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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-05-01, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, May 1, 1996 Publisher & Editor: Jim Beckett Business Manager: Don Smith Production Manager: Deb Lord igi[g.; Barb Consitt, Chad Eedy News; Heather Mir, Chris Skalkos, Ross Haugh, Brenda Burke Production; Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Brenda Hern, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner Transportation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert Front Office & Accounting; Elaine Pinder, Sue Rollings, Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple The Exeter Times Advocate is a member of a family of community newspapers providing news, advertising and information leadership L i'.1)FU)IZI:1I.,l 1 • inion G GVM Publications Mall Registration Number 0386 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: CANADA Within 40 miles (65 km.) addressed to non letter carrier addresses 633.00 plus 62.31 0.S.T. Outside 40 miles (66 km.) or any letter carrier address $33.00 plus 630.00 (total 63.00) + 4.31 0.S.T. Outside Canada 699.00 plus 86.93 OST (Includes $88.40 postage) Published Eads Wednesday Morning at 424 Main St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM ISO by J.W. Publications Ltd. Telephone 1.519.2351331 • Fax: 519-235.07U O.s.T. en105210531 Another side to Lucan politics ucan Council should be high- ly commended for its timely decision to stick to its guns and appoint a new reeve rather than allow certain mem- bers of the public to have their way by holding a byelection. A byelection, as some councillors have repeatedly pointed out, requires money and time, something any council finds itself short of these days. Lucan is busy enough with its 125th anniversary slotted for June and numer- ous other important upcoming projects such as the construction of subdivi- sions, a possible amalgamation with Biddulph Township, negotiations to provide a new library, the establish- ment of an economic committee, the purchasing of a wood chipper...the list goes on. With so many items on its 'to do' agenda, Lucan doesn't need the hassles of an election, even if that's what some of the people cry out for. It seems as though the root of the vil- lage's political problem may lie with a certain group that is stepping past its boundaries as concerned citizens and be- coming an annoying, self-absorbed in- terest group. And the possibility a vil- lage councillor is responsible for heading that group doesn't help matters. Lucan has been highly newsworthy lately due to its current political prob- lems but it seems as though most of those issues consist of hemorrhaging personality conflicts rather than any real source of public dissatisfaction with lo- cal politicians and policies. Now that Lucan has a new reeve with fresh ideas and an eagerness to move on, certain village members should, for the area's own benefit and peace of mind, forget their bickering and get on with life. Instead of constantly complaining, why doesn't this group take action and do some good for the community rather than cry, "Not Fair!" every time council tries to make an innocent decision? Your Views Letters to the editor. Information on spending in the school system There are several ways to calculate the `cost' of education.,... Dear Editor: figures follows. If you want help, call an accountant for an objective answer. tAloto 4i110 With reference to various recent letters about spending levels in area school systems, I wish to of- fer the following information. There are several ways to calculate the 'cost' of education. One way is to include certain categories of spending, exclude others, and arrive at a 'cost of operating' based on that approach. Divide by day school student enrol- ment to arrive at a 'cost per pupil.' Another way is to look at all categories of spend- ing, including capital, debt repayment costs, and transportation. Add all of it together to get a 'total' cost, then divide by the 'total' number of students, including all categories - adult students too. You get a very different answer. With respect to saving money, there is a simple arithmetic approach too. If Board 'A' saves $1 on a joint venture with another Board 'B' and that Board saves $2, the taxpayers save $3. If there are three boards involved and they all save a certain amount - albeit different in each case - the tax saving overall isA+B+C. With respect to taxes and transferring liabilities to another (or even a new) school system, even the Sweeney report said that debt should not be trans- ferred to a new taxpayer base. With respect to the cost of 'administration', there are half a dozen sets of numbers to choose. Whether you pick the best of the worst, at least compare 'ap- ples' to 'apples' to look at relative costs. In each of these cases, I am not going to do any mathematics for you. It would be better if you did your own figuring. A set of Ministry of Education DAMNED IF YOU DO, DAMNED IF YOU DON'T "'bi;r�eca?br of ttr �t�ty gsti 1. i HCBE` MET Costs per pupil 1995 Huron Huron -Perth RC Day school pupils (average daily enrolment) Adult students (ADE for grant) Business Administration General Administration Computer Services Instruction Plant Operations Plant Maintenance Bus Transportation Capital Spending Debt Charges Miscellaneous Changes to reserves Total Costs 9750 4219 Perth 1125 96 unknown unknown 80 90 9 4834 428 133 426 180 0 36 -22 6195 100 92 145 48 190 0 4039 4674 413 383 67 124 737 374 247 278 81 52 9 93 0 -114 6028 6003 Other revenues 265 113 197 Net expenditures (for all day school students) *5929 5915 5806 Cost of operating (takes out capital, debt and trans- portation) 5378 4522 5214 Percentage Rate of Ontario MET Giant for Recognized Operating costs 54% 72% 47% Spending beyond recognized grant levels 638 -13 514 with adult students - $5871. A View From Queen's Park By Eric Dowd TORONTO - The pressure is on Ontario's Progressive Conservative government and it is starting to cause cracks in the face it shows to the public. Premier Mike Harris's government is under strain because it is cutting spending and servic- es drastically and people are feeling pain and complaining to their MPPs. Some Tory MPPs have been aroused enough to speak out publicly, although the party has not yet had its John Nunziata. The Tories had promised cuts in education costs, but insisted they would come from exces- sive bureaucracy and the quality of teaching would not be harmed. But so many teachers are being fired across the province that clearly classroom education will be hurt. Tory MPP Bill Murdoch, whose earlier ef- forts on the back benches had been devoted mainly to getting an annual Tartan Day de- clared for Scots, was angry enough to say in a radio interview that Education Minister John Health Matters By Heather Mir fe removal of lead paint irking up on the theme of home renovations in last week's column, the Huron County Health Unit recently issued an environmental health advisory to increase awareness of potential health effects of lead exposure dur- ing such work. Although lead is no longer added to paint or gasoline in Canada, according to the health unit, Huron has many homes built prior to the 1950's during a period when lead concentrations in paint were often as much as 70 per cent by dry weight. Homes built after 1980 should not contain lead-based paint while homes built be- tween 1950 and 1980 are likely to contain some lead- based paints. In Ontario, 20 per cent of dwellings were built before 1950 and 60 per cent were built between 1950 and 1980. The presence of lead-based paint is only a major problem if the painted surfaces are peeling or chipping. During renovating, when old paint may be stripped or sanded, it is possible for lead dust to settle throughout your home. Health studies have shown young children are at greatest risk from the harmful effects of lead. The coming arrival of a new baby is a common time to renovate but it may not be the best time to start major work. Although there is no com- pletely safe method of re- moving lead paint, strippers that contain methylene cho- ride are less volatile and toxic than traditional chemical strippers. Heat guns release lead fumes that could be in- haled and electric sanders create high levels of lead dust that may contaminate the en- tire home. To help new paint cover lead paint,wash the surface with a high phosphate solu- tion such as trisodium phos- phate (TSP). Simply repaint- ing will not however prevent the creation of lead dust or paint chips on surfaces chil- dren will chew or bang into with their toys. Whatever method is used to remove or cover lead-based paint, children and pregnant or women of childbearing age should not be involved in the renovations, especially dur- ing the dusty periods. The renovation area should be sealed from the rest of the house with plasic sheeting and daily clean-ups with wet mops and cloths should be conducted as the work pro- gresses. Use a vacuum rather than sweeping to clean up dust and paint chips and al- ways follow with a wet mop- ping. Don't wear work clothes into other part of the home and wash them separately from other household laundry to prevent cross - contamination. Pets should also be kept away from the work area be- cause they can be easily poi- soned when they lick their paws or fur. Snobelen 'really doesn't know what he is doing - at times it seems that way.' Murdoch went further and recalled an episode Snobelen would like to put behind him when in his first days as minister he told a private meet- ing of bureaucrats that it could be an effective strategy to invent a crisis that would jolt the public into accepting that reforms were urgent- ly needed. Murdoch said Snobelen seems to be creating a crisis and 'the minister is a little out of whack right now.' Another Tory backbencher, Doug Rollins, in a discussion of cuts with teachers in his home area, conceded 'there's no question about it - there's going to be an effect in the classroom.' Asked if this meant the government had lied, Rollings admitted 'yup, on that part it did.' Several Tory MPPs also have expressed con- cern publicly because Hams is determined to push ahead with massive cuts in spending and services not only to reduce the dreaded deficit, Cracks starting to show but to provide a tax cut. Harris is committed to the tax cut and prom- ised to resign if he failed to provide it, but this did not stop a Tory MPP, Chris Stockwell, con- fessing 'I don't know how we can afford a tax cut, given the numbers I've seen.' Ted Arnott, a notably disciplined MPP who will be on Harris's list for future promotion, said that cutting tax will be extremely difficult and some Tory MPPs are beginning to ask if it would be wise. Murdoch and Morley Kells, another Tory,. suggested the tax cut should be revised so it would be given only to those earning less than $60,000. Four rural Tory MPPs, Bruce Smith, Bert Johnson, Helen Johns and Marcel Beaubien, sent the government a letter, which they called a 'gentle reminder,' urging it not to renege, as it seems intent on doing, on promises to main- tain funding for agriculture. A fifth rural member, Peter Preston, added it would be 'embarrassing to me and to every per- son that ran for government' if spending on ag- riculture is cut: Stockwell, from Etobicoke, also criticized the government for planning to use municipal taxes raised in Metropolitan Toronto to fund other areas. Such open criticism of a Tory government by its own MPPs has been rare over the years and appearing united was one reason the Tories clung to office so long. When there was the odd stepping out of line. Tory premiers crushed it ruthlessly. An exam- ple is the current solicitor -general, Bob Runci- man, who was kept out of cabinet for years af- ter he spoke publicly against then premier William Davis investing handreds of millions of dollars in an oil company. But a lot of Tories recognize they will never be in Harris's small, 19 -member cabinet and are taking a hounding in their ridings and get- ting a bit worried about saving their skins.