HEALTH BATTLE FIGHTING FOR RARE PAGE B1 DISEASE FUNDING
KA-BOOMERS!
OUR VIEW
MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER PAGE A3 TO STAY ACTIVE
POLITICIANS HAVE RIGHT TO BLOCK ‘HATERS’ PAGE A6
THE ERA NEWMARKET
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MAKING A SPLASH
STAFF PHOTO/NICK IWANYSHYN
Newmarket Stingrays’ Marcus Chan competes in the boy’s 10-year-old category for the 200-metre freestyle during the Steve Kingston Memorial meet at the Magna Centre Saturday. Chan finished in fifth place. For more photos and results, go to pages B5 and B6 or visit yorkregion.com for our online Sportsboard.
MUNICIPAL NEWS
FEDERAL BUDGET
Ottawa trip will surely net cash for York: chair
A
BY LISA QUEEN
lqueen@yrmg.com
fter meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna and other federal politicians on a trip to Ottawa last week, York Region leaders are looking for a financial payoff coming out of this month’s federal budget. “We were very well received. Their budget is out March 22 and when we left, we felt quite comfortable there will be stuff in that budget that’s going to pertain to York Region,” regional chair Wayne Emmerson said. “I’m very excited that we’re going to get some funding in all of it. Just how much, I won’t know that till March 22.” Emmerson, East Gwillimbury Mayor Virginia Hackson, Georgina Mayor Margaret Quirk, Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen, Aurora Mayor Geoff Dawe, Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Justin Altmann, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Markham councillors Jack Heath, Nirmala Armstrong, Jim Jones and Joe Li, Richmond Hill Councillor Brenda Hogg, regional CAO Bruce Macgregor, director of
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government relations and executive assistant to the chair Lina Bigioni and Greg Stasyna, program manager of training, exercise and public education went on the trip. The cost for the bus and hotel rooms came in at about $3,500. Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill MP Leona Alleslev did not say whether this month’s federal budget will deliver on the region’s requests, but called the visit worthwhile. “I think it was important that representatives from York Region came to visit Ottawa. We had a very productive meeting with the prime minister,
See page A4.
AMAZING PEOPLE
Town approves new Code of Conduct
Ombudsman appointed to improve transparency
N
ewmarket has taken a few steps to become more accountable. Council approved a new Code of Conduct and appointed North York firm ADR Chambers as the municipality’s ombudsman, during a meeting Monday night. The code is an update to an existing document and is an attempt to set standards that prevent politicians from using town resources or their positions as elected representatives, for private or political advantage. As part of that update, council members will not be allowed to accept gifts, except under specific circumstances. They’ve also placed a 60-day timeframe on the filing of
Leap Year baby celebrates milestone Popular birthday girl enjoys 100th birthday BY CHRIS SIMON
B
csimon@yrmg.com
etty Robertson was born 100 years ago, but she may be the most energetic 25-year-old you’ll meet. The leap baby and Newmarket woman celebrated a special milestone with about 50 friends and family members at The Roxborough retirement residence Monday afternoon. Betty moved to Newmarket from British Columbia about three years ago, but she’s already quite a popular lady here. She walked into the hall assisted by
STAFF PHOTO/STEVE SOMERVILLE
i
BY CHRIS SIMON
csimon@yrmg.com
a cane and past a small potted multi-coloured flower arrangement with a rainbow-coloured balloon marked ‘100 Celebrate’ and she was wearing big golden earrings and a corsage made up mostly of cream and pink roses and white baby’s breath. A pianist across the room plays Happy Birthday to You and is wearing a rainbow-striped blouse. There is a round of applause and Betty looks almost bashful, as if bothered by the fuss. A friend pats her on the back before offering congratulations See page A7.
IN PHOTO: Roxborough Retirement resident Betty Robertson turned 100 Feb. 29 and receives her birthday cake from Kara Morrison while her granddaughter from Australia, Natalie RobertsonWebsdale, looks on. Betty is really only 25!
integrity commissioner complaints and established rules around charitable fundraising and the disclosure and dissemination of information over social media. “Not only did we not have references to social media in the previous code but, prior to the last term of office, while having a code, we never had a single integrity commissioner complaint or investigation in Newmarket,” Regional Councillor John Taylor said. “Things are changing rapidly and that causes us to spend more time in this area. We have a much stronger document See page A4.
ONLINE NEWS
DON’T SEE IT IN THE PAPER? CHECK OUT MORE STORIES ONLINE INCLUDING:
❐ VAULTER BANDIT GROUNDED: Police have notorious bank robber in custody: bit.ly/218fEWW ❐ DINE SAFE YORK: Find out which restaurants and pubs aren’t meeting health standards: bit.ly/1KpTRrt
❐ CHILD PORN DISCOVERY: Former Jewish school director faces charges: bit.ly/1pnPtQ9 ❐ HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: York Region schools hold wall climbing competition: bit.ly/1E3HA8J
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