HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-06-03, Page 1Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 - Seaforth. Ontario
June 3, 1998 - $1.00 includes GST
1
Seaforth's Co-operative
Children's Centre Inc., held
its 20th anniversary
celebrations in Victoria
Park Sunday afternoon.
Step -dancer Denise
Koehler was one of the
many perfomters. So were
some talented parrots, 'or
more properly macaws,
from the African Lion
Safari who put on some
performances
CHILDREN'S CENTRE CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY - Seafotth's Co-operative Children's Centre Inc., celebrated
two decades with a well -attended party in Victoria Park Sunday afternoon. There were many entertainers, among
them the four youngsters above, who did a little dance. They are, from Left: Brandy Core, Julie Vincent, Lindsay
Dolmage and Brigette Cronin. (abovejSix-year-old Carolyn Cote from Clinton got to meet one of the birds.
CAMPBELL PHOTOS
Town could lose gas supply
if predatory pricing goes on
BY SCOTT HILGENDORFF
Expositor Editor
Predatory pricing could sec Seaforth
residents travelling out of town to find their'
closest gas station. warns MP Paul Stecklc.
Steckle was part of an independent group of
Liberal MPs who travelled Canada this past
winter exploring issues surrounding. gas
pricing.
The goal of thc Caucus
Committee on •Gasoline
• Pricing was to find out the ins
and outs of the price of gas
and how_ to provide fair
pricing.
. "Everywhere we went, the
story was the same. Unless we
can find a way 'to stop
predatory pricing. the
independent (gas stations) arc
going to go thc way of thc
homing pigeon." Steckle said.
The concern is that
independent gas stations can't
compete with the four main oil
companies that also operate
Stecklc said when consumers sec a sudden
price increase. it's not an attempt to gouge
them but an effort to get some money back. -
Concerned MPs had used their own time to
conduct forums across Canada. including one
to Goderich. following growing concerns from
the public about inconsistent gas prices. They
met with more than 1,000 people to prepare the
report.
Accusations of collusion werc.being Made-
against
adeagainst the oil industry.
Stecklc said the Competition
Act forbids collusion and asked
'Unless we can
stop predatory
pricing, the
independents
are going to go
the way of the
homing pigeon'
-•MP Paul Steckb
gas stations.
Right now, Steckle said gas
prices are lower than what they should be
providing a temporary benefit to consumers.
The lower prices arc what is forcing
independent stations to close their doors.
The refinery owners can afford to subsidize
their gas station chains until thc independents
are gone.
There will be fewer gas stations and less
competition that potentially will mean prices
that are higher than is fair.
Right now. Steckle said independent gas
stations arc often making one to two cents for
every litre of gas they sell.
"We've seen the books of these people,"
Steckle said, adding the profit they make does
not allow them to pay for staff.
how therc.could be collusion
when there is no competition''
He points out there arc only
lour major companies left.
Without competition. Stecklc
warns it is only a matter of time
before people are paying even
higher gas prices at the pumps
The report. of about 80 pages.
is now in the hands of the
minister of industry and Stecklc
said that's where a decision to
act will have to come.
Because they arc acting on
their own and not as a
parliamentary committee.
Steckle said they will be treated
-a little different."
At the same time as thc report has been
submitted. Stecklc is giving his support to a
private members bill. Bill C-235 which also
deals with this issue.
. In a statement to the House of Commons,
Stecklc said. "Bill C-235 would establish a
legislated basis for the enforcement of industry
wide, fair pricing policies."
The bill and report are separate issues that
Steckle said have come forward at the same
time.
While he doesn't expect the bill to pass.
Steckle is continuing to follow the progress of
the report made by the Caucus Committee on
1K» on Page S
Carroll loss
not good
for Seaforth
High school has lost an ally.
warns school board chair
BY SCOTT HILGENDORFF
AND RICK KEW
Seaforth and Mitchell Staff
The sudden retirement of
the Avon Maitland District
School Board's director. of
education does not Node
well for the future of
Seaforth's •high.school.
cautions board chair Abby
Armstrong.
"Whether Seaforth would
accept this or not. they've
lost a .tremendously great
ally." she said.
Carroll. who resides in
Seaforth. has been the centre
of criticism from the
community for board plans
thalcould potentially lead'to
Seaforth - District High
School closing.
He resigned from the
board at its May• 26 meeting
and it takes effect June 26.
Armstrong would not
speculate whether or not the
situation in Seaforth has had
any bearing on Carroll's
decision.
It did have bearing on
Carroll's decision to leave
two town committees. a
month ago/ •
At the meeting. Carroll.
normally .open with the
media. would not comment
on his resignation. he told
reporters. he had never
before said. "no comment."
in reply to a question from
the media. but this was a
time when he would.
Armstrong said there has
Paul Carroll
been a
great deal
of • mis-
under -
standi.ng.
a h o u t
Carroll's
role in a
decision. to
close the
high school.
that has now been detailed
hs about one year.
"He's been a great
supporter of this
community." she said. "Now
that he's retired. I'd just.like
the people to know they've
lost a tremendous ally. -
She doesn't want to cause
any unnecessary fear but
said .Carroll handled the
situation with care because
ofhis ties to the community.
A new director of
education may not look at
the situation the same was a
Carroll.
"We'll get through this
and we'll work at it." she
said.
Armstrong toad The
Expositor. Friday Carroll's
announcement was not
.entirely unexpected.
She said Carroll
approached her a fess weeks
ago .to tell her he was
considering leaving. •
She asked him to• take
some time to think about it
before •making.• a final
decision and said she wasn't
'prepared . to accept a
CONTINUED'on Page•i
Carroll struggled
with decision to retire
BY TRISH WILKINSON
Clinton News -Record Staff
Paul ,Carroll is looking for a
change of pace.
The director of education
for the Avon Maitland
District School Board
(AMDSB),.who announced
May 26 that he would be
retiring from the board.
noted that he is looking
forward to finally taking
some time for himself.
"I'm just ready to slow
down and have a rest," he
. said in an interview Tuesday.
Carroll said he has been
struggling with the decision
of when to retire for some
time. but "decided to act
very quickly" last week
when . he received
information on the board's
early retirement package.
Carroll noted that although
taking this package also
means taking a financial
penalty. it will allow him to
retire the same day as his
wife.
"i think it is time for
myself, my wile and my
family." Carroll said. adding
that his career in education
has "consumed my whole
adult life."
Now. however. Carroll
said he and his wife are
ready for u "snore private
style of life". He said thc
arc planning on• spending
more time doing things like
gardening and painting.
something the pair hasn't
found time for in years.
The director. whose
CONTINUED on Pair h
Optirnistic turn out
dor new service club
New Optimist Club has largest
BY scar HU OBNDO 'Ptor lc the biggest
�ttor � organized club on n chart in
It's the largest charter Optimist International to
Optimist International has date," he said. And, even
seen with 6,2 members before the club's charter
becoming a part of the new night banquet Saturday (May
Setforth Optimist Club. 30) it was still growing. It
"We need something for includes some members
the kids; to help the kids from the original club that
have staff here," said Doug folded about a year ago.
Fry, the -new club's Members of Shakespeare's
president. Optimist Optimist Club are pleased
international's focus is on with the new success.
children and youth as clubs That club was responsible
work with them on for coming to Seaforth and
everytbias form bicycle regenerating support for a
rodeos to developing new venture.
charter of any
"We contacted certain
individuals in the jown to
see if they were interested,"
said Gil McNeil. president of
shakespeare's Club.
Leading up to the official
formation of the Seaforth
club in March, members
from Shakespeare met with
Seaforth individuals to give
them information about the
club in general and would
then follow up with them if
they were interested in
forming onc.
"We've sponsored eight
COJVTIINU$p on Page n