The Citizen, 2015-03-05, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015.
Lack of information
concerning: Gowing
Going the distance
The Blyth Brussels Midget AE Crusaders are currently embroiled in a battle with the Tweed
Hawks for a berth in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) finals. The two teams
tangled twice over the weekend with the locals winning both OMHA semi-final contests – 6-3
on Saturday and 4-0 on Sunday – to take a two-games-to-none lead in the series. On
Saturday, the Crusaders’ Hunter Dale (white jersey) went all out to score this goal, but paid
the price as he was hurled into the net, and Tweed’s goalie, by a defender after the puck
crossed the line. (Jasmine deBoer photo)
Huron County Warden and
Morris-Turnberry Mayor Paul
Gowing said he felt his presentation
to Ontario Minister of Agriculture
Food and Rural Affairs Jeff Leal
regarding the proposed extension of
the Blyth gas node to Walton was
well received but that
disappointment lingers.
“The rhetoric at the conference
was that the provincial government
was moving ahead with [the
Investment in Natural Gas
Expansion Program] and attempting
to get extensions going,” Gowing
said. “However, with the delegation
we found there had been no further
information on the criteria or
timeline for the 2014 announcement
of the project.”
Gowing said the organization was
assured new information would be
brought to council, however, the
project, which includes $200 million
in loan and $30 million in grants,
didn’t seem to have moved any
further and that those involved
(Huron County, Morris-Turnberry,
North Huron, Huron East and North
Huron) wanting more.
“We were disappointed with the
lack of information,” he said. “ We
all left kind of shaking our heads. It
wasn’t just that there weren’t time-
line and requirements, but there
wasn’t even a timeline for a
timeline.”
Gowing said a request had been
forwarded to Morris-Turnberry to
look into the expansion of the
pipeline which led to staff and
council looking into it further.
Due to the distance necessary for
the pipe to travel and the necessary
construction of the pipe which,
according to Union Gas, requires a
4” steel high pressure gas main, a
pressure reducing station at Walton
and a 4” polyethylene gas main
within Walton, $4.3 million would
need to be contributed by the area.
After discovering the expense,
Gowing said the program’s grants
and loans would be necessary.
“We feel that, after that request
was made to Morris-Turnberry, we
have followed it as far as we can
take it and done everything we can,”
he said. “It won’t provide an energy
solution for a larger area, but it will
help and we need the project to
move forward before we can begin
looking at that.”
Gowing also said the project will
provide a great return on investment
for Union Gas as the three larger
businesses requesting the extension
in the report are McGavin Farm
Equipment, Huether Farms Inc. and
Millstone Crop Services Limited.
“Those companies represent large
users of heating fuel,” Gowing said.
“There would be a sizable return to
the company providing the fuel that
would support the capital project.”
While the group was disappointed,
Gowing said the feedback he
received outside the meeting
indicates the issue is a hot topic and
the Walton extension could find life
as a pilot project.
“It’s quite timely with the plan we
have and the way the government is
talking about it,” he said. “It could,
however, fall flat without more
information.”
TIPS
to Reduce
YOUR
WASTE
Space provided through a partnership between industry and Ontario municipalities to support waste diversion programs
P.O. Box 90, 274 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario N0G 2W0
Phone: 519-357-3550 Fax: 519-357-1110
In 2009, the Province of Ontario launched
the Used Tire Stewardship Program, to
divert tires away from burning or landfilling.
The program eliminates the disposal fees
that consumers used to pay to get rid of
their old tires. You may now recycle your old
tires by dropping them off at a registered
collector near you. Visit www.ontariots.ca
for the closest location.
Used tires
• Purchase items with minimal
packaging and/or write to
manufacturers asking for
packaging that is less
wasteful.
• When possible, buy refillable
or reusable containers.
• Bring your own bags when
you shop and try to buy
in bulk.
• Purchase for durability and
quality rather than for
disposable items that are
convenient.
• Detox your home by using
cleaning products that are
less harmful to the environment.
• Reuse items or donate them to a
neighbour, friend or non-profit
charity.
• Recycle and compost accepted
items in your municipal program.
Electronic waste
To divert potentially hazardous
materials from our landfills, Ontario
Electronic Stewardship (OES)
manages a program that
encourages reuse, recycling, and
proper disposal of unwanted
electronic equipment. Materials
such as computers, audio-visual
devices, cameras, printers,
scanners, and televisions are accepted. For a complete list of
materials, and for drop-off locations, visit www.northhuron.ca.
* Dedicated loads of electronic waste are accepted at the Wingham Landfill site
with disposal free to all Township of North Huron residents.