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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.'