Newmarket Era March 3

Page 1

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

Publicationmail agreement #40051189

$1 STORE SALES / 30 PAGES

Thursday, March 3, 2016

MAINTENANCE • TIRES • BRAKES • OIL & FILTER • BATTERIES • ALIGNMENT

THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN OIL & FILTER

49

$

.99 +TAX

• TOP ALL FLUIDS • CHECK TIRE PRESSURE/ TREAD DEPTH • WASH & VACUUM INCLUDING FLOOR MATS • MOTORCRAFT OIL & FILTER

NOT AVAILABLE ON DIESEL. ON MOST CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS. NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY!

Fri 7:30am-5:00pm HOURS OF Mon. Wed. & Thurs. 7:30am-8:00pm OPERATION: Tues. Sat. 8:00am-4:00pm

yorkregion.com

18001 LESLIE ST,

905-853-8888

(South of Greenlane) Newmarket

905-853-5000

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

GET CONNECTED ❑

What do you think about this issue? We care about your comments. Email tkibble@yrmg.com

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

Hallmark York Group Realty Ltd., Brokerage Independently Owned & Operated

905.727.1961 • 416.213.5772

info@susancowen.com • www.SusanCowen.com Susan Cowen Sales Representative C

M

Y

A name you know...people you trust!

For more stories on this issue, follow bit.ly/1KHQPim Comments? Email tkibble@yrmg.com

Andrew Cowen

Sales Representative


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.