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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-12-21, Page 1• 0 Merry Christmas CitiZCff • Volume 32 No. 50 Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON NOG 1H0 $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, December 21, 2017 Bed time Huron Christian School in Clinton held its annual Christmas concert over the weekend, but added a component called the Bethlehem Walk. It welcomed parents and friends to journey to different stations, both indoors and outdoors, to hear a number of different Christmas -related stories. Afterwards, however, everyone packed into a toasty warm auditorium at the school for the concert portion of the evening. Doing their best impressions of themselves sleeping are Sierra Dykstra, left, and Jack Nonkes. The night was well-received by all. (Lisa Pot photo) Huron County considers joining new CFI By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron County Council is now considering the county's potential involvement in the Carbon Footprint Initiative, an energy-saving program rolled out through the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. Rachel White, the county's stewardship co-ordinator, spoke to council about the idea at its Dec. 13 committee of the whole meeting, saying that the county has already begun taking on energy-saving projects. This, she said, would simply be another step along that journey. White's recommendation to council was that the county participate in the Carbon Footprint Initiative for energy -conservation projects, but that that participation would be subject to available staff resources and budget at the county. She said that after presenting a conservation demand management plan update to council in August, council had requested another presentation and some more information on the potential of the county joining up with the Carbon Footprint Initiative. The project, White said, brings together those in both the private and the public sectors who want to maximize profits, but not at the risk of environmental sustainability. "The Carbon Footprint Initiative members track their energy use and set annual targets for energy reduction," White said in her report to council. "Examples of energy- saving projects include training for staff, reducing fuel use of the fleet by changing travel practices or purchasing more fuel-efficient vehicles, including electric cars. The Carbon Footprint Initiative combats climate change by investing in tree planting or natural area restoration projects to compensate for fossil fuel use. The Carbon Footprint Initiative members have provided funding for two stewardship projects in the Listowel area, as well as other projects implemented on their own properties." White said that with all of the tree - planting projects in the county, as well as all of the sustainably - managed county forests, the county has a built-in offset for many projects that could make many Carbon Footprint Initiative goals attainable. The Huron Clean Water Project could also help with those offsets as well. Many of the current county projects are already aligning with the initiative's goals and White said the county is already showing a 1.9 per cent reduction in energy use when comparing 2016 to 2013. "This has primarily been achieved by implementing projects such as building renovations or replacing outdated equipment to reduce energy use in county -owned buildings," White said in her report. She said that while it's not a requirement of the county's current conservation and demand management plan to track fuel use of the county's fleet, the county may wish to pursue that in the future. Councillors were divided on this aspect of the recommendation. Some felt that the county wasn't ready to track its mileage and fuel consumption, but others felt that tracking the fuel use may be a good start so the county knows where it stands. "From 2005-2017, the County of Continued on page 40 Brussels C.P. office burgled Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers are seeking information from the public to help solve a break, enter and theft that has taken place at the Canada Post office located on Turnberry Street in Brussels. Monday morning around 8 a.m. employees arrived at work to find someone gained access into the building overnight through a south side exterior window. Once inside, the thief loaded up and stole several parcels. The final number of stolen parcels has yet to be determined, however police believe approximately 60 were taken. If you have any information about this incident please give the OPP a call at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524- 8314. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1 -800 -222 -TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000. H. Unit merger closer Last week the Ministry of Health and Long -Term Care (MOHLTC) announced proposed regulatory changes to the Health Protection and Promotion Act, which pave the way for a merger of the Perth District Health Unit and the Huron County Health Unit. The changes need to happen before next steps in planning an amalgamation can move forward. "These proposed regulatory changes show that there is support at the provincial level for a Huron and Perth health unit merger," explains Dr. Miriam Klassen, Medical Officer of Health for the Perth District Health Unit and Acting Medical Officer of Health for the Huron County Health Unit. The regulation must be passed in order to approve any funding for the merger. The Huron and Perth Amalgamation Steering Group and Boards of Health will be providing the government with additional details to put in the regulation, for example the name of the new health unit and composition of the new board. "If the proposed regulatory changes pass cabinet approval in January, then we expect that the next step would be for the Ministry to approve funding for a merger," says Continued on page 33