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Zurich Citizens News, 1975-05-01, Page 13THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1975 In his report to the Legislat- ure this week, on the flood crisis in Southwestern Ontario over the past weekend, the Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Leo Bernier said the intense storm that moved across south- ern Ontario, poured down from 1 to 1.5 inches of rain in most areas with a few locations gett- ing as much as 2 inches. This rainfall combined with the melting of heavy snow packs in the snowbelt area in Grey, Dufferin and Wellington count- ies made for some very high levels on the rivers. On some rivers the flows were the high- est recorded in more than 20 years. The Minister said that the co- ordinated effect of preplanning for flood control, awareness of flood prone areas, the alerting of conservation authority staff and municipal officials involved as well as the co-operation of the general public and ensuring the availability of equipment, all played a major part in keep- ing flood damage to the min- imum. Mr. Bernier stated that the flood damage was relatively light but that he fully appreciat- ed the difficulties some resid- ents had suffered especially those living close to the flood plain areas. The major damage problem seemed to be the flooding of house basements and the first floor level of factories built on the flood plain The Minister reported that more severe damage was prevented because of steps taken in adv - Jottings by Jack from Queens Park ance. His Ministry warned all conservation authorities earlier this year about the impending seasonal crisis situation. When the storm struck Friday after- noon the Ministry alerted cons- ervation authorities and munic- ipal officials, therefore, the flood danger was well anticip- ated by all responsible parties. As for the outlook for the immediate future, Mr. Bernier said, according to the conserv- ation authorities branch experts, in Southwestern Ontario the flood water has reached the Great .Lakes or is approaching them, or has subsided through- out the area and because no precipitation was expected, flows on all rivers were expect- ed to return to normal quite soon, and no problems were anticipated in the near future. Mr. Robert Nixon, Leader of the Opposition, asked the Min- ister of Natural Resources wheth- er he could assure the residents of those communities that suff- ered flood damage that the assistance program approved a year ago will be in force this year, at least that level of assistance, so they can be assur- ed they were going to have the same kind assistance for home damage and business damage. Mr. Bernier replied that when a full report from all those area; where flooding did occur was received, then he will take it to the government for that dec- ision. In a statement made in the Legislature by the Provincial Secretary of Resources Develop - TO SAVINGS ON FINE FOODS SPLENDOR 2 LBS Macaroni/Spaghetti SUNSPUN 1 LB TUB Soft Margarine 60's Saluda Tea Bags 19 OZ Utopia Tomatoes 19 OZ TIN Whole White Potatoes MISS MEW 6 OZ TIN Cat Food 12 OZ TIN Kam Luncheon Meat 19 OZ TIN Libby's Sliced Beets MITCHELL'S 48 OZ Pure Apple Juice dipits Baking Chips 59C 64h $1.03 S54 3/840 5/$1 77� 2/49 S9� S9c LUCKY DOLLAR .MOD MARKET PHONE Z36.74316,- ZURICH ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS merit, Mr. Allan Grossman said that a new approach to protect Ontario workers and residents from occupational and envirolunental health hazards caused by industrial activities is being initiated by the Govern• ment. Recognizing that employ. ers, workers, unions, commun- ity groups and government are all respopsible in achieving successful protective and prev- entative measures, an advisory council on occupational and environmental health matters will be established. This body will provide the formal mech- anism for industry, labour and other interested parties to adv- ise government on health hazards as well as to recomm- end new policies and programs. It will assist the government in defining how health safeguard can be engineered into plants at the design state and it will be a central reference source for public information about all aspects of occupational and env- ironmental health. The Minister of Health, Mr. Miller, to whom the advisory council will report, will be announcing further details on the structure, membership and responsibilities of the adv- isory council on occupational and environmental health, to ensure that it is a strong voice in future programmes. Mr. Grossman stated that the Government is moving to streng- then its own activities in occ- upational and environmental health. Greater emphasis will be ;placed on the prevention of 'known health hazards through the setting of guidelines and the search for unknown health hazards in industrial processes. The Ministry of Health will have clearly delineated respon- sibilities to assure that standards are properly applied. The dec- ision to assign standard setting and applied research to the Ministry of Health clarified ;which ministry is primarily resp- onsible for determining the effects of industrial emissinns ,on human physiology although the Ministry of Health will consult with other agencies. The Ministry of Health will 'publish every year its guidelines 'on in -plant emissions and out- of-door ambient conditions. This annual disclosure of infor- mation will mean that industry , and labour are fully aware of applicable standards. Minist- ries and government agencies will incorporate these official standards in appropriate legisl- ation and regulations. The responsibility of inspect- ing, monitoring and enforcing health standards outside the plant Mr. Gossrnan said, rem- ained with the Ministry of Env- ironment. nv- ironment. Because health hazards from industrial processes in some cases take as long as 20 to 30 years to show up in humans, ways are being examined of requiring the employers in spec. flied industries, including mining, chemicals, and other companies currently using known hazardous substances, to keep records on employees. Such records will include, the type of work performed, the employment location in the plant and the equipment used. The Legislature has been debating and bills concerning the changes in the provincial tax structure announced in the recent budget, such as the red- uction of the Retail Sales Tax from 710 to 5°7o which is only applicable until the 3lst Dec- ember, 1975. Removal of the sales tax on production mach- inery and equipment was dis- cussed at some length and Liberal , ,P.P. Ray Haggerty proposed an amendment to the jeffect that machinery and equip ,ment imported into Canada should be subject to taxation, if similar machinery and equip- ment, to be used for the same purposes, can be manufactured in this country. This amend- ment was not accepted, al- though the Minister indicated that it had considerable merit. There were considerable discussions on the subject of the part-time Justices of the Peace. Ontario Attorney Gen- eral, John Clement told the ;Legislature that there are some :648 qualified part-time JPs in the Province, paid on a fee basis for their services. He PAGE 13 said that 394 fled claims for payment in 1973.74 and five were paid more than $20,000. One JP in the Brampton area was paid $30, 000, and Mr. Clement said that he will cons- ider appointing a full-time of- ficial, which would probably be cheaper than paying a part- time justice who works long hours. Albert Roy, Liberal Member for Ottawa East, pointed out that in the view of the former Ontario Chief Justice, James McRuer, expressed in his 1968 report on civil rights, Justices of the Peace paid by fees must (continued on page 14) 1 POUND SPANISH PEANUTS for only 5t (1 -LB PER FAMILY) When You Present This Ad Personnally At Coyle's Factory Outlet 260 TILLSON AVE. AT COYLE LANE TILLSONBURG - Fresh Roasted Nuts and Candy - - Dietetic Jelly Powders and Candy - - Bundt Pans Now in Stock STORE HOURS: Monday to Saturday - 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday - 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult Open Victoria Day May 19 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. THIS OFFER EXPIRES June 14, 1975 DEEP FREEZERS BY ON DISPLAY TWO 15 CU. FT. TWO 20 CU. FT. ILS -DN OF GUELPH Slit jCJLLr`L�tij Super Twins *Washers *Dryers (Single and Dual Speed) *Wringer Washers* ZURICH PHONE 236-4911 HARDWARE MAIN INTERSECTION - ZURICH