HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-04-27, Page 12C'j
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By JACK RIDDELL
MPP Huron-Middlesex
The heated debate on in
creased OHIP premiums
continues. Both Opposition
Parties have approved a mo
tion demanding that the
government drop its planned
37.5% increase for the rest
of the year and come up with
an alternative method of
raising the necessary
revenue.
The Treasurer refused to
back away from his budget
increase, only making a
small concession with
respect to people at the
“notch", with incomes a lit
tle above the level where
they would qualify for
premium assistance. Unless
a compromise can be reach
ed between the Opposition
demands and the
Government’s stand, a non
confidence motion will be
moved.
Liberal Leader Stuart
Smith has proposed a plan to
draw the $271 million the
Government needs from six
areas: Limiting the OHIP
increase to 6% ($51
million): Using provincial
lottery funds ($38 million);
Cutting the fat in this year’s
Ministry of Health budget
estimates ($50 million);
Forcing the Government to
implement its 4% limit for
salaries and wage
settlements ($67 million);
Cutting Government spen
ding on services such as
public relations, consultants
and printing ($24 million);
Increasing the corporate in
come tax by 0.5% to 12.5%
for most businesses ($41
million).
A 6% increase will mean a
monthly premium of $17 in
stead of $16 for single sub
scribers and $34 instead of
$32 for family subscribers.
The Treasurer’s budget plan
would mean premiums of
$22 and $44 respectively.
The Provincial-Local
Government Committee on
Property Tax Reform has
submitted its recommen
dations on the Treasurer’s
“Alternative System” to
Cabinet. We have some
•
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Times-Advocate, April 27, 1978
OHIP debate continues
reservations about the Com
mittee’s recommendations.
Small businesses throughout
the Province will be es
pecially hard hit. There is a
danger that small retail
merchants will be driven out
of business.
The Committee’s proposal
for a business tax credit or
rebate, based on need, might
lessen the blow - if im
plemented. While we are
pleased that the Committee
has recognized the problem,
its solution is vague.
It seems illogical to treat
farm residences separately
from farmland and fam
buildings. This is also incon-
sistent with the
Government’s policy of
limiting severances to
safeguard prime
agricultural land. A
farmer's control of his land
would be undercut if the
Province pays 100% of taxes
on farmland and farm
buildings. In addition,
market value will mean
highly inflated assessment
on urban fringe agricultural
land.
The Minister of Revenue,
in response to a Question in
the House, has stated that
under the Government’s
first home buyers grant
scheme, brought in prior to
the 1975 election, some $3.5
million in public funds was
given out to people who did
not really qualify for the $1.-
500 subsidy. All applications
have now been audited, and
approximately 3% of almost
100,000 applicants received
grants to which they were
not entitled. As of March
31st. 1978, some of this
money has been collected,
some is in the process of be
ing collected.
The Minister anticipated
that the recovery phase will
continue for some time
before all collections are
finalized.
You will recall that under
the program, people who
had never owned a home
qualified for a $1,000 grant,
followed by $250 grants on
the first and second anniver
saries of the day they bought
their home. The program
was in effect until the 31st
December, 1975, but some of
the $250 payments were still
going out at the end of 1977.
The Provincial Govern
ment has accepted a
proposal from Ontario
Hydro to scrap two of four
planned generating units at
the oil-fired Wesleyville
Generating Station near
Port Hope. In the short run,
this proposal involves rais
ing power rates slightly to
save $400 million in capital
costs, and trim back
Hydro’s long term system
expansion program.
The Minister of Energy,
announcing the decision,
stated that even without the
two 550 megawatt units,
Hydro will have nearly 1,000
megawatts more generating
capacity than it needs
between 1981 and 1985 and
will be asked to negotiate
sale of the surplus to other
utilities.
Questioned in the House
by Liberal Stuart Smith,
who said current Hydro load
forecasts indicate'an “ex
cess reserve” of 3,000
megawatts by 1986, the
Minister maintained that a
cut that large “at this par
ticular stage in our history
would result in the loss of
thousands and thousands of
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J 2x4 2.43 3.04 3.65 4.26 4.87 5.47
*2x6 4.46 5.58 6.70 7.81 8.93 10.04
S 2x8 5.69 7.11 8.53 9.95 11.38 12.80
| 2x10 7.63 9.54 11.44 13.35 15.26 17.17
b 4 x 4 5.69 7.11 8.53 9.95 11.38 12.80
lklx6 1.49 2.23 2.79 3.34 3.91 4.46 5.02
jobs in this Province.”
Dr. Smith asked why the
Minister was “creating
capacity we may well not
need instead of using that
money now to recreate high
technology industry in this
province and using that
money in the private sector
where it can create jobs."
The Ministries of Educa
tion and Colleges and
Universities have submitted
a working paper to
educational institutions in
Ontario, which includes
proposals affecting the
preparation and transition
of students from high
FARM SCENE — Life on the farm was a project done by Tracy Ratz and Susan Fulcher for a junior arts and crafts fair
held at Stephen Central school. T-A photo
schools to post-secondary in
stitutions.
The two Ministries want
certain subjects made man
datory in Grade 13 as
necessary preparation for
University. They include a
choice of one or three pairs:
English or French and
another language. Math and
Science or Math combined
with English or French.
The Ministry of Education
wants to establish achieve
ment tests in English or
French for all Grade 13
students and an exam for
those enrolled in one or
more Math courses.