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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1993-09-29, Page 3r. Times -Advocate, September 29,1993 Page 3 • PUCs win fight to keep Social Contract dollars in Hydro TORONTO - Ontario Pub- lic Utilities Commissions have won their battle with the provincial government to see Social Contract funds divert- ed to paying off Ontario Hy- dro's huge debt. Local utilities, such as Ex- eter's and Zurich's joined the Municipal Electric Associa- tion's fight to see Social Con- -tract funds stay within the hy- dro system and not ;go into provincial coffers. Huron MPP 'Kalil Klopp 'said last week he agreed with the MEA's proposal and would take it tap with the ministers responsible. The MEA had argued all along that the Social Contract should not apply to PUC em- ployees in Ontario since no government subsidies are ap- plied to their wages. Environment and Energy 'Minister Bud Wildman made the mmquest to the provincial cabinin :that the .money stay within the hydro system, which was ,granted last Wednesday. At stake was $20 million that was being cut from PUC annual salaries, and the MEA insisted those funds should be applied to Ontario Hydro's S35 billion debt. Editor's note: At $20 mil- lion per year, itwould take 1,750 years 10 pay off the $35 billion, even .r no interest were charged. Jim Yarrow, chair of the MEA, itmptementing Ontario's 312 municipal electric utili- ties, said "this1decision wall directly benefit residential customers, while . sending a positive signal to the business community." Yarrow also noted that "given previous comments by ,the Liberal and Progressive Conservative Energy Critics, we expect this decision to be welcomed by them as well." Local MPP wants_to _see college research continue Rae won't commit to CCAT future BAYFIELD - Ontario Premier Bob Rae was in Bayfield last Tues- day to meet with most of the farm commodity groups in Huron county and he left a favourable impression. During a following press confer- ence, Rae said, "Farmers have been going through rough times and we appreciate that others must cavy part of the burden of recession. If the farming $conomy suffers then everbody does.' Ontatlo Palmier ?hie was in Bayfield last Tuesday to listen to briefs from a number of Hu- ron farm commodityggoups. From the !eft are Rae, Jody Durand of the Federation of Agricul- ture, com producer Bob Down, Jim Neil of the Rutabaga Association and Huron MPP Paul Kopp. Huron Park system also needs repairs Grants needed to enlarge Grand Bend area sewer system CREDITON - Provincial grants funds are being sought to help with the expansion of the Grand Bend Area Sewage System. - Because three municipalities have interests in the system, Ste- phen Township, Bosanquet, and Grand Bend, all are looking closely at what expansion demands are be- ing placed on the systthn, and what the final costs will be. Consulting engineers M. M. Dil- lon were given the go-ahead to ap- ply for grants under the Municipal Assistance Program to do the engi- neering work on the expansion pro- ject. What the actual cost of that ex- pansion will be is, as yet, undeter- mined. No clear picture of what needs to be done has yet emerged. Stephen Township is also looking for provincial grants to help with an upgrade for the Huron Park sewage Court hears witness tipped police to driving infraction EXETER - Anthony Triebner, of Exeter pleaded guilty to the charge of disobeying a stop sign in Justice of the Peace court last Tuesday. Justice of the Peace Karen Sturdy heard that on Aug. 26, at the intersection of Francis and Thames Roads a man in a pickup truck observed Triebner's ve- hicle go through a stop sign. This was reported to the OPP who contacted Exeter police. Triebner was fined $155 including cost and given three months to pay - IRONWOOD GOLF CLUBr LOCATED) MILE E OF EXETER OFF HWY. 83 11, '110 ,\ Fall lipeciall Pay the temperature e.g. 10 degrees C you pay $10. GST incl. for 18 holes Minimum fee $8.00 No rain checks Tee time availabi. Phone (519) 235.1521 A system. The old treatment plant for the Industrial Park area was in- stalled by the federal government when the area was RCAF Centralia. An environmental study report is being sought for the sewage sys- tem, as well as repairs to its aerator platforms, clarifiers, and a clean out of the digester. Township council is aiming to sl see the work completed in 1994. "It needs a fair amount of work and we're finding out what his go- ing to cost us," confirmed Linda Oliver at the township office. Bob Hallam of West Wawanosh township summed up the meeting with, " He seems to be on sight with the issues, now it's up to him and his government to take appro- priate action." Rae said the closing of Centralia College was a tough decision to . make, -but it was a monetary fact that the six colleges in the province were running at 65 percent of ca- pacity. He promised that research in agri- culture would remain in Ontario, but didn't say it would continue at Centralia. At the same time Huron MPP. Paul Klopp said he would be doing his best to have the research continued at the 200 acre farm on Concession 3 of Stephen township. During the commodity meeting, a representative of Ontario Bean Growers said it would be only prac- tical to continue the intensified re- search on white and soybeans on a long term basis at Centralia as most of these crops are grown within a 40 mile radius of the farm in almost identical climatic conditions. Huron Federation of Agriculture president Bill Wallace said he felt agriculture was being left behind and many current farmers must take on off -farm jobs to survive. Rae replied with, "We are re - `'building the economy. We are nev- er going to be out of the natural re- source economy in Ontario and we must build on agriculture." One prominent complaint was on farm drains. Wallace said, " I feel that the Ministry of Natural Re- sources and the Conservation Au- thorities do not understand farming. MNR and CA's control streams. Farmers build drains, then MNR decides what can be done. Rules -take precedence. Bureaucracy de- cides what a farmer can do." On the subject of Gatt, Rae said, "If it fails we must be prepared to help farmers make the change and look for what we can do. We sup- port supply management and we know we need stability in agricul- ture. If talks fail we must work to- gether to make the adjustments." In conclusion Rae said, " If the fanning economy suffers then eve- ryone does. We must decide to work together and pull together." Among those from this area ttending the meeting at the Little Inn in Bayfield were Bob Down of Usborne township representing corn producers, Jim Neil of the Southwestern Ontario Rutabaga Growers Association and Jody Du- rand of the F of A. Lucan checking for sewer leaks LUCAN - In hope of getting to the bottom of the Kingsville to conduct a video inspection of a large infiltration problem especially in the Wilberforce number of sewer installations in this area. subdivision, Lucan council has ordered a video in- The inspections will be carried out either during spectian tithe sewer system. or immediately after a heavy rain. Works superintendent Doug Johnston reported New technology allows technicians to visually in - earlier that even with a one inch rainfall the sump spect the pipes by the use of a closed circuit televi- pump installed at 119 Elm street has yet to curt. sion camera Johnston added, "We really need a three inch Cracks, breaks and leaks are easily identified downpour in order to conduct a good test." through video inspection. 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