Page 42, Whitby Free Press,;Wednesday, November 9, 1994 Absence of women managers quesdoned FROM PAGE 1 when the current freeze on adding new employees is lifted by council, Edwards promised. As for the second issue, the question claimed a woman in the clerk's department was specifi- cally told not to apply for the deputy-clerk'sjob. But the woman was then expected to train the man even- tually hired, the question stated. (Questions were in written form and relayed to the candi- dates by officials of the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, the spon- soringorganization.) "I have no knowledge of the situation and I can guarantee you that having spent my life in the trade union movement, I would have stopped this right away," declared Edwards. * The issue was not pursued by any other candidate. However, The Free Press has been told by more than one person that the allegation is not without foundation. The female employee, who shall remain nameless, had no comment and referred a repor- ter's call to Town clerk Don McKay. "I'm not going to comment on a matter involving one of my emle yees, that's not proper,» said MKav. But McItay said he would tell the woman that she was at liberty to talk to the press. "I will advise (her) that she is free to call. I don't think it's in my place to comment on person- nel matters." As for the woman training the successful male applicant, McKay said several people, in- cluding himself, took part in the man's training and that is stan- dard procedure. Contacted a second time, the non-union employee preferred to "leave it as a personnel issue." "There's not much I can do about it. It was dealt with here,» she said. In a subsequent interview Edwards said he misunderstood the question asked at Thursday's forum. "Frankly, I didn't understand it to be a specific question," he said. "Maybe I didn't hear it. I thought it asked what would happen'if." Edwards said he would not comment further "unless the par- ticipants are willing to discuss it." «This is a personnel matter and should be resolved in the proper process,"he said. "If somebody is in the union, they can file a grievance. If not, there is a procedure to follow. I'm not aware that has takenplace.» Finally if women do not hold senior bureaucratic positions in Whitby at this time, they do have the potential for a major breakthrough on Town council. West ward councillor Judi Longfield, who was acclaimed, is the only woman on the eight- member council. Seeking election on Monday are mayoral candidate Pat Per- kins centre -ward challenger Shirley Scott and east ward can- didate JoAnne Prout. Experience counts PROM PAGE 10 "While it would cost us more to build two surfaces initially, it would becheaper to operate two tegether.» Evenrthough the door is open to private sector involvement in the building of a new arena, no satisfactory proposal has come forward, Edwards stressed. "This council explored four or five separate pro{sals and for one reason or another they didn't make sense to the taxpayers.n Edwards does net object to the private sector working in con- junction with government on such matters, but said the arrangement must benefit both parties. "Who knows what an in-depth analysis will reveal, but I urge parents who are impatient not to be bamboozled by quick-fix argu- ments,"he warned. «We can build all the arenas we want if people are prepared to pay for it. But the message we have is people are not.» As for anew library, Edwards vowod te werk te ensure the facility remains downtown. Noting that the 34-year-old former police and municipal building does not allow for expansion either upwards or out- wards, Edwards said an entirely new structure would have to be built. "There's no question in my mind that to take the library from the downtown area would have a devastating effect. The downtown is the integral part of any community.» Edwards aiso defended the need for a new library. "Forty per cent of our residents use the hbrary and I suspect 40 per cent is almost the highest figure for any recreation use. "ThepeopleofWhitby need the latest in librar facilities to take them into the 21st centur. As for personal objectives should ho be successful Monday, Edwards wants to continue Whitb s invoIvoment in initia- tives at have resulted in fore- ign countries such as China and ha ex ressing interest in trad- i an investing with local Ho•also hopes to resurrect his idea of brining together such oups as Block Parents Neigh- bourhood Watch and burham Regional Police to establish an overall safety and security pro- gram for Whitby. "Now that the Region has hired 20 new police officers I will lobby for it again," he said. "I'm encouraged by my conver- sations with the police and resi- dents. Crime is a major concern in our community.» Hoping for upset fOMPAGE 10 constitutes an official meeting.W hitby councîllors "They've (council) taken it to !vW hitb councillmiors local governiment must be more open and accountable. She referred to the objections expressed by some incumbents over parts of Bill 163 -- the Ontario goverment's attempt to limit how often a municipal council or school board can meet in private and to define what an extreme about thiree guys going out for lunch and calling that a meeting. "Im sorry, but going out for lunch is not a meeting. The province is talking about meet- ings where decisions are made and the public knows nothing about it." Regional Council PROM PAGE 12 stresses taxation in his discus- sions with the voters. "The biggest issue is taxes. I get it from every- where...businesses househol- ders," said Gopinathan. "Pm also hearing complaints that services are bemg cut," he said. As a result, it becomes a «balancing act" on where to draw the line, Gopinathan said. "It's a question of choices, cutting taxes or services." Gopinathan advocates freezing taxes for the next three years to attract more business to Whitby and te reduce the burden on homeowners. Answers to Whitby Trivia from page 37 1. The Royal Canadian Legion plot in Groveside Cemetery was dedicated in 1933. 2. The Whitby Armories building was on the site of the Toronto-Dominion Bank beside the cenotaph. It served as an armories from 1899 to 1946 and was demolished in 1970. 3. William Fairbanks Tempest of Whitby was killed in the Battle of Ridgeway during the Fenian Raids on June 2, 1866. His name is not on the cenotaph. 4. The Royal Canadian Legion was called the Great War Veterans' Association before it was organized in 1926. He also supports measures to improve Whitby's downtown, favours retention of acute care services at Whitby General Hos- pital and opposes the Lynde Shores development. STEVE SZUHAI Glen Hill Drive resident Steve Szuhai is also a first-time candi- date. The 57-year-old business con- sultant naturally wants a more business-oriented approach to running municipal government. "'m very concerned about the lack of vision in Durham Re » n,"saidSzuhai. .There should be some sort of action plan that says Durham Region is a good place in which to invest.» Szuhai feels that local politi- cians and bureaucrats may rely too much on existing industries and are not trying to attract new ones. "GM has been here the last 50 years. Maybe people feel that's enough.» Szuhai supports Whitby General Hospital remaining a full-service facility and opposes the Lynde Shores project. lack union's support By Mike Kowalski Two Whitby councillors do not have the official backing of their own union in their quest for re-election next Monday. Local 222 of the Canadian Auto Workers has not endorsed regional councillor Marcel Brunelle or centre ward incum- bent John Dolstra. The two CAW members were not included on a list of munici- pal candidates the union is sup- porting across Durham Region. But Mayor Tom Edwards, who is not a CAW member, received the union's endorsement. Edwards long involvement in the labour movement, as a mem- ber of the United Rubberworkers initially and later the Canadian Union of Public Employees, won him the union's nod. Local 222 president John Kovacs explained in a recent interview that candidates in Durham Region were invited to meet with a committee of the local to discuss issues of concern to the union. If the committee was satisfied with the candidates' responses, they were recommended for endorsement to the local's execu- tive Kovacs said. "Ne put the word out to people. Anyone who wants sup- ort was to come to a meeting," e said. "We intervievyed 38 people across the region. The committee came back to us with their recommen dations." Kovacs said neither Brunelle nor Dolstra appeared for an interview nor asked for the union's support. "These guys never came to us. I know both guys very well, I'm surprised they didn't.» Brunelle, who retired from General Motors earlier this year, said "I was in the union for 35 years" and is "proud" to be a CAW member. But he declined further com- ment on the matter. Dolstra, however, said his rea- son for not seeking the union's support was that he is not a member of the New Democratie Party. "We went through this a few years ago and I was told that if you're not a member of the NDP you couldn't be endorsed," he said. "Who I support for federal and provincial candidates is my busi- ness. - "I didn't ask for it this ýtime. I've never been a member of the NDP." IW:FcU7t shows CRAFT & BAKE SALE Palmerston· Avenue Com- munity School will hold a craft and bake sale on Nov. 26, 9 a.m. to noon. Rental fee per table is $15 plus a donation of a craft or bake item. For further information call 666-0959. CHUSTMAS BAZAAR On Saturday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., a Christmas Village Bazaar will be held at All Saints' Anglican Church, 300 Dundas St. W., Whitby. Featured will be warm muffins and coffee during the morning at the Village Cafe. For lunch, homemade soup, sandwiches and squares will be served. In 'Candy Cane Lane' there will be a wide variety of baking, chocolates, homemade fudge and preserves. There will be crafts, knitting and a silent auction barn where there will be many itemq and services to be on. BAZAAR The Catholic Women's League of Holy Family Parish will hold its annual Christmas bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring crafts, Christmas decorations, knitted goods, baked goods, penny raffle, bargain barn, games, draws, lunch and more. CRAFT SHOW The 11th annual Christmas craft show will be held at Col. J.E. Farewell Public School, 810 McQuay Blvd., on Sunday, Nov. 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be more than 40 tables of crafts. Admission is free. Proceeds go to school projects. CRAFT SHOW The Kinette Club of Whitby will host their fifth annual craft show on Nov. 13 at Heydenshore Pavilion. Tables still available. Interested vendors, call Kathy at 430-7499. All proceeds to charity. BAZAAR Westminster United Church Women (UCW) will hold a bazaar at 25 Manning Rd., Whitby, on Saturday, Nov. 26, 1 to 4 p.m. There will be home baking, novelties, crafts, candy, sewing, knitting, white elephant, tea room. Call 576-8218 or 576-2615 for more information. BAZAAR St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 209 Cochrane St., Whitby, is holding its annual bazaar and tea on Saturday, Nov. 12, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Christmas gifts, wearables, country crafts, a white elephant room and a bake table are featured. CIRISTMAS BAZAAR The Catholic Women's League of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church presents its Christmas Magic Bazaar on Nov. 19, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the St. John the Evangelist Parish Centre, 903 Giffard St., Whitby. The bazaar will feature baked goods, a tea room, Big 25, country crafts, white elephant, as well as knitted and sewn items. Proceeds will go to the parish and other charities.