HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-03-16, Page 8Page 8 Times-Advocate, March 16, 1978
Of course, the big news at
Queen’s Park this week was
the Provincial Budget for
1978/79.
Expenditures of $14,555
billion in the coming fiscal
year, and over-all revenues
of $13.5 billion will produce a
deficit of $1,055 billion,
compared with last year’s
$1,616 billion — always
supposing that the
Treasurer’s forecasts are
correct.
The increases of ex
penditure in the area of debt
servicing — interest
payments already ac
cumulated as well as ad
ditional debt this year — are
alarming. Net debt has now
reached 9.5 percent of Gross
Provincial Product, and 72.1
percent of annual revenues.
Interest payments of $1.2
billion are now taking 8.5
percent of the budget — an
increase over last year of
15.4 percent — the largest
dollar increase in the budget.
Interest charges amount to
about $3 million a day.
OHIP premiums are to
increase by $12 to $44
monthly for families and by
$6 to $22 monthly for single
subscribers, effective May 1.
That’s an increase of 37.5
percent this year, for a total
increase of 100 percent over
the last two years. These
increases will be ac
companied by expanded free
exemptions, as a result of
which some 1.8 million
Ontarians will pay no OHIP
premiums, while another
60,000 will pay 50 percent
premiums.
Single people with taxable
income of $2,500 and families
with taxable income of $3,000
or less will pay no
premiums, those with
taxable income between
$2,500and $3,000 (single) and
between $3,000 and $4,000
(family) will pay 50 percent.
On a package of 20
cigarettes, tax goes up 2.8
cents, and there is a slight
increase on cut tobacco and
cigars. As of April 1, a 24-
case of beer will increase to
$8 from $7.85 — wines and
spirits will increase by
between 15 and 25 cents.
There is a tax-break for
the tourism industry — the 7
percent sales tax on ac
commodation until
December 31, 1979. Tax on
American Plan ac
commodation is also lifted,
but the 10 percent’ tax on so-
called luxury meals
remains.
Last year’s youth em
ployment programs are to be
continued at a cost of $78.3
million — an increase of
$12.9 million. The Govern
ment has already admitted
that there will be ap
proximately 100,000 too few
summer jobs to meet the
needs of students seeking
employment this year, yet
job proposals only set a
target of 60,000 jobs. Last
year, at the peak of the
summer, there was a short
fall of 159,000 jobs for
students.
The Treasurer has not
come forward with even one
permanent job creation
proposal, although he
predicts continuing unem
ployment at about present
levels. Last year, he forecast
89,000 jobs would be created
in 1977 — the Conservative
Election Charter predicted
100,000. Actual job creation
figures shown in the budget
are 73,000 — a short-fall of
16,000 jobs against the
Treasurer’s own ’77 budget
forecast, of 27,000 against the
Premier’s Charter. The
Treasurer predicted 6.3
percent unemployment; it
now rests at 7 percent.
In a transparent attempt
to obscure this year’s deficit,
the Treasurer is selling off
assets — $125 million in
Ontario Mortgage Cor
poration mortgages. He is
also accelerating the cash
flow from corporation taxes
by changing the Corporation
Tax Act to bring in an ad
ditional $70 million, in a one
time cash flow adjustment.
In other news this week,
the Minister of Tran
sportation and Com
munications has introduced
legislation to allow the
Government to impose new
rules on drivers’ licences. A
first step has been taken
toward requiring
photographs on drivers’
licences and setting up
probationary licences for
new drivers, both recom
mended by the Select
Committee of the
Legislature on Highway
Safety.
Probationary licences
may not come until next
January 1 or later, and
photographs, which would be
taken only when a driver
renewed his licence, may
follow that. The Select
Committee recommended a
two-year probationary
licence, during which time
action would be taken
against a driver at lower
levels of demerit points than
for a driver with an ordinary
licence.
The Cabinet considered a
one-year probationary
licence for all new drivers 18
and older. Drivers under 18
would be on probationary
licences until that age. The
Minister is not sure which
system will be implemented.
Replying to a question
from Herb Epp (Liberal —
Waterloo-North), the
Chairman of the
Management Boad of
Cabinet, has admitted that
some 439 civil servants are
"red-circled”. (A civil
servant recently disclosed
that he is being paid nearly
$25,000 a year, but being
given little work to do.)
"Red-circling” occurs when
an employee is transferred
to another post because his
job is redundant. His salary
is frozen until the salary
level of his new post catches
up.
Liberal Leader Stuart
Smith has disclosed that the
bureaucrats who control
statistical files for the
Ontario Government have
dreamed up 33 ways to tell
the public: “It’s none of your
business”.
Designations include the
following: confidential, not
available to public, strictly
confidential, not available,
inter-office confidential file;
classified, information
regarding input and output is
being handled confidentially,
and confidential within the
ministry except as
published.
Among items regarded as
strictly confidential: reports
about excessive smoke from
diesel trucks and buses;
exhaust emission tests.from
cars, results of analysis of
vegetation for airborne
pollutants, permits issued
for the use of DDT (a
"hormone-type herbicide”)
and gases for fumigation.
Thames Road folk
return from south
OOPS!
WE LEFT OUT THE PRICE
One of the best items in our 8-page flyer which
appears in today's paper is a Dryer Vent Kit. But
because of a mishap at the printers, the price was
left out. So here's our Super Special price.
While Stocks Last!
DRYER VENT
KITS 4
DISCOUNT DAVE'S
HOME CENTRES
By MRS. WILLIAM ROHDE
THAMES ROAD
Mr. and Mrs. William
Rohde visited Wednesday
evening with Mrs. Ken Lovie
who is a patient in St.
Joseph’s Hospital, London.
Mrs. Hazel Jeffery return
ed home on Friday evening
after having spent the past
two weeks in Florida.
Mr. and Mrs. David
Passmore returned home
Saturday after having spent
the past two weeks in
Florida.
Mr. and Mrs. Lome
Ballantyne and Wendy
returned home the first of
the week after having spent
the past ten days in Florida.
Tom and Jon Passmore
spent the past two weeks
with their grandparents, Mr.
and Mrs. John Batten of
Elimville.
Mr. and Mrs. George
Kellitt visited Friday even
ing with Mr. and Mrs.
William Rohde.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Reeves
Our track record
TIME OUT FOR COFFEE — Striking workers at Fleck Manufacturing at Huron Park were join
ed by about 300 picketers from the Ford Talbotville plant Tuesday morning. After
demonstrating for about two hours they went back to the Centralia Community Centre for
coffee. Shown above discussing the strike are Local 1620 chairman Sheila Charlton, UAW
representative Bob Nickerson, Talbotville plant benefits officer Bert Rovers and Mary Lou
Richard of the Huron Park local. T-A photo
Opening
new doors
tato small
■ business
JOHN MACKENZIE
one of our representatives
will be at
Les Pines Hotel, EXETER
on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month
March 21
and
April 4__________
If you require financing to start, modernize or
expand your business and are unable to
obtain it elsewhere on reasonable terms and
conditions or if you are interested in the
FBDB management services of counselling
and training or wish information on
government programs available for your
business, talk to our representative.
FEDERAL
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT BANK
For prior information call 271-5650
or write 1036 Ontario Street,, Stratford
!
i
and family of Beachville,
Mr. and Mrs. Ted
Hargreaves and Robbie of
Woodstock were Sunday
dinner guests and Mr. and
Mrs. Lome Hansford and
family of London, Mr. and
Mrs. Albert Hargreaves of
Woodstock were Sunday
afternoon visitors with Mr.
and Mrs. Ross Hargreaves.
Mr. and Mrs. William
Rohde visited on Sunday
with Mr. and Mrs. Jim
Rohde and family and Mr.
and Mrs. Alex Rohde of
Mitchell.
On Sunday March 19 the
rite of baptism and commu
nion will be held at the
regular church hour with
Rev. Bert Daynard in
charge.
The Fellowship Group will
hold their meeting’on Sun
day evening March 19 at
Elimville Church at 8 p.m.
Gerry Cottle had the mis
fortune to fall Sunday and
badly fracture his leg. He is
a patient in University
Hospital.
Play euchre
at Creditor!
By MISS ELLA MORLOCK
Flowers in the sanctuary
of Zion United Church were
from the funeral service of
Arthur Amy. Mr. Amy was
for many years superin
tendent of the Sunday School
of the EUB Church.
Tuesday evening fifteen
tables were in play at the
Women’s Institute sponsored
euchre.
Winners were: men’s high
jack Dickins; ladies’ high-
Mrs. Leita Hill; men’s low-
Neil Langford; ladies’ low-
Mrs. Florence Keller; men’s
lone hands-Joe Carter;
ladies’ lone hands, Mrs.
Charles Rollings, holder of
the lucky serviette, Mrs. Joe
Carter.
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She'll be working in a Ministiy of the
Environment lab. Her job is provided
through one of eight programs developed
to give work experience to high school
and post-secondary students as well as to
young people who have finished -their
education. Here's how the programs work:
Ontario Youth Employment Program
provides a subsidy of $1.25 per hour to
encourage additional summer youth em
ployment by the business and farming
communities.This program is operated
by the Ministry of the Treasury,
Subsidies Branch.
Ontario Career Action Program is a year-
round program which gives career
training and practical work experience to
unemployed young people for up to a
26-week period. Participants are placed
as trainees in the private sector and with
various Ontario Government ministries.
This program is administered by the
Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
Experience '78 hires young people to
work for the summer in various Ontario
ministries.The jobs are designed to
complement the student's academic and
career goals. It's co-ordinated by the
Ontario Youth Secretariat.
1978 Ontario-Quebec Summer Student
Job Exchange Program places Ontario
students in various Quebec Government
ministries and agencies while Quebec
students are placed with Ontario
Government ministries and agencies. The
program gives students the opportunity
of increasing their knowledge of a second
language and of experiencing the
culture of the host province. It's operated
through the Civil Service Commission.
Junior Forest Ranger Program gives
Ontario students who are 17 years old a
chance to gain practical experience in
the management of our natural resources.
It's administered by the Ministry of
Natural Resources.
Junior Conservationist AtvardProgram
hires students nominated through con
servation-minded organizations to work
in resource management. It's operated
by the Ministry of Natural Resources,
Conservation Authorities Branch.
Junior Agriculturalist Farm Program -
employs students who reside in the city
to live and work on farms during the
summer. It's administered by the Ministry
of Agriculture and Food.
Youth Care for Senior Citizens gives
municipalities the opportunity to hire
young people to provide at-home services
for elderly and handicapped adults.This
program is co-ordinated by the Ministry
of Community and Social Services.
The young people who work under
these programs and those who will work
as summer replacements for regular
ministry staff will benefit from their ex
periences. All of us in Ontario will benefit
from the work they do.
Ontario Youth Secretariat
Margaret Birch, Minister
Terry D. Jones, M.P.P.
Parliamentary Assistant
Let’s all work together
to help Ontario’s youth work.
Government of Ontario
William G. Davis, Premier
i 1