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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2014-04-02, Page 3Wednesday, April 2,2014 • Huron Expositor 3 Schenk selected as Huron -Bruce Liberal candidate Patrick Bales QM! Agency The provincial Liberal Party wants the red flag to rise over rural Ontario once again, and Colleen Schenk thinks she's the candidate who can help make that happen. Schenk was nominated as the candidate for Huron - Bruce in the yet -to -be announced next provincial election. A trustee for nearly 20 years with the Avon Mait- land District School Board, Schenk has been a lifelong Liberal supporter, even cam- paigning with her father as Trudeaumania swept the nation in 1968. Schenk said after being named the candidate, defeating North Huron reeve Neil Vincent in a vote held March 19 at the Lucknow Community Centre, that she was ready for the challenge. And in Huron -Bruce, as in most of rural Ontario, the Liberals face a substantial challenge. The Green Energy Act is just one of the policies brought about during the Liberal's reign in Ontario that has created an aura of alienation felt by many in rural Ontario. Schenk said she has already begun criti- cal communication with wind turbine groups in the riding in an effort to win back their support. "We need to sit down again; now that I'm the successful candidate, we'll have talks," she said. "I believe in negotiations. We can sit down and talk to those folks. "Some small steps have been taking, with the turbine Colleen Schenk issue being downloaded to the municipalities for deci- sions," she continued. "How- ever, we need to talk more. We need to maybe look at some things a little bit different!' Through her previous roles in public service, she's seen the divide between urban Patrick Bales WI Agency and rural interests first hand. However, because of that experience, she feels she is the candidate who can serve the constituents the best, while making sure their con- cerns are being heard by the premier. "When I served as presi- dent of the Ontario Public School Boards Association, the rural boards were very different from the boards that were in the urban areas," she explained. "(Rural Ontario needs) to be heard. We do not have a voice right now. It was decimated with the elections last time. So let's hope we can bring rural voices back, so someone can stand up in the legislature and say 'look, we're here:" Schenk was critical of the Ontario Progressive Con- servative Party and slammed the white papers it has been releasing throughout the past two years. "The white papers would decimate our province," she said during her campaign speech. After the meeting, she focused her concerns, first with education, saying the PC proposal "would take education systems back to the Mike Harris era." She also added the white paper surrounding labour and unions would be detri- mental to the many union employees who populate Huron -Bruce. The New Democratic Party wasn't excluded from Schenk's criticism, but not for the policies they've set out since the previous elec- tion. Rather, Schenk noted it is the things the NDP hasn't said, the lack of platforms or alternatives, which speaks the loudest. Schenk was encouraged by the number of supporters who had turned up at the vote, in which 106 ballots were cast, adding she was to "hit the ground running," getting ready for an election that members of the PC party are predicting will happen in June. River ice, snow pack, steady as she goes QM! Agency Freeze, thaw, repeat. The directions for early spring are simple, and their results could go one of two ways - slowly and managea- ble or immediate and over- powering. The Ausable Bay- field Conservation Authority had issued a flood warning last week, which was called off Thursday. However, the area along the Bayfield River is not quite in the clear. Land and Water Technolo- gist for the ABCA, Davin Heinbuck, said the spring we've had so far has been ideal, with moderate runoff that the watershed can han- dle with ease. The snow pack has been ripening, Heinbuck noted. Ripe snow is snow that has settled over time, with a very dense water content. Because of this, it melts easily even under fairly low temperatures and more so when it rains "While it can be good, it can set up for a situation for more runoff," he explained. "The snow's capacity to hold rainfall lessens every time you get that kind of melt." A slow release of water will be largely uneventful but a sudden melting combined with rain would see massive runoff in many areas. so far Last week, there was about five inches of water equiva- lent still on the ground, all contained within that snow - pack. As of this week, Hein - buck said the ABCA is expecting that number to drop by an inch or more. How it drops, however, is up to the weather. They were out in the field doing a snow sur- vey Monday. Thus far, the watershed has not lost much of its snowpack, as the tempera- tures have been warm one day and below freezing the next. Every time that hap- pens, it further ripens the snow pack and increases the potential for flooding. Last week's flood devel- oped by dropping stream flows and temperatures that were not high enough to keep the ice melting. Linger- ing ice jams in the Bayfield River are not expected to disappear too soon. "The ice that sits on the river - if it sits there long enough in cold conditions, the flow can erode it from the bottom," Heinbuck said. "The ice crumbles and there is less potential for jamming!" Of course, he added, it is all case by case. Last year there were several minor melts over the winter, which helped keep the snow pack down. This winter, however, snow has been accumulat- ing steadily for nearly three months. It is the largest accumulation since the late 1970s. • • • eorgian uoiiege practicai nurse an QMI Agency Students from the Seaforth campus of Georgian College will celebrate their gradua- tion on Sat., April 5. The graduating classes of the practical nurses and per- sonal support workers pro- grams will receive their diplo- mas during a ceremony to be held at the Seaforth Commu- nity Centre. Both classes completed their studies in December 2013. The Georgian College formal convocation event will take place in Owen Sound in June. This event in Seaforth is the opportunity for the graduates to celebrate their success in their local community, college officials said in a press release. About 200 people are expected to attend the celebra- tion and will include the two classes of graduates and their invited family and friends as well as local dignitaries. "Georgian College is thrilled with the tremendous community support we have received for the delivery of our programs over the past 9 years in Seaforth," states Barb Carriere Manager Con- tinuing Education and Work- force Development Owen Sound Campus. "The real success of these locally delivered programs is the opportunity for graduates to secure employment in areas of healthcare that are in demand" says Laura Overholt manager of HealthKick. "Graduates are finding employment in local hospi- tals, long term care and nurs- ing homes as well as commu- nity care settings." Officials said the program would not be possible with- out the support of the local healthcare community for clinical placements and the recruitment of instructors from local healthcare organizations that are able to share their knowledge and expertise through the required curriculum. This event is being organ- ized through the HealthKick project of Huron Business Development Corporation and Georgian College. Sponsors have generously contributed to make this event possible and include the Huron East/ Seaforth Community Development Trust, Alexandra Marine HAIRCUTS NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED DAPPER PROFESSIONAL HAIR STYLES FOR GUYS WALK-IN CONVENIENCE, AFFORDABLE PRICES MAIN ST. CLINTON OPEN TUES-SAT 519 -606 -HAIR (4247) s u en s graauaiing and General Hospital, Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance, Red Cross Care Partners and the County of Huron. We are honoured to have participation in this event from all levels of gov- ernment, which recognizes the importance of this locally developed and driven workforce develop- ment initiative. Huron East Chamber of Commerce is open to membership applications from businesses and community groups in Huron East and area. For further information, contact Bob Fisher 519-522-1394 or Ralph Laviolette 519-440-6206 www.HuronEastCC.ca hplar@tcc.on.ca