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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-08-18, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016. ACP issue left on floor despite correspondence By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Despite dozens of protestors and numerous pieces of correspondence advocating for the advanced -care paramedic (ACP) program, Huron County Council chose not to address the issue at its Aug. 10 meeting. Over three dozen people waited for councillors outside the Huron County Courthouse in Goderich on the morning of Aug. 10, holding signs advocating for the reinstatement and expansion of the ACP program, which was officially discontinued by council last month. Citing cost savings of nearly $2 million, councillors decided late last month, by a vote of 8-7, to axe the program immediately, rather than eliminate it through attrition over the next 30 years. The most crucial piece of correspondence received by council came from a resident named Julie Clarke, who presented council with a petition signed by 1,600 people asking that the program be reinstated. In signing the petition, several residents left comments on the situation. "This decision will cost lives," said one Kitchener resident, while a Blyth resident said, "going backwards in healthcare is atrocious." One Toronto resident who identified himself as a paramedic said that he had "lost count" as to how many times advanced care skills has "saved and/or returned life". In addition to the petition, there were other pieces of correspondence speaking in favour of the ACP program, but there were also others from residents who believed council made the right decision. "As a Huron County taxpayer, I am behind you and agree with this decision that was made, as I see [the ACP program] is a service that is not a well-functioning part of a rural community," Nathan Elford wrote to Huron East Deputy -Mayor Joe Steffler. Angela Elford, a "proud Huron County primary care paramedic", proclaimed in her letter to Warden Paul Gowing that she also supported cutting the ACP program. "I believe Huron County residents are still in great hands with the primary care paramedics (PCP). It does hurt my feelings that the public doesn't realize exactly what PCPs can do and they are basing their feelings and decisions on incorrect information," Elford said in her letter. Drought has taken toll on beef farmers; Hoggart By Denny Scott The Citizen While the rain over the weekend may have lifted the county -wide burn ban, it didn't spell relief for many people working in agriculture. Reports of ruined crops, increased costs and problems caused by over a month of hot weather with little rainfall are coming in and in some sectors, the issues caused by the drought are just beginning. Harvey Hoggart, the Advisory Councillor for Huron County on the Beef Farmers of Ontario Board explained that many beef farmers have found themselves out-of- pocket for some unexpected expenses. Hoggart explained to The Citizen that some farmers have turned to hay for feeding their livestock which means they have either dipped into their own supply early or have had to go out and purchase feed, neither of which is good for supply levels. "The rain had been so spotty that a lot of the pasture land got dried up," he said. "Some farmers have started feeding hay because of that." Hoggart said he wasn't sure if the rain over the weekend, and some subsequent showers in the forecast, would be enough to green up the pasture land in time or not, but did say that farmers using feed like hay this early in the year isn't a good sign. "We try not to feed until at least the first of October and later than that if we can arrange it," he said. "Having to start to feed in August isn't good for supplies." While the news certainly isn't good, Hoggart said it is unlikely it will lead to substantial losses in the beef industry. "Having to buy feed early can increase the cost of production because it's more expensive to feed hay than it is to feed pasture," he said. "The longer you can leave cows on the pasture, the lower the cost of production, so it will have an effect on the bottom line because of that extra price." Hoggart said future costs will depend on each farmer's situation, but most working with beef won't be seeing an overall loss as a result of the heat, just decreased profit. "It's great that we got the rain over the weekend, but I do think it's going to be too late for some things," he said. "It's certainly going to help certain crops and certain kinds of farming, but, especially on sandy or gravel ground, the damage was extensive." County joins SWIFT due to federal, provincial funding • By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen After over a year of uncertainty, Huron County is now ready to claim its spot at the Southwest Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) project table. Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Deputy -Reeve Roger Watt, council's representative on the SWIFT committee, presented to councillors at their Aug. 10 meeting, saying that it is now time for Huron County to get involved with the program. The SWIFT proposal endeavours to bring high-speed, fibre internet networks to rural communities throughout southwestern Ontario by way of a project that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars to implement. Council had been critical of the proposal for some time, unsure of where local internet providers that have served the county for decades would fit. The providers, in conjunction with council, supplied SWIFT with a list of 22 questions about the proposal and refused to support the project until those questions had been answered. Watt told councillors that the federal and provincial governments have both come to the table to provide funding for the project in the amount of $89.7 million each. Local providers throughout the southwestern Ontario region will supply $71.7 million, while involved municipalities will have to pay $18 million. When considering the entire cost of the proposal and the funding that has been secured, Watt said that municipalities will be paying seven cents on the dollar, which is an excellent deal. In his presentation, Watt said that only 28 per cent of Huron County currently has access to fibre, which is very low. Meanwhile, nearly 24 per cent of the county is well underserviced — so work certainly needs to be done, he said. With both federal and provincial funding secured and local providers appearing to be supportive of the newest iteration of the proposal, Watt said he felt it was time for Donation Recently, the Blyth Firefighters Association, represented by Jeff Josling, left, donated $1,000 to the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund via its annual event, the Run Around the Square. Accepting the donation on behalf of the organization is committee member Jessica Mann. (Photo submitted) Huron County Council to solidify its involvement in the project. Warden Paul Gowing agreed, saying he felt Huron County would benefit greatly from what SWIFT is now offering. Watt, however, told councillors that it wouldn't hurt to hear from representatives of the local providers one last time before committing. Councillors agreed and will invite the local providers to a meeting next month. At that same meeting, said Chief Administrative Officer Brenda Orchard, a motion will be up for approval that the county pay $30,000 to SWIFT in order to make its membership in the organization current. Huron County's share of the $18 million municipal portion of the project over the next five years, Watt said, is $680,000 spread over that time period. As for SWIFT's next steps, Watt said that representatives now have to continue consulting with government, stakeholders and those involved with the program ahead of the RFQ (request for qualifications) and RFP (request for proposals) stages. The next steps, Watt said, will take months and the proposal is still a long way off from actually putting shovels in the ground. Council accepted Watt's report and authorized Orchard to invite the local providers to a meeting next month to finalize the county's involvement and get the ball rolling. Altons to host community picnic PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188 The community extends sincere sympathy to Barbara Anderson in the loss of her husband Ross and to Richard Anderson and Anne Catherine Jean, Nancy and Rick Ball, Doreen Anderson -Roy and Rob Roy and Sheila Anderson - Cousins and Doug Cousins in the loss of their father, Ross. Sympathy is also extended to Donna Shaw and Lloyd and Eleanor Anderson in the loss of their brother and to the eight grandchildren and three great- grandchildren. On Sunday, Aug. 7 the guest minister at Knox United Church, Belgrave was Pastor Elly Dow. The flowers in the sanctuary were placed by the Anderson families in loving memory of Ross Anderson. On Sunday, Aug. 21 the church service will be at Ken and Lila Procter's pond at 11 a.m. The service on Aug. 28 is at the Wawanosh Nature Centre at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome. Knox United Church is looking for people to help with Sunday school. It will be starting again in September. The next official board meeting is Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the church. It's time for an old-fashioned picnic with games for young and old. Please bring your lawn chairs, grandchildren and friends to the home of Ruth Alton on Wednesday, Aug. 24 starting at 5 p.m. Corn on the cob, hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. to be served barbecue style. Please RSVP to Ruth, 519-812- 1212 with approximate numbers for attending. Donations towards Brian's final learning circle would be greatly appreciated. There is a "Come and Go Gathering" for Ruth and Bob Gordon to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, FROM BELGRAVE Aug. 27, 1 to 4 p.m. at the Belgrave Community Centre. Please Leet your family and friends know as we don't have everyone's contact information. No gifts please, just best wishes. Everyone is welcome. Love as priority leads the way Continued from page 12 fellow human being, even when dreadfully wronged, we would expect a turn for the better. In fact, it is hard to imagine an escalation of violence between people and peoples if love and faithfulness became a first priority in our culture. True, love and faithfulness would not stop all wrongdoing, for there are always those among us who are self-centred and self-seeking, but they would stop a lot of it. As people living on this earth, we want straight paths for ourselves. We desire to live in peace and security without fear of others. Solomon, who understood life very well, says that God's way of love and faithfulness, even when we are wronged, will accomplish what standing up for our own rights will not. So, let's consider again God's faithfulness and grace toward us. See how far He takes it. And let us practise a little (or perhaps a lot) of that ourselves. Certainly our marriages would be more secure, and, so too, would be our world. Trust in the Lord, and rely on him and His ways, and He will make your paths straight.