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Clinton News-Record, 1987-08-12, Page 1n o ews-R eco [NIA RPi)RATI"G-THE I3L1 TH STANDARD -THF: I3A1 HELD BE 61.E NO, 32 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1987 50 CENTS There was a liberal dosage of cabinet ministers at Agriculture Minister and Huron -Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell's annual barbecue, held on Riddell's. Exeter area farm, Aug. 5. From left: Health Minister and Huron -Bruce MPP Murray Elston, Riddell, Shelley Peterson and Premier David Peterson. Other Liberal cabinet ministers in attendance were Minister of Transportaton and Communicators Ed Fulton and Senior Citizens' Affairs Minister Ron Van Horne. (photo by Patrick Raftis) Dignitaries galore at barbecue By Patrick Raftis Plenty of high-profile Liberals, including Ontario Premier David Peterson, were on hand to help incumbent MPP Jack Riddell, minister of agriculture, kick off his cam- paign for the September 10 provincial elec- tion, last Wednesday. Also attending the annual barbecue at Riddell's Exeter area farm on Aug. 5 were Huron -Bruce MPP and Provincial Health Minister Murray Elston, Senior Citizens Affairs Minister Ron Van Horne, Minister of Transportation and Communications Ed Fulton and Gordon Miller, Riddell's parliamentary assistant. About 1,200 people attended the party fund-raising barbecue, the fourth annual such event Riddell has hosted. Peterson, who arrived with his wife Shelley and their two children in two buses carrying a large campaign entourage, em- phasized Riddell's effectiveness as a cabinet minister in the present Liberal minority government and his committ- ment to his own riding. "In addition to agriculture, Jack is very, very concerned about Huron County," Peterson said, noting that the provincial agriculture -budget has gone up 72 per cent in the past two years. "That's a very significant increase and it demonstrates our committment to the family farm, to the continued viablity of farming in Ontario," he added, giving Rid- dell much of the credit for the increased agriculture spending. "Jack shouts so loud in cabinet meetings, it's just easier to write him a cheque than to listen to him," the premier quipped. Peterson also said the Liberals "want to build an educaton system second to none," in Ontario and stated that environmental concerns are also high on the party's priority list. "We want to create an environment with clean water and clean air in the future and not pass on our problems to our children." Riddell pointed to the increased alloca- tions to agriculture in recent budgets and said his aim is to "help Ontario farmers compete with farmers in other countries". Klopp takes Paul Klopp, NDP candidate for Huron county, shows concern about many issues with agriculture finance being one he plans to discuss. Klopp, 30, was born in Clinton and gain- ed his education at Zurich Public School, South Huron District Secondary School and Centralia College, Agricultural Business Management, 1977. He is a farmer with a fifth generation family farm in Hay Township. Klopp is also with the Huron County Federation of Agriculture, Zurich Fair Board and Regional Director of Ontario Federation of Agriculture. He has a wife, Heather and a 20 month old son, Timothy. Currently, Klopp is President of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture but is on leave of absence for his cam- paign. He was also the 1985 NDP candidate in Huron -Middlesex. Klopp is going to be discussing the area of agricultural finance, stressing the revival of the Province of Ontario Savings Bank, first created when the General Farmers Organization held power. Klopp believes the Savings Bank would serve farmers better than the existing Farm Credit Corporation (FCC). The FCC, he says, was set up to assist farmers financially but in the long term, "became a joke". The Savings Bank would act as a credit union but would not charge for additional services or penalize customers with fines when credit is overdrawn. He gave the example of a man who was overdrawn $250 on his line of credit at the bank and because he didn't have the money in the bank the next day, he was charged $100. "This is ridiculous," he said. "The farmers in 1919 had the same problem, in- ' terest rates were out of line." "The farmers were getting a raw deal and someone put it into legislature, but over the years, the program was put on the back shelf." Klopp said the vehicle is there for agricultural finance and there is expertise 4 "I could go on and on and.tell you all the good things this government has done for seniors, for the disabled,- said Riddell, pointing out the minority government has made important initiatives in many areas. Peterson also praised Elston for his health care initiatives since becoming health minister, including the anti -extra - billing legislation which sparked protest from Ontario medical professionals last year, and promised continued attention to health care and the disabled in the future. "Independent living is the goal for all our people," he said. Present member for Huron -Middlesex Riddell is contesting his sixth election. He was first elected in a by-electon in March, 1973. He predicts that leadership and free trade will be major issues in the upcoming election. Locally, Riddell feels that improving im- proving the industrial economy, outside the already strong agriculture sector, is among the most important concerns in this riding, stand on issues 4111111111111111111111111111111101 PA1?I. KLOPP in credit unions to enable a program giving farmers financial assistance to be organized. According to Klopp the Savings Bank would be ideal because the farmers could have a stable interest rate on a long-term basis and receive more long-term committments. "We don't need any more games, enough games have beer' played." Another issue Klopp plans to raise is the environment in Huron County, emphasiz- ing the number of landfill sights that are full. "The Liberals gave money to a lot of townships for landfill sights," he said. "In Tuckersmith, they are looking for a dump for Seaforth and I understand they poured $300,000 into it and they are no closer to fin- ding a dump sight. No one is winning." A current program that some farmers are involved with is the Beef Tripartite program, which also encompasses white beans and pigs. Klopp said with this pro- gram, no equipment depreciation is given and he called this '`the biggest game in town." "The farmers can't get their money out if they decide to quit," he said. Klopp said this is the best time for an election and is grateful that David Peter- son did not call the election in June. He said the NDP party, on the provincial level, talks about average people with everyday problems and added that Peter- son is "riding high." The federal popularity of the NDP's definitely helps on a local level, said Klapp. Because the party is gaining popularity province wide, Klopp said the local party can draw strength from this. He added that governing with the Liberals has also been good for the party. "Anytime you work with another group you find out what they are like," he said. "Bob Rae and his people must have gotten wiser because they are writing things down." According to Rae, things have to be done. Klopp said the cabinet minister of the riding hasn't even looked at the farm finance problem because he sees it as a federal problem. "He does not want to rattle the chains of the banks," he said. Klopp said after 14 years, a change is needed. I want to( keep farmers farming," he said. "And change things for the better- ment of the people." Jane Galbraith was certainly in the spirit of the Bayfield Antiques Fair and Sale held August 7-9. The event, sponsored by Trinity Anglican Church, brought 34 exhibitors from near and far. Jane, who was there on behalf of her mother's shop called Art Vee in Lon- don, had many collectables with her. For more details on the second annual antique fair, please see the Bayfield pages. (Anne Narejko photo) CPH parking to be expanded 26 spots By David Emslie CLINTON - With some tightening up of old spots, and some new additions Clinton Public Hospital, along with town council has managed to add 26 new parking places at the hospital. Council studied a parking proposal from the hospital during their August 4 meeting, and after some discussion agreed to accept the proposal. Along Shipley Street there will now be a total of seven spots, with four new parking spaces being added. A total of 16 new spaces will be added along John Street. The existing parking spots on John will be tightened up to allow for three new spaces, and a whole new park- ing area will provide room for 13 more cars. Some internal parking areas will also be tightened up to provide six extra spaces, br- inging the total to 26. While the hospital will be covering 50 per cent of the paving costs, the town will foot the bill for the excavation work, along with the other 50 per cent of the paving. "For the sake of getting along with the residents, I think it is worth it to go half way. We have to solve this problem," Mayor John Balfour stated. He added that the town will still require a letter of intent from the hospital stating they will provide all of the future parking, at their expense. Building support gradually "it is a chicken or the egg questiorl, said Progressive Conservative candidate for Huron, Nico Peters. He explains the pro- vincial government won't repair area roads because there is no industry and yet to attract new industry there must be ade- quate tranportation facilities. Peters, a Tuckersmith Township farmer, calls the government's five-year plan to patch Highway 4 north of Blyth "a slap in the face" and said it treats residents of those areas like second-class citizens. According to Peters, grant money is available for municipal roads if they meet certain building specifications. "If Highway 4 was a municipal road it would be repaired tomorrow," he said. Highway planners are aware of the pro- blem, but somewhere along the line the provincial government must step in, because two big trucks cannot pass safely on the highway. "What are the issues in this election and why is the government spending $50 millon on an election?" asks Peters. He feels the Liberals are insulting the people by calling a summer election. For four years the government makes the decision but when people vote it is their decision and it should be at their convenience and their timing, he said. Peters said he does not want to peak too soon in the campaign. He wants to build support gradually and push hard in a door- to-door campaign in the last ten days. "If you peak to soon you cannot carry it through the campaign," said Peters con- cerning the lack of Vote Nico Peters signs in the area. He said he was suprised when the election was called but he was not unprepared. He said fie is not afraid to take a stand on issues— he is not a fence sitter. Peters is against abortion. He said legal precedents have been set that make unborn children heirs and make pregnant women wards of the court to protect the unborn. "There is an agenda in place that would see more abortion clinics. Give children a future; give all people a future," said Peters. While he does not beleive in discrimina- tion, Peters is oppo§ed to Bill 7 which gives full rights to homosexuals. "They should not be allowed to preach their perversion," he said. He pointed out that a Montreal young homosexual and lesbian group was " given government money to distribute a pamplet that said if you have not tried it our way you may be missing something. Peters takes the same kind of stand on NICO PETERS bilingualism in Ontario. "I would like to see my children take french immersion, but not if they are forced. Ontario is not bilingual area," said Peters. He said Chinese should be available in Toronto and Italian in Hamilton but should not be legislated on anyone. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture is planning an all -candidates meeting on Aug. 24 and Peters is looking forward to allowing the people of Huron to compare candidates and to addressing their concerns. Peters said land values have deteriorated in Huron and he said the government points to a decrease in absentee land ownership He said the government lacks common sense when when they have an attitude that says " kill the dog and they won't steal it. I would like to see a common sense approach in Queen's Park." Peters wants Huron to be a place where people can feel secure in starting a business or raising their children. He wants Huron to have future. "They need a leader who has his roots in the 60's and 70s, who speaks in the 80s and will be rele- vant in the 90s."