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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-11-18, Page 4E ditorial PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1992. Photo by Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot Studying cost cutting Huron County is still at least five years away from having a new landfill site for its garbage, but already studies into the possible locations have cost $328,435. By the time the county is ready to think about buying a site to deposit its garbage, the cost of studies to find a location is likely to close in on $1.2 million, according to the latest figures from the County. Nearly every undertaking by government, large or small, these days requires a study. If a recreation or arts group wants a grant to expand its facility a team of consultants must be brought in to prepare a feasibility study before the government will even consider the proposal. The fee paid to the consultant would often go a long way toward paying for the facility sought. Research is important. Proper knowledge up front can actually save money down the line. But preparing studies has become one of the few growth industries in the country these days. While the brakes may have been put on hiring of more civil servants, governments' insistence on hiring consulting firms has kept costs growing. Half the cost of that $1.2 million Waste Management Master Plan study in Huron will be paid for by the Ontario government and half by county taxpayers. And what do taxpayers get? With the lengthy list of rules set down by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) for the consultants to follow, Huron county has spent four years and $328,435 to get just about exactly where it was in 1988. A lengthy study last year identified six sites that possibly met MOE standards but residents in the areas involved knew from their own amateur observations, that none of the six sites were safe for storing garbage. Turns out they were right: all of the six sites were rejected. The merry-go-round has started all over again with the search on for more sites. Nobody knows whether these sites will work or not. No doubt the people working for consulting companies are bright and work hard. The fact remains, however, that a defacto branch of government has been created by the requirement for studies, studies and more studies. Perhaps if more judicious requirements were made for studies, and simpler guidelines were set up so that common sense would cut some delays in the studies, a lot of government costs could be reduced without cutting service one bit. —KR Part of the solution Whether or not they can pull it off, the efforts of the employees of Canadian Airlines International should be applauded in attempting to come to the rescue of their company. The employees have asked the federal government for loan guarantees to allow them to buy a big chunk of the company and help keep it alive. By putting more money into the company, paid for by deductions from their salaries, the employees hope to make it attractive enough that American Airlines will buy it and preserve 10,000 jobs that might be lost if the company folds. Whether the federal government helps out given these times of restraint and with Air Canada employees protesting against any help for their rival, governments should be encouraged to help employees become involved in ownership of their companies. Governments profess to be interested in competitiveness and what can help Canada be more competitive than our employees thinking they have a stake in the future of their companies. Speaking at a conference in Goderich recently, Emile Touchette spoke of the employee buy-out of the Spruce Falls pulp and paper plant in Kapuskasing. The change in attitude from the old union/management tension to the new set up was hard, he said. Employees had to learn that they couldn't just do their job — they had to be aware of the whole operation, employees now sit on the board of the company. If all employees of all companies in Canada were as directly involved in the working of their companies the companies would be more effective. Touchette said that instead of closing, Spruce Falls will be the only newsprint company in Canada to make money. Attitude is a problem. Unions distrust employee buy-outs. Union leaders are much more comfortable with the regular confrontational situation. Big business isn't in favour of the idea either. There’s something vaguely communistic about workers owning the company. But worker involvement in company ownership opens a whole new area of capital at a time when we're having to go abroad for sources of new funds. We claim that we must have foreign investment in order to fund our companies yet that investment funnels money out of the country. Worker ownership is democracy and free enterprise together. It makes workers entrepreneurs. It could be the way of the future. — KR -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- CitizenTheNorthHuron Looking Back Through the Years ONE YEAR AGO November 20,1991 The Blyth Mini-Mart was the scene of a daring daylight robbery, as a lone man entered the store shortly after the supper hour and demanded the cash from the till. The Bulls winning streak hit five games after sweeping a pair of weekend matches against the Walk­ erton Blackhawks and the Grand Valley Harvesters. THREE YEARS AGO November 15,1989 Vandals caused close to $3,000 damage to Canadian Agra Eleva­ tors on Highway 4 in East Wawanosh Township. The Majestic Women's Institute celebrated its 50th anniversary. A 500-600 pound cattle beast was stolen from the farm of Ross Youngblut just west of Blyth on county Road 25. For the third year in a row Bod­ min Farms Ltd. of RR 5, Brussels brought home the Premier Exhibitor award in the Shurgain Market Hog Classics at the Royal Winter Fair. FIVE YEARS AGO November 18,1987 Frank Bainton was presented with the Life Membership Award by the Blyth Lions Club. He was the last remaining charter member of the Blyth club and a past presi­ dent. Bodmin Farms Ltd. of RR 5, Brussels captured four champi­ onships at the Royal Agricultural Winter fair in Toronto. The Brussels Hotel re-opened after being closed for 16 months for renovations. The new owners and operators were June Warwick and Gerry White. P.O. Box 429,P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont.BRUSSELS, Ont.Publisher, Keith Roulston N0M1H0 NOG 1 HO Editor, Bonnie Gropp Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 Sales Representatives, FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 Jeannette McNeil and Merle Gunby The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $20.50/year ($19.16 plus $1.34 G.S.T.) for local; $31.03/year ($29.00 plus $2.03 G.S.T.) for local letter carrier In Goderich, Hanover, Ustowel, etc. and out-of-area (40 miles from Brussels); $60.00/year for U.S.A, and Foreign. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that In the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. • Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscrlpts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copywrlght. Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 (JchA CCNA VERIFIED CIRCULATION PAID Serving Blyth, Brussels, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel,.Londesborough, Walton and the surrounding townships.