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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1973-12-13, Page 13THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1973 Questions raised by Albert Roy (L, Ottawa East) in May about Imperial Optical Comp- any's control of the optical industry lead to an investigat- ion and a sequence of three stories in the Globe and Mail just recenity. Following the in- formation which was revealed Mr. Roy suggested that a Royal Commission be set up to invest- igate the optical industry, and particularly the Canada -wide activities of Imperial Optical Co. Lds. His suggestion came on the heels of a demand by Liberal Leader Robert Nixon for an independent investigation by the Provincial Government into the optical industry. Premier Davis assured the Legislature that the Ontario Government is certain to investigate the struct- ure and the membership of the Ophthalmic Dispensers Board. The five Government -appointed members of the Board all have a conflict of interest associated with Imperial Optical. Stephen Lewis, Leader of N.D.P. said it would appear that the Minist- ry of Health was in cahoots with Imperial Optical in order to have this complete price control and dispensing control of the industry. Ontario Treasurer John White told the Legislature he informed 31 municipalities to introduce zoning bylaws governing land use or face Government freezes on development. N.D.P. leader Stephen Lewis asked Mr. White in the Legislature question per- iod what he would do to prevent situations where developers build just outside town boundar- ies on unzoned land, often disrupting the town's planned development and frequently in contravention of official plans. The Government imposed development controls Thursday on Goderich and Colborne Town- ships after Goderich officials complained that a shopping centre outside the town would kill a shopping centre within the town that has been planned for almost three years. Mr. White said the Govern- ment will fight the developer, Rockledge Properties Ltd., in court if it attempts to build despite the ministry controls. The Ontario Government has moved to tighten the law cover- ing the issuing of mechanical fitness certificates for used mot- or vehicles. Garages are to be licenced as inspection stations and mechanics registered for better identification. Improper and fraudulent issuance of cert- ificates will be justification for withdrawing the privilege, Gor- don Carton, Minister of Transp- ortation and Communications, told the Legislature. Appeals' against the revocation of licence; or registration will be heard by the Licence Suspension Appeal Board. The Legislature last night approved $1, 103, 000 to run the Premier's office at Queen's Park for the year ending March 31, and $1, 090, 000 for the op- eration of the Cabinet office, Jottings by Jack from Queens Pork Before the Government received approval Premier William Davis underwent 14 minutes of strong criticism from Liberal Leader Robert Nixon and New Democ- ratic Party Leader Stephen Lew- is. A three-man conullissiiln which will redraw Ontario's political map for the next prov- incial election will be told it must add no more than eight seats to the 117 -seat Legislature. A resolution placed on the order paper by Premier Davis sets the commission alpper and;jp,wer limits of 125 and., 117 seats,�It specifies that there must lie no cutin the 15 ridings in north- western Ontario, although their boundaries may be altered. This provision will provide the main exception to another guide. line --that redistributed ridings should not fall more than 25 per cent above or below the provin- cial average population per riding. The commission will be appointed next week. A proposed amendment to the Public Commercial Vehicles Act would appoint special inv- estigators with more authority than present inspectors of OPP to investigate trucks on the highway. These investigators would also be allowed to enter premises to examine books and documents --by force, with a court order --seize papers and inquire into transactions. Other amendments provide for road- side checks on trucks extending PCV licencing to leased trucking operations, and control of freight forwarding operations. Ontario municipalities are to be given the power to ban trucks from the left-hand lanes of six - lane highways with speed limits of at least 50 mph. The Govern- ment introduced legislation to pass on the power "in view of public acceptance of a similar ban in effect on certain parts of the King's Highway System" notably Highways 400 and 401 and the Queen Elizabeth Way, where there are three lanes each way. Premier Davis introduced leg- islation which will give Ontario's 117 MPP's a pay raise to $15, 000 a year from $12, 000, with the tax-free expense allowance in- creased to $7500 from $6000. The increases would be retroact- ive to October lst. The Provincial Government is prepared to send 20 mediators across the province if school teachers withdraw their services in contract disputes, Education Minister Thomas Wells told the Ontario Legislature. Mr. Wells said his ministry was in daily contact with the school boards concerned and he hoped most of the disputes might be settl- ed by the end of the year. The threat of withdrawing services, he said, was all part of a tool in an ongoing confrontation regard- ing salaries and working condit- ions. Changes within the legislation introduced by the Labor Min- ister allow for expansion of the Workmans Compensation Board ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS from its present three members up to seven, all to be appointed by the Government._ One commit sioner will be vice-chairman of administration, another vice- chairman of appeals, separating the two functions at the board's top level. The Board will have the power to determine at what rates employers are assessed and review and appiove major changes in its programs. Subject to Government approval the board shall determine its own practice and procedure in rel- ation to applications, appeals PAGE 13 and proceedings. There is nothing in the legis- lation providing for increased payment to injured workmen or increased salaries of board members. The Government is considering both matters. 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