HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-07-19, Page 5iVEDNESINIY, JULY 19, 199
THE MOM ADVAN(r, TIMES.
Justhow uch didCCcontinue to
taxpayers fork out?
Dear Editor:
About a year -and -a -half after
every general federal election, the
Chief Electoral Officer of Canada
issues a report entitled Contribu-
tions and Expenses of Registered
Political Parties and Candidates.
Seemingly innocuous to most ob-
servers, the Report details how
much each party and candidate who
ran in the previous election spent,
how much they received in contri-
butions and, best of all, how much
they received in "reimbursements."
The term "reimbursements" is a eu-
phemism for taxpayer subsidies
dolled Out to political hacks and
party bagmen/bagwomen.
How much did the collective Ca-
nadian taxpayer fork over for the
1993 campaign? The Report shows
$14,862,446 in grants to candidates
and $8,041,997 divied out to regis-
tered political parties (candidates
and parties receive reimbursements
independent of each other). The to-
tals represent a 22% increase from
the 1988 federal election.
That's right; we (ie. people who
pay taxes) were forced to hand over
$22 million to help pay for the
campaigns of Jean Chretien, Lucien
Bouchard, Preston Manning, Jean
Charest, Audrey McLaughlin and
all their respective parties.
Why are we being forced to pay
these outrageous sums? Well, the
Canada Elections Act allows for
candidates who receive more than
15% of the vote to have 50% of
their election expenses reimbursed.
A registered party meanwhile, gets
22.5%'of the money it spent back
provided that it spends at least 10%
of its election expenses limit. And
who decides what goes in the Cana-
da Elections Act? Who else but the
same folks who profit by it our
very own MPs. •
An argument is sometimes made
that these subsidies are necessary to
help out people who could not oth-
erwise afford to run, thus leaving
politics only for the well-to-do.
poppycock! Of the 714 candidates
$20,815 reimbursement, 710 of
them ran for one of the five major
parties (NDP, PC, Liberal, Reform
and the Bloc). Candidates for the
smaller and less affluent parties got
nothing. Where is the need to pro-
vide for those poor politicians who
cannot provide for themselves?
If your blood's not boiling yet,
listen to this - a Canadian Taxpay-
ers Federation analysis of the Re-
port shows that 54% of candidates
who accepted tax dollars ran a cam-
paign surplus. Former Prime Min-
ister Kim Campbell, for example,
was handed $26,118 tax dollars
even though her campaign dona-
tions were greater than expenses by
$99,346. Did the former prime
minister really need over $26,000
out of taxpayers' pockets after mak-
ing a campaign profit of a hundred
grand?
What is truly disturbing, howev-
er, apart from this blatant waste of
money, is the fact that these subsi-
dies redistribute funds from taxpay-
a+ho , receiyed, - pn average, a
ers to political campaigns they
might otherwise not support.
While you may have voted for the
candidate and party of your choice,
at the same time you were helping
to pay for the campaigns of some
of their opponents.
This is wrong.
As Thomas Jefferson once said,
"to compel a man to furnish funds
for the propagation of ideas he dis-
believes and abhors is sinful and ty-
rannical." There is absolutely no
reason to force Canadians to pay
for political campaigns with their
tax dollars.
The time has come to eliminate
both the candidate and registered
party election expense reimburse-
ments. It is a simple matter and
could be done by Parliament within
a day. The only question is - does
Parliament have the moral fortitude
to act?
Paul Pagnuelo
Ontario Taxpayers Federation,
Ajax, Ontario
Chatham Centennial
invites all residents bath
Dear Editor:
The year 1995 marks Chatham,
Ontario's 100 birthday.
The Chatham Centennial Com-
mittee would like to take this op-
portunity to invite all former Chat-
hamites to come back to Chatham
to celebrate the Centennial Home-
coming Weekend, August 11-13, in
beautiful Tecumseh Park.
The committee has been plan-
ning the festivities for months and
nothing has been left to chance.
Some of the activities scheduled
for the weekend include: A Chil-
dren's Festival, High School Reun-
ions, Craft Fair, Horse-drawn Wag-
on Rides, '1895 ': Fashion Show,
battle county on site
Dear Editor: the people they represent rather
Three people from the Con- than just being in attendance.
cerned Citizens of Ashfield and We would like to suggest that.
Area Residents (CCAA) requested you write to your member of coun-
time to speak at the July 6 meeting cil and give them the support he or
of Huron County Council in re- she must have on your feelings on
gards to the proposed A# dump is- this very important issue of dump
sue, on how most people of Huron, sites in Huron or your community.
Bruce, and other Ontario communi- If you require more information
ties feel about dump sites and the in respect to the problems of buried
problems associated with dumps. trash, or have had problems you
The issues we spoke about
ranged from alternatives to pollu-
tants and problems associated with
leachate, etc. Council was also
asked not to rubber stamp any mo-
tions made in regard to the waste
management master plan until they
had time to review the information
that we supplied. But this did not
happen and the study to complete
Stage 2D Workplan may continue.
This study includes a serious
amount of taxpayers money prior to
the proposed site being either ac-
cepted or rejected. I have asked the
project co-ordinator on several oc-
casion for the latest bore hole re-
sults but have yet to see them to
date.
Included in the study is transfer
stations, level studies, agricultural
assessment, heritage, biological, de-
sign, operation and economic im-
pacts, surface water, etc. Council
member Mickle from Clinton spoke
his mind and told Warden Bruce
Machan and the councillors present
that we must be more accountable
to the ratepayers of Huron. He sug-
gested that they follow the lead of
the newly elected PC party by
cutting down, not only at the
county level, but also at the munici-
pal level.
This sparked a wave of applause
from the visiting people. After
Mickle spoke his mind, there was a
number of other councillors who
spoke of which most where in favor
of his remarks. This brought more
applause.
The people of Huron, Bruce and
Ontario have the support of various
county councillors and should be
congratulated for speaking up for
Contests, including a Battle of the
Bands and much more.
Be entertained by such stars as
Billy Joe Royal, Mark Lindsay of
Paul Revere and the Raiders, Re-
becca Holden and Sylvia Tyson.
Yes -Sylvia Tyson is coming
home for the weekend and will give
a concert in the park on Sunday
evening as part of the closing cere-
monies.
So please, won't you come home
too?
For more information, please call
Allana Gillam -Wright at (519) 354-
9177.
The Chatham
Centennial Cgtitttuttee
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
for the year ending December 31, 1994
Budget Actual Actual
1994 1994 1993
$ $ $
Sources of Financing
Requisition on Local Municipalities 8,703,624
Grants
Government of Canada
Province of Ontario
Other municipalities
Other
Investment income
Fees and service charges
Rents
Miscellaneous
Fund Balances at the Beginning of the Year
To be used to offset taxation
73,816
14,655,434
497,632
218,973
2,541,696
482,609
15,200
8,734,119
375,720
14,828,887
498,879
286,853
3,041,550
569,384
1,939
883.288 883.288
28,072,272 29,220.619
Applied To
Current Operations
General government 1,594,251 1,119,921
Protection to persons and property 231,291 238,667
Transportation services 7,872,493 7,580,696
Environmental services 358,372 264,802
Health services 2,126,322 2,193,549
Social and family services 11,618,033 12,272,901
Recreation and cultural services 1,731,881 1,641,165
Planning and development 861.401 916.792
26,394,044 26,228,493
Capital
General government
Transportation services
Health services.
Social and family services
Recreation and cultural services
Planning and development
34,000
290,000
54,000
256,000
33,000
29.000
8,629,484
32,389
17,417,876
348,684
251,634
2,896,364
624,709
3,489
552,544
30.757 173
1,036, 315
240,933
7,589,228
135,773
2,162,844
13,109;069
1,665,124
867.619.
26,806,905
33,680 22,292
290,313 351,316
54,104 17,510
255,674 2,939,323
32,663 38,566
28.594 11.732
696,000 695,028 3,380,739
1,027,798 (313,759)
1.269.300 883;288
28.072,272 29.220.619 30.75y ,173
Net Appropriations to (from) Reserves
and Reserve Funds 982,228
Fund Balances at the End of the Year
To he used to offset taxation
Consolidated Balance Sheet
as at December 31,1994
ASSETS
Unrestricted
Cash on hand and in bank
Due to general funds from reserve funds
Accounts receivable
1994
-S.
2,313,911
841,123
1.868.853
5,023,887
Restricted
Cash on hand and in hank
Investments
Other current assets
feel are associated with proximity
to a dump site, please call 395-
3520 or 529-3307or fax 395-3520.
As we are operating from mostly
out of pocket donations, we would
appreciate any donations to cover
expenses be directed to Chris Hack-
ett, CCAA Secretary -Treasurer, RR
3, Lucknow, Phone 529-7434.
Richard Payne,
RR 3, Lucknow
Publishers seeking
national submissions
Dear Editor:
With this letter, we want to intro-
duce a project that we hope may be
of interest to your readers. We are
compiling material for a coffee-
table style book to be entitled
"Quiet Places, Quiet Thoughts". It
will include poems, brief story ex-
periences, or songs - the fruit of re-
flective thought or inspiration or
motivation while in one's own spe-
cial "quiet place."
When you have a chance to gain
a quiet moment in your busy life,
do you reflect on family or friends
in far away places; remember times
of sadness or humor; or recall days
gone by with nostalgia? Do you re-
flect on the events of today and the
meaning they may have for you or
do you sometimes reflect on ances-
tral stories and find fresh contem-
porary meaning? And have you re-
corded some of your thoughts and
feel that what you have recorded
may be of interest to others?
Story has it that Isaac Newton
twigged to the theory of gravity
when he was struck on the head by
an apple while he was relaxing un-
der an apple tree. Have you sur-
prised yourself with moments of in-
spiration or insight?
You may not have discovered
gravity or Granny Smith apples, but
your story, anecdote, song or poem
. would carry ;spore stgnfipance that
Less: Due from reserve funds to general funds
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued liabiliyies
Fund balances at the end of the year
To be used to offset taxation
Reserves
Reserve Funds
Reserve and Reserve Fund Operations
Revenue
Transfers and expenditures
Year-end position of reserves and reserve funds
might be humorous, nostalgic, sad,
heartwarming, insightful, forlorn,
spiritual, or mythical: the result of
quiet, reflective thought in a quiet
place.
Please see AUTHORS/15
Committee
offers
thanks
Dear Editor:
The Wingham Firefighter Asso-
ciation and Auxiliary once again
enjoyed being part of the Canada
Day weekend celebration.
The weather co-operated and a
large crowd gathered to enjoy this
year's fireworks display.
The Fireworks Committee would
like to express a special thank -you
to all those in the community for
their generosity and support shown
to our various fund raising activi-
ties throughout this past year. The
community spirit helps to make our
job a little easier.
Once again, thank -you all
The Fireworks Committee - Keith
Hodgkinson, Steve Readman, Har-
ley Gaunt, Barb Simmons, Marga-
ret and Elva I4icke ' .h
•
1,521,070"
2,658,036
63
4,179,169
(841.123)
3,338,046
9,361.933
2,539.665
1,269,300
1,214,922
3,338,046
8,361,933
1,454,327
426,528
4,552,968
217,851
2,538,141
100
2,756,092
(437,772)
2.318.320
6.765,889
2.357,432
883,288
1,206,849
2.318,320
6,765.889
2,670,149
2,983,908
3,525,169
NOTES
1. These Financial Highlights reflect the operations, assets and liabilities of the County of Huron including the
following: Huron County Planning and Development Committee, Huron County Library Board, Conunittee
of Management of Huronview and the Huron County Board of Health.
2. The Home Care Program administered by the Huron County Board of Health and funded entirely by the
Province of Ontario is not consolidated.
3. Copies of the audited financial report from which these highlights were extracted may be examined at the office
of the Clerk -Administrator, County of Huron, Court House, The Square, Goderich, Ontario.
W. R. Alcock, C.A., AMCT
Treasurer
Bruce M. Machan
Warden
To the Members of Council, Inhabitants and Ratepayers
of the Corporation of the County of Huron
We have audited the consolidated balance sheet of the Corporation of 'the County of Huron as at
December 31, 1994 and the consolidated statement of operations for the year then ended. These
statements are the responsibility of the county's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those
standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test
basis evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also
includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management,
as well as evaluating overall financial statement presentation.
1993 In our opinion, those consolidated financial statements present fairly the financial position of the
Corporation of the County of Huron as at December 31, 1994 and the results of its operations for
the year then ended in accordance with the accounting principles disclosed in note 1 to the
financial statements.
2,514,720
437,772
1.425112
4,447,569
Goderich, Ontario
April 30, 1995
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Chartered Accountants
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