The Lucknow Sentinel, 1980-11-19, Page 55laneknow Sentinel,. WedOestioyo November 26, 19$0--Par 31.
AA this is written, no report has
been tabled to any knowledge from a
study group set up by the provincial
government to propose ways of
overcoming the difference in rural Jf -
urban hydro rates.,
In fact, the exact opposite has,
been happening. Rural hydro users
for-power*11--be-paying-evetyrn-ore-
'than city cousins. ,
Ontario 14Yclro has one of the most
efficient public relations corps in
Canada. gvery time I. pen a piece
Rural customers now pay about
$38 per 1000 kilowatt hours, Urban-,
consumers pay an average of $30.
In the.sPring.,of this year, Premier_ .
BillDavis promised. his government
would, find away to,narrow this gap.
This, at least, is , an indication that
the province is aware that farmers
are paying too Much. A special study
group was fortned to propose ways
to overcome the gap.
lettOtSItt 100.il WI b, Bub 7,6n..
said that FlYdro's 'newest price in-
But that gap keeps widening. It
seems to be going the opposite way
to that which was promised by
Queen's Park. "I don't know who is on
that committee, that special study
group. I hope there are a few far-
mers on it.
Liberal Leader Stuart Smith has
detrimental to Hydro, get a couple ters, most of them from. anti-nuclear •
of letters explaining
I m
Hydro's people but a couple from Hydro
position, When I write something in thanking me for the piece..
favor of Hydro, the public relations I am about to create another batch ---boys-congratulate 111-e;-
They're good men and women, all- Ontario Hydro will increase its
doing the job they are paid to do. bulk power rate to municipal
Not long ago, I wrote a snarky utilities by 9,3 per cent..The rate to
column suggesting that' Hydro has rural, consumers will increase 9.9
not been fair in land dealings. With per cent by Jan. 1.
farmers. No so, said the PR people. Why?
Read our latest policies, they said, If farmers' are to be kept the
and you'll• find out we are being land, then some solution this •
more than fair. energy problem will have to be
But I talk to farmers and they tell found,. It just does not seem fair to
a different story. me that 770,000 rural Hydro
When. I wrote • another column customers — most of then.farmers
suggesting that Canada has no other not served by Ontario's 324
choice = except that of nuclear municipal utilities should have to
energy, I got a whole batch of let- pay more for electricity,
creases are going "`to, continue to
make our rural, rates by far the
highest west of New Brunswick., and
roughly twice the rural rate In our
neighboring proVince."
He asked a cogent question "Row
come things are ,moving in the op-
pOsite direction" to what was
outlined by the Conservatives in
April?
And yes, I knoW, politicians get
elected because they make promises
and politicians are notorious for riot
keeping promises, a fact that this
old-fashioned scribbler cannot' get
used to. A promise is a promise. It
becomes fact When it-i-§
I aril also of the opinion that the
Davis -government has tried
desperately hard over the years to
keep its, promises. It would not have
remained in poWer for almost 30
years, otherwise. Most people in this
province believe in promiSeS.
But somebody goofed here unless
the report of:this special gtildy group
-- which may hit the press before you
read this ..epistle 7- comes up with
Some answers.
I've been waiting these many
weeks for a report.
I'm glad I didn't hold my breath.
Council okays increase.
LIST-OWEL - Perth
County„ Council has
recommended the new
county council in 1981
approve a nine per cent
wage hike for all county
employees, but Warden
Carl • Vock refused the
actual wage figures.
Warden Vock said he is
withholding the in-
- form a don because
council's decision is only
a recommendation.
"I don't feel they (the
act'uar dollar increases)
should be made public
until a final, decision is
reached," he said.
Reeve Elsie Rarges of
L is tow el said her group
and the negotiating
committee arrived at the
nine per cent figure after
careful consOeration.
"I know some mem-
bers of council were
uncomfortable with the
size of the increase, but
*we did arrive at it after a
lot of thought."
No donations this year
ZURICH - After spending
a. substantial amount of
money 'to upgrade and
renovate their building,
the Zurich Bean Festival
committee has decided to
hold on to the rest of their
profits until next year.
In the past, the bean
festival committee has
donated profits to worthy
causes in the village. This
year, however, they have
decided to hold on to their
current balance of
$15,917.04,
In recent years the
bean festival committee
has donated over $20,000
for community work
including $10,000 for the
community centre; $6,500
for the children's
playground; $3,500 for'
village Christmas
decorations and $1,000 for
the Meals on " Wheels
program, ,
Dates.
Available
Lucknow &
District
Community
Centre
SATURDAY,--
NOVEMBER 29
Steve Maize and
Clndy-Laframboise
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5
Bill and Noma
Campbell
SATURDAY,
DECEMBER 13
Ashfleld Federation
Of Agriculture
OPEN DATES
AVAILABLE
DECEMBER
Friday 12
Friday 26
JANUARY
Friday 2
Saturday 3
Friday 9
Saturday 10
Friday 16
Saturday 17
Friday 23
Saturday 24
Friday 30
Saturday 31
FEBRUARY
Friday 6
Saturday 7
Friday 13
Friday 20
Saturday 21
Friday 27
Saturday 28
Now Booking For 1981
FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION AND
MID WEEK BOOKINGS
CALL 628-3532
Lucknow
Arena
Schedule
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 26
1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Morns and
Tots Free Skate _
7:00 to 8:00 Atom Games
Mildmay. vs Lucknow
THURSDAY; N27
8:30 Industrial League
Lucknow vs Flying
Dutchmen
Holyrood vs Kintail
FRIDAY, NOV. 28
2:00 to 3;00 Brookside School
7;00 Pee Wee Game
Mildmay vs Lucknow
8:30 Bantam Game
Teeswater vs Lucknow
SATURDAY, NOV. 29
8:00 to 9:00 House League
Canadians vs Red Wings
Leafs vs Black Hiwks
2:00 to 4:00 Public Skating
7:00 p.m. Flea Game
Teeswater vs Lucknow
SUNDAY, NOV. 30
1:30 to 3:15 Public Skating.
3:45 Juvenile Game
. Ripley vs Lucknow
7:30 Intermediate Game
• Goderich vs Lucknow: •
MONDAY, DEC. 1
9:00 p.m. Midget Game
Tiverton vs Lucknow
TUESDAY, DEC. 2
6:00.7:00 House League Pr.
Canadians and Red Wings
7:00 to 8:00 Leafs and Black
Hawks
8 -11:00 Btoomball Games
immumpoommimiao,
FOR ONE ALL
THE NOVA flow-controlled shower head
The Fuel Savor %Not or I !eater
Tuesday to Friday
LANGSIDE SUPPLY Lt:134 9 to 4:30 3 Miles East of !sallow on Highway 86 Closed Monday
Then 3% Miles North on Kinlois Sideroad 25
Phone 392-8118
Saves energy
49.95 and "liars
S3:.• rnel nt*Fer .:oaryc..: r