The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 71

CITY FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2002 F3 Baird vows to repay bar bills By David Reevely THE OTTAWA CITIZEN Ottawa businessman and pilot Michael Potter takes a spin over Ottawa in his 1929 WACO Taperwing aircraft yesterday in advance of the 17th Ottawa International Air Show taking place at the Ottawa Airport this weekend. Air show promises lots of thunder If he or any of his staff spent taxpayers' money on alcohol when he was minister of community and social services, John Baird says he'll pay the money back. Figures released by the provincial Liberals say that between January 2000 and March 2001, when he was social-services minister, Mr. Baird and his ministerial staff charged about $40,500 to taxpayers, for restaurant bills, travel, hotels and gas, among other things. Mr.

Baird himself billed $6,120.16. Three of his staffers billed more: executive assistant Rick Dykstra special assistant for policy Will Stewart ($7,540.56) and special assistant for francophone affairs Jean-Claude Trottier Mr. Stewart is now Mr. Baud's chief of staff. The minister and his 12 staffers charged just under $14,000 in restaurant and bar bills over 15 months.

Over the same period, Energy and Environment Minister Chris Stockwell and six staff members charged more than $25,000, including about $3,000 in alcohol. "If there was a glass of wine here or there, there shouldn't have been and I'll be reimbursing that myself," Mr. Baird said. The Nepean-Carleton MPP is now minister for francophone affairs and the Tories' chief whip. "If a social assistance recipient breaks the rules, they're cut off for life," said Leona Dom-browsky, the Liberals' critic for children's interests.

"This is the government that cut the nutrition supplement for pregnant women because they were supposedly spending it on beer." Mr. Baird said his expenses were lower than would have been reasonable for someone in charge of an $8-billion department. "The ministry of community and social services is large and has offices everywhere in the province," Mr. Baird said. "If there were problems at an office, I thought it made sense to go there." That, he said, explained his $14,000 in ministerial travel.

As an MPP, he said, he had the lowest travel expenses of any Eastern Ontario MPP. He offered official figures from 1999-2000 showing that he spent $25,810 on travel as an MPP, compared with the $69,370 spent by Ottawa-South MPP Dalton McGuinty, or $34478 by Ottawa Centre MPP Richard Patten. "As a minister, I was $200,000 under my office budget," Mr. Baird said. U.S.

air force Thunderbirds join Canada's Snowbirds for 'ballet and rock 'n' roll' combination that aims to thrill as many as 60,000 timism is because of the combination of the Thunderbirds, whose only Canadian appearance is in Ottawa this year, and the low-altitude aerobatics of the Snowbirds. Ottawa-born Capt. Andy MacKay has been a pilot with the Snowbirds for only one year and has performed in almost a dozen shows, but this weekend will be his first appearance before a hometown crowd. "You just can't beat the flying," says Capt. MacKay, who flew a Sea King helicopter for four years before joining the Snowbirds.

"I'm stoked, It will be good; my friends and family will be out in the crowd." But Capt. MacKay will not be the only area pilot in the air this weekend. Capt. Scott "Shrubby" Shrubsole will be making his third appearance. In 1997 and 1998, Capt.

Shrub-sole was a pilot with the Snowbirds, but this year he will be flying the Canadian Forces CF18 Hornet. "It's a little different this time around," says Capt. Shrubsole who graduated from Merivale High School in 1987. "Instead of being a member of a nine-pilot team, I will be all on my own, so it will be a little harder to hide mistakes." "The theme of the air show is United in Freedom, as well as a tribute to our war veterans," says Mr. Issenman.

"The air show is a celebration of aviation and a great deal of our aviation focus will revolve around the military." Many Canadians have heard about the aging C130 Hercules heavy lift aircraft. But those interested in seeing the new C130J Hercules that could replace the old warriors can take a tour of the plane at this year's show. The military angle has some upset that war machines are being glorified without telling visitors about the dark side of war. "These weapons systems drop dozens of different kinds of weapons that have killed millions of civilians," says Richard Sanders, co-ordinator of an activist group called Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade. "This show inspires awe in children, but doesn't tell them about napalm and the effects of planes dropping nuclear weapons on Japan." Organizers are expecting By Peter Zimonjic Like something out of the film Top Gun the United States air force Thunderbirds arrived in Ottawa yesterday looking every bit the crack demonstration team they're known to be.

But it wasn't just the flashy paint jobs and the slick pilots that made the six F16 Fighting Falcons look good; it was the heavy-lift aircraft with a crew of 50 ground support staff in their crisp uniforms and Ray-Ban sunglasses that made it easy to believe this crew was all about the show. Afterall, the Thunderbirds are based in Las Vegas. Behind them on the runway sat Canada's Snowbirds, neatly parked in a line, shining in the afternoon sun. "The Snowbirds are the ballet and the Thunderbirds are rock n' roll," said air show President John Issenman. "That's the best way I can describe it." After the insurance troubles that threatened to cancel this year's Ottawa International Air Show, Mr.

Issenman says he is ready to make this year's weekend event the best show yet. A big part of the reason for his op 11 in Mini JONATHAN HAYWARO. THE CANADIAN PRESS Flying Displays U.S. air force Thunderbirds Canadian Forces Snowbirds Canadian Forces Skyhawks Julie Clark's M0PART34 Bombardier CL415 water drop Canadian Forces CF18 Hornet U.S. Air Force Fl 5 Eagle U.S.

Air Force BIB Lancer Ground Displays USAFTlAJayhawk USNT2C Buckeye USAFC5 Galaxy USN EA6B Prowler USAFT6A Texan II USAFA10A Thunderbolt II USNC12B King Air USN F14 Tomcat USAFF15E Strike Eagle (2) USAF F16C Fighting Falcon (2) USAFC17AGIobemasterlll Canadian Forces CF18 Hornet USN F18 Hornet USAF T38 Talon CFCH 124 Sea King USAFC130 Hercules USAFC130J-30 Hercules CFCP140 Aurora CFCC142Dash8 CFCC144 Challenger C160Transall Tornado-Luftwaffe Fighter A310 Airbus from $249 One Way to Edmonton refundable. PATRICK DOYLE, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN The United States air force Thunderbirds will perform at the show. about 60,000 people over the weekend to an event that typically brings in around $1.3 million to the economy. Gates open at the Ottawa Airport at 8:30 a.m. and close at 6:00 p.m.

each day, with air displays beginning about 11:00 a.m. Tickets are available at the gate for $18.50 or $17 in advance for adults and $12.00 for children at the gate or $10.50 in advance through Ticketmaster. travel. $229 One Way to Calgary Offer combinablc with other fares. 100 non 14 Canada's choice for fun, uD3 CDDIrfaGo ODQ GMHiuDe.

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