HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1985-10-09, Page 1INDEX
Births /A13
Brussels /A9
Classified /A14,.15, 16
Dublin, /A4, 5
Entertainment /A18
Family /Al2, 13
Graduates /Al2
it
Hensall 1 A8
Legion /A17
Obituaries /Al2
People /A13
Sports 1A6, 7
Walton IA10
Weddings /A13
Atlas to ber eased October 23. See page A3
Perth delegates split between leaders. See page A5 '
'Centena•ires dip Howick Hawks. See page Ab
Serving the communities
and areas of Seatorth,
Brussels, Dublin, Hensel!
and Walton
SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1985 — 18 PAGES
Seats open
on council
•Not all the:intentions are in but it looks like
there will be some vacancies on council when
the November .12 municipal . election rolls
around.
At press time members of Seaforth Town
' Council had indicated they would not seek
re-election. Three indicated they would.
Three others, including Councillor Paul Ross,
Reeve Bill Campbell and Deputy -Reeve Bill
Bennett could not be reached for comment.
Councillor Wayne Ellis said increasing
responsibilities at work, and the longer
three-year term of council, made .him to
reconsider running for town council.
"The three-year term is too long yet at the
same time I think it's a good idea from the
standpoint of council because it allows them
to get more done," he said.
"But in my position it's a little different. A
three-year commitment is too much."
Mr. Ellis added since his job as sales
manager at CKNX requires .him to be in
W ingham during the day it is hard for him to
keep up with what's going on in Seaforth.
"i've felt in the last while that I was not
doing as good a job as I could have had i
worked in town," he said.
Mr. Ellis served on council for five terms,
1973-74, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1977-78, and
1982-85. He said it was the best council he has
ever sat on.
Henry Mero has also stated he will not seek
re-election in the municipal election.
" i've had enough. It just requires too many
hours of my time," he said
Mr. Mero has served on council for five
111 years
Bill•Martin-ie-the third councillor wj�q•will
not seek re-election He has recently. moved
to Brumfield and said while he is still eligible
to run for council he doesn't really think it
would he fair to the people of Seaforth.
" If I still remained with my residence there
i .would probably run again But I'm just not
on Main Street anymore "
Councillors Hazel Hildebrand and Carol-
anne Doig have said they would se@k
re-election Mrs Hildebrand has served urr"—
council for two terms, since 1980 and Miss
Doig took over for Irwin Johnston who
resigned earlier this year
Mayor Alf Ross will also be seeking
re-election
A person may he nominated as a candidate
for an office by filing through the office of the
clerk between October 17 and 21 Nomina-
tions can he accepted no later than 5 p.m. on A SIGN OF THE SEASONS—It Is at this time of year, with Thanksgiving lust days away, that
October 21 Nominations must he signed by the colors of autumn seem the prettiest. Varying shades of reds, oranges and golds light up any
at least 10 electors
town In southwestern Ontario as the deciduous trees prevalent to the area signal the true end
of summer and the advent of winter In this transitory season — AUTUMN. (Mci!wraith photo)
Baby bonus decrease a breach of trust
The intent of the Conservative government Payments would go up only one per cent.
to decrease the family allowance (Bill ('-70) Ms. Bolton said the decision is taking
represents a breach of trust between the money away from the people who need it
government and the Canadian people accord- most.
ing to a local woman By 1990, including the changes to personal
"It's irresponsible it backtracks on income taxes and to the family benefits
promises made to the electorate who bought package. a two -earner, two -child family
the promises," said Valerie Bolton, a mother earning $15,000 a year will lose nearly $2,000
of two, an employee of Women Today and the in purchasing power as a result of Bill C-70. A
New Democrat Party candidate for Huron- family earning $80.000 will only lose $1,125.
Bruce in the last federal election low income families will lose more per year
"ft weakens my confidence that the than high-income families and middle -in -
present Conservative government has any come families will lose three times as much as
real commitment to the family unit It also high-income families
goes against the sacred trust idea the Prime Family Allowance was introduced in 1945
Minister expressed when he said he'd never and made universal in 1947. in 1947 the
touch the social services budget " interest on the national debt was over 22 per
Rill ('•70 will limit future cost -of -lasing cent of the total federal expenditures. In 1985
increases in benefits to increases in the the figure is the same.
consumer price index in excess of three per In 1947 7 7 percent of federal expenditures
cent a year For example, if the inflation rate went to Family Allowance. In 1984, the figure
was four per cent a year, baby bonus was 2.4 per cent
The last major increase came in 1974,
brought on by the New Democrats, when the
family allowance was doubled and indexed. It
then made up 6.1 per cent of the federal
expenditures.
"The Conservative plan is regressive."
said Ms, Bolton, "and show how low a value
is placed on children by society."
The budget proposals will .cut $600 million
per year from child benefits by the year
1990/1991. In most parts of Canada, family
allowances now amount to $31.27 a month for
every child under 18. There are approximate-
ly 3.6 million families getting the monthly
payments.
According to Ms. Bolton the government
shouldn't be taking away from the social
services in order to reduce the deficit.
"How can the government cut back in
social services yet bail out the big banks. It
shouldn't be low income people. women and
Vacancies on three rural councils
While the majority of councillors in the
Townships of McKillop. Hullett. and Hib-
hert will he standing for re-election, there
will be at least one new face on each of those
councils after the November municipal
elections
Hullett Township Reeve Tom Cunning-
ham could not be reached for comment, but
both his wife and the township clerk said he
would stand for re-election. Deputy Reeve
Joe Gibson will run for the Deputy Reeve
spot once again and Councillor Ron Gross
will seek another term as well
"I guess I'll give it another shot." said
Mr Gross. who has been on council for five
years
The other two members of the present
Hullett council have announced they will
definitely not be on the ballot this year.
('ouncillor J. Clare Vincent, a former
reeve and clerk -treasurer announced his
retirement from municipal politics after a
25 -year involvement with Hullett Council.
Mr. Vincent who joined the council in 1960,
said he felt he had done it all during his
lengthy term.
('ouncillor Mel Knox said he decided
-"about a month ago," he would not be
standing for re-election, Mr. Knox, a dairy
farmer said "there doesn't seem to be
enough time to do justice to the council work
and my farming operation." as well as
keeping up with the commitments to a young
and fairly active family.
• After completing his second term (a total
of five yearsMr. Knox said "i've enjoyed
the job and found it very interesting."
Ma( ilJd)PTOW NSIIIP
McKillop Township may need a new
Deputy Reeve. as William Leaning, the
current Deputy Reeve has moved to the
Listowel area and is not eligible for
re-election. Councillor Bill Siemon has
expressed interest in running for the Deputy
Reeve position. if there is one to run for.
Si municipalities where the population is
less than 1.000 people there is no Deputy
Reeve spot on the ballot..
"It has always been nip and tuck lin
McKillop)," said Mr. Siemon, who has been
a coundilor for five years.
Township Reeve Marie Bicknell, has
announced she will again be a candidate for
"Twenty-five years is quite a while. I've the top spot on council. Mrs. Hicmell has
gone film councillor to reeve to clerk- been Reeve for one three-year term, and
treasurer and back down to councillor served two two-year terms as a councillor
again." he said. before that.
Councillor Brian Campbell will run, but
has not decided whether to seek a
councillor's position or the Deputy Reeve
seat.
Business commitments may keep Council-
lor John George out of the running this time
around. Mr. George. who operates the
Family Paradise campground, near Sea -
forth, said he is undecided about running in
the upcoming election.
"It's very difficult to run a business and
work on council at the same time." said Mr.
George.
HiBBEIhT TOWNSHIP
Hibbert Township Deputy Reeve Don
Johns has announced he will challenge
present Reeve Ivan Norris in the upcoming
election.
Councillor Tom Schoonderwoerd has also
announced his candidacy, but Walter
McKenzie and John Kinsman have yet to
announce their plans.
"We'll definitely have a vacancy in the
council," said Clerk -Treasurer Charles
Fliend. "One of the present three council-
brs could move up to deputy reeve or
someone outside council could run as well."
it is still too early to tell how many
newcomers will throw their hats into the
municipal ring, as no official nomination
meetings have been held.
children who suffer to pay off the debt," she
said.
"it exhausts me. It has worn away at my
tolerance and makes me feel sad and
disappointed. At the start i think everyone
was hopeful that the new approach of a new
government would go well. W e didn't think it
would work against us. The Conservatives
just haven't been taking the kind of stance
they promised."
Ms. Bolton added it was interesting the
response gained by the pensioners when they
gathered together and lobbied. She said
women and children will probably fight the
decrease in family allowances too, but said it
probably wouldn't have the same results as
the pensioners.
"The government sees that this group of
people has less time to lobby. Women have
their families to look after and they have less
time to organize and lobby and fight. I don't
imagine we'll see it work as well," she said.
"It's too bad the government finds it
necessary to take money away from those
who need it most. Even if a woman has a
husband with a high income it doesn't mean
she has access to it. This (the family
allowance ( is one way women get access to
some money to pay out for their children and
families. it is a really handy amount of money
to have."
"I remember a couple of winters myself
where it was the only money my husband and
i had."
Ms. Bolton added giving money in the form
of family allowances is a good way to ensure
that money gets put directly hack into the
economy.
"As a mother of two small girls i know that
money goes directly out again to make
necessary purchases. It isn't the kind of
money that just gets socked away "
Ms. Bolton said she thinks the way to make
up the federal deficit is by taxing through the
income tax system, not by cutting down the
expenditures in the social services
"By taxing through the income tax system
it doesn't lead to the welfare syndrome where
you have to plead to get something -'
"Or maybe," she said, "it's time the
government came up with other really
creative and innovative ways for low income
families to be given some chance at economic
/survival. There must be other ways of
restraining that aren't so hard on'families and
children.'