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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1977-06-08, Page 4Citizens News, June 8, 1977 "He stopped to think about the consequences of the Berger and Hall commission and can't get started again." Dear Editor: I have personally been disturbed and dismayed to hear the Liberal Candidate in Huron - Middlesex state that if a P.C. majority government is returned on June 9, Regional Government will be implemented in Huron County. Jack Riddell went so far as to state at a public all -candidates' meeting in Exeter High School on the evening of June 2, that the Liberal Party and his former Leader, Robert Nixon, had never supported Regional Government anywhere at any time. May I quote from Robert Nixon's Provincial Liberal Party's Platform for the election of 1967 - "Better Communities Now", ; "A Liberal Government will have an overall plan for modern Municipal Governments in rapidly growing areas,Special Regional Governments on the outskirts of big cities and strengthened County Govern- ments." In case the electors have any doubts that the Liberal Party supported the establishment of Regional Government, HAN- SARD, of the 1960's, the day-to- day exact record of everything said in the Ontario Legislature, records Liberal spokesmen upbraiding the Conservative Government of John Robarts for not proceeding with what they described as the necessary restructuring of Ontario's municipalities. Premier Robarts appointed an all -Party Select Committee of the Legislature to study, and make recommendations, on Municipal Government Restructuring. Let me quote from that report, submitted in 1968 and signed unanimously by all Members of the Committee, including the two Liberal M.P.P.'s, James Breithaupt and Donald Deacon: "The concept of Regional Government has become ac- cepted in this Province and this acceptance has obviated the need for protracted study. The briefs received by your Committee, the representations made to your Committee, and the discussions within your Committee, demonstrate that the accent has shifted from acceptance of a study of the question to a positive desire for action in the near future." Premier Davis and the Provincial Treasurer and d Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, the Hon. Darcy McKeough, have both categorically stated there will be no Regional Governments in Ontario unless the Counties request restructuring them- selves. I learned on June 3 from Mr. Ron Farrow, the Executive Director of Municipal Organization Branch of the Ministry of the Treasury and Intergovernmental Affairs, that Regional Government in Huron and Middlesex had never been considered, that it was not being considered and that no request to consider Regional Government in either County had ever been made. To one who represented the riding of MIDDLESEX NORTH for over 18 years in the Ontario Legislature, it appears the ac- tions of the Huron -Middlesex Liberal candidate can only be described as a cruel -.hoax designed for political gain and an insult to the intelligence of the people in Huron -Middlesex. Surely the people of Huron and Middlesex recognize the honest, forthright integrity of Anson McKinley and will make it em- phatically clear that he is the type of individual who should represent this great riding on the PC Government side of the Ontario Legislature after June 9. Respectfully yours, Wm. A. Stewart Dear Editor: I wish to remindY our readers that the Town of Goderich is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. The main attraction is our mammoth Sesquicentennial Parade commencing at 2 p.m., Saturday, July 9. Thus far we have 18 bands coming - pipe, bugle and brass types - and they include the Preston Scout House Band, Northstars, Entertainers, Ontario Massed Legion Pipes and Drums and the Dutch Boy Cadets. We plan on having the biggest and best parade ever staged in this area. 1 invite your readers to participate. We are looking for more floats of all types, antique vehicles, horse-drawn vehicles or wagons, clowns, costumed reports horseback riders or any other type of thing which can make up a parade. Clubs, groups and families are urged to consider taking part The route is 21/2 miles in length and after the parade there will be precision band demonstrations by several groups. The Honorary Parade Marshal is that famous rodent Mickey Mouse, courtesy of Walt Disney Studio, California. There will be lots of fun and nostalgia in the parade. Afterwards the Shriners are holding a gourmet fish -fry. Any person interested in taking part please contact me at 65 West Street, Goderich. Telephone weekdays: 524-8333. After 5 p.m. and on weekends 524-9293. ' Patrick D. King Chairman, Parade Committee, Jubilee -3 Celebrations Dear Sir: Gravenhurst, Ontario, was incorporated as a village in 1877. This means that we are celebrating our Centennial in 1977. We know that former residents and friends of our town are scattered across Canada and around the world. We invite them all to join us for a Grand Reunion on Friday, July 1, the beginning of our Old Home Week. For more information, please write Cen- tennial, Box 2132, Gravenhurst, Ontario POC 1GO. Thank you for the use of your space. Yours sincerely, Cyril Fry, Chairman, Centennial Committee 117:// Share Nature's Bounty BE A + BLOOD DONOR fi ur of hion 1 -fsz edcces ,. ... es d a g. Y >,. The RttI by Cathy McKinley lr�::��yre fun y �;�IF if yr=vove For the past four weeks, a good number of party faithful on all sides of the fence have been working very hard to get their candidate elected. Many people don't seem to realize it, but getting in- volved in an election can be fun — at the very least the time flies. There has been a good deal of door knocking done, of brochures distributed through the mail, of signs put up across the riding, of "meet your candidate" meetings. A lot of care and planning went into each one, and all that work done by all those people will be wasted, unless everyone gets out and votes on Thursday. The only way a democracy can work is if everyone par- ticipates. It is very important that we as individuals accept our responsibility and choose carefully. If you don't vote, then you are no part of this democracy and lose your right to criticize, so make sure, when the vote is counted, that your vote is in on the count. I have heard a number of comments over last weeks Citizens News. I have been accused of biasing the paper towards the Conservatives and, believe it or not, of biasing the paper towards the Liberals. One group says the campaign stories were slanted for the Conservatives and there were more pictures of the Premier than of any Liberals. The other group says it wasn't fair to include pictures and a story on the Liberal B -B -Q as I have not covered any of the Conservative functions in the area. They also claim it was unfair to give the Liberal ad the best page in the paper. Well, I have news for both sides. Number one, I did not write any of the election stories which appeared in last weeks paper so anyone who feels they were biased will have to speak to Bill Batten, Ross Haugh and Tom Nunn of the Exeter Times -Advocate. Number two, I feel it is justifiable to show two or three pictures of the Premier, after all he doesn't visit every day and his visit is news. If Stuart Smith or Stephen Lewis would have felt this riding was important enough to visit, they would have received the same coverage. So, I hope that explains a few things to those on both sides of the fence. I guess it doesn't matter what I say or do, I was doomed to being accused of being biased from day one, and the truth is, I am. I have simply refrained from participating in the election coverage because I felt the peo- ple of this riding can and will make the right choice on June 9 without my help. To me, the right choice is my father. I hope you will agree. 4.44 Published Each Wednesday By J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Member: Canadians Weekly Newspapers Association Ocitario Weekly Newspapers Association Manager - Betty O'Brien News Editor - Cathy McKinley Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385 Subscription Rates: $7,00 per year in advance in Canada $18.00 per year outside Canada Single copies 204