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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-04-22, Page 1NO. 16 121 YEARS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1987 50 CENTS As Ontario Premier David Peterson entered and left the Clinton Town Hall, he was sur- rounded by reporters and Pro -Life protesters. The protesters remained orderly during the time the premier was in sight. Accompanying Premier Peterson on his trip through Huron County was Huron MPP Jack Riddell (right). After his meeting with the Huron County municipal officials on April 16, the premier went on to Seaforth. I Anne Narejko photo) Peterson addresses Huron concerns BY ANNE NAREJKO CLINTON - After touring Champion Road Machinery in Goderich, Ontario Premier David Peterson was greeted by handshakes and hecklers when he arrived in Clinton to meet with county municipal heads and discuss their concerns. The Premier's visit started off rather shaky as a crowd of Pro -Life protesters gathered, raised their signs and told Premier Peterson to "remember his pro- mise" when he stepped out of his car. The Premier did not acknowledge the protesters with an answer, but turned to spot "his favorite bakery," which is Bartliffs. Inside, the decision was made to open the proposed closed meeting to the public as the Premier's office thought the Huron County officials wanted it closed and vice versa. The meeting brought out the major con- cerns of the county, which included economic development, the widening of Highway 8 and the present landfill situation. "I want this to be an open, frank discus- sion," said Premier Peterson. "I want to hear your concerns." Goderich's Mayor, Eileen Palmer, opened the discussion by telling the Premier, and MPP Jack Riddell, that the five mayors of the county get together to discuss their con- cerns. One of their more prominent con- cerns is that of economic development. Exeter Mayor Bruce Shaw said he saw part of the the economic problem stemming PETERS TELLS (:ROWI) from government grants. "Some municipalities get grants, while those who hold their own, don't," said Mayor Shaw. As an example, he used the Protective Plastics company which had moved from Huron Park to Brantford. By doing so, they received a grant. Mr. Riddell further enlightened the Premier by explaining the company was either to consolidate or move from their location in Huron Park. "They decided to consolidate when they knew full well money was available (if they went to Brantford)," he said. However, Mr. Riddell said he had been talking to a representative of the Huron Park industrial area and he said they did not have any problems bringing industry to that area. Mayor Shaw said he felt a policy should be devised to distribute the grant money so that the communities don't have to compete to the extent they are now. To that Premier Peterson said, "1 can't fight you on that. "We don't stick our nose in economic development," he continued. "We don't say 'You must go here or there.' We try to keep a neutral hand." Mayor Palmer then switched the topic to improving access to Huron County, which she believes will help attract industry. On this subject, the five mayors presented Tories are alive and well BY TED SPOONER Over 400 Huron County Progressive Con- servatives turned out on a rainy night last week to select Nico Peters as their can- didate for the unannounced but expected Provincial election. "There are still a lot of Tories in Huron County," Peters told delegates who packed the gymnasium of Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton last Tuesday. Peters, who was the only nominee and won by acclimation, attacked the Ontario Government under David Peterson for in- creasing taxes when the booming Ontario economy is generating more government revenue while allowing the deficit to increase. "Its not right for this government to take credit for something they didn't do. More importantly, it is wrong for this government to dig deeper into our back pockets for no other reason than to spend their way into the hearts of the voters later on," said Peters in his acceptance speech. According to Peters, the Ontario Govern- ment has $1 billion in tax revenue sitting around for no other reason than to buy the love of the public. It is the people of this pro- vince who are responsible for the present booming economy, he said. Entrepreneurial spirit is shown when peo- ple build a strong economy after a major recession, and this kind of individual con- fidence and vigor did not magically appear in just the last two years, he said, but after many years of steady good government. It is apparent, said Peters, that the 6 Liberal approach is to look at private in- itiative and tax it and distribute the bounty. The Huron County farming community is still being hit hard. Peters said the world- wide subsidy wars and over production are not going to pass quickly. Long-term, sensi- ble programs aimed at those most in need are necessary. "1t is all too simplistic to ignore the pro- blems of agriculture by turning one segment of the industry against the other as was done not long ago to the beef producers. That suc- ceeds in pitting farmer against farmer. That is not providing direction or leader- ship," he told the gathering. Peters said his campaign will show that the Tories share the principals of the people of Huron, by stessing the importance of family. He feels the issue of heel and wine in cor- ner stores is a family issue because drunks behind steering wheels kill fathers, mothers, teenagers and children. The PC party understands the need for care and dignity on behalf of the elderly in Huron; the need for jobs and a sense of pur- pose for youth; and, they recognize and speak out for the rights of the unborn in On- tario, he said. According tb Peters, he has been told it may take two elections to return Huron to the PCs. Peters feels if it -is done right the first time it will only take one. "Remember, there are still a lot of Tories in Huron County. Do you know who said that? It was the Liberal member for Huron, Jack Riddell," said Peters. a brief to the minister of transportation and communications who, in turn, suggested an economic development plan be prepared for the county, which has been started. Clinton Mayor John Balfour voiced his opinion on access to Huron County, saying, "The single most importatnt access is Highway 8. There needs to be four lanes from Kitchener to Stratford and a passing lane, where needed, from Stratford to Goderich. As it is now, there is a bad bottle neck." Mayor Balfour told the Premier that bet- ter access to the county would benefit the towns in two ways. "We all talk about industry...but there is tourism in this area. Good access to us by Highway 8 would help." Premier Peterson asked Mayor Balfour if he was talking about cottage development. "You can only support so many cottages in the area. There are other attractions. "We shouldn't just look at one type of development, we'd be narrow minded," said Mayor Balfour. He then pointed out the difficulties the far- ming community is having saying they have supported Huron County for a long time and are now looking to the county for help. Mr. Peterson agreed, saying, "To farm to- day you need an off farm income." Landfill Assistance One of the most timely discussions cen- tred around the landfill site issue. Mayor Palmer told the Premier that "you no sooner meet the requirements (of the Ministry of Environment) then you're thrown back to square one i because of policy changes 1." Alf Ross, Mayor of Seaforth, used his ex- perience as an example for the Premier. He said Seaforth and Tuckersmith Township had been trying to find a solution to their landfill site problem for 60 months, and "once we found it, we couldn't afford it." He said Mr. Riddell's office worked close- ly with the two municipalities and are now becoming part of the Holmesville site. "I'm concerned with the funding (of land- fill site operations ). It's very, very expen- sive. The government needs to sit down with the municipalities and discuss funding - It's quite a challenge for your government." said Mayor Ross. The Goderich Mayor agreed, stating, "This issue has to be addressed immediate- ly. There are 26 municipalities in Huron County and about half of those are in distress now or will be in distress." The Premier answered by saying, "1 hear you but 1 don't know what to do with_it...You don't want to pay more taxes but we can't treat it as irresponsibly as we have in the past." Another problem the Premier admitted to Turn to page 3 Tuckersmith may join Landfill Site By Wilma Oke VANASTRA - Tuckersmith Township Council at a session on April 14, agreed it will ask the Holmesville Landfill Committee to consider including 'fuckersmith in its landfill site at Holmesville, secondly that Tuckersmith will be willing to share in the cost of being included. For several years Tuckersmith has been sharing the use of the Seaforth Landfill Site, located in Tuckersmith Township on the southeast outskirts of the town. That site is full but has been given several extensions of its use because the two municipalities have been unable to get a new suitable location that will pass the Ministry of the Environ- ment requirements. About $300,000, mostly engineering costs, has been spent by Tuckersmith and Seaforth to obtain a site suitable to both of them, the ministry, neighbors of the proposed site, who say "not in my backyard", and at a reasonable price tag. The latest prospective site to be involved is a farm owned by the Kootstra family located in Tuckersmith Township . off Highway 8 and the Vanastra Road by the CN railway track. This site, subject of engineer- ing tests, has not yet been given final ministry approval. A ministry official said there was no provincial funding of this site at this time. Seaforth Mayor Alf Ross in a recent newspaper story, said, "We've stopped testing. We're not going to spend anymore money until we get some different guidance. The landfill committee will continue to -in- vestigate and work with the Ministry of the Environment and other landfill owners in the area to find a solution." The committee hopes to receive a tem- porary solution to its landfill problem, at least until the County of Huron finishes a feasibility study it is conducting on the crea- tion of a county -wide landfill. At its session on April 14, Tuckersmith Council voted as well to actively support and participate in the development and im- plementation of a Solid Waste Management Master Plan that is to be conducted for the County of Huron. Robert Cowan of Frank Cowan Insurance Company Limited and Don Eaton of Seaforth attended the council session to review the township's insurance for 1987. The recommendations of the company for council consideration were doubling coun- cillors accident from $25,000 to $50,000 at an additional premium of $416; increasing the commercial blanket bond package from $100,000 to $150,000 at an additional annual cost of $274; and consideration to increasing the limit of liability with respect to municipal liability, errors and omission; Turn to page 2 CLINTON PUBLIC HOSPITAL BUILDING FUND 400. 000 375, 000 350, 000 325, 000 300, 000 273, 000 250. 000 225. 000 200, 000 175, 000 150, 000 100, 000 Progressive Conservative candidate fbr Huron, Nico Peters delivers his acceptance at Cen- tral Huron Secondary School In Clinton fast Tues. More than 4110 PCs filled the school's gyri. Peters was th6 only candidate nominated and won by acclamation.(photo by Ted Spooner) ee 4