SPECIAL REPORT
40 YEARS FOR KIDS
OUR VIEW
GTA PARENTS TAKE AUTISM FIGHT TO NEXT LEVEL PAGE B1
THIS YEAR MARKS EASTER SEALS PAGE A3 RUN’S 40TH EVENT
WE NEED TO SHARE OUR PUBLIC FACILITIES PAGE A6
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Thursday, April 28, 2016
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yorkregion.com
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GROWTH & EMPLOYMENT
Job growth lower in Newmarket than GTA, York Region Employment growth was 1.5% from 2014-15
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BY CHRIS SIMON
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csimon@yrmg.com
ewmarket lagged behind the rest of the Greater Toronto Area in job growth last year. From mid-2014 to mid-2015, Newmarket’s employment growth was 1.5 per cent, compared to 4.1 in the GTA and 2.4 in York Region, according to a report released by the town last month. However, the town’s growth was above the Canadian (1.1 per cent) and Ontario (1.2) numbers, and falls roughly in the middle of the pack when compared to other lower tier York municipalities. “The GTA stats have the halo effect of the Toronto market,” Mayor Tony Van Bynen said. “It’s awfully difficult to tell one com-
For more stories on OMB and related issues, go to: bit.ly/1VCom1o To comment, email tkibble@yrmg.com
munity apart from another. The good news for us is that we’ve got a stable employment environment and we’re going through a transition and positioning ourselves for the future. I’m still very optimistic about the long-term job prospects in Newmarket. We’re focused very much on the types of jobs that come available in the future.” Newmarket is focusing on the creation of a high-speed broadband Internet corridor along the Main Street, Davis Drive, Leslie Street and Harry Walker Parkway See page A2.
STAFF PHOTO/SUSIE KOCKERSCHEIDT
The health and social services industry, largely driven by Southlake Regional Health Centre, remains the largest employment sector in town. In total, 18.2 per cent or 7,170 people work in the this sector. Overlooking the state-of-the-art emergency entrance is Sandra Smith, vice-president, our people, corporate services and chief human resources officer.
JUSTICE
WHAT’S ONLINE
Could Ty have been saved?
DON’T SEE IT IN THE PAPER? CHECK OUT MORE STORIES ONLINE INCLUDING:
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taurants and pubs aren’t meeting health standards. bit.ly/1KpTRrt
Father lied to mother, police about son’s condition BY JEREMY GRIMALDI
W
jgrimaldi@yrmg.com
e will never know when Ty Wint took his last breath, but the details surrounding the toddler’s painful death have raised troubling questions about his father, Mario Wint’s, actions in the lead-up to his son’s death and whether the boy could have been saved. Wint, 30, from Newmarket, pled guilty April 14 to manslaughter, admitting he killed the boy by repeatedly striking him with force in the abdomen Jan. 22, 2015. New information surrounding the two-year-old’s death was released to yorkregion.com Wednesday by the Newmarket court showing just
how hard the tiny boy was punched or kicked by his father, also raising debate about just how long he had been dead prior to authorities being notified. Wint’s day began when he walked his two sons, Noah, 5, and Ty to the older sibling’s school, Maple Leaf Public School, on the same street where Wint lived, Longford Drive, according to the agreed statement of facts. See page A12.
IN PHOTO: Ty Wint, 2, died Jan. 22, 2015. His father, Mario Wint has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the boy’s death.
SPORTS & LEISURE
FILE PHOTO
GROWTH & PLANNING
Town pushes province on OMB reform
Fenced out runner seeks traction on school oval BY JOHN CUDMORE
L
jcudmore@yrmg.com
ike countless North Americans, Brian Walker enjoys his daily run on the track at a nearby school. He would prefer to not run afoul of the law by doing so. Little did the Newmarket resident realize when he was asked to leave the track by a school staff member at Huron Heights Secondary School April 18 that he was trespassing. STAFF PHOTO/STEVE SOMERVILLE It was approximately 5:20 p.m. when Walker was approached by a Brian Walker enjoys the soft gravel track at Huron Heights Secondary Huron Heights representative and School. The issue about who can and cannot use the oval and when asked to leave the track on which is still up in the air. he has run for nearly 15 years. He obliged, but with questions. his use of the enclosed grounds “As a taxpayer and believer to the track, which wraps around in staying fit… it’s a track,” said a natural-grass playing field, he Walker, who fired off messages to was surprised by the request to ❑ What do you think about this York Region District School Board leave the track on which he had issue? Send your comments to trustee Martin Van Beek and run previously without incident. tkibble@yrmg.com Mayor Tony Van Bynen to express He had recently switched his his concerns. “I’m not sure why runs from early morning to late the mayor and lawyers have to be make sense?’ I think there is a cer- afternoon hours. involved. tain place where you have to ask if Walker, 56, feels running on “To be an adult and told you this makes sense and I think we’ve can’t use it, somewhere along the passed it.” line you have to say, ‘Does this Although Walker was confining See page A4.
Councillor Christina Bisanz leads charge for town csimon@yrmg.com tlatchford@yrmg.com
A
date has been set for the much-anticipated summit on Ontario Municipal Board reform — an initiative spearheaded by several northern York Region councillors. Elected officials from municipalities across the province will gather at the Markham Civic Centre for the all-day event May 14. Aurora councillors Michael Thompson and Tom Mrakas and Newmarket Councillor Christina Bisanz are key organizers. The summit will attempt to develop a consensus position on OMB reform. That position will then be documented in a report and presented to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Bisanz said.
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THE PLACE FOR
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BY CHRIS SIMON TERESA LATCHFORD
For more stories on this and related issues, follow bit.ly/1VCom1o
“We’ve been working hard to put together an agenda of speakers, panels and working groups,” she said. “It’ll be a gathering of elected officials from the Golden Horseshoe area who all have one common objective in mind: the need for significant and substantial reform for the OMB. We’re not suggesting the OMB does not have its purpose.” The day will begin with a panel discussion involving experts on the issues and challenges currently being faced by municipalities when it comes to the OMB. Following the discussion, attendees will break off into groups to brainstorm solutions to the issues deemed most imporSee page A8.
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