7 PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 20, 1978, WIIITBY FREE PRESS whitb Vouce of. the Cou nty Town Theonly Whitby newsPaper independently Michael L SERVINO OVÈR 28,,000 READERSf ýan Burgess,, Publisher-Managing Editor owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. - Comniry Editor Published every Wednesday contrîiting Editor Production Manager Print & Promotiona' by M.B.M. PubIishingl Mangr and Photography 1fl-ciCassif ied Ad Manager Phone 668-6111il Circulation Manager Mailing Parmi, The Free Press Building, Member 131 Brock Street North,. Better Business Bu P.Ù. Box 206. Whitby, Ont. Wib hme -Srian vvînter -Marie Burgest -Robin LYOP -S. van Deel -.Sfidn LV n rt No. 460 rof the: rieau of Toronto Report from Queen's Park By George Ashe 'MPP In light of some of the changes that have taken place at Queen's Park over the past f ew weeks, 1 would like to outline for you the role I wilI now be assuming under the new titie 0f Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of 'Intergovernmental Affairs. The first aim of the new Ministry is to, bc open, responsive and constructive in dealing with the federal government,, the other provincial, governments and, most important,, Onta rio's own'municipal governments. The Minister, the ilonourable Tom Wells, and I have agreed 1 that we should look upon our dealings withaýil three levels of government, as a partnership,, based on three key words.. .cooperation, consultation and coordination. Mr. Wells willassume responsibility for contact with the federal level and the other provincial governments, in the general sense, I will liaise, on behaîf of the Minister, with the Ministers of Municipal Affairs from the other provinces. and continue handling requests and concerns from Ontario munficipalities. I will also continue to work closely withthe Provincial staff In preparing legislative presentations, and serving as the central coordinating figure for the Go vernment in assessing and commenting upon private legislation. I will be, highly involved in policy proposais related to most areas of local government, will continue to be active in the coordination of, and 'participation ini, monthly meetings between the Cabinet Ministers and municipal officiaIs to discuss policies and programs affecting municipalities, and will continue to bc deeply involved in municipal finance matters. The announcement of the shift of responsibilities was hardly out before 1 was off in my new capacity to represent -the Government of Ontario at a Conference of' Ministers of Municipal Affairs held in Banff, Aberta during August. The appropriate Minister from each 0f each Province attcnded 'and we held informai, discussions on the effects of federal programs or policies on munficiplaities, constitutional reform, property taxes and property tax reform, '_. role of' murficipalities in the 1980s, and of course sessions on the economy and how it is effecting the municipalities. The Conference was geared to encourage an exchange of information and ideas rather than straight endorsation or rejection of provincial reports. 1In the past few weeks, and in the weeks ahead, as well as attending and participating in may of our own community events and meeting with constituents, I have been, and will continue to be, travelling around the Province to meet and speak with various municipal associations and others on a variety of issues. When you add the foregoing to my legisiative duties, plus the crucial work for my constituents in Durham West, it looks like a very busy faîl season ahead. However, 1 welcome the opportunity of getting on with it, as I firmly believe there is a great challenge here to make an effective contribution to residents of Durham West and ofOntario. Sir Humane, society vet clinie needed ta the abviaus need ait neutering. And if the possibiiity of a flireal rhe article by Chris such a service. hLimane society is willinct free enterprise in OL Almey (Times, Sept. 6) concerning the praposed Ontaria Humane Society Clinic fin Whitby was very interesting. 1 am quite upset that Whitby council is sa mt.qch opposed ta*,ý this vêry necessary and worfh- whiie project of the humane society. i am certian -that Most competent veterinarians in this area wauid agree Veterinarians, I arn sure, have built' up a steady ciientele who wiII undoubtediy return ta them for the continuedl good service which they are pravidng. The Ontaria Humane Society service would be Specif ically geared- toward meeting the needs of animais whase owners cannot affard ta pay the reqular fee for spaying or Mount Fores t invites Dear Editor: The Centenial Corn- mittee of the Town of Mount Forest, Ontario, feels that there may be some of your readers-who have lived in aur town at ,nmA ti meor n avhv friends or relatives who have done sa. Beca use we want ta reach as many of these people as passible ta invite them ta aur centennial festivities in '79 we are hoping you wil1 pubiish this letter and heIn us reacih them. ta provide such a service, why fight them? Coun. Attersley seems overly concerned about depriving f ree enterprise, it would be better if ho was just as concerned about animalI welfare and stray animais. He does not seem ta be aware of he problems in this area. Rb.'aistcally speaking, would anyone need ta be concerned about the YOU (O ci The main events wili centre a round the week of June 29 ta July 7 with the monster centenniai parade on Monday, July 2. Anyone wishing to be an the iist of invitations can notify Mrs. Annabelie Langdan, Mount Forest, Io ur society? There are a lot of other things we should be concerned about. Does Attersley realize how many 'animais end up being destroyed; because of ,over-population?ý Spaying and neutering at reduced rates may be one of the ansvvers ta this probIem. RUTH BECK 735 GLIENFOREST ST. OSH4AWA entennil Ontario, NOG 2L0. We would like ta thank you for heiping us reach former area residents through your newspaper. Yours truly, Mrs. Jean Weber, Centennia i Chairwoman Merchants' association plans for its By JOHN ROBERTS The inaugural meeting of the Retail Merchants Association, held last Wednesday at the Municipal Building, could well have been a disaster due ta poor attendancu. lnstead, it bucame an interested forum for an exchange of ideas on retail concurns in downtown Whitby. When the meeting was called ta order thure were but two persans not connected with either the executive of the Association or the media present. It was stated initially that the purpose of the Association was t0 estabîish an organiza- tion specifically for the rutail sector of the town. It was determined that il was not to the advantage of profes- sional people to be involved in an organization of this type due to differences in persepetive. it was obvious that more retail merchimnts were fteeded in order to crentethe most effective type of organization. To this end, it was decidéd to send a lutter to alI merchants requesting their membership. The fee structure was set at $25 for the remnainder of this year, and $100 pur year thereaftur, to bu paid in instalîments if required. These fees are to be used in various ways. In addition to cavering the administrative costs of stationery, mailings and the like, the bulk of the money would bu used for promotions at various times of the yuar, and advertising in conjunction with these- promotions. The threu main pro>motions would bu carried out in the spring, during the sumîner sidewa Ik sale, and a ai Christmas. The merchants will be askud for no furthur funds throughout the year. as their member- ship feu will cover al costs connucteri with these promo- tions. and any actverti.sing planned for othPr limes of lhe ycar. Il was pointed out that even'a smaller shopping plazas association mumber- ship fees often approach the $300 range. It was also suggested that promotions be directed specifically at new communities in Whitby, such as Otter Creuk, whcre the vast majority of the new residents are as yut unaware of the advantages of shop- ping in downtown Whithy. White a specific approach to this promotion has yet ta bu decidud, il is possible that the downtown may bu pramotud as a shopping centre in itself, y'et white contaiîng most of the advantages of an outdoor plaza. at the same lime offering friendly and persona] service. The main promotional focus at present will centre around the Christmas season. Mlany ideas were offered for an exciting promotion that rvould not only encourage people lu corne downiown. but whivh would also entertain and promate the Christmas spirit. While it was not statud, there seemed to be an undercurrent of thought concerning itself with get- ing away from the com- mercialism 50 common in the holiday season these days and lean towards the promotion of the spirit of Christmas through events such as carol singing on a regular basis in the core area. Other plans were suggested, but il was decided ta pull together a number of ideas and meut at breakfast nexi Thursday, Sept. 21, ta fiiializu plans. In the mean- time. mumbers are to approach churches and attempitao arrange caroling by various church choirs. Church groups are învited to phone liey Watts ai Fashions 124; on Brock Street if they m Ight bu interested in caroling downlown during flic Christmas season. E il ber coneerns of the dwîonmerebjints were first promotions expressed, flot mne least now open on Friday nights being the apathy evident wiîl realize the value ol among many merchants in remaining open and offer organizing for the benefit of that extra bit of service tc aIl, and in taking part in the customers who ends up group advertising and shopping out of town on a promotions. It was hoped Friday night because so fe that the letters sent out to ail stores are open in the down- merchants during the next town area after six p.m. If couple of weeks would be the experinient is successfuî, able to explain the fuanction more standardized* store of the Association and spark hours will be encouraged some interest in the aims of truhu h ek rnn the roup A umbe of downtown Whitby more in members of the executive line and more competitive agreed to pay their member- with major- shopping ship dues early in order to centres. Merchants who give thu Association somu consider joining the associa- working capital for these tion will be asked to co- initial expenses of stationery operate with this plan. and mailing. Another concern revolved Other areas of discussio, around store hours. While it concerned bus service was agreed that legislation parking and garbage collec was not the answer to extend tion, aIl of which wilI bx store hours by the majority discussed more fully ai of merchants, il was decîded future meetings. AI to> attempt te encourage merchants are encourage( Friday night opening at least t0 attend the breakfas during the Christmas season meeting tomorrow at 7 anm as an experiment. It is hoped at the Mapie Leaf that merchants wbo are not Restaurant. r 0 ~1 n ,e at Al >d 11 IlIci VI IIICI Y IICI VW 1 wcl%.Ii illwoli.