The Citizen, 2002-03-20, Page 24ONTARIO GOVERNMENT
SERVICES UPDATE
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) is currently on
strike. The Government of Ontario has made a reasonable and responsible
offer that is fair to employees and taxpayers, including an across-the-board
wage increase of 1.95 per cent in each of three years and increases to address
wage disparities in key occupational groups by offering ambulance/commu-
nication dispatchers and scientists an additional increase of eight per cent
and nurses an additional increase of 10 per cent.
It is not possible to predict how long this disruption of public services will
continue, however, the government remains available to resume meaningful
negotiations at any time.
Answers to your Questions
To further assist you we have provided answers to the most frequently asked questions we're
receiving from the public about:
Government Payments?
• Ontario Disability Support Program recipients should 'receive their monthly
cheque or direct bank deposit on time.
• Cheques will still be issued for the Guaranteed Annual Income Supplement payments
to low-income seniors.
• Ontario Works (social assistance) cheques will continue to be delivered by the munic-
ipalities, which are not affected by this labour disruption.
Driver's Licences?
• If your licence expired on or after March 13, 2002, you can still drive until the end of
the strike. This includes all classes of driver's licences.
• If your licence is suspended, the suspension will remain in effect until the strike
ends.
• If your plate sticker expired on or after March 13, 2002, it must be renewed. This can
be done at one of more than 280 private Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Offices
throughout the province; they are listed in the blue pages of your telephone book.
Payment is by cash only.
Health Cards?
• Your health number is still valid.
• You may be asked to fill out a health number release form by your doctor or hospital
that they will use when filing with OHIP.
Medical Treatment for New Ontarians?
• New or returning residents can access health services, and as usual will be responsible
for paying for those services. The usual three-month waiting period applies until new
or returning residents are eligible for 0111P coverage.
For up-to-date, pre-recorded information on services,
call toll-free 1-866-933-9233
or visit our website at www.ontarioservicesupdate.com
PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2002.
PC leadership hopeful makes stop in Wingham
By Jim Brown
Wingham Advance-Times
Ontario PC leadership hope-
ful Chris Stockwell was at the
Wingham Golf and Curling
Club last Thursday evening to
listen to the concerns of
Huron-Bruce constituents.
However, members of the
Ontario Public Service
Employees Union were there
to greet the minister of labour.
Scheduled to meet with the
constituents between 5 and
6:30 p.m., Stockwell spent
close to an hour speaking to the
members of OPSEU and their
supporters.
The leadership candidate
defended the PC Party's posi-
tion regarding the striking
union's demands for better
pensions and higher wages.
As public servants, the
OPSEU members are being
paid by the people of Ontario,
and their' pensions also are
being paid by the public. In
order for the government to
contribute a greater amount to
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
A rare and exciting event is
coming to the area this sum-
mer, sponsored by the
Catholic church.
Hundreds of people
between the ages of 16 and 35
will be making the pilgrimage
to Canada, July 18-22 as part
of the annual Days of the
Diocese. In the London
Diocese there will be 45,000
pilgrims arriving, with some
150 of these being hosted by
people in the Brussels and
Wingham area.
According to Lori Pipe a
member of the co-ordinating
team, the young people will
enjoy entertainment and
experience Canadian heritage
during their stay here, though
specifics have not yet been
finalized.
Unquestionably a huge
undertaking, planning began
some time ago, with the for-
mation of the co-ordinating
team comprised of Terry Ann
VanNes, Henry Grobbink,
Dennis McGlynn and Pipe.
Committees were formed
throughout the parish for
fundraising, activities, food,
billeting, liturgy and advertis-
ing promotion.
When the pilgrims first
arrive in Wingham, there will
be a meet and greet with the
host families.
The visit will culminate
with an outdoor mass in St.
Thomas on July 22 for those
in the Diocese.
Pipe explains that the visit
also includes a mandatory
three or more hours of service
work by the pilgrims, which
can be anything from fence
mending to painting.
"Anyone in the community
can he involved in this," said
Pipe, stating that while the
Catholic church is the sponsor
it is an ecumenical venture.
"I heard a description of it
that I liked," said VanNes.
"They said, 'Faith has no
boundaries.' That's what this
is about."
With this in mind, they
the OPSEU pension plan, the
people of Ontario would actu-
ally be the ones footing the
hill.
Stockwell was accompanied
by Owen Sound-Bruce-Grey
MPP Bill Murdoch, a caucus
supporter. Huron-Bruce MPP
Helen Johns has come out in
favour of candidate Ernie
Eves.
Along with Eves, other can-
didates include Environment
Minister Elizabeth Witmer,
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty
and Minister of Health and
Long-Term Care Tony
Clement. The vote to replace
outgoing PC 'leader and pre-
mier of Ontario, Mike Harris,
takes place this weekend.
ISSUES
Like the other candidates
seeking to become the next
premier, Stockwell says he
also believes the three of the
main issues facing Ontarians
are health, the environment
and education.
And, like the other four can-
didates, he has indicated how
invite anyone who would be
interested in helping in any
way, whether as a host family,
with food preparation or serv-
ing, or with a service project,
to contact them at 887-6291
(Pipe) or 887-6288 (VanNes)
and they will direct you to the
correct committee. There will
be fundraising activities as
well.
Another aspect in which
local people can become
involved is perhaps the most
exciting. After leaving the
area, all the pilgrims, as well
as any interested Canadians
will travel to Toronto for the
World Day of Youth from
July 22-28. The fee to attend
is $240 plus a $15 solidarity
fund contribution to help
cover costs of those from less
privileged countries, said
Pipe.
The time there will include
a variety of activities includ-
ing concerts, dances and a
study of Catholic faith.
Attendance is not mandatory.
The main event is the vigil
to be held July 27-28. An esti-
mated attendance of 1.5 mil-
lion people will walk to
Downsview Airport where
they will spend the night, then
attend a Papal mass the next
day.
Anyone interested in
attending the vigil can do so
by paying $100 which
includes meals or $65.
While the event is annual,
the fact that the hosting coun-
try changes each year, makes
this whole experience rare,
said Pipe. Also the Pope only
attends every other year.
Pipe and VanNes who are
both attending, say they are
getting more excited about
the experience as the day
comes closer. They encour-
age others who might be
interested to contact them. "It
doesn't matter where a person
is in their faith journey," says
VanNes.
"This is a once in a lifetime
opportunity. It may come
back to Canada again but
not to our backyard," Pipe
adds.
he would work at improving
these three areas.
But tinlike the other candi-
dates, he has told the people
how these improvements are
going to he paid for, while at
the same time cutting taxes.
To help with the crisis in
education, Stockwell said he
would have a two-year morato-
rium on changes in education
in order to "calm things
down".
"The number one issue in
Ontario right now is health
care," he stressed.
He indicated the number two
issue is a balanced budget.
Education and hydro are the
third and fourth most impor-
tant issues according to the
people of the province.
Stockwell stated education
affects only those people who
have youngsters in the system,
while health care affects every-
one.
However, he would examine
the funding formula as he says
he believes the school boards
are not getting enough money.
He stated he would let people
know how the increased fund-
ing was being paid for.
When questioned about the
tax credits for people sending
children to private or religious-
based schools, Stockwell said
not all taxpayers are providing
the money for the rebates. He
explained that an average tax-
payer pays $7,000 a year for
education. A taxpayer sending
his or her child to a private or
religious-based school will
receive a rebate of $3,500.
"It's their money," he stated.
He added it would he up to
the parents who send their chil-
dren to a private school that the
staff and curriculum are up to
provincial standards, because
no matter what school they
attend students will be required
to pass an equivalency test
when they graduate from high
school.toc k s
well stressed that a
good public education is need-
ed in Ontario.
Brussels plans
for Diocese days