HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1985-04-03, Page 3Line -know Sentinel, Wednesday, April 3, 1985—Page .3
Liberal leader says Elston's Huron -Bruce seat is safe
Provincial liberal leader David Peterson
told a fund raising dinner in Walkerton
recently the . Huron -,Bruce riding held by
Murray Elston, Liberal MPP is a "safe
seat", despite rumblings the riding is on
the Tory hit list and might be eliminated by
redistribution after this election.
Peterson said he thinks .the seat is so
safe he might hold his cabinet meetings in
Walkerton after the election.
Southwestern Ontario has been a liberal
stronghold for the past several elections.
Five seats are held by liberal MPPs. Two
of those members, Eddie Sargent, Bruce- "
Grey MPP and Bob McKessock, Grey
attended the dinner with Elston and
Peterson.
Despite Peterson's remark, there was
little doubt the fund raising event had been
Stagedto bolster Elston's chances in the
election. Elston has held the riding for the.
past four years. He took over from 18 ear
veteran; Murray Gaunt who is . rl a
CKNX farm broadcaster in Wingham.
Elston spoke last . at the meeting with
Sargent, McKessock and Peterson acting
as warm up speakers. Elston said he was
ready . for the election and produced a
cabbage patch„ doll sporting a "Re-elect.
Murray Elston" T-shirt as the opening shot
of his campaign.
He said the survival of the agricultural
base in the predominately rural riding and
providing jobs and ,post secondary educa-
tion ,for young people would be his major
concerns in the election.: As a third issue
'Elston -warned the party mght have to fight
for the survival of the riding. • It could be
eliminated through redistribution.
Peterson showed confidence. in Elston,
calling him "an outstanding member of
parliament'. Peterson.made a reference to
Bill Thompson, a radio talk show host who
was nominated by the Conservatives last.
fall to contest the riding. Thompson later
declined the , nomination when former
premier Bill'Davis decided to retire instead
of calling an election. Thompson announc-
ed last Week he would seek the nomination
again 'this time.' .
"Why the, .Tories can't find anyone to
run against ,(Elston) " said Peterson.
"There was a potential candidate Ihad a
chat with today and I.don't think you have
to worry about him either." Peterson was
interviewed on Thompson's open line show
March 19 before the fund raising' dinner.
Other local MPPs also used the
opportunity to .spout some election rhetor-
ic. McKessock'said he was looking forward
to the day'when he would.. be speaking to
Murray Elston as the attorney general,
Jack. Riddell .as minister of agriculture and
Eddie Sargeant as minister of public
works:
Provincial Liberal leader David Peterson discussed election strategy with Huron - Bruce
MPP Murray Elston, centre, and Vern Inglis, left, fund.raising chaan 'for the liberal'
chairman
party at a fund raising dinner in Walkerton March 19, prior to -the election call last week.
(Photo.,byRandy Threndryle)
At the suggestion, Sargeant said he throughout his 22 years in, the legislature.
would sooner be speaker. Sargent has been He has'. been ejected from the house on
noted . for his arguments with speakers several' occasions 'by .the speaker.
Madill cheerleading squad wins provincial championship
The Acro Cheer Squad. from F. ' E. Madill Secondary School,
Wingham, won the 1985 all Ontario cheerleading championships at a
competition involving cheer leaders from 43 high schools across the
province. Members of the award winning squad are Ginny LeVan,
Shawna Thomson, Tina DeBoer, Charlotte Cassidy, Joelle Reavie.
Stacey Thomson, Judy TenPas, Donna Raynard, Leslie TenPas and,
on the male side, Jamie McPherson, Doug Wood, Byron Thompson,
Darrin Watts, Bert Sjaarda, Doug McFarlan and Dave Linton. The
squad even has its own mascot, Pearl the horse, formed by Julie
Nichols and Heidi Strong. The cheer leaders are coached by. Dian
Wood and Louanna .Alexander. (W Ingham Advance -Times Photo)
•
The "Acro Squad" from F. E. Madill
Secondary School, Wingham, has cap-
tured the all Ontario cheer leading
Championship for 1985. '
In' a competition, two weeks ago at
Toronto against 42 other squads from
high schools all across Ontario, includ-
ing many from the large; metropolitan
areas; the Madill squad captured its
• first ever provincial title in just its third
"year of 'Competing:
The competition this year was "just •
incredible" reported Lnuanna Alexand-
er, 'one of the coaches of the cheer
leading,squad, and to come out on top
against so many ' larger schools • was
• "just unbelievable!"
W hen they won, nobody could speak;
they just screamed and cried."
Dian Wood, who has been coaching
the squad for a number of years,
explained they call themselves the Acro
Cheer Squad to differentiate themselves
from the popular image of cheer leaders
as nothing more than scantily clad
bouncing pom-pom girls.
Acro (for acrobatic)' is a term coined
by the Ontario Gymnastic Federation
for the newer brand of cheer leading
which involves strength, endurance and
gymnastic skills.
This year for the first time the Madill
squad included male cheer leaders, and
they provided a new dimension which
helped its chances at the competition,
Mrs. Wood said. Madill also had a
"secret weapon" in the form of Pearl,
its delightful horse mascot..
"One of the judges said the horse
really stole her heart away."
Organize foodland hydro committee to protect agricultural land...
from page 1
support the proposal for a. new Foodland
Hydro Committee.
McQuail led off the meeting, reviewing
the history of the earlier committee which,
daring 34 days of hearings at Stratford in
1982, persuaded the bearing board to opt
for ' a Bruce to Essa transmission route
instead of one going through Huron and
Perth.
This decision was quashed last year,
however, when the Supreme . Court of
Ontario agreed with objections raised by a
group of cottage owners and municipalities
that they had not received adequate 'notice
of the hearings.
As a result, McQuail explained, Ontario
Hydro has decided to develop the proposed
alternate routes to the same level of detail
as the northerly M3 route and this is the
reason for the recent studies and open
houses. /
It is important_ to remember that when
Hydro picks its preferred route later .this
summer, even if it turns out not to be the
Bruce to London route, farmers still cannot
relax, he warned, since it is possible for the
hearing board or the. Ontario ' cabinet to
over rule the Hydro selection.
"We're going to have a fairly interesting
kind of hearing at the next, stage, with
various interest groups pressing for
preferred routes," he noted.
McQuail said that for those in the Bruce
to London area it would be nicest if the •
hearing board upheld its decision at the
previous hearing for a modified plan M3,
adding that, "If not for some cottagers and
land owenrs in the north and soi'ne pretty
big municipalities in the south, Hydro
wouldn't be back here bothering you
again."
The meeting also reviewed the proposed
structure and financing for the Foodland
and Hydro committee. It will be grass roots
based, with township committees electing
members to a central board of directors
which will in turn choose a chairman,
secretary and treasurer.
Rough estimates included in a proposed
budget suggest the group could -need
$40,000 for legal expenses and $25,000 for
other.:expenses associated with the hear-
ings, as well as $4750' for mailing and
$5,000 for transportation to and from
committee meetings.
While committee members .paid their
own expenses last time, it is not fair to
expect the same again, Bill Jongejan,
acting treasurer, told the meeting. He said
to be an effective organization it must have
a sound financial base, noting the coalition
of cottagers and land owners opposing the
3ruce to Essa (Barrie) route raised an
estimated $100,000 to carry their fight to
the Supreme Court.
However he noted that last time the
committee members had most of their
expenses reimbursed by the hearing' board
and it is possible the same thing will
happen again, in which case the money
collected will be returned.
No one will be excluded from member-
ship for financial reasons, but the group
needs a strong financial base "because the
other folks do", 1VIuQuail added.
He added, in response to a question, that
no decision has been made yet on hiring a
lawyer. That Will be up to the new board of
directors., The previou� committee worked
without a lawyer and was quite effective,
he noted, "but this hearing may be a lot
tougher."
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