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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-08-26, Page 29Three contest LamWon seat Cand• idates express their Three candidates are vying for the Lambton riding. • Liberal incumbent Dave Smith was the successful candidate in the May 1985 election, and is running for re- election. Free trade is becoming a provincial issue as the campaign pro- gresses, and Smith has declared himself opposed to total free trade. Ile realizes the s trochemical industr important in his riding. is in favour of tree trade. and can survive, but That is not true for all sectors. Ile ciles food .production as one area which -should be protected. "Our country, has • to -maintain a policy that at least -protects domestic consumption; otherwise, our country is very vulnerable", Smith said. Another major issue is the financial crisis in farming. Smith asserts that not all farmers are suffering to the same extent; quotas protect some. Others are asked to buy on the On: tario market and sell' on the world market, and "the two don't mix". Smith concedes "we are not out of the woods yet", but believes the Liberal caucus understands.the farm community's problems. and is ad- dressing them as well and as quickly as possible. lie notes that the ministry of agriculture budget has been in- creased by 73 percent to 563.000.(00 since Peterson became premier two years ago. On. the issue of education. Smith said the percentage of funding provid- ed by the province 16 schools has been - dropping over the hast to years. and the Liberals are working to turn the situation around,' but "it's hard to reverse a trend in a short time". *Smith is not in favour of official bil- ingualism. 'minting out that some members represent ridings contain- ing as many as 50 national groups. Shoreline erosion is an important local issue in Lampton: Smith said that at present private property owner's can borrow money from their municipalities at eight percent for erosion -control measures: Ile - believes more money should to into protection of public properties such as right-of-ways to the water, and that this should be a joint cooperative ef- fort among the federal, provinicial and municipal governments. He said that if the Liberal government is elected, the recommendations of the McGuigan committee presently stu- dying the problem will receive an ear- ly response. • _. . . Bill Steadman, senior minister at Forest United Church. is entering pro- vincial politics for the first time as the P(' candidate. One.of his concerns is AT CONFERENCE Attending the Canadian Society of Extension at t e annua Agricu tural Institute of Canada at UWO, London were (left) Don Lobb, former CCAT principal Doug Jamieson, UWO pro- fessor emeritus Dr. Ed Pleva, ABCA manager Tom Proof, Norm Alexander and OMAF rep Don Pullen, 1987, chairman of the 1987 planning committee. Lobb and Prout were among the presenters - Conservationists. at Conference AL3( :\ manager Tom Prout and tanner 1/on Lobb presented papers at a London conference. Excerpts from their o;r'ners follow. By Tom Prowl Proper management of human and annual waste is a water quality pro- - blem of today's society. Specifically in r•tira1 Ontario where a high percen- tage of improperly installed septic systems and intensive livestock prac- tises have pushed water quality well above Ministry of the Environment • guidelines. The water quality of hcaehes along the Great Lakes are also being impacted as a result of riyerine discharges high in pathogenic micro-organisms and sep- tic effluent from la keshore residences. An increased hazard to human and animal health has occurred as a result of high micro-organism levels in drinking water supplies, beaches and wading areas. Water horn disease fall into four categories: . fungal: parasitic: bacteria,`and-viral. infection of man and/or animals may occur at the site of manure storage or land 'application or some distance from the source as a result of transport by water. Although not all disease -causing micro-organisms can survive in soil and water., several bacteria. fungi, parasites and viruses are known to survive from several days to over a year in the water• and or soil columns. The solutions to our water quality problems are not as simple as one might firs) think. but can be found in two areas: our pocket hook and our morals. Provincial '(ural Beaches En- . vironmental Strategy Program is a provincial program in response to the rural beach closures which occurred in 198:1 and subsequent years. The A. B.C.A. appreciates the Ministry of the Environment's finan- cial support to carry out the Target Subbasin Study on the high levels of micro-organisms in streams, creeks. drains, wading areas and beaches al and upstream of Grand Bend. Although not the only source, rural land use is a major contributing fac- tor to the problem of high levels of micro-organisms. Locations to be studied are the .watershed under Ausable Bayfield - Conservation Authority. the beach at Granit Bend and two drains. The I)es- jardine Drain is a 21.3 km squared basin of the Parkhill Creek and is located immediately upstream of Grand Bend. The Khiva Drain is the headwaters of the Desjardine Drain and 8.7 km squared in size and the suhhasin selected for the study. Khiva .suhbasin statistics will en- compass size, number of livestock farms. type of livestock farms•( beef, dairy, poultry, swine), number of livestock farms out of livestock and number of improperly installed sep- tic systems (9 out of a total of 151. Best management practices im- plemented are livestock access o cn- trol; eavestroughing, properly ed septic systems and yard run-off control through the use of concrete walls, gutters, covered manure storage, liquid manure storage earth berms and catch basins to redirect surface' run-off from adjacent fields away from barn yards. The Province has a cheap ,food Policy which leaves little excess pro- fits for farmers to pay for expensive structural services which do not in- crease their profit margin. 11 society demands low food prices at the grocery store. then society will pay through grants and subsidies to farmers. The present economic situation of agriculture leaves most far►ners without funds to make improvements. Should society only- pay for iin- prpvements in areas where there are peaches and bathing areas? Should society offer a grant pro- gram - for five years followed by - legislation and fines? As individuals. what value do you give -to have public beaches and bathing areas'.' The larger question relates to the total water quality of our lakes. Socie- • ty presently uses the lakes as a sink for wastes and then pays the cost of purifying the water for consumption: Icy Donald Lobb In 1981/82 a small group of farmers in the Maitland and Ausable-Bayfield watersheds organized a co-operative approach to reduce their soil losses. and crop production costs. A technical support agency evolved which came to- be known as the Huron Soil and 1% at er a orlservatJnr1 ►esu I1�. "District" directorship included ap- poinlees•from affected conservation authorites, government agencies and agribusiness. with their numbers to be balanced on the grass roots side by appointees of the Soil and Crop Im- provement Association - including designates of the Federation of Agriculture and Christian Farmers: Strong grass roots influence insures practical solutions to local needs. Recently the OMAF component has administered a provincial grants pro- gram for soil conservation work. Field work with farmers has been a priority for the district, and work has included earthen erosion control structures. grassed waterways, wind- breaks. pasturerenovations, and crop production tillage projects. "Projects" are emphasized as op- posed to -demonstrations. com- parisons or experiments, because the first priority is to learn how to use a new tillage.system as part of the pro- duction package. The greatest effect of the district program. though no precise measure- ment 15 possible. is in the ripple effect which develops around successful cooperators. As much as 60 percent • of the crop land in some neighbourhoods is now coming under some form of soil _conservation practice. • The high adoption rate by project cooperators may be attributed to its philosophies and project/cooperator . policies. For example: 1) Rather than solicit cooperators, the district should respond to farmer - requests for assistance. 2) Rather than teach. the district should provide a technical support program. 3) The primary objective of pro- jects is to gain practical experience with conservation practices - not to demonstrate. Demonstration puts ex- pectations too high and csissuggests ot a level of competence established. As a result, a whole neighbourhood can be misled or disillusioned: 41 Projects should NOT include comparisons between production or tillage systems until the cooperator has reasonable experience and skill with the new conservation system be- ing evaluated. _5► To accelerate the learning pro- cess. cooperators are encouraged to work together and share information. 6) Cooperating farmers must do the field work themselves. The district supplies equipment and technical assistance as applicable. 7) Cooperators must. from the beginning, be sufficiently committed to underwrite the cost of the project themselves. I In the past, participa- tion incentives by government - initiated soil conservation agencies have not resulted in farmer adoption.) - 8) The main priority on projects is directed toward quality rather than quantity. Projects are lo' be under- taken in situations where the poten- tial for success is high. 'in terms of specific application and cooperator commitment. Program adoption depends on farmer success. Farmer success, in turn. becomes the best ex- tension pool available. It is farmers. not extension .workers,who will ultimately sell soil conservation practices. Observation which should he con- sidered by other groups with similar objectives: 1 I Those farmers who are willing to purchase or adapt equipment early are the adopters and will probably be successful. 2) Agency -supplied equipment is an important tool in the adoption pro- cess. but minimize its availability. This weeds out the free -loaders. :1) Do NOT be patient- with non - committed cooperators. Get rid oL them quickly. We have wasted time and credibility by working with the curious, the incompetent, and people who are looking for crop production short-cuts. 4) Do have written policy which ex- plains exactly what is expected of the cooperator and present it to him before work proceeds. Misunderstan- dings waste time and can hurt the program. 5) Agribusiness can either sell or kill the program. Get it involved! 6) Grass roots -organized programs will produce the most positive and permanent results. However. they re- quire far more time than most farmers can freely give. An oppor- tunity for input and high grass roots profile in the administration of such an organization may be all that is practical in creating its credibility. 7► Though growing pains have been experienced by the district, coopera- tion af the local level has been ex- cellent. The corporate or multi - agency aproachdoes provide a broad base of facilities and resources which would not otherwise be available. The water quality/soil conservation priorities of the participants has been served well as a -joint venture in cooperation with farmers. The extension worker for a'grass roots organization such as the iluron Soil and Water Conservation District faces a unique and difficult challenge. He must serve his superior - the mid- dle management bureaucrat, who would like to claim credit for suc- cessful in -field programs. At the same time, he should serve the wishes of the grass roots movement, knowing very well that it is THEiR input and in- fluence which will make the program successful. Ultimately, as the motto for rhe Canadian Society of Extension suggests, you can only permanently help people by -encouraging them to help themselves. Times -Advocate, August 26 1987 Page 13A views on election issues the future of the family farm. He noted that his party has promised a 'guaranteed base price to stabilize farm commodities. This would benefit land prices as well. Steadman would also like to see a diversified economy in Lambton. The petro -chemical industry is the domi- nant force around Sarnia, but Stead- man.thinks there is a potential for new job opportunities in small businesses and services if more tourists can be attracted to the area. "This is called Canada's Bluewater Land. The Liberal environment minister comes down every few months and says 'we'll clean up the environment'. The petro -chemical in- dustry looks after the environment quite well. The area should be por- trayed as a good place to live and to work". Steadman said. Steadman said'a PC government' would seek provincial and federal monies to assist municipalities tocon- trol erosion of waterfront parks and public beaches if high water damage continues to erode the Lakeshore. Steadman said the Conservatives are also committed to decentralized health services. He brought up the fact that ambulance. service has been. removed from Alvinston. which is the centre of southeast Lambton.This has meant that. Watford and luphemia and Warwick townships are 20 to 25 miles away from an ambulance. - Steadman said there is a need for strong representation of Lambton, as some felt the present representation was "quiet and invisible". 4 s Grant Reynolds, the NDP candid- ' tate in Lambton, cites car insurance as a main issue provincially. Ile believes certain categories such as - young, accident:free drivers are pay- ing too much to private insurers and a governemnt-run system would be much cheaper. Reynolds, who lives on a farm, is also concerned about the troubles on the agricultural scene. "Farmers must receive more help. or we as a society are in deep trou- ble", Reynolds said. Noting that "tell- • ing consumers we are raising prices" is a "no -no". Reynolds concludes that "until someone comes up with a bet- ter answer, subsidies are the only way _ to get money into the hands of the farmers". Reynolds puts farmers into three classes: those already out. those whose serious difficulties are reveal- ed when the hank forecloses or the for -sale sign goes.up on the gate. and the ones who are left to try and sur- _ vive under conditions such as 20 -year- old wheat prices. Reynolds. mentioned interest-free or low interest loans as two possible methods of assistance. Erosion of Lakeshore and river pro- - perry -must also he addressed. Reynolds said. He credited the Peter- son government for taking some ac- tion. but said there \vas still ••a 101 it work to to dome", and countering ero- sion was "more financialburden than individual property owners could absorb•'. - On the local scene. Reynolds brought up the topic of ambulance service. )le said many people in his riding were upset when. the am- - bulance service serving the Alinslon-Glencoe area was sold. and the new owner moved the Alvinston unit to Glencoe. Pr•eviousl'..both places hada unit. People are. upset over the increased time to get. to a hospital in Jr1 emergency. ;i. 'Brigadoon' nostalgic experience The unbeatable team of set designer Brian Perchaluk and lighting director Grant T. Sn ith who worked so well together for us with "Babes In Arms", now create a stun- ning mystical city of Brigadoon at Iluron Country Playhouse. Within a very small stage space. - made even smaller by a full nine - member ensemble in the open or chestra pit. no less than five major sets and three generalised area sets are ingeniously created. A beautiful free -form shaped scrim, edged in painted tree trunks and leafy bran- ches, successfully create the feeling of the mysterious city that appears throught the mist. Later the same transparent .screen allows for flashbacks to be played out in con- trast to the New York bar scene. depicted succinctly by a gaudy roll- on stand-up wet bar. - The other sets, reminiscent of the_ old wood, rag -tag designs of Shakespearean Stratford; are appeal- ing and effective as the decor of 1787. "Brigadoon", written by Lerner and Loewe in the late 1940s, is one ver- sion of a love story done with a heavy hand, perhaps in reaction to.the gid- dy extravaganzas of the Busbie Burkley era. in order to preserve the miracle of the city that only appears once every 100 years. a young American traveller to Scotland must be prepared to give up everything for the love of the maiden from Brigadoon. The story of how he falls in love and the agonizing decision he must make are the main threads to the plot. In- terwoven is another internal love story of the young residents of Briga- doon, and the eternal love triangle that also threatens to destroy Brigadoon. The songs and dance numbers that move the •plot along are romantic. dramatic and sentimental. Here you will find yourself humming along to such golden oldies as "Come To Me, Bend To Me", "There But For You Go i", and "Almost Like Being In Love". Some dramatic moments of acting are provided by Allen Craik as the jilted lover Harry, from Brigadoon. Forced to attend the wedding of his former love Jean, Harry (Craiki steals the limelight With some brilliant Highland dancing, complete with intricate steps over the tradi- tional crossed swords and swirling kilt. The other dance numbers. choreographed by Susan Gattoni, make considerable use of the special ballet training of Diana Cartwright in the part of Maggie. especially in the sentimental pantomime on the pre- nuptial day. Enjoyable as ballet is to watch, it somehow seems out of context. Director Steven Schipper appears to have deliberately chosen to main- tain the mannered, stereotyped ac- ting style of the 'fifties. The hand- holding. arms -around -the -waist ac- tions of the two leads, Tommy and Fiona, as they sing "The Heather on the Hill" is straight out of those good old movies. It, matters not how he acts. (or as soon as he opens his mouth to sing. the full, mature, rich voice of Paul Masser as "Tommy" fills the theatre. Perfectly matched to him, Allison Grant as "Fiona" brings to the stage a voice of operatic clarity. Her ac- quired Scottish accent works to enhance her attractive, pert, inter- pfetation of the lovely but lonely maiden who falls in love with the outsider. Karen Skidmore is lovably looney in the stereotyped, comic relief role of Meg, who takes a shine to many a man, and makes no bones about it. She even sings about it. As an added interest -for area theatregoers, this unusually large cast of 30 brings many local young people to the stage. From Exeter are Jeremy Brock and Melanie,Phillips: GOLDEN AGE CLUB Golden Age Club members are reminded that their first meeting of the fall season begins on September 2, 1:30 p.m. at St. Johns Parish Hall. Irom Parkhill is Karen Sheil: and the audience is drawn into the world of the Scottish highlands and the town ol Brigadoon as surely as the American travellers in the story. 11 a nostalgic journey and a tearful love story are to your liking then this pro- duction of Brigadoon is for you. The show runs until September 5 on the- main stage at. Huron Country Playhouse. 'ou try - Playhouse. Chantelle Crabbe is from Grand Bend. Nine-year-old Chris Bennett and Jennie Such at 15. round out the younger members of the cast. As piper Beth Bodkin begins to wend her way frorn the back -of the theatre, down the aisle. and onto the} stage to herald the beginning of this well known and well -loved fantasy. WINTER'S COMING - One of the entries in the Sat. morning Sand- castle Day parade. "Grand Bend Winter Carnival",.was meant to re- mind us of the fun times even during the winter. that happen in The Bend. Boat Leuched Boating incidents were the topic of conversations this August 22weekend as the winds shifted around to the nor- thwest quite suddenly Friday night. Sandcastle Days -and the -sandcastle building competition were complete- ly blown away. About 1-1:30 p.m. on Saturday. a 26 -foot, Sea ray- type cruiser. registered out of Sarnia and owned lis Jerry Barclay. put out from -Grand Bend 1Iartxou• after mooring in the Bend overnight. The cruiser. named "For Play 'I'o " reportedly had four adults and live children on board. Harbourmaster Dave Gill estimated the waves were about six to eight feet high at this time. Ile also staled that Barclay is an experienc- ed and worthy boater. However. it was apparently too rough and the children. especially. felt the danger. Barclay reportedly turned back towards the harbour but did not have enough -power to battle the force of the waves. Wearing lifejackets. the children 1 wider 14 years of ager were put over the side ol the boat al Sun Beach in Southcotl Pines where the water is relatively shallow. about 20 feet from shore. They all made it to shore safely. It was hoped that with less weight, onboard. the cruiser could then pro- ceed, but waves continually pounded over the transoms as the boat .nosed toward the shore. Eventually the engine became soaked and failed. The ('oast Guard. and the o.P:P. had been called but without power there was nothing left to do but beach the cruiser at Sun Beach. Concerned residents went ti► the. beach to aid in securing the vessel. trying to prevent -damage to the hull by padding with old tires. toplo avail. The cruiser. secured with -heavy ropes to the railway -tie footing at that point. lists Irom side 10 side with each,wave on the rock strewn beach. Attempts to refloat the boat will commence as - soon as weather permits. • - Also on Saturday. the double - masted schooner "Wanderer'- was sighted. in the heavy wave action off - the (;rand Bend pier. proceeding southward under motor power. The sailboat circled hvit•e as many onlookers watched from the shore, but -apparently made no attempt to enter Grand fiend Harbour or make any radio contact with (;rand Bend. They were then observed to raise their sails and proceed southward towards Sarnia. 11 was later learned that "1Vanderer" had been in touch with the ('oast Guard and had reported that they had engine trouble. and were returning to sail power to achieve the Sarnia destination. The schooner made it to "Pat's Point". • in the vicinity of Kettle Point; ipperwash. where it foundered on the rocks. confplelel• disabled. ('oast Guard out of Detroit rescued the three•hoaters by helicopter. LIFE $ A BEACH -- All passengers. made it to shore Saturday after- noon, when. Sarnia boater Gerry Barclay was forced to beach his cruiser "For Play Too". at Sun Beach, Southcott Pines. Eight foot waves swamped the engine, preventing the vessel from returning to Grand Bend Harbour. ,4LINVESTMENTS FINANCIAL CENTRE Go de rich 519-524-2773 1.800.265.5503 1 Yr 1. I 1 sits INSi1i1E0 Within limn• 1 .►