The Huron Expositor, 1978-07-27, Page 14thy Jaik Riddell IVf.P.P.1
On June 9, 1978, the Attortier.--,
General officially 'confirmed that
the Province has decided not to
pursue its $35-million lawsuit
against Dow Chemical, charged
with mercury poisoning of Lake
St. Clair.
It's now more than a decade
since scientists „established a
link between mercury' poisoning
and a djet of fish from waters in
which inorganic forms of metallic
mercury had been conveled into
toxic methyl mercury by -bacterial
action in mud-buttom sediment.
Former Liberal Leader, Robert
Nixon, called for an emergency
debate on Dow's pollution of the
St. Clair waterway on , the 2nd
April,°1970, citing gross mercury
p—Orioning of the water ancrihe
possible ruination of a $10-million
fishing industry, involving the
livelihood of, some 3,000 people.
On April 6, the Govermnent
announced a fishihg ban on the
Canadian side of the/ polluted
waters.
Fishing was also b,anned in the
Wabigoen River andTlay Lake in
Northwestern Ontario, contam-
inated by *the 'effluent from the .
Dryden Chemical Company.
-Dryden_Chernical,_Dow Chemical
in Thunder Bay, Canadian
-Industries- in- Hamilton and
Cornwall, and American Can
Company in Marathon were given,
until May I to eliminate mercury
leakage to receiving waters. Dow
Chemical, Sarnia, was given until
'April 5. F,iye pulp and paper mills
were given a similar ultimatum:
Beaverwood Fibre, Thorold;
Spruce Falls Power and Paper,
Kapuskasing; Canadian Johns-
Manville, North Bay; Strathcona
Paper Company, Strathcona;
Domtar, Cornwall;
Pay Compensation.
Following a meeting with
Federal and Provincial Ministers
on the 7th April, Dow's President
refused to pay' Compensation to
those who had lost' income as a
result of the mercury pollution in
the St. Clair water system, while
agreeing to eliminate the source
of the mercury and to act on
O.W.R.C. recommendations for
clean-up, with the company
paying costs. The Federal and
Provincial Gocernments agreed to
share, on a 50/50 basis, the cost
of interest-free loans to fishermen
and tourist camp operators to
'.'tide them over" until Dow's
liability for compensation was
established, at which time the
loans were .to be repaid. It was
anticipated that' leans to, some 60
commercial fishermen and five
resort operators would amount to,
less than $1,000,000 if the, fishing,
ban lasted a year. *
In the Ontario Legislature on
June 5, 1970, the Minister of
'Energy and -Resources , acknow-
ledged- the 'problematical nature
of taking legal action,.because of
the importance of . "foresee-
ability" in the area of the law of
tort negligence. He acknow-
ledged the possibility of making
an occurrence such as Dow's
mercury pollution a statutory
offence. However. ,on March 14,
1971. the Provincial Government
filed a writ in the Supreme Court-
of Ontario against Dow Canada
and its U.S. ccompany
claiming $25,000,000 for ge
to the natural environment and
loss of the fishery downstream
from Dow's Planron the St. Clair
at Sarnia. The claim included
$10,000,000 to cover the cost of
dredging or 'otherwise removing
the mercury from the bed of the
St. Clair water system, in lieu of a
court order requiring Dow
Chemical to do this. A court order
was also reEffiested to prevent
further mercury pollution by_ the
Dow Plant, which accoridng to the
0.W .K.C: was at that time
_,,emitting' into the River between
one-fifth and one-half pound ,of
tr,nercu.ryaditY
Government Attempt
It.was anticipated that this, the
first government attempt to bring
action for damage to the public'
interest, would determine many '
complicated legal points on
environmental pollution. Premier.
Davis, announcing the suit, based
on the common law of nuisance
and trespass, said it hadn't been
possible "to effect a satisfactory
settlement with Dow Chemical:.'.
He expressed the hope that, the
lawsuit would settle some legal
and factual issues and "assist
both industry and the government
in the future resolution of these
problems." No charge of
polluting the St. Clair was laid
because Government legal
advisers had concluded the
discharged mercury was polluting
the bed of the river rather than
the „water, and .this was not
coverred by statutory law.
The crux of the dilemma posed
by tort law principles was that the
commercial fishermen*. not
owning the • river bed, had no
fishing-rights which could have
When the-election comes remember,
By Dave Dineen
Though chairmen of the other
22 international Plowing Match
local committees have
experienced Ontario Plowmen's
Association (OPA). representa-
tives and committee chairmen
from past years to help them, Don
Martin is almost alone in plan-
ning his committee's work.
Mr. Martin, Of •the Ethel area,
is chairman of the IPM demon-
strations committee, and the
annual plowing match, which is
expected to attract 'about 250,000
to the .Wingham area, has never
had a demonstrations coMMittee-• ,1 before.
The committee has about 205
acres of land in the proximity of
the tented city, for farm equip-
nient companies and dealer'; to
demonstrate how their machinery
works. There will be about 90
acres of grain corn which may or
may not be ready for combining
during the match. which will be
held Sept, 26 to 30, and there will
be grain stubble to till, and there
my be some corn silage to
harvest.
Huron County IPM committee '
members have met with the .1976
IPM committees from, Bruce
County and with the 1977 IPM
Frontenac County committees, to
get advice on planning this year's
match, but when the counties
met, Mr. Martin couldn't get
much advice,
"There just doesn't seem to be
anyone to talk to at the meetings
between the counties," he said.
To date, Ed Starr, secretary-
manager of the OPA, has been
contacting farm implement
companies to get them interested
in 'the denintiCtfationg at the
match, and the local committee
has been setting aside five to 10
acres of land for each.
Mr. Martin said machinery
companies have been less than
eager to participate in theIderhon-
strations.
"I guess they are afraid it may
turn into a competition," he said.
The demonstrationihe noted, ate
simply to give plowing match
visitors a chance to see, the
various types of machinery in
action.
Even the OPA was a little wary
about trying the demonstrations,
Mr. Martin Said because much of
the revenue brought in by the
five-day plowing match iS the
rental of space in the 8'i-acre
tented city. OPA officials, didn't
want the demonstrations• to, let
exhibitors think they could be a
part of the match free. of•charge.
Because some machinery com-
panies are still hesitant to. be a
part of the 'demonstrations,
thought the demonstration lots
are given to exhibitors free. the
local' committee still isn't sure
what the companies will be
displaying. or • even which
companies are participating.
Some large companies like John
Deere, White, McKee Bros.,
' George White and Sainc Will he
represented. Mr. Martin-said
Because of the limited space, it
is unlikely the demonstrations
will be continuous, he said, and
will probably be only at set times.
The demonstrations will likely be
held late in the morning or in
early aftetnoon, Mr. Martin tid,
so some tractors and wagons
which are used to• take. people
between the tented city and their
cars, can be spared to give wides
to .and from' Aemonstrations.,
The demonstrations committee
was formed after the Huron
County Soil and Crop Improve-
ment Association was 'approached
Owners
of smaller
businesses..
we provide:
• Financial assistance
* Management counselling (CASE)
• Management training
• Information on government
programs for business
Can we help you?
See our Representative
RANDY BROWN
THE QUEEN'S HOTEL, SEAFORTH
the 1st Thursday of each mouth on: (NEXT VISIT: August 3rd)
at:
FEDERAL BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT BANK
Ft
0010 Addrent),
For prior information Call 271-5650, Oiled or write 1636 Ont rio
Street, Stratford
1001.1111111101111111101111101100.0111111101111
BY. AIR
Doesn't. Cost
It Pays
17.
Ethel man ;otgOiiies
A remInder that only Canadian citizens
may vote in federal by-electtonS and
general elections has been issued by
Jean-Marc Hamel, Chief Electbral, Officer
of Canada. •
"The Canada. Elections Act of 1970
provides that only persons having attained
the age of 18 years' and who are Canadian
Citizens qualify as federal electors," ,said
Mr. Hamel. "The Act also provides that
British subjects who were not Canadian
citizens, but who qualified „as electors at
the time of ther1968 general election, could
continue to vote in federal elections for a
period of five years following the coming
into effbct of the Canada Elections Act on
Jtine 26, 1970. Accordingly," stated Mr.
Hamel, "Since June 26. 1975 only ;Canadian citizen.- Anyone reftising to
Canadian citizens have had the right' to " swear eligibility when required to do so will
vote in federal elections." not he, given a ballot aiid will not be
He also pointed out that .Britigh subjects readmitted to the.... HaMel
rovihto drops Dow su
Only Canadians can vot
who are not Canadian '61izens may be cautioned would-be : voters that a false. oath
•-•
municipal elections if• they • meet the Persons in doubt about their citizenship
requirements of the • applicable election status should contact, their local Court of
legislation.- Canadian Citizenship or the Department of . • "As far as federal by-elections •and , the Secretary of State. These arc listed in
general elections are concerned," said Mr. the telephone dire4tory white pages under
Hamel. "proof of Canadian citizenship is 'Government dt 'Canada'. ' Courts of
not required either.. at • the time . of Canadian Citizenship are located in 28
enumeration or at the polls, '''but the major centres across Canada. In many
eleigibiiity of a would-be voter can be other, ,reas. citizenship officers, 'specially
challenged by the deputy returning officer, appointed individuals and provincial or
the poll clerk, one of the candidates or his county courts provide citizenship services.
.agent, or by any elector present at the poll.; Enquiries may, alp. be directed by mail to
If. challenged, the would-be voter will be the Registrar of Canadian Citizenship,
asked to produce satisfactory evidence of Department of the 'Secretary of State.
citizenship or to swear or affirm that he is a Ottawa, Ontario KIA .OMS.
According to Ron. Gould, Registrar of
Canadian .Citizenship, the granting of
citizenship to qualified persofis usually
takes.an•average ,.of three months from the
ipmdemos
entitled to vote in certain provincial or couldresult in proseetion.
been damaged by the mercury
pollution, while the Province,
assuming it owned the fishing
rights., did not fish and could note
claim .significant '"damages when
fishing was harmed.
Rather than testing the matter
in the,,courts, the Government
conici easily have passed a
statutory law making Dow and.
any other polluter of the natural
environment liable to ,damages.
Now., after semen long years,
the Province has dropped the
lawsuit, accepting a payment of
$150,000, which barely covers
outside legal and consultant fees
in the long civil battle, and does
not include salaries and expenses
of the Government's own- lawyers
, and scientists. Fishermen have
received private settlements kotir
the company amounting to.
$250,000.
To December 16, '1977, total
costs to. the government of the
Dow lawsuit were $117,238. Addi-
tional costs since that date result
in a total of $125,000.
Incidentally, since '1971 Dow
Chemical has,, received grants of
approximately $1-million from the
Ministry of the Environment, of
Which $921,000 under Pollution
Abatement Incentive Act.
date of application.
to help out with the new feature Of
.,,the plowing match, Mr. Martin
said. He was vice-president of the
association -at the time and
headed a committee to investi-
gate how the group could help
with the match.
The soil and crop committee
was then named one of. the 23
1PM local committees, Members
are Lawrence Taylor, of R. R. #1,
Londesboro; Doug.Cameron , R.
R. #3,1ticknow; Jim Armstrong,
R.R. #4, .Wingham; and Mike
Miller of Clinton, who acts as
committee secretary.
'FBI tt getsI iew servite! ptfic9r
Mr, Haxtable is here to assist to become acquainted with- tle Keith Elliott, Manager of the
Federal Business. Development business In any way possible. programmes, simply,give Mr,„
Bank has announced the appoint,. This service is "absolutely free, so, Huxtable a call at 2'4.5650,1 or
ttrnt of Peter T. Huxtable!,A, if you are wondering 4.4ont any write or visit the office in
as Managenlent Services Officer Gove,r,Nnpntprn*anne ,or want Stratford,
fol. Perth and Huron. This new
service 'is, being added in
response to the growing needs of
small and• medium ' si4ed
r
Mr. Huxtable will be respon-P ' Foliar Fectilization businesses in the area.
sible for providing information
and assistance on over 100
Government- financial and non-
financial programmes
w
ese
programmes include as ktaneet0
businesses engaged in farming,
fshing, manufacturing, wholet
sating, retailing, tourism, etc,
•
14 _- Titg_1110_1LIXPOSIT04171_, JULY 27 `1978
Report from Queen's Park
PETER HUXTABLE
Mr. Huxtable will also be
presenting several information
sessions in the arca, to acquaint
local business people with this
Small Business Information
Service..
Prior to his appointment, Mr.
Huxtable, a long time resident of
Stratford.-has spent the last year
in the Credit Department of the
Stratford Branch. P,reviously Mr.
Huxtable was for selen years a.
local Secondary School reacher in
addition to ten years in, the
personal finance field.
Join the growing number of-progressive farmers who
are increasing, their profits by using Alpine Fortified, a
-well bakinced and skilfully formulated foliar fertilizer.
This product has been successfully used to increase'
yields on both beans and corn.
' For more information call
Jim's Flying Service
R No. 3 Tillsonburg
842- 898-6"-Ate et—
In Sestforth
Milton J. DietZ'Ltd.
527-0608 Collect
Alpine Plant Foods Ltd.,
New Hamburg
1-800-265-6382
0.0
Look yourself up
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If not, please tell us now! We are getting
ready to print the new book.
Look up your present listing in the
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us a call pt 1-271-3911 (toll free) or the
Bell Canada business office number listed
in your directory before August 14.
Bell
Canada
•
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as well as TIRES...
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BRING YOUR CAR IN TODAY. FOR WORRY FREE SUMMER DRIVING TO:
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