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Court ruling puts ‘severe dent‘ in goverment‘s plan to sell Hydro One setback to the province‘s Aa'l?ns to sell off Hydro One n‘t delay the opening of the retail energy market May i, say those familiar with the scheme. Last week, Ontario Court Jusâ€" tice Arthur Gans ruled that the provincial government has no legal right to privatize the electricâ€" ity transmission system, bundled up in Hydro One after Ontario Hydro was broken up by the province to deal with the public utility‘s burgeoning debt. The province will now have to appeal the decision, or amend the Looking For a New or Preâ€"owned BMW (Ontaric KOOL FM‘s Brian Bourke sheltered himself from Monday‘s blustery weather in his tent on the billboard in front of Grand River Hospital. Bourke will remain perched on the billboard for a week to raise funds for the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre. Members of the public are invited to visit the billboard to make donations to the campaign. OHORAHCEANGSLL ® FACTORY SHOWROOM 21 Alien St. W. 585â€"1000 www.bâ€"kmotors.com Mon Wed. 9â€"5, Thurs. & Fri 9â€"6, Sat. 10â€"4 By Bos VRRANA Chronicle Staff legislation to sell the company to the public May 1, in what was predicted to be the biggest initial public stock offering in Canadian history at about $5 billion. Paul Kahnert, a spokesman from the Ontario Hlectricity Coaliâ€" tion, who was just exiting the Toronto courtroom where the decision was rendered when conâ€" tacted by the Chronicle, said it was just the first victory for citiâ€" zens and consumers around the province worried about the conâ€" tinued deregulation of the former Ontario Hydro. Kahnert said the province will now have to have public hearings and public consultation into the sale of Hydro One. Poster Boy O . IHPF [] ~ PS & / / dme A d i° â€"Ae . %('/'y [/1/y f /))/'y/fl-) W hen g‘ poots. | .. t 7 R "g¢ . Â¥oo% A m Ei LPS ouiitizes p ) # 4 % h Â¥:. ’//)/'// T w/f . /fi//'/wy/{ C ur TIrrr ... W [ amâ€"â€"am . Sofas, loveseats and occasional chairs in a wide array of designer fabrics [ 6 H 20 \ #*"3 l Constantly changing, unique accessories and lamps from the far reaches of the world " y \\)&% w i displayed in a renovated century old furniture factory 9 Wnemen vew! s > * Sofas * Dining Sets * Bar & Counter Stools * Rugs * Lamps nanc? 9. C P . _E e $ * Accessories * Electric Fireplaces * Mantels * s , 1 "We know what that means," said the member of the grassroots movement apposed to the sale that has signed up more than 24 municipalities, including Toronto, London and Oshawa and numerâ€" ous private companies around the province opposed to the opening of Ontario‘s electricity market. "We‘ve put a severe dent into the government‘s plans and it‘s a huge win for the pebple of But that hasn‘t stopped the government‘s plan to open up the retail market May 1, which will still leave local consumers with the choice to stay on with their PAGE 3 Continued on page 7 DEBORAH CRANDALL PHOTO Witmer plans to bring peace and stability to education system ew provincial Education Minisâ€" Nler Elizabeth Witmer says she hopes to bring peace and stabilâ€" ity to an education system still dealing with the changes made by her governâ€" ment since they first came to power in 1995. Witmer‘s portfolio was just one of the significant changes that Ernie Eves, Ontario‘s new premier, made last week in a cabinet shuffle to launch his new government. In addition to being named to the Education Ministry, Witmer, a candiâ€" date in last month‘s Progressiveâ€"Conâ€" servative leadership contest, was also named as the province‘s gz gerrts: d 1 ep c aC deputy premier. It‘s the i first time a woman has [*+ _ held the post since Betty ‘f?;” Stephenson held it in |~ the shortâ€"lived Frank Miller government. he â€"~~ Janet Ecker‘s appointâ€" | 1® n ment in finance, and P some other significant changes like the shufâ€" k fling off of Jim Flaherty * to the reformed ecoâ€" nomic development \ portfolio, had some pundits suggesting Eves Elizabe has put a more moderâ€" Minister ate face on his governâ€" ment than the former Mike Harris regime. Witmer said she was surprised by the double appointment, although there were suggestions coming out of the convention that she was up for the double post, and said she is up for the challenge of the new Eves government. "Mr. Eves has certainly continued to emphasize that he chose what he believes to be the most competent and capable individuals for each job," said Witmer. "I think it‘s an indication that he has confidence with both myself and Janet (Ecker) to do these jobs." Education will be another difficult portfolio for Witmer after stints in labour, health and the environment, and implementing some of the most critical changes brought in by the Harâ€" ris government. The relationship with educators across the province is strained, and the former teacher and school board chair is looking to rebuild some of those bridges. "We need to build bridges with all By Bos VrBaNac Chronicle Staff Elizabeth Witmer Minister of Education the stakeholders." said Witmer. "We need to manage the implementation of reforms in order to provide the very best environment for the students in the classroom." Her appcintment was greeted with guarded optimism by educators and the teachers‘ unions that represent them. "For the first time in the mandate of this government they have appointed a Minister of Education with some backâ€" ground in public education," said Earl Manners, president of the Ontario Secâ€" ondary School Teachers‘ Federation, which represents Ontario‘s public high school teachers. "We can only hope that Witmer‘s experiences as a teacher, and as a trustee for the Waterloo board Kst of education, is a step °C forward for public eduâ€" cation in Ontario, not an attempt by the govâ€" MA | ernment to put a new al face on the old ideoloâ€" Education It will instead be a pilot program to valiâ€" date the test as a condition of employâ€" ment for new teachers. "That‘s quite a significant change," said Witmer. "It makes much more sense that you can validate the test, since it‘s a totally new test for new teachers." It also might leave room for discusâ€" sion on one of the most contentious issues between teachers and the govâ€" ernment â€" teacher testing. Teachers have argued that recertification will put them on continuous probation, and have been left wondering who‘s going to pay for the scheme. "I‘m going to meet with all the eduâ€" cational stakeholders," said Witmer. "We‘re going to really discuss the issues they believe are the top of mind â€" the reforms we‘ve introduced and make sure that they‘re all involved in the implementation. "I also want to make sure they‘re involved in the consultation." One of the major areas of discussion Witmer, for her part, has hit the ground runâ€" ning, making an announcement yesterâ€" day that the new qualiâ€" fying test being written this weekend by stuâ€" dent teachers will now be a field test. Continued on page 6