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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-06-09, Page 1Business Feature I News i Blyth bank I UH Girl experiences Blyth girl leads Mfey celebrates f good and bad OPP Torch Run5JH23 100th year f ’ a with Katimavik through town See page 7 See page 7 See page 11 County approves restructuring idea Vol. 15 No. 23 Wednesday, June 9, 1999 topmost75# Making victory taste even sweeter Huron-Bruce Progressive Conservative Helen Johns is all smiles as she hugs her oldest son Brent, Thursday night at campaign headquarters in Blyth after hearing she had defeated her Liberal opponent Ross Lamont to be re-elected in the riding. Johns wins in Huron-Bruce By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff It was a nailbiter for incumbent Huron Bruce Tory MPP Helen Johns as she and her campaign workers awaited the poll results at their Blyth headquarters on elec­ tion night, June 3. But by 10 p.m., it was announced that Johns had defeated Liberal Ross Lamont by roughly 1,700 votes with 20,772 over Lamont’s 18,993. Next in line was NDPTony McQuail with just over 4,142, followed by Linda Freiburger of the Family Coalition Party with 1,494. "It was a close race and a chal­ lenging campaign,” said Johns, just before leaving for her celebra­ tion at the Wingham Golf and Curling Club. “Now there is a lot of work to do in the riding to make people feel secure about their future and employment.” Johns blames strategic voting for the neck-and-neck race between her and Lamont. “As far as I know. I was the only candidate in South-Western Ontario, having to deal with a .strategic vote. If we’d had an election such as the one in 1995, you would have seen the Liberals further behind. In the 1995 election Johns received 13,344 votes while the Liberals and NDP got 7,008 and 6,927 respectively. "The result of this election was that it was a Harris and anti-Hams vote with the NDP not getting as many votes as they might have,” said Johns. McQuail tends to agree. “I think this points out the failure of the strategy of ‘anyone but Harris’. Traditionally a strong Liberal vote usually translates into a strong Conservative government.” “For us to have this small a voice in the legislature for the ordinary people will be a real loss.” McQuail’s obvious disappoint­ ment is overshadowed by apprehen­ sion for the next four years. “Locally we had a wonderful cam­ paign. I felt supported and encour­ aged by those who worked for md and by the people I met. However, I think the outcome will be a tragedy for Ontario.” Lamont credits his campaign workers and those who supported him with giving it a good run. “Unfortunately we couldn’t buck the trend.” He added that he was proud of the way the Huron-Bruce cam­ paign was fought. “Everyone took the high road. All four got along. We disagreed in a civil way. Though we took cracks on policies it never got personal.” Concerned by the low voter turnout, Lamont said, “Twenty- five per cent of the people elected this government. I think Harris will take that as his mandate to continue doing what he has been. I believe rural Huron should have real concerns about getting lost in that.” Lamont said polarization was a big issue in this campaign. “Those who were unhappy with Harris were very unhappy. I certainly hope he doesn’t take retribution on those who didn’t support him.” Johns promises to work closely with her counterpart in Bruce Grey Bill Murdoch for the best interest of their constituents. “You have seen the budget. We have planned to increase money for agriculture and I will work closely on funding.” But, for now, the time has come to recharge. “I am spending this week with my kids and hugging them all the time,” said Johns. Huron County councillors Thurs­ day accepted guidelines to munici­ pal amalgamation proposals with a goal of Sept. 1 set for proposals. Council accepted the guidelines set by the Strategic Planning Com­ mittee that a target of 6,000 or more electors be set for restruc­ tured municipalities. Municipalities would have one representative for each 3,000 electors. A municipality with 3,001 electors would have two representatives. .Bob Broadfoot, reeve of Tucker­ smith wondered if the 6,000 figure was firm but Duane Laporte, chair of the committee said, “The key word is ‘target’.” The committee is just trying to get the process in gear, he said and did not intend the figure to be final. “One of the reasons we’ve brought forward these motions is to get restructuring on the table," said Robin Dunbar, reeve of Grey Twp. The year is now half over, he said and “if we don’t get something done in 1999 it won’t be something we decide, it will be a commission that decides.” Dunbar warned that a provincial restructuring commission can be called in by a municipality or by a group of individuals and there is a group of citizens which is meeting to push for a single-tier govern­ ment, he said. “We don’t have that much time.” Turnberry Reeve Brian McBur- ney threw a curve into the discus­ sion when he said council should Learn more about new Huron crop By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff Always known as an agricultural county, Huron has a new crop for which it’s gaining recognition. Since 1994 when the Ontario Provincial Police began their aerial eradication program of marijuana in Ontario, Huron has been number one in the province. “It’s just overwhelming,” says Goderich OPP Detective Const. Mike Scott, of the over 10,000 plants found each season. “Last year we actually had to leave some because we couldn’t get to it before our time with the helicopter ran out.” Scott will be at the Brussels arena on June 16 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the identification and eradi­ cation of marijuana. It’s an issue that is not as simplistic as one might think. "People planting in cornfields are rank amateurs,” says Scott. “It’s a sore thumb that sticks out from the once again look seriously at the possibility of a one-tier government (he later gave notice he will intro­ duce a motion at the July meeting calling for further study of a single­ tier government). Ordinary people felt it was ridiculous to have so many politi­ cians and staff for a combined bud­ get of $100 million, McBurney said. McBumey said there was no con­ flict between his position that there should be a single-tier government and his township’s position that it wanted to keep lower tier munici­ palities is small as possible. While he had always been in favour of a single-tier government, if there is to be two tiers he felt the lower tier should be as small as possible, he said. Jack Coleman, reeve of Stanley Twp. said he had been invited to a meeting of individuals from all over the county who wanted a sin­ gle-tier government for Huron. “I think the movement is there,” said McBumey. “I think we should take one more chance to show a lit­ tle leadership (by examining one- tier government seriously).” Stewart Steenstra, reeve of Col- borne, wondered what will happen if, come Sept. 1, half the munici­ palities had agreed to amalgama­ tion and the other half hadn’t. Warden Carol Mitchell said the Strategic Planning Committee would then have to make recom­ mendations that would come to the full county council. air. I call them the high school spe­ cials.” Instead, the officer says, “dopers are getting sneakier. They plant in more remote areas, any place with low traffic where they hope to go undetected.” Discovery is the culprits biggest fear, says Scott, though not by the police. “Their biggest fear is being found by fellow dopers.” The public information session on June 16, should be of special interest to farmers, rural property owners, or cycling and hiking enthusiasts. Scott will be explain­ ing what to look for, not just with regards to the plant, but the other tell-tale signs, such as unfamiliar people in the area, and what to do when you suspect something. The evening is being sponsored by the North Huron Community Policing Committee, comprised of volunteer representatives from the Villages of Blyth and Brussels and the Townships of Grey, Morris, Howick, Turnberry and East Wawanosh.