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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-10-02, Page 1OAR RENTALS DAILY • WUKLY • MONTHLY CALL UR FOR MSURANCt REPLACEMEN r NEEDS • Comp** Auto clewing CuMn • Su 23 -3381 or 988.8899 after hours • GP Gaiser-Kneale Insurance • Check our rates on Travel Insurance 235-2420 Serving South Huron North Middlesex & Lambton Since: 1873 Wednesday, October 2, 1991 75 cents PUC joining fight against province's hydro 'tax grab' EXETER - "The whole concept of hydro at cost has gone down the drain. That's what it amounts to," said Exeter PUC chairman Harry DeVries when speaking of the Ontario government's proposed Bill 118. Many of Ontario's Public Utilities Commissions, Hy- dro Commissions, and the Municipal Electric Associa- tion are banding together to fight the passage of Bill 118 on the grounds that it will be changing the whole philosophy of providing electricity at the lowest possi- ble cost to consumers. Instead, they say, the bill will virtually allow hydro bills to become another form of taxation. The Exeter PUC will be sending a letter to MPP Paul Klopp expressing its opposition to the legislation which is an Act to amend the Power Corporation Act of 1906. The bill gives Queens Park the authority to issue policy directives to Ontario Hydro. DeVries said that the bill gives the government the right to treat hydro bills as a "good milk cow" and use them to subsidize government energy policy, social <:4:,1:;K;.%:,>.i::%:'i::3 `•::'2';' %•`.:':<i`r:a:d: vie;::':::•:,.: `s.�� Farm aid package promised OTTAWA - Minister of Agricul- ture Elmer Buchanan will be an- nouncing a plan this week to help out farmers stricken with low com- modity prices. Buchannan explained the plan is aimed at addressing some of the concerns of farmers who arc faced with having to harvest their crops at near record -low commodity prices. Farm groups have said that up to $100 million will be needed to help save many farmers from bankrupt- cy this year. An NDP opposition motion to aid farmers failed in parliament last week after the government was concerned that the motion would topple the Conservative govern- ment. Drowning victim recove red ST JOSEPH - The Exeter OPP recovered the body of Timothy Bearss last Wednesday afternoon. Bearss drowned in Lake Huron af- ter jumping out of a stolen rowboat on Thursday September 19. Police believe a domestic dispute spurred the incident. Bcarss body was spotted in the lake by a citizen who contacted the police. OPP constables rowed out 200 feet to recover the body about a. quarter mile north of where he went missing. A post mortem conducted in Stratford confirmed drowning as the likely cause of death and police are considering the death as not , su. icious. programs or general revenue. DeVries pointed to the situation at Elliot Lake where the uranium now costs far more than from other sources. Normally, Ontario Hydro would be able to buy out its contract to Elliot Lake and purchase uranium from a more affordable source. However, the province has required Ontario Hydro to continue to support Elliot Lake, at a cost of about $65 million. Exeter PUC manager Hugh Davis called the Elliot Lake bail out a direct interference with Hydro's man- date. "If the Ontario government wants to help out a mu- nicipality that's a social program and has nothing to do with the supply of electricity," said Davis. "There are other ways to finance these things. Let the social pro- grams stand on their own." Davis also pointed out that incentives to save elec- tricity are one thing, but incentives tO convert to alter- nate forms of energy, such as natural gas, are quite an- other. The province has, however, proposed plans to finance conversions from electric to gas heating. Da- vis pointed out that gas isn't available in all Ontario communities, but all hydro customers would be paying for the program. "There's a distinct possibility that the cost of electric- ity will finance fuel substitution," noted Davis, saying he did not agree with that at all. DeVries was more vehement in his disapproval of the proposal. "Don't you think that stinks?" asked DeVries, who noted that while Ontario Hydro is an energy -at -cost op- eration, gas is supplied by private enterprise. "We are strongly opposing that, so is the MEA [Mu- nicipal Electric Association]," explained DeVries, who said he hoped the public would become more aware of the impact Bill 118 could have on their utility bills. "People don't seem to care until [after] their hydro bill goes up," said DeVries. DeVries noted that the province under the Liberals managed to put a hidden tax on electric bills by taxing the water that Ontario Hydro runs through its generat- Government employees back on picket line PUBLIC SERVICE ALLIANCE Striking members of PSAC expect the govem"ment to pass legislation ordering them back to work. Shown here behind the Centre Mali are Peter Crypyha, Ken Jones and Laura Overholt. EXETER - Members of the Public Service Alli - twice of Canada (PSAC), took to the streets in protest Monday, after negotiations with the treasury board broke down. The walk out is the second in as many weeks, as disgruntled employees attempt to get a 'fair deal.' PSAC members were legislated back to work last week, but walked out when negotiations broke down. The board had offered the government employees a zero percent increase over the first year, followed by a three percent increase in each of the next two, but refused to go any higher. "The final straw came with managers of crown corporations and deputy ministers receiving perfor- mance bonds over and above their salary," said Pe- ter Czypyhalan audit officer for revenue Canada in Exeter. "That pretty well drove everyone out." Representatives of PSAC expect to see legislation passed which will force them back to work and to accept the treasury board's proposal. That legislation could come as early as this morn- ing (Wednesday), and will probably be in effect by Monday at the latest. "Bargaining is out," said employment councillor Laura Overholt. "They just keep changing the law." The conciliation reports says that an immediate six percent increase is needed just to bring workers up to par with the rest of Canadians and help to keep pace with the inflation rate. "We've never had a cost of living allowance," said Overholt. "Any raises we have had under contract over the last eight years have never met the inflation rate." Exeter firefighter receives award for 45 years service EXETER - When Ray Smith joined the Exeter Volunteer Fire Department the 1944 pumper which is today used in parades was nearly new. When an emergency was called a bell had to be rung at the Old Town Hall to call the vol- unteers to duty. Smith joined the fire department in May 1946, became a captain in December 1970, was promoted to platoon chief in October 1975 and retired from active duty on May 1, 1978. However, Smith continued to serve with the department by manning the emergency phone for another 13 years until April 1991. Smith waspresented with an award in recognition of his 45 years of service by Fire Board chairman Tom Tomes on Monday evening. "I enjoyed it very well; said Smith of his 45 years of service, conceding that he had lost count of the number of fires he fought and the number of times he was called out of bed in the middle of the night by the ring of the fire phone. Smith also reflected on the changing nature of the fire depart- ment over the years. When he first joined, the solitary pumper served only within the boundaries of Exet- er, not the larger district coverage seen today. The department also responds to more traffic accidents these days. Smith's service as a volunteer has been an example to following gen- erations, both his son Larry and grandson Danny serve with the de- partment. For 45 yew of service Ray Smith (second from right) was presented with a plaque by fire board chairman Tom Tomes (right) Monday evening. At left are grandson Danny Smlth and son Smith. ing plants. He said that under the new bill, the price of electricity could conceivably double in the future. "The cost of hydro will probably go up, but that's something you have to live with," said DeVries, insist- ing that the bill is just another way for the province to hide tax revenues. "The whole thing is political." DeVries also pointed out that while residential cus- tomers might just complain about high electricity costs in the future, industry would be in more of a position to act. "As soon has hydro gets too high, industry will move out," said DeVries. With cheaper utility costs in Que- bec or New York State, Ontario could lose jobs and be unable to attract them. "Just about every government we have does a little Ontario Hydro bashing," said DeVries, but said Bill 118 is the most drastic measure yet taken. "They want to have complete control of Ontario Hy- dro and I don't think that's right," stated DeVries. "We still have a society that depends on hydro." If you can vote, you can also run for office If you're considering to run in this fall's municipal election and are wondering if you are qualified, there is just one thing to remember - if you can vote you can also be a candidate. To vote or run in the election, you must be a Canadian citizen, 18 years old by election day, and own land or reside in the municipality in question at any time from Septem- ber 3, 1991 to October 11, 1991, the deadline for declaring candida- cy. Prison or correctional institution inmates, corporations, and execu- tors are not eligible. To declare your candidacy, you must sign a letter of intent and present it to the municipal clerk be- fore October 11. Registration is necessary before campaigning or soliciting campaign funds. If a can- didate decides to run for another position, he or she must re -register. Registration papers can be picked up at any municipal office or at r Ministry of Municipal Affairs of- fice. Candidates must also be nominat- ed by 10 people who sign the nomi- nation papers, which are to be de- livered to the municipal office during the nomination period of October 8-11. Election day is Tuesday Novem- ber 12. Advance polls will be held Saturday November 2 and Wednes- day November 6. To vote by proxy you must use a standard form number 24 obtaina- ble from any municipal office and submit it to the municipality be- tween October 12 and November 12 at 5 p.m. If you will be out of the area during that time, you can obtain a form, sign it and leave it with your proxy who can deliver it to the clerk's office in person. A person can only be chosen as a proxy for one voter and must not be 1 a relative of that voter. Exeter EXETER - There has been only one change in last week's line up of can- didates who have declared their intention to run in the town's fall election. Jim Chapman will be seeking re-election as the Huron School Board trus- tee. Bruce Shaw is still uncontested for mayor; Bill Mickle is seeking an- other term for reeve as is deputy -reeve Lossy Fuller. Incumbents Ben Hoogenboom, Harry Klungel, Ervin Sillery, and Dave Urlin are hoping to return as councillors, but Robert Spears and Tom Humphries are already two candidates in the race for the six seats. Grand Bend Grand Bend - While reeve Bruce Woodley, deputy -reeve Shirley Mitch- ell or councillors Bill Uniac and Dennis Snider had not announced their candidacy as of Monday afternoon, others have. Gerd Bryan is the latest to indicated he will be running as a councillor. Lucan LUCAN - Although the deadline is still a week away, only Tom McLaughlin has announced his candidacy for leve and Harry Wraith is seeking re-election for deputy -reeve. Hensall HENSALL - The village of Hcnsall has remained relatively quiet so far, with no candidates announcing there intentions for election or re-election as of yet.. Zurich ZURICH - Clerk -treasurer Maureen Simmons says that although they are not official, councillors Keith Semple and Barb Jeffrey are seeking re- election. Tuckersmith Township VANASTRA - Only one candidate has come forward so far in Tucker - smith's municipal election. Alan Carter, the incumbent school board trus- tee, has announced he will be seeking another term. McGillivray Township AILSA CRAIG - No one has yet registered an intention to run in McGil- livray Township's municipal election. "I imagine they'll come forth before the due date arrives," said clerk Shirley Scott. Osborne EXETER - Two more candidates have entered the race in Usborne Township. Incumbent councillor Robert Morley will be seeking another term, and Carolyn Bradford will be running for a councillor's chair for the rust time. As reported last week, Pat Down will be running for reeve. Biddulph LUCAN - It appears there will be a race for the deputy reeve's chair in Biddulph Township this fall. Former reeve Wilson Hodgins is making a bid to return to council as deputy -reeve, challenging incumbent deputy - reeve Jim Shipley. Present Councillors Herman Steffens, Paul Wallis, and Jim Barker have all announced their intention to seek another term on council. As reported last week Jackie Martens is seeking re-election as school board trustee. Stanky VARNA - Two members of council in Stanley Township have thrown their hats into the re-election ring. Reeve Howard Armstrong has an- nounced that he will seek ft -election as will deputy reeve Jack Coleman. Please turn to . :: c 3