Loading...
Huron Expositor, 2002-06-12, Page 4News TNI HURON mX'emost, June 20, 2001-3 Scott Hilgendorff photo Strawberry supper... The Hibbert United Church in Staffa held a crowded strawberry and ham supper last Thursday night. Customers angered by possible loss of provincial Savings Office By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Staff The proposed sale of 23 Province of Ontario Savings Office (POSO) branches, including one in Seaforth, has angered some local customers. "You don't privatize something that's making money - that's stupid," says Seaforth resident Gord Sallows, who adds he'll miss the "great people who work there, the great interest rates and the low service charges." Customers have recently received letters stating that the provincial government is seeking a buyer for the POSO as part of "the government's continuing commitment to withdraw from businesses the private sector provides." "The minister of finance announced during the May 9 Ontario budget speech that they would be beginning the process of selling it to interested bidders," says John Macmillian, spokesperson for the Ontario Super Build Corporation, an agency of the finance ministry. Across Ontario, there are 60,000 depositors with 80,000 accounts with a total of $2.8 billion in deposits in the POSO, which employs 200 people. Macmillian says the POSO's profitability isn't as much an issue for the province as the fact that "it doesn't want to be in the banking business." He says that while customers have been sending letters about the proposed sale, he hasn't seen them, doesn't know how many letters have been received and doesn't know what they say. Seaforth POSO manager Gayle Coleman says she's not allowed to comment on the proposed sale. She could say that the Seaforth office was one of the first POSOs to open in Ontario, opening in 1923, with five full-time staff members and more than 2,000 accounts. POSOs are not-for-profit financial institutions that provide basic banking services such as savings and chequing accounts, with no service charges except a 40 -cent Gord Sallows is upset Seaforth Ontario Savings Office . charge per cheque (with no cost if the balance is over $1,000), GICs and Ontario and Canada savings bonds. They do not provide loans, mortgages, RSPs, automated banking or credit cards. While Sallows hasn't written any politicians about his concerns, he says he tried phoning finance minister Jim Flaherty to protest the POSO's sale. "They told me Jim wasn't in and wouldn't return my call but that I should write a letter. I'm no good at writing letters - I'd rather have an argument with someone face to face. And, they wouldn't give me (Ontario Premier) Mike Harris's number," he says. Lois Forde, of Seaforth, says she closed her POSO account after receiving the letter and opened up an account at the Clinton Community Credit Union. "It just riles me to no end. The class A (chartered) banks have had it their way for so Susan Hundertmark photo could lose the Province of long and I like a choice myself," says Forde, adding she banked at the POSO because she wanted competitive interest rates and no service fees. "I'm upset but I don't think I'll be writing any politicians. The rain of dissatisfaction just rolls off their backs," she says. Forde says she's written to the Clinton credit union asking them to consider opening a branch in Seaforth if the POSO closes or is sold to a chartered bank. Jim Lynn, chief executive officer of the Clinton Community Credit Union, says he's received a handful of requests from members to open a branch in Seaforth. adding, "We're always looking for new opportunities." "We have made some enquiries about the Province of Ontario Savings Office but it's at a very preliminary stage. The government is in the process of hiring an outside consultant to handle the sale 3 pp/S Rintoul's Pools & Spas Summer 2001 rSee the °I41.11°I41.11 NOT MB arms's best �n NT SALE THURSDAY, UNE 21 9 DAY, MUNI 2VAM-9PM & AY, 23 9AM-4 T SAVE ON SELECTED MODELS OF i SPAS Homo Leisure JNTOUL' yam V4 Mile Notth of Wingham on kwy. 04 (519) 357.2628 or 1-800-716-8685 . f t11111( See our new Ilne of BBas, t3rllls & Patio Heaters by DCS and we'll be interested as the process develops," he says. While Lynn guesses that the provincial government will want to sell the POSO as a unit, he says the credit union will encourage the government to consider selling each office individually. Betty Drake, tx>okkeeper for dentists Tom and David Drake. says the Seaforth POSO was "by far the best hank to deal with" and is also hoping a credit union can move to Seaforth. "I can sec that the government is selling off everything but I can also see it's hard to compete with the chartered banks. I'm sad but I think it's inevitable. especially if Canada Trust and National Trust are gone." she says. Bob Fisher. owner of Pizza Train and co-chair of the Seaforth Business Improvement Area (BIA). agrees that the province should consider selling the POSO to a credit union. "I'm against privatization in general but I don't think there's anything we can do. The Province of Ontario Savings Office was a very viable alternative to the hanks and provided excellent service at a reasonable cost. The province should sell to a credit union to keep providing people with an option in banking." he says. Huron -Bruce MPP Helen Johns was contacted twice to comment on the sale of the POSO but did not return the calls. Coming changes will shuffle players • across minor hockey system Sy Scott HUpendorff Expositor Editor Changes coming to minor hockey will strengthen the midget level, give more players a chance at junior and professional hockey and, locally, will allow the Junior D Centenaires a chance to hold more players on their cards. "It opens up the opportunity for two midget clubs," said facilities and recreation manager Graham Nesbitt. The Ontario Minor Hockey Association is moving 13 -year-olds out of pee wee hockey and into the bantam division with players more equal in size and strength. "They're going on the theory that, with the 12 and 13 -year-olds, there's too much of a size difference," said Nesbitt. Nesbitt said the changes will put minor hockey back into a system similar to what it used 13 years ago. Normally, the midget division struggles to fill a team, a problem Nesbitt said is experienced across Ontario that results as far up the hockey food chain as the NHL. As the NHL added expansion teams, more players were drawn from the OHL and junior levels which have also grown in nuttnbers, drawing on more players from the midget level in minor hockey. When the changes take effect for the 2001-2002 season, there will be three age groups to draw from in midget leaving local players - in the minor hockey system for that division and giving those kids who don't get a crack at a further hockey career, an extra year to hone their skills and impress area scouts. "A kid who was missed before gets a second chance to be seen," said Nesbitt. As the changes come through, kids entering novice this year will only be playing one novice year before being bumped up into atom. "If you're a first-year novice this year, that's the pnly novice you're going to get," said Nesbitt. He also said the changes will coincide with the elimination of the fifth, OAC year of high school. Right now, fifth year high school students have no place to play hockey unless they can make a junior team but with the elimination of Grade 13, they can•play out their hockey career at the midget level and then go on to post secondary education or work. "Now, the hockey and school system are lined up," said Nesbitt of the added benefit to the changes. NMI Man charged after assault against Seaforth woman A 26 -year-old male has over an assault that occured been charged with two around 4 a.m that morning. counts of assault after an The man turned himself incident in a .Clinton over to. police later that resldefce. afternoon and is scheduled to In the late morning of June attend Goderich court in 16 a 22 -year-old female from August. Seaforth called the police Mai Mil NM MEN 1 i Loseupto.& i pounds daily I 1 without exercising 1 or dieting I LOOK000D! I FEEL CREAT! 1 1 i 1 L www. Savin4U.com g ONLINE -COUPONS I Select Health and sea... Category I to find toll free number.