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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-03-11, Page 1inton News- ord INCORPORATING -THE BL\ TH STANDARD -THF: 8.11 F IEI.0 BUGLE No. 10 121 YEARS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1987 50 CENTS Riddell wins uncontested By Anne Narejko CLINTON - An uncontested nornination has allowed Jack Riddell to stay at the helm of the new Huron riding. The Huron Liberals held their nomina- tion meeting on March 5 at the Clinton Legion where they selected 12 delegates to attend this year's annual convention from April 3-5. The second portion of the meeting was the selection of a candidate to represent the riding of Huron in the next provinical election. - Jack Wins Uncontested MPP and Minister of Agriculture and Food, Jack Riddell, was the only person in the running for the Huron riding candidacy and received a standing ovation when the official announcement was made. Although Mr. Riddell said it was not the "most exciting nomination," he was pleas- ed with the loyalty shown. "I have always received strong support from this riding," he said. Looking forward to future challenges, Mr Riddell said, "Never have things look- ed better for the Liberal Party in Ontario, and never have we, in this part of the coun- try, had so much to look forward to in an upcoming election." The phrase, "upcoming election" was tossed around by both Mr. Riddell and Huron Riding President Joe Hogan, but neither claimed any knowledge as to when that election may be held. Highlighting some of the Liberal's achievements during their time in power, Mr. Riddell said, "We have tackled pro- blems head-on and made tough decisions. "It took courage and determination for the Liberal government to put an end to ex- tra billing by Ontario doctors and to imple- ment full funding for Rornan Catholic Schools. "We also stood up for the rights of seniors and others to ensure they weren't overcharged for prescriptions. "And we are taking strong stands to help end wage discrimination against women and to give the public better access`s to government through freedom of informa- tion legislation." The unique accord with the New Democrate Party ( NDP i was also men- tioned by Mr. Riddell. He said that after negotiating, both parties found they had common ground and that convinced them to sign the accord. "But the accord was only a starting point. It helped to get the government out of the starting gate... "About 95 per cent of all the legislation and changes that we've introduced are not part of the accord...We left the NDP behind long ago." Mr. Riddell believes his party has had a great impact on the Ontario government. As examples, he used social services, education, the economic front, job creation and the health field. In the social services area, Mr. Riddell said the Liberal government implemented almost $180 -million in improvements to areas such as community and home ser - Jack Riddell, MPP and Minister of Agriculture and Food, was re-elected to represent the Huron riding in the upcoming election_ Mr. Riddell did not know when upcoming election will be held, but he said the Liberals must be ready when it is called. IAnne Narejko photo) vice for seniors and accessible daycare. On the topic of education he gave credit to colleagues Greg Sorbara and Sean Con- way for "top-notch jobs." Through their efforts, adequate funding for colleges and universities has been restored and an in- crease in spending on new schools and renovations to older schools has been look- ed after, he said. For the economic side, Mr. Riddell used the latest budget as an example. -Our last provincial budget responds to the individuals, regions and industries that need immediate help and provides for the long-term needs in Ontario's social programs." , In the employment area, 153,000 jobs were created in 1986 with 139,000 of that figure falling into the full time category. As well, "Ontario has the lowest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of all provinces in January at 6.6 per cent. By comparison, the rate for the rest of Canada, excluding Ontario, was 11.6 per cent," said Mr. Riddell. Citing examples of improvements the Liberals will be making in the health care Turn to page 2 ur future is eroding," says senator By David Emslie CLINTON - Soil degradation is a serious national problem, it needs national atten- tion," said Senator Herbert Sparrow in opening his speech at the Bank of Mon- treal's First Bank Agricultural Outlook. The senator. and three bank represen- tatives, were speakers at this agricultural meeting that was held at the Clinton Town Hall on March 5. While he noted that most farmers would feel that the economy is the most serious problem facing the agricultural industry, he said this problem would hopefully last only two or three years. "Beyond that. the most serious crisis is soil degradation, our soils are at risk, our future is eroding," he said. The senator could be termed an expert in this field as he was on the senate committee that put together the soil degradation and conservation study which was published in the book Soil At Risk. He explained that when this sub commit- tee sits, they meet with anywhere from 30 to 50 farming groups. When the committee raised the question of whether there was a problem with soil degradation with the farm groups, Senator Sparrow said it was evident there was a problem. In February of 1984 the sub committee got permission from the Senate to do the study. and they released it in July of that year. "What we found was the problem was much more serious than we realized. We found it was so serious we couldn't take two or three years to do the study. We decided to work seven days a week to do it, it was that serious," he said. While carrying out the study, the commit- tee found there was a great deal of conser- vation knowledge within the farming com- munities, but at the same time there was a great deal of frustration because nothing was being done to save the land. The senator stated, "We found the cost of production is sb high, and the returns so low, that if a farmer wanted to be a conserva- tionist he couldn't afford to." Different forms of degradation were SENATOR SPARROW found to take place across Canada. These in- clude erosion by water and wind, soil com- paction, salinization of soil and soil being ruined or tised up through man's expansion into farmlands. "These forms (of erosion 1 are taking place in every community in our nation. 1 could talk about one form, but here are so many forms, we're talking millions of acres," said Senator Sparrow. "We owe the future generations a right to a livelihood in this nation. In all of Canada only nine per cent of land is suitable for growth. Half of that is suitable for agricultural growth," he explained. The first specific area he touched on was Atlantic Canada, an area he described as a very crucial part of Canada's agricultural industry. "They started with 18 inches of top soil, they are down to six inches," he said, adding that it took less than 100 years for this soil to vanish. "Very little is being done about it. The way they're losing topsoil, they will lose agriculture in 30 years. All they're going to have left are rocks." Farmers in Quebec are losing a large amount of their soil due to runoff. Because the soil has been well worked, it has become very powdery, and when the rains come it is being carried off into the low lying areas such as lakes and streams. "A study was done by the federal govern- ment, on these soils, and if they continue los- ing them at the rate they are today, they will be gone in 20 years," said Senator Sparrow. Another large problem in Quebec is urban expansion. On this subject the senator ques- tioned why Mirabel Airport needed 75,000 acres of land. He answered his own question when he said they took the Land because they thought it was useless. "We can't afford to lease those farms, we need those voices, that production," he pointed out. Ontario suffers from many of the erosion problems, and the province's problems are exaggerated when it comes to degradation through urban expansion. -if you look from the CN Tower on a clear day you can see 50 per cent of the number one and number two topsoils," said Senator Sparrow. "Urban expansion is eating it up at 26 acres an hour. In less than 10 years we lose over three -million acres to urban expansion. i believe Ontario has only 40 to 50 years of viable agriculture left if they don't care for the land." He pointed out that just looking at one's own community will not help the problem as the nation's agricultural industry is at stake. Turn to page 3 Some county councillors laughed � others frowned By Alan Rivett The fallout came as expected from the highly controversial London Free Press article of February 16 which criticized both council and the county administration at the March meeting of Huron County. The article drew mixed reactions from council members, some reacting with anger while others displayed a sense of humor to the accusations in the article. But, most of all, council expressed a will- ingness to put the incident behind them. Huron County Warden Brian McBurney, in opening remarks at the meeting, said he hoped the article in the London daily won't result in strained relations between coun- cil and the local press who have been "more than fair" in their reporting of county affairs. "I hope you'll remain open with them and honest with them," said Warden McBurney. As for the unnamed county department head who went on record in the article as stating the administration was "anachronistic" and belonged in the "'40s and '50s", Warden McBurney said he has talked to all the department heads who have assured him that the statements "were not attributed to them and not made by them" and the Free Press reporter must have "partook a person to be a department head". Some council members took a humorous view of the article, especially a comment by Goderich Reeve Harry Worsell who said only -approximately eight councillors participated in meeting debates while the rest "might as well take a cushion and have a sleep." Several councillors brought cushions to the meeting and one councillor, Hullett Reeve Tom Cunningham, brought a bag of yarn and proceeded to knit for a few minutes during the meeting. Retorted Councillor Worsell to the barbs: "I see by some of the cushions that some of you read the article. All I can say is, if the hat fits, then they should wear it." Exeter Deputy Reeve Lossy Fuller said she has received numerous calls and let= ters about the article with local residents "deeply concerned about what's happen- ing in Huron County". She recommended the county should fully investigate all the "internal and external" problems in the county and find a solution. "Maybe we have been lax in our respon- sibilities. We must represent the Huron County taxpayers as best we can and also be a team working together in the towns, villages and townships. The past cannot be changed, but we can't move into the future with someone asleep at the switch," she said. Warden McBurney said there are no plans for an official response from the county regarding the article. "I didn't feel the story was factual enough to warrant a response," he said. Colborne Reeve Russell Kernighan, who had been on a vacation to southwest Asia, said he was immediately confronted with the article when he returned. He claims he is happy with the county situation as it cur- rently exists. "I wouldn't change a thing, not even the press," said Mr. Kernighan. He said his travels in Asia gave him a perspective on the situation happening in 'the county, with the troubles in Huron County paling in comparison to the daily news which comes out of Asia. "Every day in the newspapers you read about someone shot or assassinated by a group," he said. Bayfield Reeve Dave Johnston said the nature of being in public office leaves politicians open to public scrutiny and criticism, but he took exception to the ac- cusations aimed at the Bounty administra- tion in the Free Press article. "I'm quite sure we've made mistakes in the past and I'm sure we'll make some in the future. But, in the 4'2 years I've been on council I've never seen an employee vote nor tell me how to vote. We ask for ad- vice, but that's only natural. If there is criticism, it should be directed at the politicians and shouldn't be levelled at the staff and employees. That's totally out of line. It's a personal vendetta against the county," said Mr. Johnston. Goderich Township Reeve Grant Stirling said the press have an important role to play as long as they display fairness when dealing with county matters. He also said he has worked for a number of years with the county administration and found them to be of "good calibre" with "nothing to my knowledge done under the table". Hensall Reeve Jim Robinson said his local council has been covered well by the two local newspapers in the area and "should not be judged by the antics of the Free Press." Referring to the Free Press article as "garbage", he agreed that the county should not respond to the accusations in- cluded in the article. Former Warden Leona Armstrong, reeve of Grey Township, concurred with Mr. Robinson that no action should be taken towards the article. She also took of- fence to the criticism of the administration in the article, saying she was "shocked at how it was degraded in the paper." Hullett Reeve Tom Cunningham said, because of a changing society, councillors today must be more willing to accept criticism. He also expressed high regard for both the county administration and, with the exception "of one newspaper which I never read" meaning the Focus newsmagazine which features a column by Huron County opponent Elsa Haydon, he commended the local press for their coverage of the council. "It seems society is in a mode today of being more conscious of what's going on and are more liable to criticize. We have to accept that even though it's hard to take. I've never once had any problem with the press, with the exception of one newspaper which I never read, and I hope that it will continue that way," he said. Aitken named to liquor board Thirty years after leading a campaign against Huron County's temperance laws, a Goderich resident has been appointed to the Liquor License Board of Ontario. Premier David Peterson's office an- nounced recently that J. Howard Aitken, 56, former associate publisher of the Clin- ton News Record and Mitchell Advoate, has been appointed for a two-year term. Aitken has been actively involved in many community activities. including in- dustrial and tourist promotion. He recent- ly retired as vice-president of Signal -Star Publishing Ltd. He was co-chairman of a group in 1959 that successfully campaigned for repeal of the Canada Temperance Act. This paved the way for subsequent plebiscites which approved introduction of beer and liquor outlets in Goderich. Douglas Drinkwalter of Sirncoe was reappointed chairmand of the Li,BO for two years. Survey shows strengths and needs in education system By Shelley McPhee Hoist HURON COUNTY - Communication strengths and needs in the public education system in the County have been identified in a survey. Parents, taxpayers and staff of the Huron County Board of Education took part in the survey questionnaire that was conducted this fall. Presented by the Board of Education's communications committee. the survey was conducted to assist the committee in its mandate to improve communication within the school system. The survey results represented a cross section of views from throughout the county. including the 24 elementary and six secon- dary schools in the system. Some 186 parents took part in the survey. along with 63 staff members and a small number of non -parent taxpayers. More than 60 per cent of the parents and 69 per cent of the staff saw school newsletters as the best communication tool available within the system. Parents who answered the survey also gave high ratings to staff availability, open house events, teacher -parent interviews and telephone contact, Among the other strengths that they identified were weekly classroom newsletters, the volunteers, the emergency telephone system, school hand- books, teacher reports. newspaper coverage, report cards. pre-school story hour and special events. The list of strengths identified by the parents indicated areas where parents are involved in the day-to-day activities in the school, either directly through their children or through the teacher. Weekly classroom newsletters, for instance, are us- ed in many schools to keep parents up-to- date on the events and curriculum that is be- ing studied on a regular bases. Another strength, the adult volunteer program, allows parents to be directly involved by working in the classroom. Telephone contact was also noted as an important aspect of good communiation bet- ween home and school. As well, the emer- gency telephone system has been de- veloped in many schools with a safe home program organized by local Block Parent groups. This emergency system has been set up to ensure that all children not in atten- dance at school may be accounted for. As well, many schools have a telephone pro- cedure to notify parents of early school clos- ings, late bus times or other changes to the regular schedule. Among the needs identified by the parents. one-quarter of those surveyed recognized the need for more regular mon- thly and bi-monthly reporting, as well, many saw the need to have curriculum con- tent available for parents. Other needs in- cluded immediate reporting of concerns to parents. bus discipline. more frequent newsletters, evening interviews, more newspaper coverage and more information from the school board. As well, some form of home and school association i PTA ) was identified as a major strength in the schools that have such an association and a main need in those that don't have such a group. Likewise. while emergency telephone systems and school handbooks were recognized as needs from some of the parents respondents. while others identified them as communication strengths in their schools. Board of education staff members noted that newsletters were a strength of the parent communication system. As well, the need for more newletters was identified. Staff identified other strengths as open- door policy, the volunteer program, year- books, telephone contact, and the emergen- cy telephone system. The staff survey results called for more media coverage, assurance that newsletters reach the home, more life skills and sex education courses, more parent -teacher contact, development of a home and school association, and workshops for parents on curriculum. Non -parent taxpayers saw newspaper articles as the best communication strength available to them. The major need identified by this group was a perception that too much money was being spent on education. The Huron County Board of Education communications committee is currently studying the survey results. The committe is also actively involved in organizing a Professional Development day on May 4 for all staff members ,:f the Huron County Board of Education. The ambitious event will highlight communications in the education system and the survey results will be incorporated into planning workshops for this.