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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1989-05-02, Page 5a_`•�e•S .1`:��.�\5. �tiamast' �•+-'a♦\•, �,..'r, r.. y�,.hn�e.a\.♦ `. s♦'��:�a`�.�, a�4�'•��.•'t♦'���,�ama ^�� • JACK'S JOTTINGS by Huron MPP Jack Riddell, Agriculture and Food Minister .. s. .. '.'. ... `_ , aassa a w ath` ` 4 S� w ' ` }, The second session of the 34th Kindergarten programs. Provincial Parliament opened with Streaming in Grade 9 will be the speech from the throne empha- eliminated to allow students more sizing the Ontario government's time to discover their full academic commitment to the social reform potential. Grades 11 and 12 will be agenda first charted in 1985. designated as years of specializa- Read by Lieutenant Governor tion. Core curriculums and assess - Lincoln Alexander, the 11 -page text ments at all stages of the education — the most concise throne speech process will ensure that students in recent memory — set the pace are provided with an effective for the active legislative session springboard to career opportuni- ahead by focusing on six key priori- ties. ties: the economy, education, social The opportunities Ontario's assistance reform, safe and secure future can provide must be accessi- communities, health and environ- ble to all its people. Yet, in the mental protection, midst of great wealth, the number Ontario continues to enjoy a of Ontarians requiring social sssi - dynamic and flourishing economy tance continues to grow despite a that has outpaced the industrial- 60 per cent increase in benefits ized world by adding 800,000 jobs since 1984-85. Poverty continues to and growing by over 40 per cent sap the initiative of one of our since 1982. greatest resources, children. In order to sustain this dynamic To counter this tremendous loss momentum, the Ontario govern- of individual potential, the Ontario ment will aggressively pursue new government is committed to assist - markets for our goods and services. ing individuals to bridge the gap By providing support to Ontario- between dependence and self-suffi- based companies as they compete ciency. Transforming welfare globally, this government will fos- cheques into pay cheques must be a ter an entrepreneurial culture shared responsibility between all which rewards businesses that levels of government. strengthen the competitive position The Ontario government will of our economy and labor force. take the lead by providing increas- To guarantee that our workers ing shelter support and child bene - will have the necessary skills fit payments, removing disincen- required to drive Ontario's econo- tives to work, and expanding my into the 21st century, this gov- employment counselling, referral, ernment's primary emphasis will basic training and job preparation bebn improving education, train- programs. ing and adjustment programs. Protecting the quality of life A relevant education system is throughout Ontario's many com- the key to realizing both the eco- munities is a priority of this gov- nomic potential of our province ernment. Our safety and security and the individual potential of its runs the risk of compromise citizens. The scope of our commit- through drug and alcohol abuse, ment to quality education extends racial tension, and incidents of vio- from junior Kindergarten through lence. to Grade 12. To ensure that Ontario remains In keeping with the Ontario gov- the preferred home for its citizens, ernment's belief that children have the government will introduce a the capacity to benefit from educa- comprehensive anti-drug strategy tion at an early age, all school focusing on education, prevention boards will offer half-day kinder- and treatment. This government garten for five -year-olds. Funding will also provide direction and sup - will also be provided to those port to police in their efforts to school boards that have the class- improve race relations with the room space to offer full-day senior diverse communities they serve. ‘4.,4.•..:. Win, •<}• ,,A Access to quality health care regardless of ability to pay remains the cornerstone of this govern- ment's commitment to the well- being of Ontario's 1eople. The Pre- mier's Council on Health Strategy established in 1987 has identified several health goals which together define a broader vision of health for Ontario. Good health depends upon a safe environment and relies more on diseaseP revention and community-based care and less on institutionalization. Recognizing the contribution that a clean environment affords in the pursuit of good health, the govern- ment will continue to demonstrate leadership in environmental protec- tion. We will encourage everyone to participate in the 4Rs: reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering waste. Specific measures will be introduced to reduce automobile fuel vapors and automobile -pro- duced acid rain emissions. A new lottery fund — "Cleantario" —will help finance our ongoing effort to protect our air, water and food. The exciting and demanding challenges that lie waiting for Ontario in the 21st century will be met within the framework of a dynamic economy and a skilled labor force supported by a citizenry that has enjoyed the benefits of a clean environment, healthy lifestyle and quality education from its for- mative years onward. Kincardine firm gets hospital paving contract A Kincardine firm has been awarded the contract to pave the rear parking lot of the Wingham and District Hospital. At the regular April meeting of the hospital's board of governors, property committee chairman Ross Davies said the $12,015 tender of Cottrill Paving and Materials was the lowest of three submitted for the project. The Wingham Advance -Times, May 2, 1989 - Page 5A Editorial lacks respect for democracy, writer says Dear Editor: As a res' t of Eat Wawanosh, I was amused to read the editorial "Why the rush" in the April 18 issue of The Advance -Times. There seemed to be a shortage of letters to the editor, so I would hope h9 is just trying to be the devil's advo- cate. I am not going into the rights or wrongs of making a purchase as I feel the board has tried to provide the best equipment possible to the fire fighters. The point 1 find com- pletely distasteful in the editorial is the lack of respect for democracy. There was a vote and it passed by majority. The point Howick supported the purchase to get better equipment to the No. 2 Station in Gorrie is fine, but why is it irresponsible for East Wawanosh and Morris to support Howick's request? As a former board member for eight years, I feel that an area fire board is obligated to do what is best for the whole arca, not just their own municipality. F,y.� Frfl.•:$�::ti}S �� vii It has taken since the early 1950s to develop a department that could come up with a costing formula that could be fair and representa- tive to all participants. In this, there is an hourly fee for service set annually, and then the rest of the costs are billed on the basis of prop- erty assessment covered. We did not see any editorials. before this talking k about how East Wawanosh and Morris were paying more than their just share of 19 per cent and 18 per cent respectively for the same seven per cent and 11 per cent of assessment covered. Using your theory of "he who pays has the power" makes me glad I drive a full-size pickup and intermediate -size car that pay more for licence, etc., so I have more right to drive down the road than a smaller car. Thank you to all the present and former board members that I worked with for that "arca co-oper- ation" that accomplished much. Sincerely Neil Vincent UPDATE ON HERITAGE fr h�l There is a glimpse of Wingham which gives pleasure every morn- ing when the window blind is raised. The pleasant roof lines of our main street, when viewed over the tree tops in the early dawn,, take one back to another, more graceful age. How many buildings can you identify from times past, alive with memories of who we were when? More and more, communities across Ontario are demonstrating a desire to protect and conserve the buildings of our heritage. Since the enactment of the Ontario Heritage Act in 1974, many Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committees (LACAC) have been established, and individ- ual properties have been designat- ed as Heritage Buildings. This reflects the tremendous importance that communities across the province place an their historic buildings and districts. Designated property grants assist property owners in the con- servation of properties designated under ,the Ontario Heritage Act. This grant program is adminis- tered by municipalities and pro- vides funding to a maximum of $3,000 per property per year. In Southern Ontario, grants are matched on a 50-50 basis by the property owner. Wingham has a volunteer LACAC, a group of townspeople interested in the conservation of our older, unique buildings, both business and residential. If you wish to find out more about the grants available for con- serving your home or building, we'd like to hear from you. Your local LACAC has a mailbox at the Wingham Town Hall. Meetings are held monthly and are open to the public. WPS thanks community for its generosity Dear Editor: On Wednesday, April 19, 1989, Wingham Public School held its annual Spring Concert involving Primary -Junior children — from Kindergarten to Grade 5. At that time, donations were made to the Colleen Robertson Memorial Fund and the Don Young Fire Fund. The generosity of the citizens of Wingham was overwhelming. In excess of $350 was raised between the two funds. The staff and students and fami- lies involved express their thanks. Yours truly Bevan Lindsay Vice-principal County system must reflect 90's reality, Eakins says Residents of Ontario's 26 coun- ties are being called on to take an active part in strengthening and updating the 140 -year-old system of county government in the province. Municipal Affairs Minister John Eakins issued this invitation after he and Ontario's county wardens received the report of the consulta- tion committee on county govern- ment. "The county system has served Ontario well, and I am committed to ensuring that it continues to do so," Mr. Eakins said. "But to do so effectively, it must reflect the reali- ties of the 1990s which continue to show a marked change from the nature of the province in the 1840s." Mr. Eakins said the committee's report suggests that a strong county. government would have the tools to cope with complex, controversial issues such as waste management, economic development and planning. "It further suggests that, unfortu- nately, in some counties, the exist- ing legislation does not facilitate an adequate response to these con- cerns," he added. The report is the culimination of the work of two provincially - appointed committees — the advi- sory committee on county govern- ment and its successor, the consultation committee on county government. Mr. Eakins said the two commit- tees had found that while substan- tial alterations have been made to the structure and functions of other local governments in Ontario, the county, system ,remains much the same today as when it was intro- duced through the Baldwin Act, He said it is obvious that a num- ber of changesare required to bring the government system into line with the realities of today. "These committees went to a great deal of effort to solicit the opinions of all interested parties within the county government sys- tem," he said. "I am now urging all of those who have shown their interest in the past, as well as any- one else who now cares to partici- pate, to make their views known to me." To ensure as many as possible have an opportunity to do so, Mr. Eakins said he will wait until mid- July before taking any action. He pointed out that in meetings held in all 26 counties, input was received from _r'epsesentatives of county councils, the councils of , local municipalities and interested individuals and associations. Among its recommendations, the report suggests ways to: —Strengthen local municipalities within counties. —Improve the way local munici- palities are represented on county council. —Ensure that services are being delivered by the most appropriate level of local government. In Huron County, at least one of the committee's recommendations is already in effect — a county -wide property wide property tax reassessment, while some others would result in structural changes in county council, such as: —Restricting the maximum size of county councils to 20 members. —Representation be based on the principle of representation by pop- nulation. —Heads of all local municipali- ties, including the mayors of towns, be required to sit on county council. At present, reeves of the county's five towns are the official county council representatives for their municipalities. The nine Ml'l''s who made up the consultation committee are: the chairman, Charlie Tatham, Oxford; John Cleary, Cornwall; Mike Deitsch, St. Catharines -Brock; Joan Fawcett, Northumberland; Ron Lipsett, Grey; Keith MacDonald, Prince Edward -Lennox; Jean Poiri- er, Prescott and Russell; Mike Ray, Windsor-Walkerville; David Smith, Lambton. Peterborough MPP Peter Adams also contributed to the writing of the report. •