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York County farmers have at least one other influential farmer on their side in their opposition to having their lands assessed at. market value. That farmer is Ontario Agri- Eulture and Food Minister Wil- liam Stewart. VOL. 95, NO. 23 “I_share the belief that it is tan centres with respect to not fair or equitable to assess‘rural assessment. a farm property on the basis FARMERS 1N CORNER of the price paid for one or “Rural assessment in the past more adjacent or nearby prop- has not fairly reflected either erties that may have changed‘the value of the land for farmâ€" hands for non-farm purposes."‘ing purposes or the ability of he said. lthe farmer to pay the tax load. He was speaking Friday nighttThere has not been sufficient 0f last WEEK at We first P10\"-'consideration given to the un- ing match banquet and awards'ique conditions that face the night held jointly by the threelgenuine farmer who resides in York Region Plowmen‘s Assocâ€"‘these urban-shadow commun- iations at Victoria Square Com-\ities.” munlty Hall. The associations; Stewart said there were many To Discuss Population Figures With Province He was speaking Friday night of last week at the first plow- ing match banquet and awards night held jointly by the three York Region Plowmen's Assoc- iations at Victoria Square. Com- munity Hall. The associations Jacobs To Be Member Education Task Force The task force itself will be involved in extensive interview- ing of and discussion with a variety of departmental and local staff. studying overall de- partmental objectives, objec- tives of various branches, the relationship between the de- partment and local education authorities and how these might be improved to facilitate meet- ing of local educational objec- tives. York County Roman Catholic School Board Chairman Eugene Jacobs has been appointed to a Department of Education task force to study restmcturing of the department. At a meeting of the board November 16. Jacobs told trusâ€" tees the task force was set up by Education Minister Robert Welch to examine the depart- ment and its objectives. to re- view the current department structure and to develop an im- proved plan of organization. Chairman of all school boards in the province have been asked to arrange for submissions from trustees and groups of trustees to be forwarded to the task force by the end of rho month. A resident of Woodbridge and trustee for Vaughan. Jacobs has been chairman since the inau- guration of the county board in January, 1969. Planner Claims Town Needs 100, 000 -â€" 200, 000 People To Provide Services It was trophy time Friday night for the winners of the various York plowing competitions O\'€1‘ the past. summer. Shown above is one of the numerous awards distributed at the first joint awards banquet presented by the three York Region Plowmen's Associations at Victoria Square. Left to right are some of the featured participants: Markham Mayor Tony Roman; Agriculture and Food Minister William Stewart. Ken Brown of Richmond Hill (holding trophy). and Al Wall, Agriculture Representative Region of York. Mr. Brown won a trophy for winning the King and Vaughan Plowing Match. He was also master-of-ceremonies for the banquet. ' Big Night For P/o wing C ompetitors By FRED SIMPSON EUGENE JACOBS hblic Likr'tr’y, 24 wri-ht 3t., Rich Agriculture Minister Stewart said, "Being a farmer myself. I can fully appreciate the frus- trations and the concerns of farm people in Ontario and par- ticularly those \vhb reside in the shadow of our metropoli- tan cemres with respect to rural assessment. FARMERS 1N CORNER comprise East York‘ King andgpeople, including the Minister Vaughan. and North York. eof Municipal Affairs, who take Agriculture Minister Ste\\'artit11e position that lands actively said, “Being a farmer myself. Ijused for agricultural purposes, can fully appreciate the frus-jregardless of their location. Bayview Residents Up In Arms Over Drivers; Petition Police A number of Richmond Hill residents are unhappy about the lack of traffic control on Bayview Avenue. A letter, containing the names of a number of Bawiew resi- dents has been sent to the York Region Police Commisswn. ‘ lllvsuasAuw. The complaints include trucksi In other busmeSS, the com- travelling at high speed and’mission accepted the low ten~ using the road from 8am to alder of B & M Motors. RR 2. pm, noisy mufflers, and the factiGm-mley, for supplying of 80 that it is generally unsafe tolnew snow tires for region police even venture out onto Ba)‘\’ie\\"cru15ers this winter. from side streets due to the reck- The B .5; M tender was set at less driving nature of a num- 523.50 per unit. 1391‘ Of mOtOI‘iStS- A total of 14 tenders were The commission has asked Police Chief Bruce Crawford to make a report on speeding motorists. noisy mufflers. and a general complaint of police negâ€" lecting to crack down on the violators. There was also critiusm of submitted York Regional council has joined-its voice to those of the York County Board of Education and various municipalities with- in the region in protesting Metros' proposal to annex a part of the region. At a meeting November 25 the regional council ap~ proved a planning com- mittee resolution opposing annexation. 71.111? o The area in question lies south of the proposed Highâ€" way 407 and takes in the most highly built up and industrialized portions of the Towns of Markham and Vaughan. The planning committee referred to a recent decis- ion of Metro Council to negotiate with the pmvince to have this portion of the Region of York included within the boundaries of Metrol York Region Council Opposes Metro Grab (See Editorial on Page 2l l ants Up In Arms Petition Police Hill )out 0!] mes ‘esi‘ fork :ked d to iing id a f.‘ the ‘ red that "inadequate marking on cross- walks for pedestrians to use in crossing the street." ‘ The complaints called for" more police observance and re- quested that plain. unmarked police cruisers be used to apâ€" prehend offenders. Fear was also expressed for the safety of school children crossing the street Police Commission Chair- ‘man Judge William Lyon obser- "the main complaint seems to be about speeding motorists." At a meeting November 11 the committee put forward the names of Aurora Mayor Richard llliugworth, Markham Regional Councillor James Jongeneel and Georgina Regional Councillor Robert Pollock. Vehemeut prot- ests came from Richmond Hill Regional Councillor Gordon Rowe a long time resident of the study area‘ and Richmond Hill Mayor William Lazenby. The matter of committee appoint- ments was returned to the plan- ning committee at that time. tlllIllllilllttltlltlllllllltttlllllIlllitllttlltittt(lllllllitltlllttlltlllltllllllltt Municipal Staff Yule Holidays Richmond Hill Municipal Offices will close at noon December 24 and reopen at 9am December 2'1. 1'1... Inllnn-inn. mAAI- AL- Mayor Lazenby replied that Ontario Housing Corporation will be consulted when the ap- propriate stage is reached in the study. York Board Chairman Arthur Starr Resigns York County Board of Educa- tion Chairman Arthur Starr is resigning from that post at the end of the month. At a meeting of the board on November 22 the trustee for “'hitchurch - Stoufffllle advised ‘fellou‘ trustees that. due to pres- sures of business. he will not be able to continue for a second gear as chairman Board constitution stipulates that a trustee may serve two people, including the Minister Transfers should be tax free of Municipal Affairs, who takeiwithin the farmer's lifetime. or the position that lands activelyéon his death. but the property used for agricultural purposesnmust continue to be farmed by regardless of their location.“tlie famin to avoid the tax.“ should be assessed not on the‘said the minister of agriculture. basis of‘their market value for; , ~URBANJSflADOW industrial. residential or com: .'.’I‘hese matters to which 1 mercial purposes. 1have just referred are of great “They should be assessed on the basis of their productiVe potential for agriculture pur- poses. soil and weather condi- tions." He said he also believed the ban shadow. same yardstick should be used; “The problem can be solved for assessment in the area ofiby the determination and will- estate taxes and succession dut- ingness on the part of all con- ies. 'cerned to arrive at a common- “Family farm land and other‘sense. down-to-earth solutioni capital property should belt can be done and will be transferable within the immed-‘doneJ‘ he said. “Family farm land and other capital property should be transferable within the. immed- iate family without being as- essed for capital gains tax. The resolution advises Premier William Davis that the York Regional Council is absolutely opposed to the surrender of any land to Metro. It wastagreed to prepare a brief in support of this position. At its meeting November 22 the York County Board of Education took a simi« lar stand and agreed to make it known to Premier Davis and various Cabinet Ministers and members of the Legislature. Richmond Hill and Vaughan town councils recently voted to support Donald Dea- con MLA York Centre in opposing annexation. On November 23. the council of the Town of M a r k h a m unanimously voiced its opposition to any northward expansion of Metro into the region of York RICHMOND HILL, ONTARIO, THURSDAY. DECEMBER 2. 1971 7%? After an earlier false start. York Regional Council agreed November 25 on appointments to the Lake Wilcox Area Special Study Committee. The committee will evaluate needs and recommendations for renewing the Lake Wilcox area of Richmond Hill. Three mem- bers of the six-man committee were earlier appointed by the Richmond Hill town council. After an earlier false start. York Regional Council agreed November 25 on appointments to the Lake Wilcox Area Special Study Committee. The committee will evaluate needs and recommendations for( renewing the Lake Wilcox area. of Richmond Hill. Three mem- bers of the six-man committee were earlier appointed by thet Richmond Hill town council. Since regional planning staff may be called in to assist with; the study. the other three ap-f pointments were to be made by} the region. , There was an uproar from regional representatives and residents of the area. houex'er. when the region's planning committee Chaired by Vaughan Mayor Garnet Williams 0\'eru looked a stipulation that one of its three nominees should be a resident of the area. At a meeting November ll At its meeting last week region council accepted without comment the plan- ning committee‘s nomina- tion of Councillors Jongen- eel and Rowe and Lake Wilcox Resident Robert Roth. Council also approved Richmond Hill nominees Rev. Robert McElhinney of St. Paul's United, Lake Wil- cox: Ross Farquharson. a former reeve of Whitchurch Township; and Richmond Hill Councillor Stewart Bell who represents the area in the toom council. Newmarket Mayor Robert Forhan pointed out that redev- elopment of the area will prob- ably involve low cost housing. He asked if the provmce should be involved» in the planning stages since provincial grants would be needed for such pro- jects. Mayor Lazenbv reolied that Since regional planning staff may be called in to assist with the study. the other three apâ€" pointments were to be made by the region. mummmuumuumuumunummuumuu\uuuuuuuuuunnm Richmond Hill Municipal Offices will close at noon December 24 and reopen at 9am December 27. The following week. the offices will close at 3 pm December 31 and reopen at 9 am January 4 for the New Year holiday. These Christmas season hours were approved by town council at its meet- ing November 29. Essentials Unity; in Non~Essentials Liberty; in all things Charity” E s s 0 Champions Special: East York. Paul Hulshof, RR 3, Stouffville; King and Vaughan. John Sheridan, RR 1. Stouff- ville; Norm York. Ken Ferg- uson. Stouffville. Mayor Lazenby I'eDlied that Ontario Housing Corporation will be consulted when the ap- propriate stage is reached in Board constitution stipulates that a trustee may serve two consecutive years as chairman. Starr was elected to head the board at its inaugural meeting in January. Before that he was vice-chairman under Markham Trustee John MacKay who ser- \'ed as chairman for two years. Current flee-chairman of the board is Vaughan Trustee Ross At a meeting of the board on November 22 the trustee for Whitchurch - Stouffville advised fellow trustees that. due to pres- sures of business. he will not be able to continue for a second year as chairman. board i J olliffe Efihmml In May 1970 the then Prem- ier of Ontario John Robarts un- veiled a “Design for Develop- ment: The Toronto-Centred Re- gion" -â€" a statement of in- tended policy to cover a wide area around Toronto. Rich- mond Hill council at that time filed a submission. prepared by Councillor Lois Hancey. which took exception to the popula- tion allotted to the town in the next three decades. The pre- sentation claimed that the Town of Richmond Hill is the area best suited to be created a regional centre in Zone 1 of York Region (where growth is to be encouraged! and with a population between 100,000 and 25000. SEWER PLAN VOIDED With relatively minor adjust- ments, most of this limited ad- ditional population growth may be serviced by existing and ap- proved upstream sewer treat- ment plants. the Rimon report continues. Therefore it is not clear what purpose the propos- led Central York sewer, will serve in this area. nor is it {clear how it will be financed twithout local contribution, he This criticism is contained in a. report presented to Richmond Hill Planning Committee last week and recommended to town council. It is hoped that the report will be endorsed by toxm council at an early date and that support will be obtained from the Region of York and neighboring municipal- ities. Council in a long late meeting Monday night didn‘t get time to deal with this planning committee report. By MARY DAWSON A forecast of a population of 67,000 for Richmond Hill by the year 2,000 contained in Economics Minister Darcy McKeough‘s Status Report on the “Design for Development: The Toronto-Centred Region," issued earlier this year, is criticized as being totally unrealistic by the town's Planning Director Hessie Rimon. says If the population allocated to Richmond Hill remains at its present figure. it is clear the Central York servicing scheme flake-based water supply and sewage disposal system) is fin- ancially and physically unjust- ified. The alternative is that the allocated population be in- creased to a level capable of supporting the OWRC's pro- posed' trunk watermain and sewage disposal system. says Rimon. The Overall population den-i sity in Richmond Hill at the present time is 1.3 persons per acre. says the town planner. This density will more than double by 2000. All the in- crease. hou'ever. will he in the southern part of the town. The Oak Ridges - Lake Wilcox area (some 7.000 acresl will have very limited or no residential. gromh in the next 30 years‘, because it lies in Zone 2. f’ Farther on in his report Rink: on says. “The Toronto-Centred Plan, when finalized. will dic«1 tate the policies for develop- ment and growth in the region! The Town of Richmond Hill is; requesting the provincial govn ernment to amend the Statusl Report in order that the townj may achieve its own objec-‘l tives. ‘ HOME PAPER OF THE DISTRICT SINCE 1878 r-r glam Concern of some of Richmond the Hill Junior Chamber of Com- Af_‘merce members that Santa alClaus would be missing from will the Hill this year prompted an 1mall-out effort by the JC's to mm. bring St. Nick to town NEED HIGHER DENSITY “From the experience of other urban municipalities in the Metro Toronto area which' are fully serviced and capable‘ of providing services at a level compatible with our objectives and aspirations, it, is necessary that the allocated population; density be upgraded to eight1 persons per gross acre at the‘ minimum. At this proposed density the town's future pop- ulation will be in the vicinity' of 200,000 which in our opin- ion is a much more realistic figure.“ says Rimon. t A statement from the town's, presentation to the provincial government on the plan as orig- inally submitted is reiterated” “The eventual result (of un-1 reasonable future populationr will be an area with a low level of services supplyng only dormitory population to Metro. which population would become even more oriented to Metro bringing additional pressure for its inclusion in the Metro- politan Centre." ’u'eight iincluding load) over ' [0000 pounds. but not a vehicle ‘ making local delivery. On the recommendation of “the region‘s engineering com- ;mittee chaired by Markham fiMayor Anthony Roman this by- law was approved. ‘: TRUCKS TO STAY “ The request for restriction of «heavy truck traffic on the 'iVaughan-Markham or Maple uRoad, however, failed to get the ‘usupport of council. The town was asking that such traffic be lilimited to the hours 7am to 7 ‘pm except for vehicles making ‘local pick-ups or deliveries. | The road, referred to as To ensure Santa will have a happy welcome. Richmond Hill‘s teenage folk choir will be on hand at 10am Saturday to supply music and song. Santa's helpers are being drawn from the young people and from OMNI OBLI, Young men of OMNI OBLI will also be about town advert- ising the big event and drawing attention to the time and place of arrival. Overall will be the “mother hens" of the JC's who have supplied the momentum to keep this old tradition alive for another year. Complaints about the nuis- ance and hazards of heavy truck traffic through the municip- ality have been mounting at local level. The town has ap- pealed to the region for support of bylaws which would restrict traffic on Elgin Mills Road and on the Vaughan-Markham Road. Both are regional roads, re~ quiring that bylaws passed by the town be approved by reg~ ional council. Say the JC's, “We don't want St. Nick to go the way of the sports parade and other fun ac- tivties of the town. so we took the bull by the horns â€" or may- be We should say Rudolph by the nose. and arranged to bring Santa Claus to town." Ban Heavy Trucks On Elgin Mills But' Not Markham Richmond Hill won one round at regional council last week. But lost the second‘ no‘ %0 w RC Wants “sewer 1Capacity Drastically Reduced A city of 200.000 people will be of sufficient size to with- stand the pressures and sprawl (Continued on Page 15) Richmond Hill Mayor Williain Lazenby will attempt to set up an emergency meeting as soon as possible with Chairman Gar- field Wright of the Regional Municipality of York, Minister of Economics Darcy McKeough Tenders were received Nov- ember 16 for construction of the sewer. with the low bid of $489,722 being considerably less than the engineering estimate of $650,000. Now the OWRC ls objec- ting to the size of the trunk sewer. Quoting the prov- ince as having adopted a tar- get population of some 67,000 persons in Richmond Hill, the OWRC requests the town to adjust the size of the sanitary trunk sewer accordingly. Richmond Hill inherited the 400-acre BAIF development from Vaughan Township with the advent of regional govern- ment at the beginning of this year. Part of the developers‘ agreement. also inherited (which has been worked out since 1965is that BAIF Associates will provide a sewage disposal plant Just north of the Langstatf Road. near Bathurst Street. at no cost to the municipality. The trunk sewer will also be in- The sewer is to be built in connection with the first phase of the big Richmond Hill BAIF development on the southeast corner of Vaughan Road and Yonge Street. According to a directive of the Ontario Cabinet it is to serve York Central Hos- pital. Don Head Secondary School and about 4.000 people already living in the southwest corner of Richmond Hill. Maple Road in the engineering committee report, extends from [slington Avenue in the west to Woodbine Avenue lformerly Don Mills Road) in the east. providing a link across the re gion between Highway 400 and Woodbine Av- enue. Traffic studies. says the re- port. show that this link will have to be extended in the near future to Highway 27 in the west and Highway 48 in the east. “How many trucks turn north on Woodbine Avenue?" asked the mayor. He asked that the report be returned to the com- mittee for further study. When the question came to Richmond Hill Council. said Lazenby. it was supported by a petition signed by every resi- dent within a block of the road from Bayview Avenue to Bath- urst Street. Brigham ' R&H ’ Peterson ° Medico, Etc. SIOP ’N Shop DISCOUNT MARTS 1d Minister of Municipal Af- lil‘S Dalton Bales to discuss )nstruction of the proposed orth Don Trunk Sanitary Sew- One of THE LARGEST SELECTIONS in the Metro area Richmond Heights Centre 884-6423 Mon. to S Mon. to Sat. 9 am. to 10 pm Sundays 9 am. to 6 pm mlm\\xmm\mmu\11mlum“muuummnmumum\\\\mu\\uum The, column. "School Daze,“ will be found on Page 3 of this issue. muumummummmummumunmnunmnumummumm\ml stalled at their expense. Part of the cost will be defrayed by government grants and loan forgiveness provisions. In a letter to the OWRC Mayor Lazcnby chided that body for making the statement on the population target that “the province has announced as pol- icy." and challenges their au- thority for such a statement. He points out that Provincial Tyreas~ urer and Economic Minister Mc- Keough has always allowed municipalities to make repres~ entations to his department on aspects of proposed legislation which would affect their indiv- idual areas. “If my municipality is to be strangled I would feel a little better if I knew that the hangman was prop- erly licensed, skilled and authorized to do so," com- mented the mayor. “I do not expect to leave any avenue of reprieve unop- ened prior to the sentence being carried out." he war. ned. He pointed out that the OWRC's most effective way at controlling population and dev- elopment in the area is by the sewage treatment plant it controls and’ can more stringent- ly control. He concluded his letter by stating. “I think the commission should not attempt to enforce proposed policies of the prov- ince which are not finalized and comments on which muni- cipalities and bodies have the prerogative to present." He also noted that the OWRC has a responsibility to the taxpayer and that the trunk sewer will [it into any major sewage dis- posal scheme for the area, even if such a scheme would phase out the package treatment plant. StouffVille Mayor Kenneth Laushway and Regional Coun- cillor Ray Twinney of New- market said these situations ex- ist in every regional municipali- ty. Councillor John Gilbert of Vaughan added that routing heavy trucks down Woodbine Avenue created nuisance and hazards in Buitonville. mmuumunu1li1m1mt1\muuuuummummuuumummmumn For the past two decades education has been of pri- mary importance to the res- idents of this province both as to the quality being provided for our children and its high cost in relation to the tax dollar. To aid in a better understanding of the learn- ing process. beginning with this issue “The Liberal“ is featuring a weekly column dedicated to the many ram- ifications of our school 51's- tem. John MacRae has been a practicing teacher with broad experience in ele- mentary. secondary and post secondary education. His career has seen him hold positions in one-room rural schools through to those in large urban cen- tres. He is also a parent and has watched his own chil- dren participate in the edu- cational system. Mr. MacRae invites our readers to join him in (“<- cussinz the learning pro- vcss. He will be glad to roc- oh'e questions and com. ments. Letters should be addressed to The Liberal. “School Daze." PO Box 390. Richmond Hill. At a meeting November 23, Markham Council pro- c'laimed December 24 a holi- day for employees in lieu of Christmas Day and Decem- ber 27 a holiday in lieu of Boxing Day. Town staff will have their New Year’s holi- day on January 3. Sincw (‘hristma‘ and New Year's Days [all on Satur- days this year. the Town of Markham has decided to give its employees a Friday and two Monday holidays to compensate. “School Daze” New Column PRICE 15c PER COPY Richmond Hill