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According to City of Waterloo Mayor Joan McKinnon, development in the city‘s core throughout 1998 will signiticantly change the face of the uptown area "I‘m predicting that you‘ll be able to go down to our new fishing pier at Silver Lake and catch a fish." McKinnon said she believes Waterloo‘s econâ€" omy will remain strong and growth will conâ€" tinue throughout 1998. She also predicts the Canadian Technology Triangle will become a tangible force locally, nationally and internationâ€" ally. "I see the CTT finding a home â€" actually havâ€" ing an office and a telephone and becoming the entity we expect it to be as our economic develâ€" opment agency for this entire area. It will become tangible â€" let‘s go from the virtual to the reality." McKinnon said those changes will result in not only increased business in the uptown area but also increased residential use. McKinnon also said local residents can look forward in 1998 to the recreational use of Waterâ€" loo Park‘s Silver Lake. As far as the City‘s 1998 budget and tax rates are concerned, McKinnon said shes not able to make any predictions because "major" figures regarding transfer payments are not yet available from the provincial government "We still have to get three or four more major figures from the province, but the figures we have have not been cast in stone," McKinnon said. "The budget based on what we were doing last year was going to come with a tax increase ol 4 per cent. However, with the figures that we‘ve been studying, I‘m very, very concerned. 1 don‘t know how we‘re going to avord a tax increase. However, that‘s preliminary. Waterloo MP Andrew Telegdi says the elimiâ€" nation of Canada‘s deficit is the most important prediction he can come up with for 1998 ‘We expect that the deficit will be eliminated this coming vear," Telegdi sard in a preâ€"Christâ€" mas interview. when asked what lus predictions are for the new year. _ "And I think there‘ll be some payment towards the debt (currently estiâ€" mated at just under $600 billion! in 1998 I1‘s "Service: We Believe in It" PACK 3 747â€"2040 The first wigps of spring came blowing in or could that he the Tast wisps of fall? El Nino is playing hasoc with the road hockey teams of our fair cits. The weather certainly has not done anything to dampen the real estate market as 1997 came to a "I‘lfll‘ Home sales in 1997 continued strong as 4.295 homes sold with an average price of â€" PT0J60E on the ofd Lakh $150,000 or a 9% increase from 1996. While the number of sales dropped about 5% about the new "Lou" a from 1996 the increased average price resulted in total sales volume being up 5% Imilding. Drop into the The biggest increase in sales were in the sale of horags over $250.000 10 $300,000 Hope you had u grea where 130 sald. an incremwof 32.45¢ foomm 1406 amb in the ster $100.:000 where 16â€" 1998 the best year ever from 1996 the increased average price resulted in The biggest increase in sales were in the sale of where 130 sald. an incremsenf 32459 feaar 190M s homes sold versus 12 last year for a 58.3% increase not going to be a whole lot, obviously. But there‘s going to be something. So symbolically, it will be very important." Telegdi also said that although the deficit (estiâ€" mated at $8.9 billion in 1996â€"97) won‘t be elimâ€" inated until 1998, the government had already made moves this past year to restore spending in traditional social program areas, important to Liberals. For example, in 1997, the federal government actually decided to raise the ceiling it was schedâ€" uled to spend on health care from $11 billion to $12.5 billion, he said. And the government decided to throw in an extra $143 million as well. With the elimination of the deficit in the comâ€" ing year, the federal government will be able to : sz afford spending F 0 BEA | money in social in terms of safety, the community safety and crime prevention program of the federal governâ€" ment. . is going to take place nationally As lor national unity, the MP said he beleved Quebec separation was perceived as less of a threat by Canadians compared to one or two years ago And he said he believed there would be more and more reconciliation amongst Canaâ€" dians in the coming year Locally, Telegdi said he believed Canada‘s Iechnology Trangle would he more and more Andrew Telegdi LOOKING AHKHEAD TO 1 998 "I think you‘ll see action in the area of child poverty in terms of programs comâ€" ing in place," he said. "And I think program areas Telegdi said. WATERLOO REAL ESTATE UPDATE Waterloo North MPP Elizabeth Witmer said she envisions continued economic growth and job creation in Waterloo in 1998. successful in attracting more highâ€"tech indusâ€" tries and jobs to the Region of Waterloo in 1998. _ "We know this year that the area is predicted to do well growth wise," she said. "The picture is one of optimism." She said that 271,000 jobs have been created in Ontario since September 1995, and continued changes to the system of governance in Ontario should help create more jobs. As Health Minister in 1998, Witmer said the provincial health budget will be increased from a projected budget of $17.4 billion to $18.3 bilâ€" lion. Health care savings will be "reinvested" in specific programs around the province, like canâ€" cer care and carâ€" l diac care ‘ Locally, Witmer § * said she‘s waiting 5 , for the Health Serâ€" & + * vice Restructuring h j B report. due in the : spring. At that ~ * time the Health Elizabeth Witmer Ministry will address the problems identified by the report ‘We‘ll be able to provide mare funding." she said, "and work to filling some of the gaps that need to be dealt with." The pace of the legislature will also change in the new year We‘ve passed more laws in a shorter period of Witmer said some of the areas of concem in the Waterloo area include cardiac care, and a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRD facthty The overall market was strong due to low interest rates and an improved economic pacture. Kitchener Waterloo is one of the top communities for future growth as prodicted by leading economists. I believe 1998 will continue as 1997 left off. active The Uptown Waterloo scene will certainly have a new look with the retwement project on the old Labatt‘s site, What a great place to live. There are great reports about the new "Loou" as the owners haye spared no costs in revitalizing this historic Imilding. Dropanto the restaurant. it promises a wonderful dining experience g. Drop 1 £ Hope you had a great festive season and avoided the us bugs around. Make upr ver | u great festive season a avoided .M.‘}‘ eune 1 Sincerely, Ted Scharf, Broker, Scharf Realty, 747â€"2040 @ time than any previous legislature," she said "We‘re still obviously going to make changes but the pace will slow down " Witmer said her government has broken the taxâ€"andâ€"spend model of previous governments. bringing the deficit under control. She said they will continue to work to bring tax rehel to Ontario Witmer also said that the government will work towards addressing the differences between the policy makers and the vocal oppoâ€" sition. "We‘re threeâ€"quarters of the way to the promised 30â€"perâ€"cent tax cut," she said. "By 1999 you‘ll see the final implementation " Waterloo Regional Chairman Ken Seiling has one prediction‘for 1998 that most people in the Region of Waterloo won‘t like That‘s an increase in property taxes because of new funding responsibilities for services previâ€" ously funded by the province. Municipaliues in Ontario were to begin paying for 100 per cent of the cost of social housing, ambulance service, public health and 20 per cent of the cost for welâ€" fare family benefits, among other things, as of this past Jan. 1 because of fundâ€" ing changes iniâ€" Je tially announced i * by the province â€" PMR mm wl almost one year ks iligh * 6 ho . Z7 t ago. ho. . > Te "It‘s necessary for the government to listen to people, and to work cooperatively with the peoâ€" ple of the province," she said And when Seiling was asked if the region would be able to maintain current services in 1998 at current service levels, as well as properly fund and deliver its new responsibilities, he said that would indeed be a challenge 8P ul j 1e e Quite frankly, 'I _ * > s don‘t think theres [# yB s Anoy * oo e t any municipality P in this province lc that will not have Ken Seiling an increase in property taxes, with the exception of some of those municipalities where there is major restructuring taking place," Seiling said in a recent yearâ€"end interview. "That will be a decision that council will have to make," he said. "Clearly they (council) cant maintain services without an increase in taxes, think that‘s very clear. So 1 think that‘s a political decision to be made during the budget process in 1998." Seiling also said because of service dehvery demands made by the province, regional council will have difficulty in irying to find ways to save money. and thus keep regional property taxes down, in 1998 This year. regional property taxes will account for approximately 46â€"47 per cent of a regional resident‘s tax bill compared with approximately 20â€"22 per cent n 1997 The dayâ€"care budget is one area where there used to be some flexibility," Seiling said. "But the province is requiring us to deliver day care in 1998 at the same level as we delivered it in 1997 So I mean theres no Nexibihty there :E":‘: ' F v::‘: %’é@ & L e c s w fs. 1450 Victoria St. N Kitchener 7 Mâ€"Class VICTORIA STAR MOTORS The 1998 Mercedesâ€"Benz 579â€"4460