HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-06-04, Page 27TOWN CRISIS WIN — Exeter council won the Invitation fitness contest at the South Huron Roc Centre,
Thursday night. Above, Lynne Farquhar presents the trophy to mayor Bruce Shaw, deputy reeve Lossy
Fuller and councillors Morley Hall and Dorothy Chapman. T•A photo
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Tough measures
HON. JACK RIDDELL
Minister of Agriculture
Environment Minister Jim Bradley
has pledged to continue tough action
against polluters in the wake of a
Toronto study which showed unaccep-
tably high levels of toxic chemicals in
Ontario food. Mr. Bradley said the
high levels of toxic chemicals, in-
cluding
ncluding dioxin, were cuase for ge-
nuine concern.
The presence of toxic contaminants
in Ontario food was made public in a
study paper presented by the City of
Toronto at the World Large Lakes
Conference in Michigan. Mr. Bradley
told members of the Legislature, "I
will not be satisfied until we have
eliminated these substances from our
food chain."
A recent study, prepared by the En-
vironment Ministry for the Ministry
of Agriculture and Food, revealed low
levels of dioxin in Ontario apples.
"More testing is clearly called for,
and we are doing it for fruits, as well
as milk, meat and vegetables," En-
vironment Minister Bradley stated.
He indicated the City of Toronto
study justifies the hard line against
polluters taken by the Environment
Ministry on behalf •of the Ontario
Liberal Government. The Environ-
ment Minister said he agrees with the
report's recommendations that a
broad program of source reduction is
the only sensible way to cut the
amount of toxic substances going in-
to the environment and thereby into
our food.
When my staff here at the Ministry
• of Agriculture and Food first heard
there might be problems with con-
taminants in fruit, we asked the en-
vironment Ministry to analyze apples
for dioxin and dibenzofurans. These
results, which have just been receiv-
ed from the environ?'hent Ministry
laboratory, do not confirm the Toron-
to Board of Health finding in apples.
My Government recognized the
need to test food when it promised to
build a world-class food quality
laboratory in the recent speech from
the throne. Planning is well under
way for the facility, which could be
operational within two years. It will
ensure that food products meet
established quality and safety
standards.
My Ministry now monitors milk,
meat, (ruits and vegetables for
pesticides and other residues to the
extent that our current pesticide
laboratory permits.
Science in Elementary Schools
"One of the central messages in
_science education must be that
science is a part of all our lives,"
Education Minister Sean Conway told
members of the Legislature recently.
In order to improve technological
literacy in our young people, as
recommended in a 1984 Science Coun-
cil of Canada report, the Education
Minister has announced a $3 million
program to renew science education
in the primary and junior divisions of
Ontario schools.
This initiative reflects the Liberal
Government's commitment, address-
ed in last month's Speech from the
Throne, to excellence and relevance
in education. The program recognizes
the importance of science and
technology to the future of Ontario
and will help students link the science
GRADUATES - Richard Fletcher
graduated from McMaster
University, Hamilton, Ont. on
May 29, 1986 with a degree of
Bachelor of Physical Education.
He will be attending Queen's
University in September. Rich is
the son of Bob and Pot Fletcher,
Exeter.
they study in school to the science in
the world around them.
Education Minister, Conway said
the program will focus on four key
areas including:
• development of science cur-
riculum from kindergarten to Grade
6 in a way that devotes more time and
attention to this important area in the
early school years;
• support for teachers at the
elementary level through training
and retraining in science education;
• provision of the necessary learn-
ing materials in both English and
French and equipment for science
education at the elementary level
and
• a public awareness campaign in
science education to encourage the
support and active participation of
parents, school boards and members
of the private sector.
A Disaster Area
The northern native community of
Winisk has been officially declared a
disaster area by the Ontario Govern-
ment. Two members of the Winisk
band were killed and most of the
town's building were destroyed when
the Winisk River overflowed its
banks. Minister of Northern Develop-
ment and Mines, Rene Fontaine, in-
formed the legislature that the com-
munity of Winisk can now receive
financial assistance under the
disaster relief assistance program.
An interministerial committee,
headed by the Ministry Of Municipal
Affairs, will co-ordinate the provin-
cial response and work with the
federal government in delivering On-
tario's relief initiatives.
One of the major requirements to
help the Winisk band recover and
rebuild from the disaster is an airport
to bring in supplies and build a new
community. Mr. Fontaine said the
main concern of Chief George Hunter
of the Winisk band is to get an early
start on the airport at the new
townsite of Peawanuk, 40 kilometers
uihiver.the province has arranged
for Chief Hunter to meet with
representatives of the federal govern-
ment and the aprovincial inter-
ministerial committee in order to get
the new airport built as quickly as
possible.
Final Reading
Legislation to end extra -billing by
doctors is Ontario will go before the
House for third and final reading. In
making this announcement, Health
Minister Murray Elston informed
members of the legislature on the
results of Over ten months of negotia-
tions between representatives of the
Ontario Liberal Government and the
Ontario Medical Association.
Over the past ten months, there
have been a number of informal
discussions and a series of 11 formal
meetings. "Regrettably we were
unable to reach a negotiated settle-
ment, something which the .Govern-
ment had genuinely hoped to
achieve," Mr. Elstontold the House.
"The OMA representatives were
unable to accept the basic principle
underlying our national health care
system: that no patient should have
to pay extra for medical services that
are supposed to be publicly insured in
the first place. The Government
believes that this principle is fun-
damental and cannot be compromis-
ed," said Mr. Elston.
The Health Minister explained that
there are two extremely imilortant
reasons for proceeding with the
legislation. The first is to protect pa-
tients rom having to pay extra
c arges. Our health care system is
based on the principle of universal ac-
cess. The Liberal Government in On-
tario is fundamentally opposed to a
two-tiered system of health care,
where there is one standard of care,
for the rich and another for the rest
of us. Canadians rejected such a two-
tiered health care system decades
ago when medicare was first in-
troduced. The unanimous passing of
the Canada health Act in 1964 by both
the House of Commons and the Senate
reaffirmed that commitment.
Secondly, the Canada Health Act
imposes a penalty on those provinces
where extra -billing is allowed to con-
tinue. Health Minister Murray Elston
explained that proceeding with the
legislature will permit the Ontario
Government to reclaim the $53
million a year currently being
withheld from the people of Ontario
by the federal government became
some doctors extra -bill.
As well, proceeding with the legisla-
tion will remove the double jeopardy
that extra -billing represen ides
the federal funds withhekim On-
tario, an'additional $53 million a year
is taken out of patients' pockets for
medical care that is supposed to be
publicly insured in the first place. The
principle of accessibility for all and
the practice of extra -billing by some
cannot co -exist.
It is the responsibility of the Ontario
Liberal Government to ensure that all
patients have access to the physicians
of their choice, that they are able to
seek necessary health care free from
any financial constraints, and that'
they are fully covered by their health
insurance plan and do not have to pay
extra for these services in Ontario. As
Mr. Elston has said, "This is a com-
mitment that has been made, and it
is a promise that we will keep."
Recreation Grants
Grants recently announced for the
riding of Huron -Middlesex include the
following:
Town of Goderich-Provincial grant
of $25,000 under Parks Assistance Act
for the further development of St.
Christopher's Beach Approved Park,
Town of Seaforth-Experience '86
grant of $1,687, to be used to test the
need for a summer program co-
ordinator.
Village of Hensall-Experience '86
grant of $1,074 "Youth Working
Together" program. To organize and
encourage youth volunteers to assist
in the social and physical develop-
ment of children.
Village of Zurich -Experience '86
.grant of $1,645 for a playgrodnd and
swim program.
Township of Tuckersmith•
Experience '86 grant of $2,193 for a
"Summer Fun" program.
Times -Advocate, June 4, 1906 1 Pogo 13A
Ministry staff in district.
concerned over cutbacks
Letter 'to The Honourable
David Peterson
la the words of a senior twisty
technician in the Wingham District,
ibis year we have no forestry
program."
This is not the first time that
seasonal employees have faced lay-
offs, but it is the first time that the
forestry budget for the district has
been cut so drastically that most of
the ten technicians have been laid off
with little hope for recall. There re-
main only two permanent staff
members to handle an area that stret-
ches from Grand Bend up the shore
of Lake Huron almost to Kincardine,
bast to Harriston and Listowel, and
south of Stratford and St. Marys, over
4200 square miles.
What is the purpose of the whim-
sical and haphazard funding we have
been subjected to in the past few
years? Forest management pro-
grams are long-term commitments to
long-term resources and require con-
sistent and stable funding. They also
requite well-trained, experienced,
career -oriented technicians to imple-
ment them.
This year, as usual, we hale
planted 500,000 trees in the district,
but tree planting is only a part of the
forret management program. As with
any other crop, trees must be tended
if they are to yield a maximum
harvest. This area has the climate
and soils to produce humper crops
both in agriculture and in forestry,
and certainly these two resources are
complimentary, as marginal lands
are utilized to give the landowner a
future forest resource with the spin-
off benefits of erosion control, recrea-
tional use, aesthetic and wildlife
enhancement, local economic and
employment benefits, and water
control.
We are years behind all the
aspects, of tending and maintaining
our existing plantations. The result:
young pine plantations are crushed
because competing vegetation is not
controlled; young walnut plantations
will never produce good quality
veneer logs because they are not cor-
rectively pruned to produce straight
stems; older plantations are
stagnated for lack of thinning and will
never be,, bottom -branch pruned to
produce knot -free lumber; access
trails become overgrown and useless
as maintenance and recreational
routes.
Again we ask, what is the purpose
of such whimsical and haphazard fun-
ding? Is it to reduce the status of
community -trained technicians' to
that of migrant workers? These
technicians, experienced in planting,
tending, and woodlot stand improve-
ment, must wait for a minimum of ten
years before they are offered the
security of a permanent position, ten
years of not knowing whether the fun-
ding will provide them six or sixteen
weeks of employment, ten years of
March of Dimes
extending campaign
at one of the camps in August. Both
attehded camp in 1984, and are look-
ingforward to spending a very special
time together this year.
The Ontario March of Dimes is on-
ly able to provide these important ser-
vices through generous donations and
grants. Watch your mail for an ap-
peal, and please, give as generously
as you are able.
Donations can also be sent to Sum-
mer Campaign, Ontario March of
Dimes, 60 Overlea Blvd., Toronto On-
tario, M4H 1B6.
' The Ontario March of Dimes is ex-
panding its fundraising efforts to
assist adults with physical
disabilities. A new Summer Cam-
paign will appeal for donations across
the province during the. month of
June.
The goal of the campaign is to raise
$300,000. Dr. David Logan, president
of the organization, says, "This is an
important new venture for the On-
tario March of Dimes. We, and the
physically disabled adults we assist,
need generous contributions from
everyone." Dr. Logan added that the
Summer Campaign will become an
annual event as is the Ability Fund
Campaign held in January 'and
February.
The Ontario March of Dimes pro-
vides many and varied services. They
range;from the provision of mobility
aids such. as wheelchairs and ar-
tificial limbs to assistance with hous-
ing and employment.
One very special program that
begins soon is the Ontario March of
Dimes' camps. These camps provide
a holiday in the sun for many people
who are in total -care facilities and
rarely get a recreational break out-
doors. They also accommodate
couples who otherwise might never
have a chance to vacation together.
One such couple is recently married
Linda Thibault and Dean Robinson of
Lindsay, who will be honeymooning
being unable to make any long-term
commitments to the communities in
which they live.
With regard to the situation before
us: we do not need benefit packages
or recau rights unless you can afford
us the opportunity to work on a
reasonably steady basis. This year we
have, with one week's anotice, been
told that there is no funding to do the
work that we know has been
neglected for years. Some of us have
special training and most of us are ex-
perienced foremen and competent to
quality -control contracted work. All
of us are capable of the high-quality
work this district demands. Where is
your government's commitment to
forestry and to us? We feel deserted
and dissatisfied.
• If the work has to be contracted to
private companies and some of us
would be monitoring those contracts,
then, although woefully inadequate in
volume, at least some tending would.
be done. To our knowledge, this is not
the case.
If you are shutting down the
forestry' operations in this area for
most of a year, will you carry the pen;
pie on permanent staff who are
responsible for our supervision and
for planning what we do? Will you
allow the thousands of dollars of
equipment at our disposal to sit idle?
Will you allow the support staff and
general office overhead to just idle on
in our absence? At our last operations
meeting we were told we had one of
the highest productivity rating of any
technical staff in southern Ontario.
What does that mean to us now? -- a
slap on the back, then a boot out the
door.
Where is your government's com-
mitment to forestry in southwestern
Ontario? As permanent agriculture,
forestry holds the promise of a
valuable resource for future genera-
tions, but cur forests must receive the
proper cage to realize that potential.
Surely your government has the
foresight and wisdom to enable us to
achieve that end.
Yours sincerely,
G. Chiddicks
for Ron Smith, Dave South, Geoff
King, Rupert Hewison, Doug Duncan,
Doug Purves, Grant Morgan, Harold
Rodgers
FLOWERS FOR VISITORS — Anne Brodie has q flower pinned on
by Jean Murroy at Thursday's Friendship Tea sponsored by the Ex-
eter UCW. T -A photo
"Not too
welidone
Gas barbecues
a convenient and
economical way to
enjoy outdoor cooking, but they
must be used carefully and kept in
good' condition.
Every summer, backyard chefs
are injured -and property is dam-
aged in gas barbecue fires. Here
are a few safety tips to ensure your
barbecue parties don't go up in smoke.
1. There's only one way to connect a
propane cylinder to a barbecue — the right
way. Follow the manufacturer's instruc-
tions closely and keep the fuel hose away
from any metal parts which may become hot.
2. Check for leaks regularly: Brush a soap and
water solution over hoses and connectors and
open the cylinder valve. If there's a leak,
bubbles will form in the soap film.
3. Keep your barbecue at least 10 feet from
buildings, overhangs and combustible structures.
4. Don't try to light a barbecue with the lid
closed. If it fails to light or goes out, turn the
gas off and wait five minutes before relighting.
5. Wheel l finished, close all valves.
6. Never bring propane cylinders indoors.
L
A small leak
• - can cause
a major
explosion.
7. If you suspect
your barbecue isn't working properly, have it
checked by a qualified serviceman.
Make sure you don't have to invite the fire
department to your next barbecue. For a free
cgpyfof the brochure "Living Safely with
Ptopane", contact the Consumer Information
Centre at 555 Yonge St., Toronto, Ont.
M7A 2H6 —(416) 963-1111
or toll free at 1-800-268-1142.
Ontario residents with
an 807 area code may
call the 416 number
collect.
Ministry of Consumer
and Commercial Relations
®Ontario
Minister, Hon. Monte Kwinter
Premier, Hon. David Peterson
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