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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2016-01-13, Page 5Wednesday, January 13, 2016 • News Record 5 www.clintonnewsrecord.com letters to the editor False statements made Dear editor, It has recently come to the attention of the Perth County Federation of Agriculture (PCFA) and the Huron County Federation of Agricul- ture (HCFA) that Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail Inc. (G2G Inc.) made a false statement about our position on the proposed trail development on the abandoned rail right of way between Millbank and Auburn. The false statement was made to a media outlet in June 2015, and was subse- quently part of a media story about the proposed trail, in July 2015. We wish to be clear that neither the PCFA or the HCFA have developed a position in regard to our level of satisfac- tion with the possible solu- tions to the challenges identi- fied by adjacent farmland property owners to the pro- posed trail. The PCFA and HCFA had representation on a Working Committee along with repre- sentatives from G2G Inc, adjacent farmland property owners, OFA and County ORPP a poor plan for Ontario Dear editor, The following is in response to recent letters circulated by Mitzie Hunter, Associate Minister of Finance. To the editor: Minister Hunter's lopsided view on the impact of the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP) is, quite frankly, dangerous for the future of Huron -Bruce and this province. In our rural riding, many businesses are locally owned and operated, employing small teams of our families and neigh- bours. For Huron and Bruce Counties, and our province, the ORPP is the wrong approach at abso- lutely the wrong time. A cost -benefit analysis recently released by the gov- ernment admits the provin- cial economy won't fully recover from the shock of the ORPP for 20 years. Planning staff. The committee did develop a document out- lining possible solutions to the challenges this trail pro- posal presents. The final doc- ument was completed in Sep- tember 2015, and was presented at Public Open Houses in Milverton and Blyth the last week of Novem- ber 2015. Those who attended these Open Houses were able It confirms job losses will be in the tens of thousands, as Ministry of Finance docu- ments we exposed two years ago had stated. Disposable income and private invest- ment will decline, and household spending isn't forecast to recover until 2040. to submit further questions, concems and comments which are to be addressed by appropriate members of the Working Committee. We are aware that a number of questions were submitted at the Open Houses that have yet to be answered. Until these questions are answered, and the PCFA and HCFA can con- sultwith the adjacent farmland It will become difficult for anyone making under $90,000 to actually save any- thing on their own outside of the ORPP. Are we really going to disadvantage an entire generation of Ontarians with the ORPP, with no guarantees that this is a property owners about the answers, we will not be able to consider a position on this trail proposal. It concerns us greatly that a registered charitable organi- zation would release a false statement on our behalf. Joanne Foster, PCFA President Erica Murray, HCFA Vice President real solution? The added cost to businesses will sim- ply be too much for many to bear. The (Kathleen) Wynne government needs to hit the pause button on the ORPP for some sober second thought based on its own analysis. Office of Lisa Thompson MPP FROM THE ARCHIVE 15 years ago... • Record snowfalls have wreaked havoc on the roads and buried many driveways, sidewalks and parking lots. Sources at Environment Cana- da's Mount Forest stated that December saw 143.6 centimetres of snow fall, a new record for any month. And, according to Central Huron Chief Building Official Andy DePutter, another form of danger mounts as the snow collects. Poten- tial structural damage is a reality of severe winter living, said DePutter, who pointed to two pig barns that had collapsed from snow build-up in the surrounding area. In addition, it was reported that a building in Hensall suffered a similar fate. "Those buildings are not designed for the type of winter we are having this year, the amount of snow that has fallen," he said, adding that he personally hasn't seen this much snow in 15 years. • As its last maneuver before being amalgamated into Central Huron, the Town of Clinton recreation department, with the help of the Clinton Kinsmen, made a purchase that Facilities Manager Steve Campbell said was a long time coming. The town recently pur- chased a new Olympia ice resur- facer, from Resurface of Elmira, to replace the aged and toxic tractor/ scraper that had been in Clinton Arena for over 12 years. The resur- facer made its first appearance in the arena in late December. Accord- ing to Campbell, the move to make the purchase was actually spurred by the amalgamation process. 25 years ago... • The bleachers in the Central Huron Secondary School (CHSS) gymnasium were filled to overflow- ing on January 7 as staff and stu- dents gathered to honour the mem- ory of Doug Ludwig at a memorial service. A CHSS teacher for 19 years, Mr. Ludwig taught math and coached track and cross country teams. He was killed in an auto acci- dent on December 18, 1990. CHSS principal Jim Moore told those gath- ered for the service that he was very nervous addressing them, as this was one of the most difficult assem- blies he had ever had to conduct, explaining he just wasn't sure what to say. • The County of Huron has settled their land dispute with Holmesville area farmer Sid Kaastra. At a December meeting, county council agreed to pay $25,000 for Kaastra's land, which is needed to complete road construction in the area. Ear- lier, when no agreement could be reached, the county had begun expropriation proceedings against Kaastra. At that time, county engi- neer Dennis Merrall said that expro- priation was just a formality and a deal was always expected. Other considerations were added to the deal including: providing necessary accesses, water line connections under the new road and disposition of the old road allowance. 35 years ago... • Huron County Federation of Agri- culture member are continuing their campaign against the absentee own- ership of Ontario farmland. At their January meeting, held at Clinton Pub- lic School members approved a motion asking the provincial govern- ment to make funds for programs such as the tile loans and capital grants available only to resident Ontario farm owners. Tony McQuail indicated that since the province isn't getting anywhere very quickly on lim- iting absentee ownership, the motion's intent was to make sure the limited funding available for Ontario farmers wasn't used up on absentee owners. • Parents and students in the Clin- ton area are lobbying the Huron County Board of Education to set up a music program at Central Huron Sec- ondary School (CHSS) in Clinton. Mary Hearn, one of the spokesper- sons for the group, said in an inter- view this week that a group of parents want a program set up and are confi- dent that it will be highly successful. She said that already, about 50 stu- dents are involved in a non-credit, extracurricular band and choir, but can only take the course between 8 and 9 a.m., four mornings a week. Because the present early morning practices are held before the buses arrive, only town students are able to make the practices, unless rural par- ents are willing to drive them in. Mrs. Hearn said, in Goderich, a similar course has two teachers, is offered during the normal school day, and the students have all their instru- ments supplied. In Clinton, the group had some instruments donated by the now defunct Clinton Centennial Band while the CHSS students' council bought several more. The balance of the instruments must be rented at a cost of up to $60 a year.