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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1973-11-01, Page 14PAGE 14 ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1973 Queens Puck Environment Minister James Auld announced in the Legisl- ature that he intends to decent- ralize the ministry. The changer are to transfer more power to directors of six regions and create 23 local offices to deal with municipal -Provincial mat- ters, The reorganization, to take effect April 1, 1974, will include the appointment of two new assistant deputy ministers and will create three new divis- ions. Ontario Treasurer John White, replying to a question by the Liberal Leader Robert Nixon gave a statement to the Legisl- ature on plans to re -invest $154 million in Ontario Mun- icipal Employees Retirement System funds. He said that the funds paid into OMERS will be reinvested to bear the same interest rate as Provincial Bonds (currently 8.5 per cent) instead of the maximum 6.5 per cent it brings now. Mr. White also told the Legislature the Prov- ince will add $8.1 million in back interest payments to the fund. The Fund would have earned this extra amount had the new interest rates applied between 1963, when it was established, and 1969. The new ' interest rates, to be pegged to those on Provincial bonds will be effective from January 1, 197( The OMERS plan provides retire- ment benefits for 77,259 employees of Municipal Govern- ments, Boards of Education, Hydro and other Boards. A new program of travel sub- sidies called Ontario Young Tray ellers was announced by Educat- ion Minister Thomas Wells. Trips by school children from Northern Ontario to Toronto will be subsidized by the Prov- incial Government. A total amount of $100, 000 will be ;pent this year. The grants will apply only to Grade 7 and 8 pupils and will cover 90% of transportation costs by bus. N.D.P. Leader Stephen Lewis condemned the Child Welfare Branch of the Ministry of Com- munity and Social Services for its bureaucratic bungling in handling attempts by Ontario Couples to adopt babies from war ravaged countries. In a long address to the Legislature Committee studying the Min- istry's estimates, Mr. Lewis presented numerous case hist- ories to illustrate what he terms the insensitivity of the Depart- ment. He accused the Child Welfare personnel of misrep- resentation, mis-statement of fact and attempting to deter certain prospective foster parents from adopting foreign children. Rene Brunelle, Minister of Com- munity and Social services, did not debate or deny the charges. Replying to a question by Alb- ert Roy (Liberal Ottawa East) who said signed but blank cert- ificates of mechanical fitness for used cars can often be obt- ained on the black market for a direct charge, Transportation Minister, Gordon Carton, said he is planning legislation to reduce the number of fraudulent certificates. Mr. Carton told the Legislature that as many LL ERY AND PENS !'Ci'lilr FFICE SUPPLIES BIT THE er i 0111 ? w-/ANGYTY0 Virinria Street ZURICH 236-4672 SiDS as 40, 000 vehicles issued certif- icates of mechanical fitness last year could be unsafe because they were never checked by mechanics. Five percent of the certificates issued last year could be illegal because mech- anics had signed them for a fee without checking the vehicles. Darcy McKeough, Minister of Energy told a Legislature Con- mittee, considering the expend- iture estimates of the Resource Development ministries that Ontario hydro does not have a policy of building generating plants to provide electrical pow- er for export. But he said Hydro does have a policy of maintain- ing an energy reserve, and this reserve may be exported. Hydro' generating reserve now is app- roximately 22 per cent more than actual power requirements, and it has suggested that this reserve capacity should be in- creased to 27 per cent. He prop- osed power export would be made under a Hydro contract with the United States which expires in 1975. The additional export above what originally was called for in the contract would mean a prur,t to Hydro of about $20 million. Residents on the Great Lakes shoreline in Southwestern Ont- ario may face serious problems from storms again this fall. The assistant Deputy Minister of Natural Resources told the Legislative Committee that the levels of Lakes Erie and Huron have not dropped as much as hoped since serious flooding last spring. He said that although area co-ordinators have almost completed contingency plans should there be flooding, very little can be done in terms of long-term protection while water levels remain high. He expressed the hopes that storms this fall won't be severe. Liberal Leader Robert Nixon asked Agriculture Minister William Stewart in the Legislat- ure to bring order into the fut- ures market which he described as "falling into the old-fashion- ed procedures characteristic of the robber baron days." Mr. Stewart did not deny that dealings in the futures mar- ket have escalated commodity prices beyond all realism, but he said there was nothing he could do in the way of legislat- ion or regulation to control the activities of the market. The markets in commodity futures operatein Chicago and Winnipeg, and are beyond the reach of the Government of Ontario. The Ontario Government's position on the assembly of land for housing by municipal- ities will be announced before Christmas, Treasurer John White said, Reporting to the Legislature on the second Nat- ional Tri -Level Conference in Edmonton this week, Mr. White said he had supported formation of a task force to study aspects of public finance. Independent Shipper to United Co-operative of Ontario Livestock Dept Toronto Ship Your Livestock with Roy Scotclhmer Monday Is Shipping Day From Varna Stockyard CALL .:t:AYPIELD 565-2636 Ey 7:30 a.m. d ',onakay For Prorer t Service, No Charges on Pick -op Ontario gave an undertaking to match dollar -for -dollar Federal unconditional grants and tax sharing paid to the local govern- ments through the Province. The money would in fact be paid either to the Municipal Councils of the ratepayers as determined by the Province in co-operation with the Municip- al liaison Committee. Congratulations, once again, go out to Charlie MacNaughton for his appointment to the Board of Directors of Laidlaw Transportation Limited, Varna The United Church Women will hold their Thankoffering meeting at Varna United Church on Thursday evening, November 1, with Mrs. Marg- aret Whyte of Seaforth as guest speaker. The annual canvass of the Canadian Bible Society will be held in this community during the month of November. OBITUARY MRS. GERALD T. SNIDER A Grand Bend resident, Mrs, Gerald T. Snider passed away at her residence on Friday, October 26, in her 78th year. She was the former Jessie MacGregor. Her husband pre- deceased her some years ago. For many years Mr. and Mrs. Snider lived on the Bluewater Highway in Stanley Township, before retiring to Grand Bend. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Keith (Grace) Horner, R.R.2, Zurich; and Marion, at home; three sons, Irving and Russell, both of R.R.2, Zurich; and Myron, of Berkley, Mich- igan. There are also eight grandchildren. The body rested at the T. Harry Hoffman Funeral Home, Dashwood, until Monday noon when removal was made to the Church of God, Grand Bend. Funeral service took place at the church at 2 p. m. with interment in Bayfield Cemet- ery. Rev. Glen Beach officiated. MAIN ST EGET --- ZURICH featuring a complete line of cert es * (onf ct nery Phone 236-4930 for free delivery on orders of $5.00 or over V E' S L9+E1 ST GIFT E Whether Ire o MONUMENT o MARKER a INSCRIPTION You aro remembering a lowed one. 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