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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1990-08-08, Page 1Racing to top Walton father, son top dirt bike racers See page 10 Season announced Festival announces fall/spring events See page 22 Bulls gear up Training camp opens Aug. 25 See page 15 CN again moves to close Brussels rail line Canadian National has applied once again to the National Trans­ portation Agency of Canada (NTA) to close the Listowel to Wingham railway line that runs through Brussels and Ethel. In February of 1989, CN was ordered by NTA after a 2 day hearing to continue operation for another 18 months to see if the railway’s profitability would in­ crease. At that time Premdor Inc. Canada, in Wingham was the single biggest use of the line. The company appealed to the NTA at the hearing saying that if. the line closed the company could not bring its large requirement of lumber by rail and the plant with its 140 jobs may be forced to close. Under the procedures of the National Transportation Act of 1987, the NTA has to decide if a line is likely to be profitable in the future and the burden of proof of that profitability lies with the user. After hearing statements from °remdor and Hodgins Lumber in ■’ingham the railroad was given a reprieve. Premdor, which produces woo­ den doors, has seven plants across Canada and the company President at that time, Sol Spears, said that there were plans to move produc­ tion from the Toronto plant to Wingham. This would create 15 to 30 extra jobs and require as many as 80 additional carloads of lumber per year. Railway lawyers disputed then that the future-of Premdor did not rely on the railway line stating that they could ev,en make money by trucking in lumber rather than by shipping by rail. Witnesses for CN estimated that it would require 466 carloads of freight a year to make the line profitable. NTA figures showed the line had reached a low of only 99 carloads of freight in 1985, before climbing to 135 in 1987. CN’s recent report states that in 1989 that figure dropped by one. The losses shown are $204,671 in 1987, $197,164 in 1988 and $185,627. Now the day of reckoning has come and Premdor or any other interested parties have 60 days to oppose the application issued by CN. Spokespersons from Premdor were not available for comment at press time. ..IcClure withdraws from Liberal race David McClure, a retired school teacher from Crediton has with­ drawn his name from the list of candidates for the Huron Liberal Association’s nomination. In a press release issued Monday, Mr. McClure stated it would be “un­ wise” for him to “seek the nomina­ tion” due to circumstances of a personal nature. He apologized for not being able to campaign as he had originally intended. When the deadline for candi­ dates to declare their intentions passed on Friday, July 6, Mr. McClure was one of five who had thrown his hat into the political ring. The four remaining candid­ ates are: Eileen Palmer, Goderich Continued on page 2 ■Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, l.ondesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. VOL. 6 NO. 32 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1990.50 CENTS Just her type? It’s never too early to start a writing career. The youngster at the auction sale for Anderson Hardware in Belgrave on Saturday will probably end up with a more modern writing instrument in the future but she was having fun with this ancient typewriter at the sale. Hundreds of others also browsed looking for bargains new and old. The store hadbeenahardwarestoreformorethana century. (See page 6 for more pictures). Klopp NDP candidate for Sept. 6 election The provincial election campaign should be fought on principles and respect, Paul Klopp, the New Democratic Party candidate told party faithful at the nomination meeting in Clinton Aug. 1. Mr. Klopp was unopposed for the nomination. He also represent­ ed the party in the last campaign in 1987. Mr. Klopp said during the campaign he would be talking about the principle of a fan- environmental policy, where those who produce a product figure out what is to be done with that product in the end. He said the NDP can show alternatives to farm financing. He pointed to the 1919 United Farmers Organization government which instituted provincial savings and loan offices. He said Premier David Peterson had shown contempt for former agriculture minister Jack Riddell when he took him out of his job while he was attending a meeting of agriculture ministers out west. The NDP, he said, has respect for Huron County. What’s good for Huron is good for the province, he said. Riding President Tony McQuail said the party plans to spend $10,000 on the campaign including its contribution to the provincial party. He said the Liberals and Conservatives hadn’t answered the challenge from the NDP to run an environmentally-friendly campaign by not using candidate signs so the NDP was going to recycle old signs as a way of cutting waste.