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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-08-26, Page 1\/Y)R1ORATI\G-THE BI.1 TH AND -IRU -THF: R.'►1 FILM til (,I.F: NO. 39 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1987 50 CENTS Riddell, Klopp, Peters voice opinions on issues By Anne Narejko LONDESBORO - Foreign land ownership, economic development, upgrading of ' Highways 4 and 8 and the suitability of the existing Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food ( OMAF) office were a few of the topics debated by Huron riding candidates at the all -candidate meeting held here on August 24. MPP Jack Riddell, representing the Liberals, Nico Peters representing the Pro- gressive Conservative (PC) party and Paul Klopp, representing the New Democratic Party ( NDP ), were provided with the oppor- tunity of making an opening statement and then were faced with both verbal and writ- ten questions from the audience which con- sisted of approximately 200,people. The majority of questions centered around Huron County's largest form of employment - agriculture. "Farming is an honorable profession and we don't need to apologize to anyone for the assistance which we need," said Mr. Peters. He went on to tell the audience about the damage which the farming community has suffered, using Bruce County as an exam- ple. Mr. Peters said a person could drive down a concession and not pass a house or barn on that road. "The roads that do have farms on them, would have no one to see the smoke if it burned down, and that's sad," he said. "And what's to prevent that from happening in Huron County? Nothing. "The fun has gone out of farming," con- tinued the man who got into the agriculture business in 1980. Mr. Peters said the budget played an im- portant role in the reasons people moved to town. -Why pay tax on a building when you wouldn't have to pay any if the building wasn't there? Why should your children have to bike for miles with other children their age?" Before ending his comments, Mr. Peters told the attentive crowd what he hoped to do about the situation he had described, stating, "I'd like to change this scenario to give Huron a future." Next up was Mr. Riddell who used the Liberal party's track record as an example of what has been done, and could be done, for the people of Huron County and Ontario. "Ontario has achieved progress. We liberals) have set an agenda of reform and backed it with action," he said. In the education area, Mr. Riddell said a new program has been instated which will call for smaller classes in Grades 1 and 2 and more computer training will be offered as we are in the "age of technology." He also touched on the environmental clean-up policy, assistance for senior citizens and said the Liberals were not "puppets of any particular interest group." We have brought openness, honesty and integrity to government," said Mr. Riddell. Time allocated for Mr. Riddell's speech ran out when he reached assistance which the Liberals have given the province in agriculture over the last few years, but he did have time to say they have increased spending by 72 per cent in two years and have introduced more than 80 new pro- grams and initiatives. Public questions politicans during two hour meeting Mr. Klopp's main focus was on assisting the working people. He said the NDP have fought for the ordinary working people before the election and will continue to do so during and after the election. "I'm running for the farmers, the small business people and their families," said Mr. Klopp. Unlike the previous candidates, Mr. Klopp said he wasn't going to judge government by how much more one has done than the other, but he uses a marker of improvement. "Have we seen a marked improvement? I don't think so," he said. "Farmers need bet- ter income stability and a decent rate of return..." Foreign Land Ownership Paul Greb, of the Dashwood area, asked the first question of the night, directing it to Mr. Riddell. "Five farms that changed hands in Stephen Township in the last year were bought by foreigners," he said, before tell- ing Mr. Riddell that he took exception to a story which appeared in the London Free Press which quoted Mr. Riddell as saying foreign land ownership was no longer a problem. Mr. Riddell said this type of land owner- ship has dropped to less than one per cent. "The real flurry has dropped off because we closed the loop hole in the taxes which foreign owners would pay. "We're monitor- ing the situation and will stop it if it gets out of hand," said Mr. Riddell. However, he says those selling the land are receiving a good dollar for it. Mr. Klopps spoke to the question as well, stating, "It has improved but the bottom line is we have to set up a policy that says we want people to farm the land. He used policy which is implemented in Saskatchewan as an example. "In Saskatchewan, if you don't want to come here and farm it, you can't buy more than 10 acres and that goes for corporations as well." The next question asked each candidate if they would support greater industrialization of Huron County. Mr. Riddell was the first to speak to this saying we need something to keepthe young people here, but we should choose industries which are compatible with agriculture so we do not damage our present crops. Mr. Peters said 80 per cent of farmers hold off farm jobs and was also in favor of more economic development. But to achieve this, Mr. Peters believes the present Tier standing needs to be changed. The tier one standing does not provide grants for businesses wanting to locate in Huron County and is based on unemploy- ment figures. "A company was going to set up in Wingham and would have employed 100 peo- ple, but they were advised to move to the Toronto area because of the unemployment figures there," said Mr. Peters. "We need a loud voice at Queen's Park to say, don't look at my riding because of statistics, look at its people!" Mr. Klopp said he looked at economic development differently than Mr. Riddell and Mr. Peters. "If people have to work outside their farms, they are taking jobs away from so- meone else. That's why I said we must make agriculture healthy." He also said he felt it was inconsistent to have a rural area with industry. "It just doesn't work: It's time we treated agriculture as a business." OMAF Office The Clinton OMAF office was the focus of the next topic of conversation, with the asker wondering if the candidate's party would get the "ball rolling on a new and big- ger" office. Mr. Klopp said there was a 1.4 per cent in- crease for the new OMAF office about three years ago but the money never got through. "That doesn't sit well with me," he said. Mr. Peters said he can't see a need for a larger office. • I don't think the OMAF office is as small as we think it is. When there are meetings there, it is full, but that's because there's a good six size crowd... I can't see a need for it." Mr. Riddell told the crowd there is going to be a new OMAF office in Clinton, and believes tenders have gone out on property already. "There will be a new OMAF' office in Clin- ton -end it will be here in the near future," he said. Turn to page 3 CPH sod turning ceremony is set for Friday CLINTON - A sod turning ceremony for the new obstetrical wing at Clinton Public Hospital will be held on August 28 at 5 p.m. Among the dignitaries who plan to attend the event will be MP and Minister of '..,, as well as the Minister of Health, Murray Elston. The Board of Directors of the Clinton Public Hospital will also be present. All those wishing to attend are welcome to do so. CPHfund raising committee reaches original 11 400,000 goal CLINTON - The fund raising committee for the obstetrical wing at Clinton Public Hospital ( CPH) has reached their original goal of $400,000 almost two months ahead of schedule. However, they have been asked to stay on to raise an additional $I50,000 to off- set unexpected costs. In order to raise these additional funds, tickets for the CPH Second Annual Car Draw have been printed with the draw date set for Casino Night, October 3, at the ('lin- ton Legion Hall.. Instead of winning a car this year, the grand prize will be an 1988 Ford Aerostar Van donated by Hart Motors, Seaforth. In total, there will be 16 prizes which combine for a value of $22,765. Only 350 tickets valued at $100 a piece will be sold. The first ticket drawn will be for a trip to the Wheels Inn, donated by Robert Q Travel. Ten tickets, (or every 25th ticket drawn 1, will be worth $150. Exceptions to this are the 100th ticket which will provide the holder with a trip to Wheels Inn, donated by Robert Q Travel; the 200th ticket which is a trip to Montreal, donated by CAA 'Travel Agency: the 300th ticket which will be a Vegas trip, donated by Robert Q - 'Thomson Vacation: the 349th ticket which will be a cruise, donated by Ellison Tavel - Wardair; and the 350th ticket which will provide the owner with a new Aerostar van. The fund raising committee appreciates the warm reception they have received from the public, helping them obtain the $400,000 and thank everyone for their generosity. For those who have not donated. they can contact .the fund raising office at 482-5528 or drop by at the 69 Victoria Street location. Family and Chi1dros Services well BY YVETTE ZANDBERGEN A meeting of the Child Welfare Review Committee took place Monday at the re- quest of Huron County Council to review the proposed budget for the Family and Children's Services of Huron County. The meeting opened with a prepared brief from members of Huron County Council. Brian McBurney, warden of Huron County, stated the proposed budget appears to provide for an expansion of ser- vices even though the statistics for 1986 in the annual report would indicate other- wise. The reported totals for 1986 in each case were less than they were in either of the last two years. Salaries in administration positions have increased in excess of the provincial guidelines of approximately four per cent and disproportionately with similar posi- tions in other departments in the county. Because Huron County is so farm dominated, there is a great detrimental ef- fect on the incomes of other businesses when the farm economy is down, said McBurney in the brief. "Although the economy of the province of Ontario may be bright at this time, and the province has surplus money to in- crease programs at an increased rate, the same conditions do not exist with the other participants in the program," he said. "The Children's Aid Society appears to have developed the attitude that their costs can increase regardless of guidelines or local economic conditions." Family and Children's Services of Huron County' presented their Child Welfare Review, 1987 with emphasis on overview of current positions, relationship between Huron County and Family and Children's Services of Huron County, budget requests including the 1986 deficit and the 1987 re- quest. The review concerns the level of funding to be provided by this municipality for services to families and children in Huron County. run agency After discussions with program super- visor Marc Roberts from the Ministry of Community and Social Services, the 1987 allocation of $1,259,971 was recommended for the agency. In May, 1987, a further $5,658 was allocated to the base to assist in the implementation of the Adoption Disclosure Legislation enacted July 1, 1987. This results in the Ministry's recom- mendation of the 1987 allocation at $1,265,629. Their year end 1986 expenditures went as follows: salaries $523,337; benefits $83,299; staff travel $99,164; staff training $13,844; building occupancy $30,305; pur- chase of services $40,069; boarding rate payments $288,780; professional services $3,768; clients personal fees $77,734; medical $3,949; financial assistance $8,535; promotion $4,981; office $52,696; capital $1,238 and miscellaneous had a surplus of $2,184. Total expenditures were $1,276,929 with a net deficit of $20,370. Roberts, program supervisor, attributed the deficit to actual spending over budget in the areas of staff travel and boarding rates. According to Roberts, in 1987 the Agency had proposed an increase of $30,253 in base funding to support a Parent Aide program, a preventative program in which a worker goes into the home of "high-risk" families to teach better methods of child manage- ment and family functioning. The goal is to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect and thereby, reduce the potential number of children needing to be placed in care. He said the Ministry is supportive of the project and, for 1987, has agreed to one- time funding of $30,000 as a demonstration project. "We feel that more experience in delivering this service is needed before its impact can truly be ascertained," he said "We are willing to review the program at a Turn to page 3 BAYFIELD FAIR ATTRACTS PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE The streets were Tined with interested local people and visitors participants also took to the road by foot or by man -powered vchi- when the second day of the Hayfield Fall Fair was officially kicked cle to show off their fancy costumes. ( David Fmslie photo p off on August 22 with the parade. Aside tram the many floats, some The annual Rayfield Fall Fair got underway nn August 21, and the first participation event was the chain saw log cutting competition. Although there weren't as many com- petitors as last year, this year's competition was a good one. In this photo John Merrill was bus buzzin„ throu h the re ' uircd David Emslie : hoto)