Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1993-04-28, Page 29Times -Advocate, April 28,1993 Page 29 1: Closure of colleges Dear Editor: The opinions expressed in this letter are those of the writer and are not intended to be taken as the views of the affected institutions. Underutilization of the two year Diploma In Agriculture Programs offered in the five Otero Colleg- es of Agricultural Technology (CAT) and the University of Guelph (U of G) was the reason given for closing the New Lis- keard and Centralia College loca- tions. in the case of the Centralia .location, along with the diploma sprograms the Veterinarian services allnd their distinctive associated spr+ograms, the Agronomy research, tithe Food services and research, rand the innovative Literacy pro - Astern were also abandoned. If it teras the intention of the program :cots to effectively make better use -of facilities why wasn't -the Guelph program cut in order to. allow these other programs to be.carried on,at.the CAT colleges? The U of G would still have its Degree PQ - grams which would serve dib province as well as it always has. The fact that none of the CAT locations were informed of even the possibility of such action prior to the announcement is also . a questionable matter. Less than 24 hours before the announcement of the closure at Centralia, the OMAF :restructuring details an- natptced, showed that there were teak'IN° changes" at Centralia Cflillege. The only change made apparent was the integration of the Veterinarian services with the Col- lege which caused this service to also be abandoned in the same slash. If the CAT Colleges and the U of G had been allowed to present a case for their individu- al merit rather than the slash and bum ap- proach taken by Elmer Buchanan and staff, no doubt the end results would have been different. Al- though Deputy Minister Rita Burak assured the people involved that leaders from various farm organiza- tions were allowed to give their in- put to this decision, or its altema- Alves, their refusal to do so is Magical and can also be taken as a eresounding disapproval of the idea. I1f this was not a viable consultation prospect -why wasn't the system of Colleges and the University con- sulted for the input. The notion that the people in "upper middle man- agement" in OMAF who made these recommendations, knew the system well enough that they could effectively represent the -best inter- ests of those involved, falls apart masher quickly. The fact that OMAF ;did not offer -to cut 52.9 million Wolters :from :its budget does trot .change die.fact-that they -did offer citwo of the 'CAT locations along -with all their -associated programs to be abandoned. As an example, the Agronomy re- search carried out at Centralia can .Possible sale of land because of cutbacks EXETER - Over 100,000 hectares of environmentally, -sensitive land in Ontario acquired by Conservation Authorities over the past 50 years, may have to be sold off because of announced provincial government cutbacks. Local conservation authorities will be unable to pay taxes on these lands as result of the cutbacks, and therefore many wetlands, Niagara Escarp- ment lands, flood plains, conservation parks and forests may no longer be protected. This past week, the Ontario government slashed its budget for Conservation Authorities by almost one third or $11 million. "We are absolutely dismayed by the government's unilateral decision to put these lands -in jeopardy. Coming as it did during Earth Week, this an- nouncement was especially cruel," said Richard Turkheim, Executive Di- rooturtof:tbe Association of Conservation AuthonLiesaof 0=0 %1 c, "While other jurisdictions around the world are focused on improving their protection of environmentally -sensitive lands, here in Ontario the government appears to have decided to give up on 50 years of effort by Conservation Authorities and the public to protect wetlands and preserve our natural resources. And the government did this without any consulta- tion," Turkheim added. Budget cuts by the Ontario government reduced operating grants to Con- servation Authorities by $5 million, capital spending by $2 million.and the 'ilionservation Land Tax Rebate Program by $3.6 million - a total reduction ;ipprovincial support of 32 percent this calendar year. '"This is a direct assault on the environment," Turkheim said. "This ill- nnceived move may leave us powerless to protect our environment and natural -resources for future generations." As the single largest owner of wetlands in the province, Conservation Authorities are concerned that this budget could not only halt the protec- tion of these lands, but it could accelerate their extinction. "The Conservation Land Tax Rebate Program accounts for $50,000 in our budget," said Tom Prout, Ausable-Bayfield Conservation authority General Manager/Secretary-Treasurer. "Leveraged with funds from user fees and other sources. the money did much to protect our watersheds." "'lite cut of 20 percent in operating grants accounts for over S 140,000 at the ABCA," calculated Prout- "Receiving this cut when we're already a third of the way through our fiscal year will make the rest of the year very tough sledding. Although we were prepared for some grant reductions, we were not anticipating a 20 tperr ent slash. We don't have 5140,000 to pare off our budget without ;Outing programs and services," concluded Prout. "On April 13, the Throne Speech proclaimed the government's commit- -sent to the environment. Ten days later, the provincial budget signalled that the environment is for sale. 1t just doesn't make sense," Turkheim not- ed. "We are willing and active partners in the process to help find solutions to the government's current financial problems. But this budget has impli- cations far beyond financial considerations. It goes to the very heart of our priorities as a society," Turkheim said. "All we ask is for the government to sit down and negotiate in good faith with us so that we can continue to preserve these vital lands." The Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority owns and operates sever- al conservation areas in the region, and owns a considerable portion of the wetland known as the Hay Swamp. Council seeks help Middlesex County asks forinput on Strategic Plan LONDON • Middlesex County is embarking on a broad public consul- tation process featuring a series of community workshops in 12 loca- tions over a period of two weeks to cover all areas of the County. The objective of the meetings will be to provide an opportunity for Middlesex residents from all corners of the county to tell County Council what they believe is important in the way of present and future County services. Local dates are set for April 28 from 1-4 pni at the Ailsa Craig Rec- reation Gos&xc, May 4 from 1-4 pm at the llldertom,Community Centre, and 7.10. pm May 4 at the Lucan Community Centre. The Strategic Plan developed based on the input from the Mid- dlesex Community will enable County Council to make resource allocation decsions over the next few years that reflect the needs and concerns of County ratepayers. Along with demographic and ec- onomic trend information a draft Mission atatemen)j - and Strategic Plan will be rele�ed in the spring for additional public consultation later in the year. "blunder" not be simply inrsgrrted into the programs -at Ridgetowm or Guelph because there simply isn't labor or funding available to do this. The fact is that their research programs are taxed to the Limit just as the ones at Centralia currently arc. The implications on the agricultural in- dustry as a whole is that there will be fewer locations over which data -for the licensing of new seed varie- riies or new herbicides can be ana- lyzed thus stowing down the pro- 'zess of bringing leading edge products to Ontario producers as a whole. Ask yourself, is this the kind of broadside hit that Ontario agriculture deserves? Is this what you voted for when you voted NDP? (I can plead not guilty.) The social and financial ramift- -cations of these proposed actions -will have affects which will reach immeasurable years down the road. The areas surrounding New Lis- ; Aeard and Centralia should not be left to bear the burden of poorly Ethought-out measures of this socia- ,Iistic regime. It is doubtful that our 'Huron/Middlesex MPPs have the it iina required to withstand the ' sure which will be used to force this issue through, so a con- certed effort by all of the individu- als involved is a must if this blan- der is to be overcome. Walt Vermunt RR 2, Zurich Time eapst,..o1enei Staff and students at ZuriOh AUtillc School open the time capsule they had stored away in the library five years ago. Shown: principal Blll Black examines the contents. YOUR CHEVY TUC E4 L ERS PRESENT • CHEVY WIT 1500 PICKUP WITH CASH BACK APPLIED* CHECK OUT THESE FEATURES! • 4.3 litre engine • 4 -speed automatic transmission • 24 Hour Roadside Assistance' • Rear step bumper • Sliding rear glass window. • Box Bedliner • Anti -Lock Brakes Hurry in before the. sun sets on the Chevy Showdown M1 ,,,;1;,;:r4 e K Y4R . VX ceu�tY�Yyy�.!•!._'` O'G`C', ± 1{ .. �O�M.14,.a. Zw . . •_'o-n,sras v, -; ►=t :r t>•ale1nyeawe tpMats.eso 'pIrsoti' ,�c1j�Mor A Y lifts S�it10 erne r,.•att GS W 100sVbS �Id