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Times-Advocate, 1982-03-10, Page 2P •* Times -Advocate, March 10, 1912 $H student wins United trip Acid rain was the subject of a speech by South Huron grade 11 student, Debbie Josephson, that won her a 15 day trip to the United Na- tions in New York, and gave her first place in a Huron County high school public speaking competition, Fri- day night in Clinton. The competition, snon- Deborah Josephson sored by the Oddfello s and Rebekahs of Huron County, required the nine contestants to make a five to seven minute prepared address and then a two minute im- promptu speech. "I went into the competi- tion with the idea that I'd give it a try, said Josephson. "Looking back now, I'm really glad Mr. Murray ( Assistant English Head) twisted my arm". Josephson's win is the first for South Huron since 1978 when Donna Fleming won. In her speech, she discuss- ed the harmful environmen- tal effects acid rain has on our lakes, forests, buildings, cars and even ourselves. Although the problem has existed for some twenty years, we are just now star- ting to do something abouf it. "Strict controls have to be Zurich, Ontario Mar, 4 1982 Sorry the nice thank you poem which I made up myself for the Zurich News column did not get into the Exeter paper. It did appear in the Huron Shopping News so I want to express our thanks for the kind people who donated the money to have our wedding pictytgput in the paper. I still placed on industry by government and they have to be enforced", she said after. The July trip to New York is part of a United Nations Pilgrimage by some rly 2000 other contest wine rs across North America. n the all -expense paid trip, the winners will spend a week in New York, where they will see the United Nations in session, as well as other Big Apple attractions. After that, Josephson will spend three days in Washington D.C. touring the American capital. On the way to New York, a sidetrip to Ottawa is planned to see the seat of Canadian government. Tracey Ducharme, a grade 11 student at South Huron, also represented South Huron in the competi- tion. The topic of her address was emotional stress in our society and how we can learn' to cope with it. McGillivray school news February 23, grades 6,7 and 8 travelled to North Middlesex District High School to listen to the French group "Eritage". "Eritage" is from Mon- treal and consists of five French Canadians. Their in- struments included the piano, harmonica, s guitar, accordion and . ' es. The show consisted of songs, music and stories. They also did many dances. These in- cluded tap dances and clogg- ing. They also encouraged audience participation in dancing. Janet Eagleson, who plac- ed first in the Ailsa Craig Legion public speaking com- petition and first in the East Williams Optimists' comple- tion, deserves con- gratulations for placing first in the Legion Zone competi- tion in Strathroy March 6. . , ,, don't know who they were but many thanks. Vera and Harold Thiel P.S. It is nice to read some about the sports "the Buckeyes" as I have a son playing ,on the team. Mutual Life offers non-smokers lower life insurance rates If you're looking for tow cost term insurance and you qualify as a non-smoker, you can now get more protection for your money from Mutual Life. To find out if you qualify, call today. Geo. A. Godbolt Chartered Life Underwriter Devon Bldg., Exeter'• 235-2740. Mutual Life of Canada BROWNIES COLLECT BOTTLES — The Huron Park Brownies held a successful bottle drive Saturday. From the left collecting bottles are Melissa Conium, Amy and Korey Young and Sheila Nadon. T -A photo Exeter man attends Ontario utility convention Murray A. Greene, Exeter P.U.C. chairman, was among the 1,400 delegates representing electric utility commissions from across the province attending the 73rd annual meeting of the Ontario Municipal Electric Association (O.M.E.A.), March 1 and 2. Greene was named to the president's council for 1982. Addressing the delegates, O.M.E.A. President, James D. Collins of Port Hope, outlined the O.M.E.A.'s con- tinuing efforts to maintain the principle of "power at cost ' and to counter the ef- forts of those who would establish a higher level of cost for electricity and thereby adversely reduce the consumers' opportunity to use the energy. Mr. Collins stressed the growing need for commis- sioners "to be ever alert to the potential areas through which to attack and to tax the people of Ontario through their energy needs. This municipal cooperative (Ontario Hydro) was set in motion to serve the municipalities and their citizens' •emphasized that, "Municipal utility representatives should be touting the values of the municipal cooperative, the profits of which are return- ed to the shareholders in the form of lower prices. And, we must of necessity be focussing the consumers' at- tention ontheattemptsbeing made by various groups to raise their cost of living while lowering their stan- dard of living. We need a concerted, strong counter measure to preserve the benefits of the people's power. It has to come from us." Speakers during the meeting included: Hugh L. Macaulay, Chairman of On- tario Hydro; Dian Cohen, a syndicated columnist and broadcaster on personal money management known as the "People's Economist"; Dr. David Suzuki, well known scientist teacher, broadcaster and leading environmentalist. An afternoon with the Ministry of Energy provided delegates with an introduc- tion to some of the key per- sonnel and activities within the Ministry. Participants were: Glenn R. Thompson, Deputy Ministry of Energy - Ontario; I.B. MacOdrum, Executive Co-ordinator, Conventional Energy; Dr. Bunli Yang, Acting Director Energy Conservation .and Dr. R. M. R. Higgins, Direc- tor, Renewable Energy. The Association is the spokesman for more than 320 municipal utilities throughout Ontario, the com- missioners and councillors of which were elected to operate a specialized municipal service.and thus represent more than two million residential, commer- cial and industrial customers served by the municipal distribution system, and who consume two-thirds of the electric power in Ontario. The Annual Meeting is held in conjunction with that of the Association of Municipal Electrical Utilities (of Ontario) (AMEU). Richard E. Cavanagh of Scarborough, Ontario was elected president of the On- tario Municir(a7–Electric Association (0'..M.E.A.) at the 73rd Annual Meeting in Toronto. Mr. Cavanagh suc- ceeds James D. Collins of Port Hope. �. Hensall BIA board accepts resignations Hensall council accepted the resignation of two members of the. village's Business Improvement Area (BIA) board at their Monday meeting. Bevan Bonthron and Brian Richmond have resigned from the board. Jack Drysdale, the group's vice chairman, said earlier he would probably be moving up to the duties of chairman since Bonthron had resigned the position because of economic dif- ficulties with his business. Council was told Rich- mond was too busy with WHERE GREAT EXPECTATIONS ARE FULFILLED Together let's research design alternatives . and share the excitement of creating the interior that makes coming home so nice. CaII tor an appointment soon. DESIGN ALWTERNATIVES Excliisive•Fahrics•Wallcovenngs•Furniture•Art & Accents SHOWROOM: 128 Albert Street, Clinton 482-3871 - 1 other work to devote time to the BIA. Council appointed Don Beauchamp to the board. Reeve Paul Neilands said the board would be like Exeter's BIA in that it started out a large group and was eventually trimmed down. The board also requested council establish a budget of $5,000 to pay for ad- ministration, promotion and BIA related engineering costs. The board decided that a minimum of $20 and a maximum of $75 per $1,000 of budget be assessed. Oke explained that on a 85,000 budget, assessment would range from 8100 to 8375. She said this was a fairer method to distribute the costs than a per -frontage method. Oke reminded council that the budget would have to be circulated within the af- fected area for 30 days to allow time for any protests. It would than have to be passed as a village bylaw. Drysdale said that work done by the BIA would be in limbo until the ministry of transport decides to begin its reconstruction of Highway 84, Hensall's King Street. He said the group hopes to have work underway by 1983 and would like to see it completed in time for Hensall's centennial in 1984. He added that the proposal of architect Nick Hill will be followed closely with only minor changes. At Monday's council meeting it was suggested the BIA board be reminded the proposal for planters projecting into the street was turned down and the village does not want planters ob- structing snow removal. Two minor accidents Exeter police report two minor accidents in town this week. On Saturday, vehicles driven by Josip Maril, Petrolia, and William Baechler. Exeter, collided on Huron St. W. with total damage amounting to 1400. Earlier in the week, a vehicle owned by Dorothy Steckle was hit by an unknown vehicle while parked at the SHDHS parking lot. Damage was listed at 8100. During the week the local officers laid four charges under the Liquor Licence Act. ack's jottings Vesting and portability By Jack Riddell MPP as a Member of the Ontario Select Committee on Pension Reform, which released its in- terim report last Fall, con- taining some specific recom- mendations. For instance: - vesting of employee's pen- sion benefits after 5 years of service; - that employees be allowed to sit on the board which manages their private pen- sion plan; that employees be allowed to transfer at least 50 percent of their locked -in benefits to a non -commutable RRSP or to a new employernsion plan; - Indexation ofbenefitsin Vesting and portability must be addressed simultaneously. Under cur- rent Ontario legislation, full vesting (the entitlement of an employee to his employer's contributions made on his behalf) is required only after age 45 plus 10 years of service. The Haley Commission and the Ontario Legislature's Select Committee and now the Provincial Treasurer have come out in favour of 'vesting and 'locking -in' after 5 years of service. With our country's highly mobile labour force this is more ap- propriate than Ontario's cur - rem '45 +10' rulewhich is not generating eno& gh years of pensionable service. Indexing of pension is another very complex issue. In this regard, the 'challenge to private sector plans is one of making the pension fund monies work for you. Wise in- vestment of these funds into well diversified portfolios would best protect the pur- chasingpower of the pension benefit. And, coincidentally the proper. investment of these funds would help to stimulate our economy". Our Leader, David Peterson has stressed this point in every provincial budget response for the last 5 years. ' Probably one of the grossest inequities in the pen- sion scheme is the indexing of public sector plans at the ex- ppeense of the private sector. Two-thirds of public sector retirees had an indexing pro- vision in 1978. Yet only 5 per- cent of private sector employees enjoyed such a provision - and even then it was limited to increases of on- ly 2 percent to 3 percent. The lack of indexation among private plans means that real income for those who depend on such plans decreases steadily over time. And in re- cent years those decreases have been dramatic. Whatever solution is found to the problem of indexation clearly government must ex ercise caution in entering the private sector's domain o pension funds lest the finan- cial capacity of a private company is jeopardized. According to the Ontario Status of Women Council, by 1977 some 115,580 elderly women were already living below the poverty line in .Ontario. Our current pension system, by its very nature, ef- fectively discriminates against females because they earn less. It also ensures that a substantial portion of females will spend their retirement years in pover- ty...Even when both private and public sector plans were considered, less than 60 per- cent provided widows' pen- "sions...pension plans only cover about half of the labour force in Canada...living beyond the age of 65 drastical- ly increases the odds that a women will live in poverty...A Statistics Canada Table show- ing pensioners of private plans by annual income and sex reveals that females in every income level receive an average pension which is less than a male's. I have participated in discussion on pension reform The readers twits @ Dear Sir: As a former Zurich area boy, I read with continued in- terest the Exeter Times and in particular, those pages devoted to the Zurich Citizens News. I with to direct my comments in this letter in regards to the arti- cle "Turkheim resigns coun- cil seat" found on page 10 of the March 3 edition of the E.T.A. I was distressed to read about the negative at- mosphere at the Zurich Council meeting when the handling of one councillor's resignation was the topic of discussion. How can town officials, elected because of their leadership ability and management skills, justify public statements like "This is one of the times I wish I wasn't around", "I don't like to have to deal with these (resignations)", and to sug- gest that "If half the people in government resigned... we'd all be better off"? Surely the citizens of Zurich expect their leaders to demonstrate a more positive attitude towards all aspects of town government! Resignations occur every day and , in every job. It sounds like some councillors , just cannot take the pressure of having to make responsi- blef decisions; in which case I ask myself why they allow- ed' themselves to be nominated at the last election. Regardless of the size of the community, responsible government is what earns citizens respect and support. If a,e.$iggition of a member of government causes irresponsible reac- tions from other members of the same government, then perhaps it is time to elect representatives with a more mature approach to decision making. J.M. Rau London, Ontario A -B checking water quality The Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority has recently initiated a project which will determine existir.g water quality throughout the watersheds of the Ausable and Bayfield Rivers. Barb Schaus, who is in the process of completing her Masters Degree at the University of Western Ontario, has been hired on a year contract to work on the water quality assessment. Ms. Schaus has divided the Ausable and Bayfield Watersheds into component sub -basins. These sub -basins can generally be defined as the land drained by major tributaries of the two river systems. Ms. Schaus will determine the water quality for each different sub -basin using primarily existing information. Where in- formation is missing water sampling will be used to complete the assessment. This water quality assessment is one part of a resource inventory being done by the Conservation Authority in connection with their Watershed Plan. The purpose of the Watershed Plan is to supply the Conservation Authority's various Advisory Boards and Executive Committee with technical information ..that will allow them to make decisions about what the Conservation Authority should be doing in the long terra. order to gain some protection against Inflation by utilizing the excess interest approach; - that, in the event of termina- tion of employment, contribu- tions of employees not yet vested to be credited interest ata rate of at least 1 percent below the annual rate on banks' non-chequing accounts. Finally, the immediate pro- blem of Ontario's elderly who are struggling to survive on fixed incomes was tackled, by recommending an increase in GAINS payments to bring the monthly income of a single pensioner up to 8550 from its current 1493. One very vital aspect of pension reform has not yet been dealt with by the Select Committee -that is coverage, the trickiest aspect of all. Once we have decided on the necessary reforms, we have to find a method of applying these to the total work force, in view of the fact that only 40 percent belong to pension plans. How do we extend the coverage? That is our biggest problem. The Provincial Treasurer apparently prefers to achieve pension reform through the private pension plan system as opposed to any extension of the public system. That would be a splendid idea, except that less than half of the labour force would be covered in that way... There is a question of ethics here. Should we be forcing All everyone to save or retire- ment? If the answer to that is 'No', then the present optional qualities of the employer- sponsored pension plan system would prove to be quite adequate. If the answer to that question is 'Yes' then we need to determine im- mediately how we may ex- tend the coverage of a system which is not adequately serv- ing this purpose. Hopefully, the Final Report of Ontario's Select Committee on Pension Reform will serve as the working document for federal/provincial negotia- tions as well as for public. discussions. The question is 'How do we build a financially responsible and credible income system for our elderly without finan- cially crippling our children -. without a massive in- tergenerational transfer of wealth? Let's not forget that time is ticking away. Every day we delay makes it more difficult to evolve a responsible ap- proach to a new retirement Income system. How much longer can we afford to postpone a solution to this complex and vital question? M -W MOTORS HAS THE ANSWER •46 MPG 1400 lb. PAYLOAD •NO CHARGE SERVICE PROTECTION PLAN 3T[Al,M..-[ll 1 M -W MOTORS SALES & SERVICE 184 EAST ST., GODERICH 524.2113 4he Family Bucket Special only rk Marchduc.4°1:ky Saturday Sunday lLl4th PICK UP A BUCKET. IT'S A PERFECTLY DELICIOUS DEAL FOR 15 PIECES OF PLUMP AND TENDER CHICKEN. MADE WITH THE COLONEL'S ORIGINAL RECIPE OF 11 DIFFERENT HERBS AND SPICES. THE FAMILY BUCKET SPECIAL FROM KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN. Kentucky Fried The Colonel's taste is best. 227 Main St., North, Exeter