The Citizen, 2019-04-25, Page 3THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019. PAGE 3.
Numerous provincial reviews
concern county councillors
Swinging into spring
As the snow has melted away and temperatures have risen,
recess at local schools is a little more fun (and comfortable)
than it used to be. Here, Hullett Central Public School
student Kyla Shannon used the opportunity to pursue a
solo venture on the playground’s swing set. (Denny Scott photo)
Brussels parking
sent to committee
While some main street Brussels
business owners are having
problems keeping their parking
spots open for customers, Huron
East Council feels the issue is out of
their hands.
The issue arose at council’s April
16 meeting, with councillors
discussing the petition that is
circulating throughout the village.
The petition, initiated by Wendy
Marks of Brussels Bulk and
Bargains, asks that council takes
action to require those who live
above main street stores to park in
provided parking spots behind the
buildings.
As there is no bylaw against
parking on the street in the non-
winter months in Huron East those
parking on the main street are not
currently breaking any laws.
Mayor Bernie MacLellan said that
the issue would be discussed further
at the municipality’s administration
committee meeting, set for April 30.
However, he said he was dismayed
to hear that community members
thought council was ignoring the
issue.
Councillor Zoellyn Onn said that
businesses have resorted to putting
out signs indicating that parking
spots in front of their stores are for
customers only and that the signs
seemed to be improving the
situation.
However, as far as limiting
parking in Brussels, Onn said, it
isn’t really a situation that is in
council’s hands.
MacLellan agreed, saying that if
there’s anything to be discussed
further, it can happen at the
administration committee meeting
later this month.
Continued from page 1
underway or due to start soon.
The reviews are:
• Aggregates reform
• Ambulance/paramedic services
dispatch streamlining and
integration
• Animal welfare
• Conservation authorities
modernization
• Digital first strategy
• Environmental assessment
modernization
• Housing: Housing supply action
plan, community housing renewal
strategy, national housing strategy
trilateral co-ordination forum and
supportive housing
• Joint and several liability
• Ontario Community
Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) redesign
• Ontario Energy Board (OEB)
modernization
• Ontario immigrant nominee
program
• Ontario Municipal Partnership
Fund (OMPF)
• Planning Act streamlining
• Police Services Act
• Provincial Gas Tax program
• Property Assessment (Municipal
Property Assessment Corporation)
review
• Public health restructuring
• Reducing litter and waste
• Reducing the municipal
reporting burden
• Regional review
• Resource revenue sharing for
northern communities
• Social assistance reform
• Species at risk
• Workplace Safety and Insurance
Board (WSIB) operational review.
Huron County Chief
Administrative Officer Meighan
Wark said that the county has been
told from its provincial government
contacts that lower-tier governments
will have to take a “wait and see”
approach to potential changes.
Huron County Warden Jim Ginn
said that at the provincial level,
consultation and reviews such as
these happen all the time and that he
wasn’t overly concerned with
them.
In an interview with The Citizen,
Huron-Bruce MPP and Minister of
Education Lisa Thompson agreed
with Ginn’s sentiment saying that
the consultations are nothing to be
worried about and they are aimed at
making life better in her riding.
She said that the reality of
Ontario’s fiscal situation needs to
sink in and the province needs to be
more efficient from the top down.
“There are a number of reviews
happening at this time,” she said.
“We need to be very serious when
we talk about, ‘how can we be doing
business better?’”
While Huron-Bruce is not
currently involved in the regional
governance review currently aimed
at larger city centres and regions,
Thompson said that Huron and Perth
Counties showed great initiative in
working to amalgamate their health
units in search of efficiencies.
She says that on any issue being
reviewed at the provincial level, the
government is engaging its lower-
tier counties and municipalities to
ensure their needs are being met and
they are as efficient as possible.
“I am adamant that I represent
Huron-Bruce and people can
guarantee that their voice is being
heard at the cabinet table and the
treasury table as well when we start
talking about impacts, because I’m
always putting a rural lens on
everything that comes across my
desk.”
Thompson said that her
government feels it’s very important
to tackle these issues with the help
of local politicians to ensure
everyone is being served by any
changes.
“[Huron County Warden] Jim
Ginn was spot on when he said it’s
important to lay down a rural lens on
every policy that comes through and
that’s what we’re doing and that’s
why it’s important to be out there
talking,” Thompson said.
When asked what local politicians
should do as the provincial
government works its way through
these reviews, she insisted that
politicians should remain part of the
process.
“Stay engaged,” she said. “We
appreciate the local leadership that
we have at the provincial level and
we want to work well with them, so
let’s stay engaged.”
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$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, December 13, 2018
Volume 34 No. 49
RESPONSE - Pg. 3
Morris-Turnberry Mayor
calls for autonomy
CONCERT- Pg. 6
Brussels Ministerial comes
together for show
FUNDING- Pg. 2
Education Minister in
Blyth to hand out grants
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0
INSIDE
THIS WEEK:
Seaforth’s Fisher elected Huron East Deputy-Mayor
4-H Clubs
awarded
Seaforth Councillor Bob Fisher is
Huron East’s new deputy-mayor,
besting two others who put theirnames forward at the inauguralmeeting of Huron East Council onDec. 4.Fisher, Tuckersmith CouncillorRay Chartrand and Grey CouncillorAlvin McLellan all let their namesstand for the municipality’s second-in-command position. This came
after Huron East eliminated the at-
large deputy-mayor position,
reducing the size of council from 12
members to 11 just ahead of
October’s election.
It was Fisher who nominated
Chartrand for the position.
Chartrand then paid the favour back
by nominating Fisher. FormerDeputy-Mayor Joe Stefflernominated McLellan for theposition.Fisher told his fellow councillorsthat he has lived in the community
for over 40 years. In addition, he has
been a councillor for 12 years and
spent nearly 40 years in business, all
experience he felt would aid in being
the deputy-mayor.
Fisher also listed a number of
projects he’d like to see undertaken
or continued both in Huron East andin Huron County.In Huron East, Fisher said hewanted to see the municipality’scommunity centres better utilizedand to promote a harmoniousrelationship between residents
of all of Huron East’s five wards.
At the county level, Fisher said he
wanted to see a greater focus on
tourism, saying that Huron County
could easily be the Prince Edward
County of southwestern Ontario. He
also said that while the county’s
accessibility advisory committee hasdone a lot of great work, there is stillmore to be done.Fisher also said that, as someonewho is legally blind, he also hopedthat being named deputy-mayorwould inspire others with disabilities
saying that if they “get [their] ass off
the couch and do something” like he
has they can accomplish anything.
McLellan said that his decades of
experience as a councillor and on
numerous boards and committees
would make him an ideal choice for
the deputy-mayor position.He said that being self-employedwould ensure that he wouldn’t missany meetings, adding that he hates tomiss any council meetings.He said he had been asked if he
The Huron County 4-H Leaders’Association Awards Program wasrecently held at the SeaforthAgriplex, recognizing 4-H membersfor their efforts throughout the year.COUNTY AWARDSLoretta Higgins won the MurrayCardiff Award for Top All-Round
Member.
The Don Pullen Award for highest
overall score in the county went to
Evy Verschaeve. She also won the
Dedication Award for dedication to
the club. The Warden’s Novice
Award for first year competitive
member with the highest score wentto Emily Datema. The Ben Lobb Award for thejunior member with the top essaywent to Kayla Drennan.Emily Franken won the OntarioPlowmen’s Association Award foroutstanding agricultural 4-Hmember as well as the LongstandingGraduating Member Award. Shealso received her graduation seal.The Citizen-Rural Voice Awardsfor press reporter book competition
awards went to Dugald McIntosh
(first) and Mercedes Prout (second).
The Huron County 4-H Leaders’
Association Award for club
secretary book competition were
awarded to Emily Bieman (first) and
Kayla Drennan (second).
The winning team for the countyGo for the Gold Competition wasthe South Huron Sheep Club Teamwhich consisted of Amanda Bos,Rachel Gras, Grace Hallahan andEvy Verschaeve.The Top Gate Sign Award for the
White Christmas
The snow was falling on Friday night as Clinton held the
final Santa Claus parade of the Huron County season,
bringing residents and visitors out to the town to help
celebrate the holiday season. One of the main attractions of theparade every year is the Clinton Pipe Band, seen here appealing
to the ears of all in attendance. (Nick Vinnicombe photo)Continued on page 12
REALIZE YOUR DREAM
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Contest opens December 12
Applications will be accepted until January 25th, 2019 at 4:30 pmForms are available online or at the
Township of North Huron office
at 275 Josephine Street in WinghamEmail: inittowinit@northhuron.caor call the Project Co-ordinator at 519-441-7629.
Continued on page 15
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
April winner of a 1 year subscription to The Citizen is
is Jacqueline Mitchell, Egmondville (nominated by Brenda McIntosh).
Riverside Funeral Home will sponsor
one new subscription per month.
Call, email or fax your submission
to Riverside Funeral Home - include person’s name,
complete mailing address and your name and number.
He was crushed for our iniquities!
(J.C. Ryle, “Coming Events and Present Duties”)
“But He was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities.
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,
and by His wounds we are healed!” Isaiah 53:5
Let us live as if every allowed sin was...
one more thorn in Christ’s head,
one more nail in His feet,
one more spear in His side!
A Grace Gem
Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church,
Listowel, ON 519-291-1956
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