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jf- j s- xv j- c al2 2- economist swimibune the year in review- tuesday dec 26 2060 vsrjvw causcs neeia imanssay frompafral ir sj tremendous rate at die expense of the environment hogg explained ft1 were choking to death on urban sprawl- j she alsosaid the great media attention to the plight of the oak ridges moraine since late last year woke people up to existing urban issues x witness the municipal cam paigns of jane underbill of king township and erin shapero of thomhill underhill a former king councillor lost the race for mayor by a mere 25 votes to incumbent margaret black she ran in part she said to stop the construction of the big pipe the extension of the york durham sewer system that would bring more development into the area seventy per cent of king lies in the oak ridges moraine she said we need to really pressure the provincial government for legislation to protect it mike colle mpp and the lib erals municipal affairs critic would agree the government and town councils havent caught up with the will of the people he said fl although he was very pleased with the election results- throughout york region c r colle said be was amazed at the overwhelming support the public has shown this year par- tiailarly in richmond hill for the protection of the moraine irs an indication he said that peopleare willing to put the i environment ahead of develop- meat- iy wvlxt- mhe moraine is the source of york regions groundwater and the starting point for its rivers flowing north and south its made of layers of sand and silt that filter water like a sponge drinking water for the region is taken from aquifers deep beneath the moraine support ers of the moraine fear new development of the land will jeopardize this water supply as well as take up precious green space as hogg said people are see ing the erosion of the quality of life small towns are disappear ing rapidly to accommodate the influx in population and thats upsetting for many people she said thats how hogg jumped into politics late last year she became concerned with the mike colle liberal mpp launched a campaign to save the moraine this year towns quick approval for rapid development on sensitive land it was incredibly ambitious and arrogant she said so hogg voiced her concern suddenly environmentalists appeared from the woodwork to support her arid 12000 votes later she said sounding sur prised im deputy mayor the same sentiments could be said of shapero who went to hogg earlier this year for advice on running in the municipal election shapero a greericandidate fromthornhill stormed her way into a seat on markhamvtown council also waving the environ- mental ilag4 she said her 63percent vie- i tory in ward 2 yvas dear indica- t that 905farea residents are j very concerned about the envi ronment the ridges moraine protecting water and what green spaces are left- ifs been a spectacular year for the environment she said but you aint seen nothing yet- shapero said a sleeping giant had been wakened in the publics mind and residents wont support politicians who dont demonstrate care and con cern for the environment j any politician stupid enough not to support a green platform will be voted out of office she said but it isnt just the politicians who have become more earthy true environmental activists are still a persistent force glenn de baeremaeker spokesperson for save the rouge has been a thorn in the sides of many york region doesnt have a green record it has an asphalt record he said there are fewer trees and streams every j an ontario fimidpal board year the york region record is hearing that gorurider way in an embarrassment- people will late summer regarding the fate look back on this region in the of oak ridges morainein rich- years ahead with disgust he said 15 million trees were ciudown in york region between1975 and 1990 adding the towhvof markhamv for instance has less than 5-per- cent tree cover its been a spectacular year but you aint seen nothing yet already theres evidence that not only are these protectionist voices being heard but action is ensuing last week king citys new town council voted to suspend any further work on the big pipe the four new councillors who calledthe 43 vote were all sent into office this fall on a green mandate councillors also voted unani mously to investigate a program of inspecting and monitoring septic and sewage systems to determine the appropriateness of the big pipe mond hill is in recess until jan 6 the hearing will determine whether the land richmond hill had set aside in 1980 will be developed or preserved jv developers have already pumped millionsof dollars into an area that makes up about onvthird of the town but there have been signs of help in december the nine con servation authorities responsi ble for the moraine announced they were banding together as the conservation authorities moraine coalition their new role is to assist the province and municipalities in creating legislation by providing the scientific data needed to make development policy so if 2000 can be considered a green year for the environmen tal progress that was made it is also a green year because it marks the rebirth of a new envi ronmentally friendly approach to life more people are moving for ward said underhill the elec tion showed that area outlet stores off price everyday jim q v- 11 iu j r isa wbeb tsp w sszi9 savriftn additianat the indctr footwear a i r en dy f m r c has e r eta i 1 1 n 6 this message brought to you as a community ser vice ofthe econ omist suntri bune pntes sftvi an additlonat the arthritis qviptv taw m your total appar the p u rt h as e retai mjip already reduted toslorkows v pnses on t 1 iviiucsi 1 jilt 1 kia your total apparel lllim- jailiii n before taxes ivk 1 s-ixchoim- richniond sso5177 v already reduced pntes on all artificial i christmas irks orations save an additional ihe already redmcil prltcs on oil 1- i1 pi watches hm ovailohle al our rocwwood f p i f l 1 rci 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