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Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012
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YRT plans to slash GO, high school shuttles Service decreases recommended for more than 20 routes BY L.H. TIFFANY HSIEH
thsieh@yrmg.com
Eight GO shuttles and high school special bus routes in York Region could be axed if regional council endorses the YRT/Viva 2013 annual service plan Sept. 20. A total of 41 routes have been identified for restructuring, schedule adjustments and elimination of duplicate or overlapping service. More than 20 routes are proposed for some form of decreased service, be it reduced hours or discontinuation. Recommendations outlined in the service plan, which include two new routes, are estimated to save $2 million in 2013. Proposed changes will affect school specials, GO shuttles, contracted TTC routes operating north of Steeles Avenue and YRT routes with low ridership. School specials on the chopping board include routes to Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy, Markham District See APRIL, page 9.
STAFF PHOTO/SJOERD WITTEVEEN
Simpson Eco Farms owner Robert Simpson examines a nearly ripe meyer lemon.
Organic food offers several benefits: farmers BY SIMON MARTIN
smartin@yrmg.com
York Region organic farmers aren’t giving much credence to a study released by Stanford University earlier this week. Organic, in the truest sense of the word, is still the best way to go, they said. The study, which was a review of previously published studies, suggested organic fruits and vegetables were no more nutritious than their non-organic counterparts. Although the study found eating organic would reduce your exposure to pesticides, it stated the amount found on conventionally grown food was within safety limits. “Organic is a more holistic approach with a
‘Organic is a more holistic approach with a multi-faceted benefit, but you’re not going to become superman or superwoman by eating the stuff.’ Damian Adjodha
Backyard Organics owner
multi-faceted benefit, but you’re not going to become superman or superwoman by eating the stuff,” Damian Adjodha said. The Newmarket resident runs Backyard Organics and has a stand at the Newmarket
farmers market. His interest in organic farming methods was influenced by Rastafarian philosophy. The real issue is the organic food for which people fork over big bucks at the grocery store comes from large-scale producers that aren’t much different than their conventional counterparts, he said. “It’s controversial if this stuff should be even called organic. It’s a conventional system with substitute inputs,” he said. Many of the studies used in the new report were testing organic produce from large-scale producers, Mr. Adjodha suspects. See CERTIFICATION, page 9.
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