HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-09-02, Page 1Lyle Vanclief
Federal Minister of
Agriculture
Sports
RBIs host
year-end
tournament
--"T
See page 9
Community
Auburn pastor
retires after 43
years in ministry
See page 23
News
8 area teens vie for
Brussels Fall Fair
Ambassador title
See page 27
The North Huron
itize
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998
11
quick tour of Huron
Ag minister takes
There is relief in sight for munic-
ipalities after a funding announce-
ment made at the annual
Association of Municipalities of
Ontario conference in Toronto
recently.
Finance Minister Ernie Eves told
delegates that next ears Commu-
nity Reinvestment Fund (CRF),
payments would be calculated on
the same basis as 1998, thereby
providing the same total support as
this year.
In a press release from the minis-
ter's office, he stated that measures
will be taken to "address immediate
cash flow needs and provide
municipalities with a more stable
and predictable environment in
which to do 1999 budget planning."
Other steps to alleviate cash flow
problems included: delayed repay-
ment to the province of school
board remittances; a refinancing of
some social housing debt at a lower
interest rate to increase savings to
municipalities and payment-in-lieu
of taxes for provincially occupied
or leased property, thereby provid-
ing more revenues for municipali-
ties.
In January, the government will
look at, the actual costs for
realigned programs and considered
CRF entitlement adjustments
accordingly.
While all these issues appear to
be positive, Blyth Reeve Mason
Bailey said they will have little
effect on local municipalities.
"These relate more to Toronto or
London which were really short (on
funds)," he said.
One of Canada's best known and
loved storytellers, Stuart McLean,
is bringing The Vinyl Cafe to the
Blyth Festival on Saturday, Sept.
19 at 8 p.m.
Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe has
been a popular CBC radio series for
a number of seasons. In the fall of
1996, McLean was asked to create
a special live performance of The
Vinyl Cafe as part of the CBC's
60th birthday celebrations. The
performance which featured
McLean and a group of Toronto
musicians was a quick sellout,
leading to the touring of The Vinyl
Cafe.
A summertime show, The Vinyl
Cafe program consists of music and
stories revolving around a record
store. Performing with a live band,
In general, Bailey said he was
pleased with Eves' speech saying it
appears there will be less problem
down the road with fund. However,
he says, this is yet to be seen.
There was also discussion of
removing both education and social
Continued on page 3
McLean presents "a hilarious and
often poignant collection of
[original] short stories that
illustrates that the true drama in life
comes from day-to-day events."
McLean began his career
working for CBC Radio, travelling
for five years throughout North
America making radio documen-
, taries for Sunday Morning,
followed by seven years as a
regular columnist and guest host on
the national daily radio show
Morningside. Today, in addition to
hosting The Vinyl Cafe, McLean is
a tenured professor at Ryerson
Polytechnic University in Toronto
and has authored several books
including the National Bestseller
Stories from The Vinyl Cafe, The
Continued on page 31
By Victoria Jackson
News-Record Staff
The federal minister of
agriculture, Lyle Vanclief, made a
stop in Hullett Twp. during a rapid
fire tour of Huron County last
Thursday, Aug. 27. It was his first
visit to the area since his June, 1997
appointment to the
ministry.
Vanclief made the
day-long visit to
Huron County as part
of his cross-country
tour. He stopped at
Alex Westerhout's
poultry farm in the
Clinton area for a tour
and to answer the
questions of some
local farmers.
Westerhout said
most area farmers who
_ are involved in supply
management are
concerned with the
World Trade Organ-
ization (WTO) trade talks. "We're
hoping that we will keep the tariffs
that are there," Westerhout said.
"(The tariffs) keep cheaper
American and international product
from undercutting Canadian
commodities farmers."
Vanclief said to the small group of
people at the Westerhout home that
to date there hasn't been any
indication from the other countries
involved in the trade talks (more
than 130) that the tariffs are about to
change significantly.
"It's not going to be easy to get a
flat line that everyone, agrees on" he
said. "Everybody wants a piece of
other markets."
Westerhout said not all area
farmers will want the tariffs to
remain as they are now. "It depends
on which commodities people are
involved with. Some people want to
export, but others in supply
On Aug. 27 at approximately
12:20 p.m. an officer travelling
southbound on County Road 12
just south of Brussels came across a
motorcycle travelling north into
Brussels. The motorcycle had no
plates and the officer activated
cruiser roof lights to stop vehicle.
The older-style black coloured
motorcycle then sped away. Speeds
of 100 km/h were reached within
two blocks of entering Brussels
with the motorcycle leaving the
main street for the back streets.
The officer, due to traffic, backed
With the unofficial end of sum-
mer this Monday, there will be only
a slight change in hours at The Citi- •
zen.
While it will be business as usual
management are only interested in
the trade within Canada. That's why
the federal minister is kind of
walking a fine line. He has to
negotiate for people on the both
sides."
He added that although it would
be nice if the talks dragged on
forever, in that the old tariffs will
remain in place until
new ones have been
agreed upon, there is a
down side to never-
ending discussion.
"At least once the
deal is done you know
what's happening,"
Westerhout said. "It's
hard to make
decisions when
everything is up in the
air."
Vanclief said he
would not expect the
trade talks to be
finished before 2001,
but cannot reveal what
Canada will be
entering the negotiations with.
"We certainly will be forming a
strategy, but I cannot say what that
is," Vanclief said. "You don't tell the
world your strategy or you tell the
people you're bargaining with."
He assured those. at the meeting
that there would be no surprises and
expressed concern about decisions
being made regarding supply
management.
"I certainly don't want to see any
province pull out of the supply
management system," he said. "That
is not good for the industry."
Vanclief said in his view his
biggest challenge during this round
of talks will be the European view.
"I'm prepared to have discussions,
but remember it's a two way street,"
he said. "The bottom line is that
when push comes to shove they'll
fight for their side and we'll fight for
ours."
off and observed the bike drive
through stop signs.
The motorcycle entered the
Conservation Park in Brussels and
went across the river on a
pedestrian walkway. The pursuit
lasted five minutes.
The white male, in his mid-20s
was wearing a navy blue t-shirt
with blue jeans and was slim in
appearance. He was wearing a
black helmet with no visor.
Anyone with information on this
person is asked to call the Huron
OPP or call Crime Stoppers.
Sept. 7 in Blyth with deadlines
remaining the same, the Brussels
office will be closed. Advertising
and editorial copy, however, can be
submitted through the door slot for
pick up at noon on Monday.
Abrupt meeting
Though the collision between two vehicles on Queen Street in Blyth Monday morning
appeared to be slight, the cause was-anything but minor. According to Ann Hulzebos, her
daughter, Charlene Vock, was travelling west on Drummond Street. She stopped at the stop
sign, but after.suffering a sharp labour pain, crossed into the intersection, colliding with a
southbound pickup. Vock was taken to Clinton Public Hospital by ambulance before being
transferred to St. Joseph's in London with neck and back injuries. On Tuesday, Hulzebos
said her daughter had a whiplash-type injury and after the unborn child's condition is
checked by a trauma team, she may be sent home. The Blyth Fire Department also
responded to a medical emergency call at 9:03 a.m.
Eves promises funding for 1999 at AMO
Vol. 15 No. 34 (700+ 50GST)750
Radio show comes to Blyth stage
Cyclist flees police
Brussels office closed Monday