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TIMES -ADVOCATE
Exeter, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
1.25 (includes GST)
Citizens' group
has concerns
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
SOUTH HURON — A group of concerned residents
have formed the South Huron Citizens' Association
and appeared before council Monday night, express-
ing concerns about the local economy, taxes and a
desire for more openness from the municipality.
Many issues arose at Monday's meeting, both during
spokesperson Dean Ducharme's statement and at the
end of the meeting when council opened the meeting
up to the public.
About a dozen supporters of the group attended the
meeting.
Ducharme said the municipality's 2001 promise of
less bureaucracy and increased efficiency was being
ignored by council.
"Economic concerns currently rank number one
among the concerns of (the citizens' association),"
Ducharme said, explaining that the overall success of
South Huron businesses has been accomplished in
spite of "efforts of local and higher levels of govern-
ment ... South Huron needs to be seen by its current
and future businesses and citizens as being open,
helpful and fair."
Taxes are another concern of the group.
"This council and administration have been blaming
the higher levels of government for all our financial
problems. It is the local council's job to question any
irrational demands that are made by upper tiers of
government." He also blamed high taxes on "the
spending of thousands of tax dollars and consultants
and studies that get shelved and forgotten, costly
changes and overruns on municipal projects, unneces-
sary municipal projects, delaying of expenditures such
as flood control measures."
Ducharme said the cost and size of government
See CITIZENS' page 2
Organizers are getting ready for Daffodil Day March 31, sponsored in Exeter by the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority,
with all proceeds going to the Huron Perth Cancer Society. Daffodil Day has been taking place in Exeter for
over 30 years and last year raised $6,635. Daffodil sales will be based out of Edward Jones Investments next
Friday, with sales also in the grocery stores and volunteers going up and down Main Street. Bunches of daf-
fodils are $6 each. From left, atVillageVines Florists Monday are daffodil committee members Elsie Hermann,
chairpersonVerla Russell and Donna Jones.Absent are Elaine Bogart and Joanne Bowen. (photo/Scott Nixon)
Grass Roots meeting brings bewilderment, blockades
By Nina Van Lieshout
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
HOLMESVILLE — Over 300 people
packed the Holmesville Community
Centre March 16 for the Grass Roots
Income Crisis next steps meeting.
Among those in attendance were MP
Paul Steckle of Huron -Bruce and newly
appointed MP Bev Shipley of Lambton-
Kent-Middlesex.
MPP Carol Mitchell could not attend.
When asked by an audience member
why, Bev Hill, chairman of the meeting
said Mitchell was not able to attend due
to an illness.
Several speakers took the podium but
it was a phone call that left members of
the Grass Roots and members of the
audience in bewilderment.
Steve Webster, a Blyth area farmer
who made the journey in his vehicle to
Queen's Park over a week ago and has
not left, was a highlighted speaker.
Webster eventually was contacted but
not without technical trouble.
Webster tried phoning the meeting at
7:50 p.m.
Joe Vermunt then explained to
Webster that it was not yet his time to
speak and that he would receive a
phone call in another five to 10 minutes.
In this period of time, his cell phone
was taken out of service and a new cell
phone number was given.
Members of the Grass Roots tried to
call Webster on his cell phone at 8 p.m
and did not succeed.
Webster then called back wondering
why no one had phoned him.
Mike Colclough tried *69 and found
out Webster's number had been
changed.
Webster then called Telus Mobility and
was told that his cell phone number was
actually changed and authorized by
someone in power. Webster says he is
doing well and he is not coming home
until he makes a difference.
Hill says Webster is literally living off
beans and apples, sitting in his car.
The future for Webster was uncertain
at Queen's Park after police officers
were pursuing him but NDP leader
See HOLMESVILLE page 2
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