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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1990-12-05, Page 19THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1990. PAGE 19. Jack Riddell honoured by colleagues, friends Jack Riddell roasted by friends BY CHERYL CLARK EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE Retired Huron MPP Jack Rid dell, the man with the “booming voice” and “quick wit”, was honoured by approximately 450 Liberal supporters, friends and cohorts at the South Huron Recrea tion Centre in Exeter, Friday. Many politicians from Huron and Middlesex municipalities, and ex members of the provincial legisla ture, came out to play homage to ENERGIZER BATTERIES Assorted s>zes Co-op reg S3 79 to S4 69 Your choice AUBURN CO-OPERATIVE County Rd. #25, Auburn 526-7262 A. CIRCULAR 7V4” SAW Powerful 10 amp motor with lateral lock-on button Sleeve bearing construction Double insulated 597-708 Co-op reg 7999 B. 3/8” VSR DRILL Two tools in one, variable speed drilling action 0-2. 600 RPM and 0-40,000 BPM for concrete and masonry 597-932 Co-op reg 79 95 C. FINISHING SANDER High speed orbital pad sander with unique new style paper clamp that locks open Locking trigger for continuous use 597-931 Co-op reg 8995 BELGRAVE CO-OPERATIVE Hwy. #4, Belgrave 357-2711 523-4454 Store Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 to 5 Store Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30-5:30 Sat.9-12noon Sat 9-12noon Ji.. ..... ..... YOUR CHOICE [Mosle<Card the notorious auctioneer song-sing ing retired MPP. Included among the well-wishers were conservative Huron-Bruce MP Murray Cardiff, Zurich reeve Bob Fisher, Hensail reeve Jim Robinson, and Stephen Township reeve Tom Tomes. A “Riddell roast” was hosted by Murray Gaunt with guest speakers including former riding president Ian McAllister; former classmate Dave Pelletterio; former deputy minister Dr. Clay Switzer; former colleague Hugh Edighoffer; MPP Murray Elston; long-time constitu ency assistant Ruth Stover; Liberal leader Robert Nixon and Conserva tive agriculture critic Noble Ville neuve. Jack Riddell and his father Keith were touted by McAllister as having a legacy of political power in Huron and Middlesex counties for well over 50 years. Keith Riddell was an agriculture rep in Middlesex for 36 years, and Jack was quick to follow in his footsteps after graduating with a degree course from the Ontario Ariculture College in Guelph, 1957. McAllister chronicled how Jack Riddell’s intensive political career began in December, 1972 when he was elected as a Huron County Board of Education trustee, and in the 1973 provincial by-election in which Riddell was persuaded to run. On March 15, 1973, Riddell’s election ended 38 years of Progres sive Conservative leadership in the riding of Huron. “One car load of supporters eventually became five- busloads of people,” reminisced McAllister. Riddell then went on to win two more elections in a four-year span. He also took the Huron riding in 1981-85-87. Riddell held several posts in the legislature, he was the Liberal agriculture critic from 1975- 85 under three leaders. Riddell became the minister of agriculture and food on June 26, 1985. Follow ing the 1987 election, Riddell was re-appointed to cabinet and re mained in that position until August 1989. Riddell announced his retirement prior to the Septem ber election. Pelletterio, a former university classmate of Riddell’s, remembers him as a “good student and athlete”, especially in football and wrestling. > Former deputy agriculture mini ster Dr. Clay Switzer, currently working on the federal government task force on farm finance, credits the Riddells with introducing him to agriculture. “Jack was well-versed in govern ment programs and agriculture,” said Switzer, commenting his years as Riddell’s deputy minister were amusing and memorable. Dr. Switzer credited Riddell’s work for its successful creation with 100 new and revised programs including interest rate relief, land stewardship, revised crop insur ance and national tripartite stabili zation programs. Former colleague Edighoffer brought in a copy of Riddell’s first question and supplementary to the GST? THIS WEEK YOU ASKED THE GST CONSUMER INFORMATION OFFICE. Q: I ’m thinking of buying a new car in 1991. How will the proposed GST affect prices! A: The outgoing Federal Sales Tax (FST) is now part of the price of new cars. So, while they will be fully taxed at 7% in 1991, the expected effect of replacing the FST with the GST on the average $22,000 mid-size car is a reduction of around $850. Q: My son has figured out it will cost $500 in lumber to build a dock at our cottage if he bought it now. How much will that lumber cost with the proposed GST? A: You can expect to pay about $512 for that same amount of lumber for personal use based solely on the changeover from the FST to the GST. Q: I know the proposed GST won’t apply to city bus fares but I take the commuter train to work. Will I have to pay GST! A: No. Daily commuter trains are considered a municipal transit service, so fares are exempt from GST. We’re here to answer your questions about how the GST will affect prices. Call us toll-free Monday to Friday 9am-9pm. Ask for your free copy of the “Consumer’s Guide to the GST and Prices? The answer is to call your GST Consumer Information Office. 1-800-668-2122 Hearing Impaired 1-800-465-7735 1^1 Government of Canada Gouvernement du Canada Canada Provincial Legislature, and quickly pointed out it “was not in order”. Riddell’s oldest children Wayne and, Debbie Thompson, shared their version of their father’s character with the crowd. Riddell said his only regrets with regard to his days in the Legislature are missing out on his five children’s school accomplishments. He also gave a great deal of the credit for his success to the support of his wife Anita.