The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-03-08, Page 3fYEIYDAY. MOH 8.19S5 aar- s Budget cuts hit farm subsidies By HEATHER VINCENT Special to the Advance -Times Finance Minister Paul Martin's 1995-96 budget came down on February 27 with cuts that the Lib- erals hope will mean a step in the right direction toward economic re- covery. Still in the red, the government will continue to pay a huge amount of interest on the national debt with no imminent prospect of a balanced budget. What the new budget translates into for the average Huron County resident is . a gasoline tax increase of 1.5 cents a litre (50 cents a tank), cuts into subsidies to agriculture, and transfer payment cuts which won't be felt until next year. The good news from the budget is there is no increase in personal taxes. Agriculture subsidy cuts outlined were about what was expected, ex- plained . Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle in a telephone discussion after the budget meetings had con- cluded. The dairy subsidy received a hit of 15 per cent, less than antici- pated. "It was obvious we were going to take a hit on this. It's not going to be that big," said Steckle. Steckle said he expected& to see some changes, including a reduced ceiling on RRSP contributions; which was not part of the budget. He concluded that the budget is rea- listic and is striving for, long-term financial stability. "There were areas I thought we would touch that we didn't. We have more than met our deficit tar- gets." The effect spending cuts will have on individuals and communi- ties remains to be seen when the re- ductions in transfer payments result in the end of some social programs. Any cuts in transfer 'payments will. not take place until next year, after the Quebec referendum. Huron MPP Paul Klopp ex- pressed concern regarding the cuts; which will affect Ontario specifi- cally. Klopp said he felt that Onta- rio is receiving unfair treatment compared with provinces of similar size with resources at their dispo- sal, such as Manitoba and Quebec. "We're really getting short- changed as a province. We have to fight for Ontario," Klopp said. Martin's budget focuses on spending cuts rather than tax in- creases. A total of 45,000 public servant jobs will be axed, at 20,000 by the summer of 1996. "We are committed to downsiz- ing the public service as fairly as possible," Martin was quoted as saying. While Targe corporations will see an increase in taxation of 12.5 per cent, small business will be encour- aged by the removing of barriers and offering what. Martin called "practicaleassistance". Small busi- ness and farmers will keep their current $500,000 capital gains ex- emption. Small business is the lead- ing creator of jobs in Canada but many people with good ideas can- not secure the funding they need to get started. The problem remains for small business on getting financial sup- port from chartered banks. Other changes the new budget will bring include: a change in the current claw -back practice for high income seniors, an immigration charge of $975, temporary bank. taxes and privatization of airports to local authorities. Martin also an- nounced plans to privatize CN and the remaining interests of Petro - Canada. • nistry of Health funding could be coming for doctors MITCHELL — Rural hospitals in Ontario could be getting funding from the Ministry of Health to help pay for fees to doctors for staffing the emer- gency rooms. Thursday night at the Huron -Perth District Health Council meeting in Mitchell, Terry Fadelle, the Chief Executive Officer of the St. Marys Me- morial Hospital said the ministry is working on it. "The answer we get is that the minister (Ruth Grier) has appointed a fact -finder. He'll make a report by the end of February," said Fadelle. While Fadelle noted that hospitals are supportive of paying physicians appropriately, he said, "we don't feel it should come out of hospital bud- gets." He gave a presentation to the DHC on hospital funding and labeled it the past, the present and future or the good, the bad and the ugly. Hospital budgets are divided between operating budgets and capital costs and Fadelle said 70 to 90 per cent of operating budgets come from the Ministry of Health. Non -Canadians, when visiting our country are usually billed more for health coverage at a hospital than Canadians. "When a foreigner comes to a hospital and they test positive for Blue Cross or other insurance, they will typically be billed a lot higher than the pier diem rate,"said Fadelle. Hospitals have been restructuring, downsizing and even laying off em- ployees. Fadelle said to look for more of this in the future. "if you're cutting back on hospital budgets, you're cutting back on peo- ple. The health care system is not finished downsizing. There will be fur- ther cuts." Caring with confidence Are you caring for a loved one at home? Do you sometimes feel frus- trated, exhausted or isolated? You're not alone. Sharing concerns, fears and practical tips with others who are experiencing similar responsibilities can be helpful. You are invited to attend an information meeting to find out what "Car- ing with Confidence" is all about. This eight week caregiver support group was run in Brussels last spring and in Wingham the spring before. Mem- bers of these groups have continued to meet every two to three months to further support each other. These local groups have been co -facilitated by Marguerite Thomas, a Public Health Nurse and Nancy Walker, a Home Care Case Manager. Anyone interested in joining the next session or wanting more informa- tion is invited to join Marguerite and Nancy at the Wingham and Area ° Adult Day Centre on Vonday, March 27 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Bouwers top speaker Kim Bouwers of Wingham took first place honors in the senior sec- ondary school division of the Royal Canada Legion's zone speak off held Saturday in Clinton. Bouwers won the senior secon- dary competition last Monday, held at the Legion Hall in Wingham. Ju- lie Lisle of Wingham was runner- up and Crystal Brindley of Luck - now was third. Maty Lisle of Wingham was the u inner -up in the zone junior secon- dary school division, finishing sec- ond to a speaker from Goderich. Melina Hussey of East Wawa - nosh Public School did not place in the top three of the senior elemen- tary division, finishing in the top half, out of 13 speakers. Dana Foxton of Sacred Heart School in Teeswater, finished out of the top three the story teller division for students in Grades 1 to 3. Award Wlflt'°!' (,)rot, County. warden Bruce Machan congratulates Gt1d fi l fisher fid. 'Mike Pullen for their work ,on the Ontario >ld�rketing A, fgrd for Excellence winning 1994 Huron County Travel Guide Stewart Beattie honored for 50 years of Zionism Continued from front page for 50 years, he is still one of the first members to volunteer to work on projects. "Stewart is always on hand to help out on club projects," he said. "And, he has always worked hard." Beattie said he was first ap- proached to join the Lions Club in 1942, when he first came to Wing - ham, but he declined this time. "I was asked to join the club again in 1945, and this time I ac- cepted," he said. Beattie has held numerous offic- es within the club. He served as secretary from 1945 to 1947 and was a director from 1947 to 1949. He was third vice-president during 1950-51, second vice-preisdent during 1951-52, first vice- president during 1952-53, and served as president during 1953- 54. He was a director again during 1954-55. Beattie was the attendance and membership chairman in 1962 and again served as membership chair- man from 1973 to 1975. In 1976, he was the program entertainment chairman. Overboe noted that Beattie has received many 100 per cent atten- dance awards. "He has sponsored at least 11 new members over the years," said the deputy district governor. Beattie was recently presented with the Melvin Jones Fellowship award for service. "I have tremendously enjoyed being a member of the Lions Club," said Beattie. ' 111 WINGII4MADVANCETIMES Morris Towuship looking for gravel Morris Township is looking for 35,000 imperial tons of gravel. The township roads department will be advertising for 33,000. im- perial tons of 5/8 -inch 'A' gravel for the south side of the township, and for 2,000 imperial tons for Centre Side Road 15-16, in Con- cession 2-3. The township will be re -paving that portion of the Cen- tre Side Road, but will be putting down some gravel first. It was announced at the Morris Township council meeting last � r Tuesday that the roads department had received its 1995 MTO subsi- dy. ubsidy. The township's 1995 allocation from the 1vTo is $308,200 with approved expenditures of $430,000. The rate of subsidy from the MTO is 71.67 per cent, which is down from last year by just under two per cent. The township also purchased an infrastructure sign from Grey Township for $50. ' rSUNWO.RTHY �� wF6 ,, - curl NALl.cove:pos e, 44 FEB. 13 - APRIL 24 MON ALL SUNWORTHY, WESTMO NT AND • WALLTEX BOOBS FABRICS ARC £OORL 5AMa marEnet.staet8 Sewing, Knitting & more! Rosalind's Fashion Ave. The Male Room has moved to 206 Josephine Street, Wingham (across from K Foods) Buy. One Get the 2nd at 1/2 Price (equal or less value) Sewing, Knitting & more! Monday - Saturday 9 - 5e30 p.m. Friday In 9:00 p.m. A