The Rural Voice, 1978-04, Page 464.
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PG. 46. THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1978.
Other
voices
A BASIC LACK OF TRUST...
During the past week it was brought to our attention that
farmers in the area are being sent a questionnaire by Ontario
Hydro titled System Reliability Questionnaire.
The survey states that Ontario Hydro ''is surveying all classes
of customers to find out the value of a reliable service to them."
However the only people we have heard of in this area who have
received such a questionnaire are farmers. At least one pian isn't
very happy about the whole thing.
Adrian Vos. chairman of the Huron Power Plant Committee.
labels the questionnaire as a "scare tactic" on the part of the
Ontario Hydro.
In a recent press release on the subject. Mr. V, made these
comments:
"Ontario Hydro has been mailing 25.000 questionnaires to
their farm customers on the possible results of a power blackout
on the farm. Such questions as: What is 'cost resulting from
damage to farm: spoilage of produce. lost crop or animals.
cleanup and possible extra labor' and such are obviously
designed to scare the farmer into support for the position on
electrical expansion that Ontario Hydro favors. The
questionnaire raises the prospects of power rationing at a time
v.hen the projected seven per cent demand for last year turned
out to be only tv:o per cent.
"The tactic is so obvious that we are surprised that a
supposedly sophisticated Corporation such as Ontario Hydro
stoops to it.
"That some of the questions arc needed and provide valuable
information only serves to obscure the obvious reason for the
questionnaire.
"The Huron Pov.cr Plant Committee has never quystioned the
projections for more generating stations, only their location. But
the committee has also kept abreast of the information that is
presented in reams of paper to the Royal Commission on Electric
Power Planning and. as mentioned before. found the forecasted
demand to be faulty.
"It will, of course be up to each farmer if he wishes to answer
the questionnaire. but we in our turn question the ethics of
Ontario Hydro in this matter."
Whether or not Mr. Vos is correct in his assumption that the
questionnaire is a "scare tactic" on the part of Ontario Hydro is
anyone's guess. However. what is important about this situation
is that he and a number of other farmers BELIEVE that it is a
scare tactic.
We vividly recall a press meeting organized by Ontario Hydro
a few years ago -just after the power corridor hearings were held
in this area. After being wined and dined at a Waterloo hotel,
members of the press were given a presentation by a number of
Hydro officials regarding their new code of behaviour for dealing
with landowners, particularly farmers.
We believed then and we still believe that the proof of the
pudding is in the eating. Recent press releases corning out of the
Conn area where farmers are angry over the way Hydro is
pushing ahead with its new transmission line. together with
statements like the one given by Mr. Vos. makes it clear that
Hydro has a long way to go to regain the respect ii once enjoyed
in the rural community in this province.
-THE LISTOWEI. BANNER