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Home My WebLink AboutZurich Citizens News, 1981-05-21, Page 10Paye 10 '41#4‘10,41 yoe+ Mains News May 21, 140.1 7 j R By JACK RIDDELL Huron -Middlesex MPP The Select Committee on Ontario Hydro Affairs has apparently become one of the first casualties of the new majority Conservative Government, which has in- formed Opposition Parties that it does not intend to reconstitute the Committee which has been in existence for _six years. Terms of reference of the Committee called for an ex- amination of several areas of Hydro's planning strategy, including the various merits of large, small, remote and urban area generating stations, the ratio of new nuclear plants to fossil -fuelled stations and the economics of nuclear power in comparison with generation from other fuels. Premier Davis and the House Leader, have decided "there is not a need" for the Select Committee. Despite the fact that the Chairman of Ontario Hydro, Hugh Macaulay conceded that "the process of public dis- cussion of what Hydro is do- ing has served the people well." Interest rotes Because of the serious situation with the high in- terest rates ,I have again raised the matter in the house and asked the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Lorne Henderson, if he was aware of the tactics being employed by some bankers whereby farmers, instead of receiving an extension to their operating loans, are be- ing compelled to extend their mortgages in order to obtain the money to operate their farms from one year to the next. I asked the Minister if there was anything the ac Terminate hydro committee, debate interest r Government can do to check *the tremendous power of the banks. I suggested -that a review agency be set up to look at what is going on within the lending in- stitutions and the way they are treating the fanners, so that we can stop any further foreclosures and bankrupt- cies, until the cases are studied further. I told the . Minister that should interest rates go to 22 percent or even 25 percent as predicted, we are going to see alot of farms come on the market for sale. It was because of these .reasons among others, that I called for an Emergency Debate in the Legislature on April 23, but this was re- jected by the Government. Therefore, it was en- couraging that the Minister of Agriculture and Food; this week agreed to meet his Federal counterpart to ask. for assistance for farmers. Mr. Henderson asked for relief for farmers hit by high interest cost and low hog and beef prices. He also an- nounced the establishment of a committee to review the operations of Ontario farmers whose creditors are about to call loans. Hydro rates This week in the Legislature I also questioned the Minister of Energy, Robert Welch, about the rural -urban hydro rates differential and whether it would be eliminated as an- nounced by the Premier last year, now that Ontario Hydro has proposed an 8.6 percent average increase in its 1982 wholesale power rate. I wanted to know whether the urban -rural rates would be equalized or would they merely be reduced to 15 per- cent above the urban rate, as Ontario Hydro has recommended in the report to the government of November 1980. Mr. Welch . replied that there were a number of op- tions opened to the govern- ment but that the commit- ment to reduce the rates stand. When the decision to take further steps has been reached, it will be an- nounced. Ku Klux Klan training camp It was also announced ' in the Legislature this week that the Ku Klux Klan is operating a paramilitary training centre on a farm near Lucan, where about 40 to 50 people are 'receiving weapons training; It was said that this opera- tion has been going on for at least a couple of months. The Attorney General, Roy McMurtry said that he too has heard rumors that the farm is being used by the Klan but that the OPP have so far "been unable to detect any hard evidence to support the rumors." He said that they were watching it closely. Funds for youth employment counselling services e The Provincial Secretary for Social Development, Margaret Birch announced in the Legislature a program to provide funds for com- munity based youth employ- ment counselling services. Fifteen million dollars will be allocated over the next five years to support the in- itiative. The program will provide matching dollars to com- munity organizations which offer employment counsell- ing, placement in jobs or training programs, and follow-up assistance to out- of-school youth. Provincial grants to local groups may amount to as $60,000 in any one year. The Ontario Youth Secretariat will administer the program. Polk. chases The question of police chases has been raised once more. Liberal Leader Stuart Smith told the Legislature that police were chasing a car which did not have a licence plate when their cruiser was involved in a head-on- collision near Caledonia which put the driver of the car in intensive care at Hamilton hospital with multiple injuries. He asked the Solicitor - General to "give very clear guidelines" which would dis- courage police chases ex - Ne Interest Charges at Nally Gully No interest charges for 12 months will be offered as o special incentive to all purchasers of new motorcycles Randy Collins of Hully Gully an- nounced today. Collins, who negotiated the deal with a local bank believes he is he only motorcycle dealer in the area to go interest free on all ew purchases. The program means you con take one year to pay by making 12 equal prin- cipal only payments. "Cwmer response is expected to ht fantastic, particularly :people dre faced with increases in interest," Kt said. "We expect to sell t %250,000 worth of new reticles in a very short time Aittimilit free purclasers," Nulty Gully hos built a reputa- tion on extremely competitive prices, backed up with tarn ex- cellent service department. Nowt, with the added benefits of not having to pay interest, motorcy- cle sales are expected to surge ahead. Collins refused to comment on how long the bank would allow him to offer interest free purchases... but, for the moment, anyone who is even remotely in- terested in buying a motorcycle should contact him immediately. OFF TARGET — The wind blew this skydiver off target, but two others came closer. The parachutists jumped during inter- missions at the motorcycle races held at Hully Gully, Monday. cept where there is reason to believe -that the person being chased is . a dangerous criminal. Pensions Liberal Finance Critic David Peterson has told the Legislature that Ontario should follow Quebec in en- suring that women are not penalized in their pension benefits for temporarily leaving the workforce to raise children. • He said • the Provincial Government is stilling un- necessarily on a provision to this effect which is accep- table to the federal govern- ment and has been recommended by the recent - Royal Commission on Pen- sinus. FIGURE SKATING AWARDS — Presented at the Zurich and Area Figure Skating Club's banquet was the Havasu Trophy. Shown are: (back, from left) Martha Klapp, Mrs. San- dilands, and Missy Sandilands who presented the awards; (second row, from left) Tim Bullock, Cathy Brenner, Sonya Shantz and Lisa Bedard (front, from left) Kathy Merner and Heather Westlake. 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