteleen together we 3000 aft way to go bridon motors gina rosen president of the markham stouffville hospital foundation and jan black development officer for the hospital accept a cheque fron brian ewens of bridon motors in stouffville the business has raised 8100 over the past three years for the cause photo by steve somerville kids send us your santa letters attention all whitchurch- stouffville children the tri bune wants to publish your santa letters and then ship them off to the north pole our pub lisher has connections and we can ensure all letters arrive to santa on time despite any postal delays we will publish as many letters as we can in the upcom ing issues leading to christmas letters must be handwritten by the children themselves not by moms and dads so get busy and write santa your christmas wish list since santa subscribes to the tri bune hell get a good chuckle from seeing the letters in print send your letters to the tri bune 6244 main street stouf fville on l4a 1e2 fax them to 6405477 or email us at thetribistarca tourism big ticket item across york from page ib include lismanis and whitchurchstouffville cham ber of commerce president hclene johnson region show that 17 million tourist visits are made annually to the region and tourists spend a whopping 180 million in yorks municipalities each year figures released by york johnson pointed out pulling the local equestrian industry together is a sound idea she added anything we can do would be good for the community said johnson houston ford mercury bill houston ford mercury sales ltd 1 1769 highway 48 stouffville 640454 1 mmm on all remaining 1997 new or demo vehicles in stock up to 48 mth apr lease oac as well as 00 financing on all 1998 windstars and 98 f150 pick ups mercury bloomington stouffville rd major mackenzie lour customers are the focus of everything we do