HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-11-08, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2000.
East Wawanosh candidates have say
Listening
Candidates for council of Ward 2 (East Wawanosh) in North Huron, from left, Murray Scott,
Judith Gaunt and James Campbell listened to the speeches of the candidates for reeve Doug
Layton and Bruce Machan at the meeting in Belgrave Thursday night.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
Attendance at the East Wawanosh
all-candidates meeting at the
Belgrave Thursday night was noted
by each candidate, particularly
because of the number of young peo
ple present.
Archie MacGowan, a candidate in
the Ward 1 (Wingham) of North
Huron told the students to “take
notice of this process,” adding that
Canada is a good place to live
because of democracy.
The process began with the intro
duction and speeches of candidates
which were followed by questions
from the audience of about 50 inter
ested ratepayers and candidates of
other Wards.
One of three candidates running
for two council spots, James
Campbell, outlined his background
in the farming community. “I live on
a dairy farm on Westfield Rd.
Farming is important to my genera
tion and the next to come. My son
will be the fifth generation to work
on our farm.”
Saying that urban and rural areas
need to work together, Campbell
offered some background he recently
acquired at a convention regarding
herbicide and pesticide use in urban
areas, which exceeded rural use.
Also, he said, about two-thirds of the
spraying was done by residents who
knew little about proper handling.
He offered this he said, to show
that the problem of water quality is
not just a rural issue.
Campbell, who is currently a coun
cillor, listed several other concerns
that council will be facing including
small lot severances and proper land
use, stating that if elected he would
“bring a strong rural voice to North
Huron council.”
One of his opponents Judith
Gaunt, told of her first visit to East
Wawanosh and how it came to be for
her, “a beautiful place to live.”
She retired here in 1993 and
opened a bed and breakfast a few
years later. In 1997 she also became
a councillor.
“Agriculture is big business in
Huron and East Wawanosh has a sig
nificant part of that business.” She
re-iterated several points Campbell
had made particularly with regulato
ry pressures that will be facing farm
ers. “These are issues that reach out
side the county. Farm organizations
and groups need to and must address
this.”
Council can help, however, she
said. “If you have valid concerns
come as a deputation to council,
which if convinced will circle a reso
lution for support from other munic
ipalities. “
She listed responsibilities of coun
cil adding that council must work
hard to serve the needs of the com
munity. “Now is the time to have a
strong voice and if elected I will
ensure that concerns are addressed.”
Ha ing served on the transition
board, Gaunt said she hopes to be
part of the council that follows the
amalgamation through.
The final speaker for councillor
was Murray Scott, a life-long resi
dent and farmer who has served on
council for six years and worked
with the transition board. He told of
his “keen interest” in community
activities and said he wants to see the
heritage maintained.
Though change is occurring now,
Scott said residents could expect
more in the next three years. New
regulations will be “conquered”.
The challenge, he said, will be to
implement change in a fair and equi
table manner to all. Noting that there
would be rough spots, he asked for
the ratepayers’ co-operation.
“We’ve been asked if the arena
will stay open. The answer is yes.
We’ve been asked if the roads will be
plowed. The answer is yes.
Traditions will remain if the commu
nity wants them,” he said, but added
that perhaps the time had come to
look at new ways of doing things.
“As time goes on we will grow
into a community to be proud of.”
Scott also added that he wasn’t sat
isfied North Huron had reached the
total point of restructuring. “I would
like to see us expand, and think the
transition group is adamant that will
happen,” he said, adding however,
that “one-tier is too big.”
Candidate for reeve Doug Layton
of Wingham, alluded to this in his
remarks as well. He spoke of putting
the past in the past and improving
relations with neighbours. “With a
little co-operation we can all be win
ners,” he said.
Layton, who is currently finishing
his second term on Wingham coun
cil, talked of the growth in Wingham
including at Wescast and in the
industrial park. He also mentioned
that 40 new homes had been built, as
well as five new four-plex apart
ments and six townhouses.
He said North Huron’s assets -
major industries, small businesses
and rich agricultural land — all cre
ate jobs.
Layton talked of East Wawanosh’s
picturesque landscape and of the
importance of thinking of the future
when zoning issues arise.
He also said he would work hard to
keep the hospital and ambulance in
the community. “We have to send a
strong voice to the county to make
sure these services stay with us.”
The municipality will continue to
grow, but must be prepared to face
new challenges the government
would put in front them. •
His opponent Bruce Machan, has
18 years experience on council, 15 as
reeve. He was warden of county
council in 1995.
Machan has also been the interim
director on the PUC restructuring
group.
A Wingham native and busi
nessperson since 1964, Machan said
the goal for the new council will be
“to work together to lower taxes and
improve relations with our neigh
bours.” '
Also present was acclaimed school
board trustee Ray (Butch) Desjardine
of Colbome Twp. Though he has
municipal experience in politics, he
admits this is his first time in educa
tion. “But I’m a good listener and
will take your concerns to the
board.”
The Wingham trustee Colleen
Schenk, who is seeking re-election
for the northeast district, also
stopped by after attending another
meeting.
Chair Don Schultz introduced the
candidates from Ward 3 (Blyth),
Mason Bailey, Jeff Howson and
Murray Nesbitt and from Ward 1
(Wingham), Al Harrison, Archie
MacGowan and Arnold Taylor.
The question period was actually
begun by Gaunt who spoke passion
ately, and somewhat angrily, about
misconceptions regarding the-clini
cal planning issue facing Wingham
hospital. The township’s representa
tive to the hospital board, Gaunt
urged people to get both sides of the
story and to bring questions to her.
Diana Robinson then asked how
council proposed to guarantee clean
water.
MacGowan said that the issue has
been a “hot topic of the transition
board”. The Ontario Clean Water
Agency has been contracted to serv
ice North Huron and will take care of
regulations, testing and making sure
standards are met.
Robinson, however, asked what
about people on private wells.
MacGowan said that the provincial
government is working on new stan
dards.
“Is the municipality going to curb
intensive livestock?” she, asked.
Campbell said that regulations in
East Wawanosh regarding large
bams are fairly strict.
Howson said that the building
inspector hired for North Huron was
“very up-to-date and interested in
nutrient management. It’s one of his
major concerns. We were feeling
positive knowing changes were com
ing and how capable he is.”
Campbell said he believed that
within five years all farmers would
have to do nutrient management
plans.
Gaunt told Robinson that if she
was concerned she should check her
well water and that the ministry
offers a good deal of information on
the internet. Bottles for samples can
be obtained at the hospital, she said.
Robinson countered that she had
just put $10,000 into a new well. “I
want a guarantee my well will be
clean.”
Gaunt explained that that type of
guarantee was difficult because of
the many variables.
When asked why councils allow
intensive livestock operations into
the municipality, Gaunt replied,
“There are none here.” However, she
added, the problem of water quality
is not “100 per cent the farmers’
fault.”
When asked about putting a freeze
on large operations, Schultz said
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mothers and newborns living in the area.
there is one in Ashfield Twp, which
is being challenged in court. “We’re
waiting to see how it comes out.”
Bailey suggested actively pursuing
alternate methods of handling
manure. He told of a bam being built
in the south of Huron which had
been visited by a committee of coun
ty council. The facility uses a com
post method and costs roughly 12 per
cent more than a liquid bam.
He said a letter had been mailed
that day from the county asking the
government to help encourage farm
ers to use different methods.
“I don’t think it matters how many
times you take Maple Leaf Foods to
court, they’ve got more money than
our government,” said Bailey. “If
you’re concerned get behind promot
ing different methods.
Neil Vincent, who is part of the
Huron water quality commission
said that old wells not sealed proper
ly are big concerns and wondered if
the new council would identify these
and check them. “If you’re talking
about contaminated water, it’s proba
bly one of the greatest ways of doing
it. I’m not saying agriculture isn’t
responsible for part of the problem,
but these are the things we’re trying
to identify.”
Scott said he wasn’t sure how they
could be identified but he strongly
agreed with Vincent.
With much waiting for provincial
guidelines and regulations, Jerry
McDonnell offered some caution to
the candidates. “I expect my council
to take the initiative because the
provincial track record isn’t great.”
When Robinson asked what
changes would happen with regards
to funding for area boards, Scott said
it will remain “practically the same.”
“You mean are taxes are not going
to be affected?” Robinson asked.
“No,” was Scott’s response.
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Cancelled
Respiratory Illness in
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Speaker: Kelly Munoz
Respiratory Technologist