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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-3-27, Page 2ed by Frank Mer t! Miller was the provincial treasurer prior to being Monsen leader. . "He'd. 'taiced everything... potato, chips, hamburgers, flour, puppies, guppies... everything that moves has been taxa. by this man, said Peterson. He also chided Miller and the Tories for creating the largest cabinet in the history of the province. Miller chose 33 members after promising to cut the cabinet by six. Fight for Fames The Liberal leader since 1982, Pe addresses two local issues in his ' swing— through the Huron -Bruce riding. Peterson promised to "fight for the agricultural community." He said he had talked to many farmers in the area. "It wasn't a happy story that I heard. The recession is over in many parts of in- dustrialized Ontario, but it has continued in many of the rural areas." He blamed high input costs and low com- modity prices for much of the problem. He described the family farm as the basis of agriculture but warned, "Now that sector is under a massive assault through no fault of the individual farmer." He said the "high flyers" have disap- peared, but now second and third generation, farmers are facing problems. Peterson wash also critical of the U.S. farm policy and the' recent veto of a farm subsidy bill by Presi- dent Ronald Reagan. "It worries me when I look at the United States and see almost an organized onslaught coming from the White House against the agricultural community." Peterson didn't spare the federal Toric" from criticism. "It worries me when I see a white paper coming from Ottawa filed with misinforma- tion," he said, making reference to a recent white paper on farm tax reform. The white paper showed that farmers earned twice as much as the average Cana- dian and were nine times as wealthy. The federal finance department and Finance Minister Michael Wilson have attempted to; distance themselves from the report since. its release. They say the statistics used..were out of date but were the most recent a iailable. Peterson said Ontario farmers need a commitment from both levels of govern= ment to achieve long term stability. He stop: ped short of promising more transfer payments for fanners. He said an Ontario farmer now receives an average of $3,000: But a Quebec farmer receives almost $10,000 in provincial transfer payments. Look to Future Peterson also addressed the unemploy- ment problem. He said politicians have to learn to look beyond the next election. They. have to look to the next decade and next generation if they hope to solve today's pro- blems. , He Said the young people graduating from schools need the skills to deal with technological change if they hope to coin= pete in today's job market. "We're not doing a good enough job as a society in giving our young people these skills." Peterson did promise reforms in agriculture and new approaches to medical care in Ontario, But he tempered the state- ment with a promise to "have a profound respect for the taxpayer's wallet." Provincial Liberal Leader David Peterson (right) discussed election strategy with Huron -Bruce MPP Murray Elston and Vern Inglis (left) a fund raising chairman for the last al Party. P 300 ys faithfuls ith guestspeaker attended the event. ((Randy Threndyle Walkerton photo ) last week. Over 300 party *Randy Provincial Liberal leader David Peterson said he was ready and waiting for the up- coming provincial election even before it was called on Monday. Speaking at a Liberal fund raising dinner in Walkerton last Tuesday, Peterson told over 300 party faithful that he's been ready for an election since last fall. Peterson said he expected the election call last Thanksgiving. Liberal candidates were nominated, speeches written and a cam- paign bus was booked. He said he had even purchased a new tie and his wife bought a new dre s. The dress was returned when the election wasn't called, said Peterson. "But I kept the tie." He said former Premier Bill Davis had done "the only intelligent thing under the circumstances— he resigned." In what was an obvious warmup to the election campaign, Peterson rallied his troops with comments like, "I'm looking forward to going toe -to -toe with Mr. Miller," and, "After 41 years, a great deal of moss has, grown on the big blue machine..", At times, Peterson was almost theAttribal in his condemnation of the pxovineiai Tories, the new premier and ht4,cabi'het. He chided. Miller for campaigning without calling an election. "The premier has chosen to do nothing." The Liberals now have the "greatest political opportunity in 41 years," he said. Peterson said the Ontario Conservatives chose to go back 20 years when they elected Miller as leader. Miller is known for two things, raising taxes and attempting to close hospitals, said Peterson. When Miller was minister of health, he at- tempted to close some smaller hospitals in- cluding the Clinton, Chesley and Durham hospitals. But the hospitals remained open. Peterson quoted Miller on the hospital issue, who during the recent Tory leader- ship campaign said, "I still think it was the way to go. I still think I was doing the right thing." And concerning taxes, Peterson said, "Every single tax in this province was rais- SPECIAL BUYS ON SPECIAL CARS DIRECT FROM GENERAL MOTORS We were able to obtain TEN LOW MILEAGE 1985 Executive and EMployee Driven Cars. REAL SAVINGS FOR YOU! 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KEN PONTIAC BUICK CADILLAC GMC TRUCKS 37 HAMILTON STREET GODERICH 524-8391 Huron -Bruce a "safe seat" by Randy Threndyle Provincial Liberal Leader David Peter- son said the Huron -Bruce riding held by Murray Elston, Liberal MPP, is a "safe seat" despite rumblings that the riding is on a Tory "hit list" and might be eliminated by redistribution after the next election. Peterson was a guest speaker at a Liberal fund raising dinner in Walkerton last week. Peterson said he thinks the seat is so safe that heltold the crowd of 300 that he might hold his cabinet meetings in Walkerton afte the next election. Southwestern Ontario has been a Libera stronghold in Ontario for the past several elections: Five seats are held by Liberal MPP's. Two of those members, Eddie Sargent, Bruce -Grey MPP, and Bob McKessock, Grey MPP, attended the dinner with Elston and Peterson. But despite Peterson's remark that Elston had a safe seat, there was little doubt the fund raising event had been staged to bolster Elston's chances in the upcoming election. Elston has held the riding for the past four years. He took over from 18 -year veteran Murray Gaunt, who is now a farm broadcaster. Elson said he was ready for the election. He said the survival of the agricultural base in the predominately rural riding and pro- viding jobs and post secondary education for young people would be his major con- cerns in the upcoming election. As a third' issue, Elston warned that the party might have to fight for the survival of the riding. It could be eliminated through redistribution. Peterson showed confidence in Elstoryik calling him "an outstanding heavyweigl member of parliament." Peterson made reference to Bill Thomp- son, a radio talk show host who was nominated by the Tories last fall to, contest the riding. Thompson later resigned as the nominee when an election was not called. "Why the Tories can't find anyone to run against him (Elston) ... and there was a potential candidate I had a chat with today and I don't think you have to worry about him either." Other local MPP's also used the orpint- tunity to spout some pre-election rhetoric. McKessock said he was looking forward to the day when he would be speaking to Mur- ray Elston as the attorney general, Jack Riddell as minister of agriculture and Eddie Sargent who would be minister of public works. At the suggestion, Sargent said he would sooner be the speaker. Sargent has leen noted for his arguments with speakers throughout his 22 -years in the legislature. He has been ejected from- the house on several gccasions by the speaker.