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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1985-09-11, Page 3THE HURON EXPOSITOR, SEPTEMBER 11, 1985 — A3 Residents oppose Hydro corridor route BY ALAN RIV'ETT Many motorists in Huron County must have been wondering about the curious signs adorning the roadsides during the final days of August. The 25. signs stating "Ontario Hydro staked this power route before public hearings?!" were placed on county and paved roads from London to Ripley on August 30 and remained up through the Labour Day weekend. It's nart of a publicity campaign by the Foodland Hydro Committee,, a , group opposing a hydro power corridor through Huron County farmland, to draw attention to , hydro's survey work in the area. According to Glen Ribey and Gerald ' Dustow, both members of the hydro commit- tee who were responsible for erecting the signs, the survey is unnecessary because hydro claims it's to be used for an aerial survey. The hydro committee members say this survey has already been completed which leads them to believe Hydro is staking the actual route prior to the hearings. "This is just another instance of their arrogance, thinking they can go ahead with this line before any approval has been given. It's another sign of their incompetance," said Mr. Dustow who, along with Mr. Ribey, have farmland in which the proposed hydro route would affect. Hydro announced its plan fora 500,000 volt transmission line through Huron County on July 8 of this year. The plan called M7 would involve a power corridor running from the Bruce Nuclear Power Development (BNPD) to a London area transformer. The line would pass east of Ripley and Zurich and west of Ailsa Craig. Another 500,000 volt line would run from the BNPD to a transformer near Essa. The third part of the plan involves a 500,000 line from London to the Nanticoke generating station. Ontario Hydro's media relations spokes- person Lois Wallace, says the surveying in Huron County is part of Hydro's plan to stake all the recommended and alternative routes in order for an aerial photograph to be taken of the areas. "It's being staked in order to establish reference points so aerial photographs can be taken of all routes. The reference points will correspond with the aerial photograph. It's not a staking of the route itself," she said, adding that the aerial photographs will be used to show the proposed plan at the public meetings. Glen Hoglund, Hydro's project engineer, says the surveying using the aerial photo- graphy called artho-photography will be used for a highly detailed preliminary lay -out of the route. The actual ground surveys which will ultimately decide the tower placement will begin only after the hearings and assuming approval is given. The surveying which started in early July should be finished by mid-October, he says. If approval for the plan is given by the'Ontario government, the work on the power corridor could begin by 1987 "assuming the hearings don't take forever." The Foodland Hydro' Committee is also concerned about Hydro's inaction towards providing the public with copies of the environmental assessment. The document was slated for release to the Ministry of the Environment on August 3, says chairman . Tony McQuail, The document, he says, will be a major instrument they will use when appearing before the Hydro hearings. "We'll know then what environmental impact the towers will have on the farmland." Mr. Hoglund said the. environmental assessment is currently being sent out to those who requested them. He said the document has been cleared through the Ministry of the Environment and consists of five large volumes of environmental findings concerning the proposed hydro route. He also announced the times and dates for the public hearings for discussions on the project. The preliminary hearing will take place on October 16 at the, Holiday Inn in Guelph. He said another meeting is tentative- ly set for the, same location on November 12 with other meetings announced after that point. 'Jane Rose, a ' member of the Foodland Hydro Committee and a member of the group's, promotion and information commit- tee, says the signs were a way of telling the public that the group is closely monitoring the movements of Hydro concerning the pro- posed hydro corridor. ' W e want the publicity to be ongoing but not disruptive. The public should not have to be subject to rallies and demonstrations. We're hoping we're doing it in a considerate way," she said. Preliminary hearing set on proposed hydro line A preliminary .hearing on the proposed transmission line route through Huron County will be held in mid-October. The meeting is set for 10:30 a.m. at the Guelph Holiday Inn, Ontario Hydro announced its chosen route M7 in mid-July. The proposal, if approved, will have hydro constructing: A 500.000 volt transmission line from the Bruce Nuclear Power Development to the Essa transformer station near Barrie. This line would run north of Chesley, south of Markdale and Flesherton and cross the Niagara escarpment near Lavender; .. A 500,000 volt transmission line from the Bruce Nuclear Power Development to a new London area transformer station in Caradoc Township. This line would pass east of Ripley and Zurich and west of Ailsa Craig: . A 500,000 volt transmission line from the new London area transformer station,. along an existing 115,000 volt right-of-way, to the Nanticoke generating station. This line would pass north of the Caradoc Indian Reserve and follow the existing right-of-way east of St. Thomas to north of the Nanticoke generating station. Mr. Abbott said there are .alternatives Ontario Hydro is willing to conkider. One such alternative in Huron County, would be to follow the existing 230 kv line from Bruce to Seaforth instead of the more westerly route. The chairman of the joint hearings board is R.B. Eisen, a member of the environment assessment board. The other two members, J.R. Mills and R. W . Rodman, are both members of the Ontario Municipal Board. Drug-pricinglegislation proposed Legislation to end the practice of unrealis- ministry, and will empower the ministry to tic drug pricing tin Ontario will be introduced conduct audits to verify acquisition costs -- in the legislature this fall according to Health the prices which pharmacies pay for drugs. Minister Murray Elston. Legislation will also end the one-month The new legislation will include media- supply limit that currently exists on drug- nisms to create realistic drug pricing levels benefit prescriptions, thus reducing costs .and to ensure pharmacies are reimbursed at resulting from repeated dispensing fees, It is fair and realistic rates, he said. anticipated the measure could save the ODB "The intent of this legislation will be to more than $10 million a year. protect the Ontario consumer, to provide the Under the ODB, prescription drugs at no pharmacies of this province with fair charge are available to people 65 years and remuneration for their Ontario Drug Benefit older, those receiving provincial assistance or tODB) plan activities and to ensure that home care and those living in extended care competitive and realistic drug prices prevail facilities. in the Ontario marketplace.' During the past six years the cost of The proposed legislation. Mr Elston said, financing the ODB has risen about 23 per cent will require drug manufacturers and dispen• annually. to $350 million from $100 million. sers to provide drug purchasing data to the The Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary. a ATLAS -T -The countdown has started as 'he Huron Cr u^iy Atlas is 'coming out" on October 23 Here. coordinator Bev Brown. atlas committee chairman Gran' Stirling and editor A.Y. McLean took over pages of the atlas which have yet to be be .und (Levesque photo) A -Day is almost here After three years and some controversy. the Huron County historical atlas will he released on Wednesday. October 23. Goder- ich Township Reeve Grant Stirling an- nounced at the September session of county council. A "coming out" event is in the process of being organized for that day. when the atlas arrives from the printing company in St Catharines. Although no confirmations have been received, Premier David Peterson. Minister of Health. Murray Elston and Minister of Agriculture. Jack Riddell will be invited as will Huron -Bruce MP Murray Cardiff. W hen undertaken by Huron county council in late 1983. the atlas contemplated was similar in size and style to the original Beldon Atlas of 1879 and a subsequent Perth atlas published in 1982 However. Reeve Stirling said increasing public interest and participa- tion have resulted in a large hook consisting of 350 pages. Atlas co-ordinator Bev Brown cautioned that people arriving to pick up atlases should note the books are heavy Editor A Y McLean said each book weighs 7 5 pounds. Special arrangements have been made to assist patrons and those who have purchased prepublication copies of the atlas to pick up their copies on presentation of their certifi- cate and receipt. A temporary office in a Laidlaw transport van will be looted next to the north entrance to the Court House in Goderich. it was noted that Laidlaw donated, for free, the use of the transport van. Ms. Brown said copies of the atlas will be listing of about 2,300 drugs eligible for dispensing under ODB, is published twice a year by the ministry. Prices listed are based on product prices submitted to the govern- ment by drug manufacturers. "A growing number of manufacturers have found that their marketing position is improved by submitting high prices for the Formulary," Mr. Elston said, "The greater the price spread between a manufacturer's listed price and the actual selling price for multiple -source drugs, the greater the profit' to pharmacies and the greater the chance the pharmacies will choose that manufacturer's product to stock and sell." Multiple -source ifroducts are those for which alternative generic drugs are listed in the Formulary. Some short-term corrective actions were taken in Ontario in early 1984. After months of discussion with pharmacy and the drug industry, initiated by the Health Ministry, an agreement resulted in a rollback on the Formulary prices of 33 multiple-soUrce drugs. Mr. Elston said the 1984 Provincial Auditor's report noted that Ontario had incurred an estimated $14.5 million in excess costs under ODB as a result of price spreading practices. it also showed that prices in the Ontario Formulary were higher than those in Saskatchewan's Formulary for 80 per cent of the high volume multi -source drugs that were compared. "We now estimate that the spread on the 33 drugs has grown back to about $7 million a year in excess costs for ODB. In addition, it is estimated that the spread on the next 20 high volume multiple -source drugs costs about $12 million a year." Because the ODB Formulary is used as a pricing guide for most prescription drug purchases, Mr, Elston said, it creates unrealistically high prices for cash customers and those on other drug plans. (Continued on page A7 available for distribution from the Court House location commencing at 10 a.m.. Wednesday. October 23 continuing daily Monday to Friday from 9a.m. to4:30p.m. for two weeks until November 6 After those dates. copies of the atlas may he picked up from inside the Court House or by delivery after paying $6 per copy to cover shipping and handling She also noted pictures which have been on loan for use in the atlas may be picked up at the temporary office Reeve Stirling pointed out the present publication price of $45 for the prepublication Certificate would continue to he in effect until October 22. the day before the atlases actually arrive in Goderich Applications for this special price should be forwarded to the atlas office The postpuhlication price of $59 50 will become effective with the publication and release of the atlas on October 23 Following publication, copies of the atlas also will be available at a number of retail outlets in the county. Reeve Stirling said. Containing nearly one million words and 1,000 pictures. the atlas includes 16 township maps showing property owners. nearly 50 maps of towns. villages and hamlets and lists of small lot owners (under 40 acres). In addition the stories of some 600 families, organizations. churches and businesses as well as 26 Huron municipalities are featured in the atlas "It will be a bench mark," said Ms. Brown of the arta.; b ANGER SPARKED—Gerald Dustow, left, and Glen Ribey pound Into the ground one of 25 signs erected over the Labor Day weekend to protest the surveying being carried out by Ontario Hydro. Both men belong to the Foodland Hydro Committee who oppose the installation of a hydro corridor through Huron County's prime agricultural land, (Rivet) photo) TO THE EDITOR i Student centre says thanks The staff of the Canada Employment Centre for Students in Goderich would like to thank the many people who helped make the summer of '85 such a success. First, we must thank all the employers who provided summer jobs for students. These 'jobs served not only to provide valuable work or career -related experience for many high- school and post -secondary school students, but also gave them the means of offsetting educational costs. On behalf of our country's future doctors, teachers, farmers, carpen- ters, nurses, etc., thank you for hiring a student. Special mention must also be given to local newspapers. The students program received great coverage in area newspapers which helped to get our message across to a large number of people. We greatly appreciated this valuable and necessary publicity. Thanks are extended as well, to the local community who showed thier faith in student workers. W e had excellent response and support for our special activities such as car washes and parades, not to mention the summer -long hiring of students, This kind of encouragement and support from the com- munity are what make this program so successful. Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of the Canada Employment Centre in Goderich. W e certain- ly appreciated their help and willingness to answer any of our questions over the course of the summer. The student office will be open again next year from February until the end of August We hope that the student program will receive your continued support again next year In the mean time, there are still students on file who are willing to work part time after school and on weekends If you wish to hire a student during the school year. please contact the regular Employment office Once again, thank you for your support in '85 Yours sincerely. Michele Gaynor Supervisor Canada Employment ('entre for Students Godench and Exeter Dave MacDonald and Bill Jewitt Student Placement Officers Seaforth Branch collects $7,883 Tht Huron County Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society would like to express their appreciation and gratitude to all the resi- dents. industries, business firms and associa- tions of your community who have contrib- uted so generously to the 1985 Campaign for Cancer Funds. The Seaforth Branch has attained the sum of $7,883.00. This achievement combined with the other four branches of the Huron Unit has enabled our Unit to reach our 1985 objective of $90.000.00. A special thank you goes out to ,Judson Walker and his fine team of volunteers who have worked long and hard to reach this goal In so doing a significant contribution has been made to the fight against cancer and a great service has been done for this community and for the country On behalf of the Huron County Unit please accept our sincere thanks for a superb job Yours truly. Murray Hunter Campaign Chairman It was our mistake There's nothing more obvious than a mistake and unfortunately The Expositor made one last week. In the article appearing on the front page of the paper concerning school enrollment in area schools. Seaforth Public School teacher Beth Hagan's name was incorrectly spelled Our apologies to Mrs Hagan and anyone affected by our mistake ..s Exeter postman earns $375 in 1885 IN THE YEARS ALONE 100 YEA RS A GO Mr. Walter Carley, of Exeter, has got the contract for carrying the mail froth Exeter to Kirkton. He commenced on Tuesday. The contract is for three years and 10 months, at $375 per annum. Rev. Mr. Jones, the esteemed pastor of Knox church, Brussels, is perhaps the oldest minister in Canada doing regular service. He is 79 years of age and preaches twice every Sabbath. His voice is still clear, his memory unimpaired and few pastors of any age can give a more lucid. eloquent exposition of the gospel. 75 YEARS AGO A very narrow escape from a possibly fatal shooting accident ocurred at the Queens Hotel, Listowel on Tuesday evening of last week. Mr. Alby Daum had been out with his riflekluring the day and had, as he supposed, extracted all the shells. However, one had been overlooked, and in some manner the gun was discharged while he was in the hotel, the bullet piercing a wooden partician and going through a man's hat in the next room, but fortunately, not touching the man himself. The family of William and Mary Arm- strong, whose 100 -acre farm adjoins Brussels on the east has a unique and not easily equalled record along scholarship lines. Out of a family of two daughters and five sons, the oldest of when) is only 25, six have already attained seconil-class teachers certificates. ' SO YEARS AGO Mr. A. McDonald, of Staffa, was in this office this week, renewing his subscription to The Huron Expositor, which he says he will read as long as he can see. Mr. McDonald is in his 87th year and The Expositor has been going to his home every week for the past 65 years. He recalls vividly, visits to Seaforth as a boy, when what is now a town, was little more than a swamp. Mr. Frank Young has something out of the ordinary in the pig line Two weeks ago. a sow gave birth to a litter of seven and ten days later, as if not satisfied. added 10 more However, when the second lot came. she would have nothing to do with them and these were being raised by hand 25 YEARS AGO A liquor store and brewers warehouse are imminent for Seaforth. Indications W ednes- day were that not only would a liquor store he located in town as alreauy forecast, out ,ran brewers warehouse Sale of prnperiy for a new liquor store was completed and a visit made to the town by the Brewers Warehnit- ing Compan limited A record one day attendance was record(' d at the Seaforth !Anus Print this summer Y tth a high day of 746 in the pool to July of 1959. the day this year smashed that mark by 83 On Friday. July 15. 829 swimmers passed through the gates to enjoy a enol. refreshing swim COMMUNITY CALENDAR If you're organizing a non-pr"iii even, .t io'eres' ' '•'t•er Seatrip area res den's phone the recreati°n -if ice a' 527-0882 '.r 'he Exp .S,`r.r a' 527.0240 nr mail 'he information to Community Calendar. The Hurn Expnsi', r. B'nx 69. Seat r Ontario NOK'IWO well in advance 'f :he scheduled dToie e Huron Exposrnr Space for the Cnmmuni'y Calendar is d,na ed by Harmony Kings are starting their regular Tue-day night practices at 8110 p m New members welcome. Wednesday, September 11 8 p.m. Seaforth Horticultural meeting. Seaforth Public School. Everyone wet-. come. Thursday, September .12 830.11.30 p.m Clinton Seniors Dance, Orange Hall All seniors 50 years and over are invited ladies please bring lunch Admission $2 00 Saturday, September 14 Minor baseball paper drive Please have papers by the curb at 9 a m. aA Do you nave a meeting, game or special event planned tor the near future? it so lei us know so we can inform the public It's difficult to find out what's happening unless you're wjlling to keep us informed, The community calendar is an eight-day timetable of non-profit events going on in the community, Let's keep each other on top o1 things.