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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-02-18, Page 6Page 6 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, February 18, 2009 www.goderichsignatstar.com Proprietor and published by Bowes Publishers, P.O. Box 220, 120 tluckins Street. Goderich, Ontario N7A 486 EDITORIAL Riding gets needed funds The governments of Ontario and Canada, through sitting members, Liberal MPP Carol Mitchell and conservative MP, Ben Lobb, announced this week each level of government will contribute $17.6 million in funding for infrastructure construction and improvements in the riding of Huron -Bruce. The funding, generated through the Building Canada Fund, Gas Tax Fund and Provincial Base Fund, will certainly go a long way to improving bridges, the road sys- tem and water and wastewater systems in the riding. Ashfield-Colbome-Wawanosh will invest $300,000 in roads, Bluewater council will spend$6.95 million on water improvements, Central Huron will spend $1.6 million on wastewater infrastructure and the County of Huron will spend $1.5 million on roads. The town of Goderich will be able to spend $750,000 on improvements at the pollu- tion control plant, with the town's contribution one-third of the total cost. Improvements to the area's infrastructure will help employment and ensure the quali- ty of life of area residents and the viability of municipalities in the rural riding. So the total amount invested in Huron -Bruce through the Building Canada Fund will total $53.3 million. It is a necessary investment but let us not forget that the funding from all three levels of government still comes from one source: the taxpayer. However, it is still a bonus to have money funneled into the riding. (DS) Leaders need to focus on Great Lakes President Barack Obama visits Canada this week and one of the issues that should be discussed with Prime Minister Stephen Harper is our shared resource: the Great Lakes. It is no surprise the lakes are a bubbling cauldron of trouble- environmentally, socially, economically, politically -or that we've been working to improve them for years, but they are not getting the attention they deserve. Gail Krantzberg, a professor at McMaster university in Hamilton and John Jackson, program director for the binational citizen's group Great Lakes United, are leading a campaign to get the prime minister and president to issue a statement after their meeting in Ottawa Thursday, to start revising the Canada -U.S. Great Lakes Water Agreement, last updated in 1987. That would be an excellent start. The plea comes as a report by award-winning biologist David Schindler of the University of Alberta is to be published in the journal Science. We should be concerned with dwindling water levels and lakes are emitting high levels of greenhouse gasses, says Schindler, not to mention the destruction of habitat for fish, plants and Wildlife. Canadian lakes are renewing themselves by about one per cent a year, which should cause Canada and the U.S. to rethink plans to use the Great lakes as an emergency water supply. If we are to truly understand the role our lakes play in both countries and indeed across the planet, we need more information on water levels, carbon cycles, acid rain and the frequency of forest fires Schindler says. A signal from the leaders would go a long way to underlining the importance of the resource as getting as many people involved as possible. "We are at a watershed moment for the planet's largest freshwater body," 'said Krantzberg. `The economy of our two nations relies solidly on Great Lakes excellence. Despite the political and scientific attention the Great Lakes have received over the years, there's 'still a lot of work to be done. (Sun Media) WHAT AAE You ooiNG CUPID ...SPARKING LOVE ? REINFORC)Nfa ii! IF I GLANCE THIS ARROW OFF HIS TTMPLE, IT WILL JAR As !MEMORY TO BUY FLOWERS AND LNOCOLATES FOR NIS WIFE.. , ) 6.40.001.11011 )) • • Low-cost housing requires discussion To the Editor: Yes, Goderich may need low cost hous- ing- but, in the historical area on Nelson Street? Maple Grove Lodge at 45 Nelson was a seniors residence, has been• vacant for three years, and at present is an eyesore. It needs drastic renovations. but high density, low cost housing needs to be placed elsewhere rather than the historic down town core. Many of the single family dwellings in the surrounding blocks are either historically designated or listed in the historical regis- ter. What has happened to our intention to keep Goderich beautiful? In order to jam that building full of families, there is request being submitted for a number of variances, N<iNMi The Goderich S/gnal•.Stat published every Wednesday bt Goderich, (!mark' is one of The Signat•Star Publishing Group of Community Newspapers, a division of Bouts Publisher:, Tltr Goderich Signal Star shall n.+t he liable far faun. to publish an ad for typographical errors In publication rxeept to the extent of the cost of that portion of the ad in which the error recurred. The Onderich Signal•Star reserver the right to reject or edit any advertirrment. The Goderich Signal•star it a proud member of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association rCCNAJ and The Ontario Community Nrwipapt» Msociatlon (OCNA). Editorial Deadlines... Monday at 10 am Advertising Deadlines... Entertainment, Births, Deaths, In Menwriams... Friday at 3 pm Classifieds... • Monday at noon Display Advertising... Monday at noon Telephone Fax.... Publisher... Reporters.., • 519-524-2614 519-524-5145 Dave Sykes Dominique Milburn Gerard Creces Denny Scott Letters opinion all of which and more are unsatisfactory for the neighboring landowners and in the long run not conducive to the historical nature of the area. Please attend the meeting on Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. in the Board Room, Goderich Hydro Building, to protest the intended use of 45 Nelson.Turning the building back into a. total. Senior facility is not as objection- able. It was a pleasure to have the seniors next door. Thank you, Argelyn Strote Bed and Breakfast Owner Classifieds & Subscription... Judy Austin Accounting... Rhonda Butt Mary Johnston Janet Shrier Office Manager... Display Sales... Lisa McLaren Mike Duerden Advertising Manager... Kevin Shrier Email... gssnews@bowesnet.com,gsssports@bowesnet.com gssarlh@bowesnet.ronr, goderichads@bowesnet.com website... www.goderichsignalstar.com Pusucanotts MAP. 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