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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1977-06-29, Page 25�:':4tiij;'+,:: �:k'.1•,.:l.: i�� 'k::4::):+,<G}$:•, �tiL.l,':: 'tit:kir::k}k::`:<{:jtf:; :t::t;{::i}:::rytitik:?:v }}kv:::.}:••:k>:::: ij•: t:.}S:f' .....:..:. ......n......... �.: }..... ....:.k.v. n.: r:±h:tti t.}},:i.}h ::.::. i..Sv:.i {.::....... ....•. .........::t.:::::. fi: }.v •.�•:}: r•:.::::A;•. n.... Back in session By JACK RIDDELL MPP Huron -Middlesex The 31st Ontario Legislature opened June 27, when the Lieutenant- Governor read a brief, four-. page, Speech from the Throne, indicating that there are five key policies which the Government hopes to push. through before summer ad- journment. These are the Treasurer's Budget, including a controversial five cent tax on pop cans;legislation forcing the Essex County Board of Education to build a French -language school; a Bill to create the new Ministry of Northern Affairs; amendments to the Environ- mental Assessment Act to enable Mr. Justice Patrick Hartt to launch an inquiry into development in the North; legislation to establish province - wide single -trade bargaining in certain sectors of the con- struction industry. The Government also hopes to meet the federal government's deadline for the conversion of speed limit signs to metric measurement and to gain ap- proval for a three year unified family court experiment in Hamilton. Before the session opened, Liberal Leader Stuart Smith proposed the three provincial leaders form a Council to develop a common response to the national unity crisis. "As much as possible, these matters should be raised above party politics", he said "so that our political leaders are seen to speak with one voice for a united Canada". He also proposed the Govern- ment should consult with the other two parties before in- troducing legislation to avoid confrontation which might lead to defeat of the Government and another election. The Provincial Treasurer updated his April budget statement for the opening of the special summer session of the Legislature required to clear up the backlog of outstanding bills. Dear Sir: We wish to invite any of your readers who have had an association with Goderich Collegiate to renew old acquaintances at a reunion, at the school, on Sunday, July 10 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. This event is a part of the Goderich week-long, 150th Anniversary celebrations. Thank you, F. MacDonald Publicity In the update, it is calculated that the Provincial Treasury had lost $25 million in estimated revenue, mainly because calling the election had delayed collection of the proposed higher tobacco taxes and a new five cent "en- vironmental tax" on soft drink cans. Both Opposition Parties are opposed to this latter tax and the Ontario Soft Drink Association has estimated that seventeen hundred jobs would be lost as a result of its imposition. While defeat of a budgetary tax measure could traditionally be considered a vote of non- confidence and grounds for an election, this is obviously out of the question. The device of a specific confidence motion following a legislative defeat was used about a year ago in con- nection with the government's defeat on the farm income stabilization plan. Whether this procedure will be used again remains to be seen. The Government hoped to receive rapid legislative ap- proval of an amendment to the Environmental Assessment Act to allow far-reaching public inquiries into the social, cultural, economic and environmental impact of major development. This is necessary to facilitate Mr. Justice Patrick Hartt's planned study of development in Northern Ontario, • specifically the proposed 19,000 square mile expansion of timber rights by Reed Paper Ltd. Liberal. Leader Stuart Smith has indicated that he will add to the bill a rider that the legislation does not take effect until the mercury -polluted English Wabigoon River system is closed to sport fishing.Although the polluted river system is not within the area to be covered by the Hartt inquiry, it was the Reed Paper Company's Dryden plant which polluted the waterway. Dr. Smith believes that banning sport fishing is necessary to show good faith toward Indians on the Grassy Narrows and Whitedog reserves in the area, because the success of Judge Hartt's inquiry depends on confidence among the Indians. There has, of course, been considerable discussion of the jailing of., NDP Member Ed Ziemba, who refused to tell a judge his source of information leading to charges against Abko MedicalLabora tories forallegedly defrauding the Ontario Health Insurance Plan. Early in the week the Attorney General asked the Ontario Court of Appeal to study a series of hypothetical questions con- cerning an MPP's right not to disclose his sources. The Attorney General was reluctant Very Special OPEN AIR MEETING Lions Park, Seaforth Sun. July 10 at 7:30 p.m. Hear RON GARDNER Former Jehovah Witness Preacher Tell How He Was Saved AMPLE PARKING You May Sit In Your Car EVERYBODY WELCOME—NO COLLECTION In Event of Rain Meeting Postponed 'one Week to July 17th to draw conclusions about what . the court might decide, or what action the Crown might take, and informed the Legislature that he did not wish to appear to interfere with a court case, saying the final determination will be the judge's decision. Legal rights enjoyed by Ontario MPPs are the same as those accorded Members of Parliament in Britain, in Ottawa and the other Provinces, and in other countries which have adopted the British parliamentary system. The most important is, perhaps, immunity ` froin being sued for libel for anything an MPP says in the legislature or a legislative committee. Roderick Lewis, Clerk of the Legislature since 1955 and a Lawyer, has stated that he knows of no jurisdiction where members have won the right to refuse to tell a court the source of confidential in- formation. Citizens News, July 6, 1977 Shop at Home. Page 9 Friday and Saturday out at the GREEN FOREST MOTOR HOTEL featuring DWIGHT JAMES for our listening pleasure SPECIAL SATURDAY NIGHT SMORGAS ;ORIS HEATED POOL begins at 5 o'clock call now for reservations YOUR HOSTS THE RESCH' FAMILY INVITE YOU TO JOIN US WG GREEN FOREST MOTOR HOTEL 238-2365 HWY. 21 GRAND BEND Save electricity, save money. There are two ways saving electricity can save money. First, the obvious one. The less you use, the less you have to pay for. And to- day, electricity is simply too valuable to waste. Second, something not so obvious. Ontario uses more and more -power every year. This means an ever increasing investment in plant and equipment... and their cost is rising rapidly. The cost of fuels is also increasing rapidly. These costs inevitably show up in the price you pay for electricity. You can help to slow down the growing demand by using electricity wisely. Don't waste it. Conserve energy. The future depends on it.