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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-07-22, Page 7If you've been getting a busy signal... we're sorry. We know that many of our customers have been trying to call us about billing services and power outages. And, we realize that many of you have not been able to get through... even on your second or third try. Here's why you may be having trouble reaching us. With our switch to a new bill and new payment schedules, along with our regular daily service inquiries, we are experiencing an unprecedented, high number of calls to our Customer Communications Centre. Although we did add staff to handle more calls than usual, we are unable to keep up with the high number of calls 'taming in. For this, we'd like to apologize to each and every caller. We know that many customers have waited a long time to speak to a customer service representative... that others gave up while on hold... and that many more of you simply can't get through to us. Don't worry if you can't get through. We are doing our best to keep up and answer as many calls as we can. In the meantime, we'd like to assure you that you won't incur any additional charges as a result of delays in reaching us. Our customer service representatives will make sure that you are treated fairly and that any questions you may have are answered. Again, we are sorry for any inconvenience. Christopher Bieber Vice-President Customer Care Services Ontario Hydro Customer Communications Centre, P.O. Box 5700, Markham, Ontario, L3R 1C8 Fax: 1-888-625-4401 E-mail: www.onhydro.com Phone: 1-888-664-9376 THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1998. PAGE 7. Marion Boyd talks election with local NDPs While the mood at the NDP potluck picnic held at the McQuail farm on Sunday was relaxed and summery, the discussion was of election readiness and the reasons to expect an early election. Marion Boyd, former Minister of Community and Social Services in the Rae Government and currently health critic, told the group to expect an early election. "First, Harris is re-announcing money previously given. Second, the Tories' whole program depends on the economy growing continuously but the economic indicators point toward the kind of collapse that led David Peterson to call an early election in 1990." "Third, many of the worst impacts of the Tory cuts to health care and education are not yet fully realized. They have a majority and they have been brutal in using it. If they go early it is not because they need a new mandate but because they want to get re-elected before the economy crashes and the public wake up to the consequences of their earlier actions." Boyd went on to say that she expects the Harris government to provoke more public sector labour unrest and then use this as the excuse to call an election. The education and healthcare systems are being slashed. "This government is very good at setting one group up against another. They will be claiming it is a choice between the 'elected government or the union bosses', but," said Boyd, "this government has been manufacturing the Trustee says move positive Continued from page 1 Listowel Central and Listowel District Secondary School (LDSS) as has previously been suggested, rather than the renovations and addition at SDHS. She said that the offices were assets of the former Perth board and the proceeds should therefore go to Perth schools. Armstrong said that the board could not afford to look at this issue as though Perth and Huron were two separate entities. "This is the Avon Maitland board," she said. "Unless we're looking at this as the Avon Maitland board, we're taking 36 giant steps backward." North Perth Trustee Philip Baumgarten said the relocation of all of the offices to SDHS was a positive decision for the school and the community. "(The decision) shows the optimism we have that there's going to be a school there ... in the future," he said. Trustees Colleen Schenk, Vicki Culbert, Ray Ford, Allan, Wood and Armstrong supported the decision to move all the offices to Seaforth. Tuyten and Anderson voted against the resolution. conflicts it will claim to solve." "As New Democrats we know there is another way to view society. It is one that sees us working together to solve our problems. It is based on sharing the benefits as well as the costs of a society." Boyd told the group that the NDP Caucus has produced five policy papers in the areas of work, education, health care, environment and democracy. These have been developed as part of the Dialogue for Change process the caucus has been working on. They are available to the public and arc booklets with titles like, The Future of Work - getting control of our work time and pensions, and Condition Critical - the future of quality health care. 1 he group was warned that they could expect a short election and one where the Tories spend a pile of money on advertising since they increased election spending limits when they re-worked the election act. She said she thought the pre- election advertising the Harris government is doing is back firing. "People are telling me they don't see the tax cut and are experiencing increased costs and reduced services instead!" She said an NDP government would take back the tax cut from the 6 per cent of Ontarians earning over $80,000 a year and put that $2 billion back into services for All people. During the discussion Boyd and others made the point that the changes occurring in Ontario affect everyone. Harris and his U.S. advisors are finding it harder to divide and conquer Ontarians than has been the experience in the US. Seniors have grandchildren in the school system. Young people have grandparents in need of quality homecare. There is a recognition that it is not only fairer and better to work on problems from a community perspective, it is also cheaper in the long run. Boyd was thanked for coming by Tony McQuail, farm host and former NDP candidate. While the parents ate and talked, the children visited with farm animals like Solstice, a month old Belgian filly, and a bunch of friendly barn cats. They also went for a swim in the farm pond. Talking politics It was an afternoon of fresh air, good food and conversation when visitors gathered at the farm of Tony and Fran McQuail in West Wawanosh Twp. July 19. NDP health critic Marion Boyd arrived in the early evening to enjoy the potluck supper and speak to party supporters.