HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-04-09, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9,1997
Prov. gov’t offices join forces in one location
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
Turning a negative to a positive.
When provincial cutbacks resulted in drastic downsizing
for both the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) office and the Ministry of Natural
Resources (MNR) office in Huron County, concern over the
deliverance of programs arose.
However, the relocation by Wingham MNR personnel to
the OMAFRA office in Clinton will turn out to be positive,
says OMAFRA Field Services Manager Dan Carlow.
With the MNR staff reduced to 12 from 40 since 1992, the
cost of the leased building on Hwy. 4 outside Wingham,
Welcome new additions
Dan Carlow, right, field services manager for OMAFRA, welcomes Ron Bennett, area manager for MNR,
and his staff, to the new offices at the government building in Clinton.
could not be rationalized, says Ron Bennett, area manager
for the MNR. "With the government moving away from
leased buildings to using their own, the move made sense."
Since major cuts in May 1996, both ministries had been
left with under-utilized buildings. By investing two years'
worth of leasing costs for the MNR, to the construction of a
600 square foot addition on the OMAFRA office, the
building is now filled by the two departments.
Aside from the better use of space, Carlow says this is the
first time government ministries have shared reception,
administration and other such office services.
"Government services often share buildings, but not front
desk reception, phone service and other office duties."
Both managers see this as cost effective and beneficial to
the clientele.
Carlow foresees the sharing of more than just equipment
and office personnel as time, progresses. With common
interests in areas such as agri-forestry, Carlow sees the
development and implementation of joint projects between
ministries.
"Even now, we see staff from each ministry running down
the hall to get input from someone at the other ministry,"
says Bennett."
One step which was taken four months ago to ease the
transition to the co-habitation of the two departments, was
the creation of intra-staff group to discuss issues which
would arise due to the move.
"This was a positive lead-in to the move," says Bennett.
"It gave everyone a chance to know each other and not just
have new faces arrive with the move."
"Three or four staff members hit it off really well," says
Carlow, "and this feeling flowed to the rest of the staff."
Though the ministries have separate mandates and
programs, there are clients in common, says Bennett. "If a
farmer wants information about soils, drainage and a fish
habitat on his property, he can now find it in one place."
The MNR had an operational GIS (Geographical
Information System) data base which will now incorporate
OMAFRA information. "The sharing of resources will be a
benefit to both ministries and the client," says Carlow.
This sharing will go beyond such items as faxes,
photocopiers, postal services, truck fleets, by extending to
the knowledge of the staff.
"Having been in the same building for only a couple
weeks, the staff is still referring to the other Ministry's
personnel when calls come in," says Bennett. "We will be
training the staff, from both ministries, to handle basic calls
and information for both departments. It won't matter who
you get, they will be able to help."
With the increased variety of answers sought by callers,
the staff has been very enthusiastic about the change. "It has
been a lively spot around here, with lots going on," says
Carlow.
"Though we have separate mandates, we both deal with
resource-based matters, landowners, rural issues and the
urban impact on good farmland," he says. "The co
habitation of the ministries will lead to more local initiative
in community projects."
When asked about the loss of any services or changes to'
present ones due to cuts and co-habitation, both managers
said the offering of services will improve because of shared
resources and savings found in the administrative and
operations areas.
Since both OMAFRA and the MNR serve Huron and
Perth Counties, the re-location to Clinton is better for the
clients, says Bennett. "We will be easier for more people to
access (centralized) and the phone costs and travel expenses
will be less (for them)."
One downside to the move, according to Bennett, was the
fact that some employees of the MNR had worked out of the
same office for 25 years and that was hard to leave behind.
"There is some concern about travelling the greater
distance in the winter, but the staff sees the business
rationale to the move," says Bennett.
Though there may have been concern about the public
locating the MNR office after the move, Bennett says they
have been informing people for months that it would
happen, though they didn't have an exact date. "There
doesn't seem to be a problem because they are finding us,"
Bennett laughs.
Overall, Carlow and Bennett are very positive about the
move and see only good things for the future.
The OMAFRA/MNR office (as yet to be official renamed)
is located at 100 Don Street, Clinton.
Tobacco sales to minors decrease
Tobacco retailers across Huron
County were tested recently on
their willingness to sell cigarettes
to minors and, overall, came up
with a passing grade.
The survey, conducted in January
by the Huron County Health Unit,
revealed that only 10 per cent of
retailers were willing to sell
cigarettes to 15 and 16-year-old
youths.
The Ontario Tobacco Control
Act makes it illegal to "sell or
supply tobacco to a person who is
less than 19 years old." Since 1995,
the Huron County Health Unit has
laid 13 charges against tobacco
retailers for this offence. Fines have
ranged from $150 to $250.
"Our ongoing education and
enforcement strategies are
working", says Marlene Price,
community health division
manager at the Health Unit. "A
similar survey was conducted in
1994, before the Tobacco Control
Act was passed. At that time, 40
per cent of Huron County retailers
were willing to sell cigarettes to our
underage volunteers."
The 1997 survey involved
sending minors, in pairs, to a
tobacco retailer where they would
ask to purchase cigarettes. "The
retailer wasn't trapped into making
the sale", Price said. "Our youth
volunteers simply asked for a pack
of cigarettes, but no tobacco was
actually purchased. If the retailer
presented cigarettes to them, it was
considered a sale."
The minors would then claim not
to have enough money to pay for
the cigarettes and leave the store.
Once outside, the youths would
report whether the retailer was
willing to sell their cigarettes,
whether they were asked for
identification, and whether the
required Tobacco Control Act signs
were posted.
Now that those statistics have
been compiled, all tobacco retailers
will be contacted and informed of
their performance during the
survey. "Ideally," said Price, "we
PCs prepare to elect candidate
Saturday, April 12 is fast
approaching. This date has been set
for the membership of the Federal
Huron-Bruce Progressive Conser
vative Riding Association to elect
the candidate to represent the
Conservatives in the next federal
election.
Presently, two well qualified
want to prevent adolescents from
starting to smoke. The survey is
just another way to curb the sale of
tobacco to minors through retailer
education and public awareness. If
we can limit minors' access to
tobacco, then hopefully we can
prevent them from becoming
regular smokers."
candidates are vieing for the
position: Shirley Hazlitt of
Goderich and Colleen Schenk of
Wingham. Additional candidates
can be nominated up to 48 hours
before the nomination meeting.
The nomination meeting will
take place at F. E. Madill
Secondary School in Wingham,
The Health Unit's involvement
with the Tobacco Control Act is
part of a comprehensive tobacco
strategy mandated by the Ministry
of Health. It includes education in
the schools, the creation of smoke-
free public places and workplaces,
and support for individuals who
want to quit smoking.
Saturday, April 12, beginning at
1:30 p.m. Credentiailing begins at
noon. The meeting is open to
everyone, however only delegates
may vote.
Help protect the environment:
Reduce, reuse and recycle