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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-02-03, Page 52.We are profoundly concerned that a decision of your Board might force a public carrier, based in this Province, to restructure its operations in a manner that could,according to Gray Coach, result in the potential loss of 248 jobs in Ontario; that could result in reduction of service to some 62 rural communities in Ontario; that could result in the elimination of bus service to an additional 76 communities in Ontario; and that may force an enterprise indirectly owned by the people of Ontario; an effect that is tantamount to Times-Advocate, February 311977 Page that, if the policy is to replace publicly owned carriers by private ones on the lucrative routes, that policy should be stated generally, and should be implemented in a way that returns some consideration to the displaced carrier," If the Board feels Gray Coach has done a poor job of servicing the routes, clear directions should be given for im- provements. On the other hand, if the Board feels the time has come to open good routes to corm- petition, some direction should be requested from elected representatives. Mahogany veneer door, 2'6" by 6'8" - 1 3/8" thick. Our usual cash & carry price for this door is 13.61 but it's on sale for one week only at 11.57. You save 15 percent. Order yours now from Discount Dave's. 3"x3" STANLEY BRASS BUTTS 9 #821C10. Our usual cash and carry price is 1.19 for a pair. Now WEISER PASSAGE SET Beverley Series #A101B 9/26D. Our usual cash & carry price is 5.99 on sale at 20% off, one By JACK RIDDELL MPP Huron-Middlesex The Ontario Energy Board informed the Chairman of the Liberal Caucus that a decision was made on January 21, granting an interim increase to the Consumer Gas Company pending a final decision on the rates application currently before the Board. In this con- nection constituents have been contacting Me expressing their objections to the price increases proposed by Union Gas, I have pursued this matter with the Minister of Energy and perhaps his comments might prove helpful in answering • constituents' protests concerning Union Natural gas price ' in- creases. All gas utilities are regulated by the Ontario Energy Board and cannot make any rate or price changes without approval of the Board . Before granting any approvals the Board examines all relevant materials and through a public hearing, considers the positions put forward by other parties including members of the public who choose to participate,' The major factor in price in- creases during the past few years is the price which Ontario Gas Utilities have to pay for their natural gas. Since only one percent of our natural gas supply is produced in Ontario, this Province is heavily dependent on Western Canadian gas supplies, primarily from Alberta, to make up the remaining 99%, The Federal Government has the authority to set the price of natural gas delivered from the west to Torontd, their policy has been to relate the price of gas to the price of Canadian crude oil, which in turn they propose in- creasing in rapid stages towards the much higher world price. As a consequence the price of natural gas has been raised by con- siderable amounts each year, on one occasion by 50% and is slated for further increases. It is this price that Union Gas 110 and other distributors have to pay for the gas delivered to their customers. As these are sizable increases and real costs to the Gas Companies, the Ontario Energy Board has been allowing them to flow through to the consumer. There are other cost increases involved which the Board examines and on oc- casion permits Union to add to its rates. These latter costs are subject to Anti-Inflation Guidelines. The former, the Federal price of natural gas is not. I would urge that concerned citizens express their unhap- piness with this Federal Government policy either through their local 'Federal MP or directly to the Honourable Alastair Gillespie, Minister of Energy,Mines and Resources, in Ottawa. You will no doubt recall that in the early part of December we raised in the Legislature the question of the Ontario Highway Transport Board ruling to allow Greyhound Lines of Canada Ltd. to run buses on routes between Toronto and Buffalo and Toronto and Sudbury, which are at present served by Gray Coach, a subsidiary of the Toronto Transit Commission, The Minister of Transportation and Communications told the Legislature, initially, that he agreed with the Board's reasons for giving this ruling complaints of poor service by Gray Coach, and the need for competition on the routes in the public interest. Leonard Moynehan,president of the Amalgamated Transit Union charged that telegrams of sup- port for the Greyhound service, from local unions, which had been read in the House by the Minister, were paid for by Greyhound, and that although more jobs might be provided, they would not he in Ontario, because Greyhound would then have a cross-Canada service, with drivers from the United States, or from Winnipeg driving through Ontario. Stuart Smith expressed con- cern because the bus service to many small Ontario communities was threatened by the Transport Board's decision to permit an American-controlled company to operate on the two main Ontario routes in question, considering this a sell-out to American in- terests at the expense of a Canadian company owned by Ontario taxpayers'and "equivalent to Ontario handing over a $10 million public asset to a U.S, controlled company". Gray Coach officials expressed the view that Greyhound would skim the profits from these two money-making routes, making it impossible for Gray Coach to continue to provide service on money-losing routes in the rest of the Province. After some two weeks of continuing pressure in the Legislature, the Ontario Cabinet told the Ontario Highway Transport Board to reconsider the decision to allow Greyhound Lines of Canada Ltd. to compete with the publicly-owned Gray Coach Lines Ltd. The Minister of Transportation and Com- munications asked the OHTB to re-examine the economic impact of the 'decision, and determine how this would affect bus service to smaller communities andGray Coach finances. T.T.C. and union officials warned that more than 200 Ontario jobs could be lost and the company put in the red by $300,000,although the President of Greyhound maintained the routes to be granted his company would " increase employment in Ontario by at least 90 jobs and perhaps as many as 130", The re-hearing before the Ontario .Highway Transport Board is now in progress in Toronto, and Division 113 of the Amalgamated Transit Union asked Stuart Smith to make a submission. He appeared before the Board on the 27th January, and stated that the Liberal Party "is opposed to the original decision of your Board which granted to Eastern Canada Greyhound, Greyhound Canada and to Stock Bros., the rights to run a competitive service on those routes which are most profitable to Gray Coach. Our opposition to your decision, Mr. Chairman, is based on the following points: 1. Firstly, and most fun- damentally, the decision to allow competition on certain routes appears to us to bein direct contravention of previously established and accepted policy which preserved exclusive carrier operating rights on major inter-urban routes. We do not believe that a decision to open up the bus routes across central Ontario to competitive licencing should be made a regulatory agency without recourse to the Legislature. P.C.V„ licencing changes are being considered by a Select Committee of the Legislature, and such a Com- mittee is the logical place for policy decisions on basic alterations to this policy. Outline reasons for Union Gas increases giving away a ten million dollar public asset to a privately-owned corporation,. We recognize that, in a legal sense, the franchises are privileges and not assets to be sold. Nonetheless, we believe i4,11 .WMJ 7:•/,;;Wi*,:1404.4. o The Carpeting You can install it yourself, or we can arrange custom in- stallation by trained carpet installers available at extra cost. It's 100% nylon for excellent durability, and is SCOTCH- GARD treated to resist soiling and static build-up. Comes in Gold, Beige, Copper and Blue. Has high density rubber back so you can install it yourself. Our usual Cash & Carry is 7.95/sq. yd. but you save 20%! During this sale, we're offering a free tube of panel adhesive with every three panels you buy. The panels listed below - at our usual cash & carry price - are our In- flation Fighters; we feel they represent outstanding value. In- cidentally, the majority of panels at Discount Dave's are either pre- finished prints or paper overlays. The names we give to each panel are simply intended to convey to the reader the color and ap- pearance of the panelling. VENETIAN ROSEWOOD YOUR CHOICE FIRESIDE WALNUT RUSTIC CEDAR CASTLE PECAN GEORGIA PINE HERE'S A GREAT LINE-UP OF TOP QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR YOUR NEW FAMILY ROOM FROM DISCOUNT DAVE'S! And Remember: Your Master Charge And Chargex Cards Are As Good As Cash At Discount Dave's 0) The Ceiling There are two ways you can handle your ceiling. You can use traditional 12"x12" tiles with good strapping, or you can install a suspended ceiling system with 2'x4' panels as shown. 12"x12" TILES •These tiles, plain white, are made by Johns-Manville and come in cartons covering 64 square feet. Our usual cash & carry price/carton is 12.69. You save 15%. SUSPENDED SYSTEM Our big 2'x4' lay-in panels make a handsome ceiling. All you have to do is set up a grid system using 12' Main Tees and 2' and 4' Cross Tees. Then slip the ceiling panels into the grid. The wallmould completes the job. Buy now & save 15%! 2'x4' CLOUD WHITE 1/2 INCH LAY-IN PANELS Our usual C.&C. 1.82 ea. 12' MAIN TEE White Enamel Color matched shelves and spindles in Colonial, Mediterranean and Spanish designs now on sale at 15% off our usual cash & carry prices, Finish. Our usual Cash & Carry 2.53 ea. 4' CROSS TEE White Enamel Finish. Our usual cash & carry 73' ea. 2' CROSS TEE White Enamel Finish. Our usual C.&C. 37' each 12' WALLMOULD Our usual Cash & Carry price 1.49 each e The Potlights #HE1024 unwired recessed potlight made of heavy gauge aluminum. Takes 75-watt R30lamp not included, Our usual C.&C. 6.99 each, • 0 8" Recessed Unwired 8" packaged recessed square. Flat albalite glass with white trim. Takes 100-watt bulb not included #HE 1070. Our usual cash & carry price is 9.99 Discount Dave's 736.2151 235.1422 524.8321 238.2374 738.2221 396.3403 733.2341 744.6371 AMHERSTBURG EXETER GODERICH GRAND BEND HARROW KINCARDINE KINGSVILLE KITCHENER 580 Fairway Road South OWEN SOUND 376-3181 RIDGETOWN 674.5465 SOUTHAMPTON 797.3245 THEDFORD 296.4991 WEST LORNE 768.1520 WINDSOR EAST 727.6001 Tecumseh Bypass, Hwy. 2 WINDSOR WEST 734.1221 500 Front Road in LaSalle TECUMSEH RD. 9 r i Bypas, NEW Discount Dave's A DAILY CHORE -- Shovelling snow has become a daily chore in this part of the country for the past 51 consecutive days. Above, Liz Bower- man deans off a sidewalk on Main street. T-A photo Discount . Dave s IT -H NER OWEN SOUND 589 Fairway Rd. South near the Mall, On Hwy. 21 at Springmoun1 Corner. Phone 744-6371. Daily 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Phone 376-3181, Open 8 a.m. - 5:30 including Saturday, Friday11119 p.m. p.m. daily: Saturday 11114 p.m, WINDSOR WEST 500 Front Road in LaSalle. Phone 734-1221. Daily 8 a.m. • 5:30 MCI. Saturday. Friday till 9 p.m. KITCHENER Out.o1 town Call Free of Charge 1.800.285.8990 or 8991 Reg. hours: Mon,-Fri. 8 a.m. to 5:30 pan, Sat, till 4 p,m. KINCARDINE, KITCHENER, WINDSOR, EAST & WINDSOR WEST - FRIDAY till 9 P.M. Saturdays till 5:30 P.M. WINDSOR EAST Tecumseh Bypass on highway 2, Phone 727-6001. Daily 8 a.m. - 5:30 incl. Saturday. Friday 11115 pat.