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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1999-05-12, Page 4.4 ‘00010esclay,, May 14.1999 • Who's running m a riding near you? EXETER — Politicians have hit the hustings in full force as millions of Ontario voters will go to the polls on June 3. The shortened 28 -day campaign is set to be primarily waged over issues of health care and education. In the Exeter T -A readership area three ridings are represented and the question remains: will the Tories retain their stronghold of the area? In Huron -Bruce, three candidates are battling for votes. One -term incumbent Progressive Conservative Helen Johns is running against Lucknow-area farmer and New Democrat Tony McQuail and Liberal and Douglas Point employee Ross Lamont. An allcandidates meeting to debate agricultural issues is being held on May 19 at Huron Centennial School in Brucefield at 8 p.m. The meetingis sponsored brthe Huron County Federation of Agriculture. Although the focus of the evening will be on farming, the public is invited to attend and ask candidates general questions. In Perth -Middlesex, four candidates are running. One -term incumbent Progressive Conservative Bert Johnson is being challenged by Liberal and Stratford financial planner John Philemon, New Democrat and sub- stitute teacher Walter Vernon ,�.. and Family Coalition candidate -' and factory worker Pat Bannon. In Lambton-Kent- Middlesex, one -term incumbent Progressive Conservative Marcel Beaubien is throwing his hat in the ring again. He will be challenged by Liberal and Imperial Oil contract XWallaceburg manager A Larry O'Neill, New Democrat and A:)0. president of one of two United -Auto Workers locals in Ontario Jim Lee and Freedom Party Candidate and Grand Bend resident Wayne Forbes. Watch for the T -A election feature on May 26 which will give all the candi- dates an opportunity to go in depth on their platforms. Getting to the polls Most eligible voters are already on the list so watch out for a confir- mation card that will be mailed to you in the next couple of weeks. If you don't get a card, you can register at your local returning office. s Kincardine • Wingham • Blyth • Clinton Bayifeld ensall • Exeter • „• Grand Bend • towe • Mitchell Stratford • St. Marys • P • Forest Wyoming • • •t Watford Watford Strathroy • Petrolia LAMBTCii-MElT- MIDDLESEX viC Area advance polls will be open May 26 to 28 at sites to be announced. Advance polls will also be available at the offices of the returning officers May 22 and o- May 24 to May 28. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you need more information about voting phone 1-888-668-8683 or visit the web site: www.electionsontario.on.ca. A big thank -you South Huron Big Brothers and Big Sisters said thanks to Lucan bowlers Friday night for raising $4,406 in the Bowl for Millions campaign.Above: Bill Mathers, left, raised $3,121 and receives a gift certificate for Oakwood Inn from jim Chapman. At right, Don Watt receives a Canadian Tire gift certifi- cate from Rob Snell for raising $203. Funding approved for new Grand Bend medical centre By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF GRAND BEND — Residents here can expect a new medical centre in the village after funding from the Ministry of Health was approved last week. Funding for the new facility will be phased in over a three-year period, according to Glenn Johnson, chairman of the Grand Bend and Area Medical Resources Steering Committee. After three years, he said, the Ministry will provide $1.5 million annually, which will cover all expenses of /he facility. The committee has been in existence for two years and has been pushing to replace the existing Grand Bend medical clinic, which is only 2,200 sq. ft. That facility is only adequate for two doctors, although three work there. The new centre is pro- posed to be 15,000 sq. ft., room enough for six doctors. The committee also wants nurse practi- tioners, nurses and sup- port staff. It could also provide physiotherapy, x-rays, nutrition coun- selling, health promotion and a defibrillator. Johnson said some of those wishes may be cut back, depending on what the Ministry determines. Johnson said he thinks the committee should be receiving the funds "fair- ly soon," explaining negotiations have to begin with the Ministry. He said the committee was "delighted" the funds were approved, and said they will begun. looking for land in the greater Grand Bend area to rent for a new build- ing. He couldn't predict when the new building will be constructed. He added the existing med- ical clinic will probably be sold. While he said he believes the upcoming provincial election was a factor in the approval for the grant request, he said the committee's work was thorough. "We did our home- work," he said. Johnson said the cur- rent three doctors in Grand Bend are insuffi- cient because there are 6,000 potential patients in the catchment area, when guidelines suggest there should be one doc- tor for every thousand people. He also said there were 730,000 visitor nights in the Grand Bend area last year, including 490,000 at the Pinery Provincial Park. He said that is a "really big strain on the system" and more evi- dence that Grand Bend needs more doctors and a bigger medical facility. Tuckersmith pulls out By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF TUCKERSMITH 4I'WP. -- The Original Six will have to change its name. Tuckersmith Township has decided to , leave amalgamation talks with the group of six and pro- ceed immediately into amalgamation talks with Seaforth and McKillop. For many, the writing was . on the wall for Tuckersmith's de- parture. At the Original Six's last meeting in April — during which all mu- nicipalities were sup- posed to vote on whether or not to proceed with amalgamation — Tuck- ersmith asked for more time to decide. Tuckersmith Reeve Bob Broadfoot told the T -A that council made the decision to go with Seaforth because of the expansion of services from Seaforth into Eg- mondville and Har- purhey. He said a major factor is a proposal for a bridge between Egmondville and the Seaforth Golf and Country Club that would provide sewage and water for 200 homes. In addition, Broadfoot said most Tuckersmith residents are more close- ly connected with Sea - forth than with any of the municipalities in the Original Six. Broadfoot said the de- cision to leave the Orig- inal Six was made last week after a public meeting was held. He said the crowd of over 200 was divided between going with Sea - forth and the Original erij; Six. Public opinion wasn't used in council's decision, according to Broadfoot. He said coun- cil used "the business facts" to reach the de- cision to leave. A group calling itself the Concerned Rat- epayers of Tuckersmith, however, is unhappy with the decision, citing a poll done in the town- ship that indicated 62 per cent of the 1,061 cast ballots were in fa- vour of staying with, the Original Six. The 1,061 ballots -rep- resents 45 per cent of the eligible Tuckersmith voters. Only 28 per cent want- ed to go with Seaforth- McKillop. The group also stated in a letter to council that the township has close ties to Hensall, Zurich, Hay, Stanley and Bay»- field. The group said it be- lieves council is ignoring the concerns of its rat- epayers. Broadfoot agreed Tuckersmith has a good relationship with the mu-• nicipalities in the Orig- inal Six and said he has no problems with that group. Tuckersmith clerk Jack McLachlan said Tuck- ersmith will formally an- nounce the township's departure from the Orig- inal Six at the group's meeting tonight at the Hensall Community Cen- tre. "Creative Hands" Lucan Public School Gr. 1 student Adam Sockett shows off his piece of art entitled "Paint Pic- tures." His work is included in the "Creative Hands" exhibition on now until May 25 at the Ausable Community Centre in Lucan. The exhibi- tion features more than 150 aspiring artists from Lucan P.S.