The Lucknow Sentinel, 1985-04-17, Page 1single copy 35c
Published .in Liicknow, Ontario, Wednesday, April 170985
28 Pages
employees
get increase.
By Sharon Dietz
Village of .Lucknow Works employees'
will receive increases of $500 ,each per an-
num in a new wage settlement offered by
the village of Lucknow. Councillor Herb
Clark presented the proposal. to the
Luclmow council at their April meeting.
Clarksaid town works employees,. Gary
Austin and Doug Haldenby will receive
$500 increases this .year and next bringing
their salaries to $19,500- for Austin, the
town foreman and $18,000 for Haldenby;
the assistant foreman in the first year.
Lucknow has drawn up a contract with its
employees setting out. the salaries and
wage ceiling for the .various job descrip •
tions. The increases this, year are a token
amount forcost of living,' said Clark.
because the employees have reached the
ceiling in their categories. He said the
contracts have worked well and .council is
no longer giving percentage increases
because they are unfair. Eldon. Mann noted
that contracts cannot be drawn up for all
time and Clark added , that they must be
reviewed from time to time.
The contract with the clerk -treasurer was
negotiated when Bertha W hitcmft was
hired to the position and the increases are
already agreed- to until 'next, year when
W hitcroft reaches the ceiling imposed on
her job description. W hitcrofthas received
a $1,000 increase in each of the past three
years bringing her salary to $20,500. She
receives a further $1,000 increase in 1985
as agreed'. to previously in the contract.
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Lacknow Firemen struggled to put out a fire to a welding shop owned by Ray .Ulch in Dungannon Saturday afternoon. The cause of the fire
was a spark from a welder which ignited gasoline while working on a pickup truck. Along with the building. a 1974 pickup and welding
tools were lost with a total estimated value of $85,000. A Peterbilt truck parked by the .bulldhig was saved from the -fire. Mr. Ulch was
covered by insurance. There were no injuries. (Photo by Alan Rivett)
Jobs, agriculture, energy centre top election issues
Jobs, agriculture and the .Bruce Energy
Centre are the issues that will ;rate the
"highest discussion during campaigning by
three political candidates in the riding of
Huron -Bruce.
liberal Murray Elston is seeking a
second term in office after narrowly
defeating Progressive Conservative candi- .
date Gary Harron by 225 votes in the 1981
election. The new PC candidate, Mike
Snobelen and New Democratic Party rep-
resentative Norma Peterson would like to
join Mr. Elston, Murray Gaunt and John
Hanna as the three politicians to represent
Huron -Bruce in the riding's history.
Mr. Elston, a W Ingham lawyer, and
, Mrs. Peterson, a. Kincardine councillor,
were both acclaimed by their parties while
Mr. Snobelen, chairman of the Bruce
County board of education and a farmer-
businessrnan, narrowly edged CKNX
broadcaster Bill Thompson for the PC
ticket. -
Mrs. Peterson said "it doesn't make too
much difference" when asked about Mr.
'44nobelen being nominated. Mr. Elston
said he wasn'.t "as surprised" about the
decision as radio reports indicated last
Wednesday, although he "gathered it was
going to be close."
"I hope we have a good campaign and
I'm looking forward to meeting Mike at the
all candidates meetings," said Mr. Elston
during the opening of his Kincardine office
for the campaign.
Murray Elston
Development of the Bruce Energy
Centre is the key issue in Huron -Bruce and
Mr. Elston brought liberal leader David'
Peterson to the Bruce Nuclear Power
Development last • month to meet with
Hydro officials and energy centre develop-
er Sam MacGregor. Mr. Peterson wanted
to know what the liberals could do to get
industry at the end of the, pipeline,
explained Mr. Elston..
The incumbent said his party won't
stand for a 22 cent increase on a gallon of
'gasoline, which may take place after the
federal government recently reached a new
agreement with the Western provinces.
.For the potential fuel alcohol plant at the
energy centre, Mr. Elston said the Liberals
are prepared to provide a benefit in'
reduced taxes on the consunnption of a fuel
mixture,, which sees gasoline mixed/ jvith
ethanol and methanol. The mixture would
substitute alcohol for lead in the gas.
"My 'idea is to offer a break ' on
transportation costs," said Mr. Elston.
"We can set an atmosphere for industry in
considering the areas north cf Toronto.
He also mentioned transportation costs
in this area's tourism' industry, citing
Highway 400 providing quick access to the
Muskoka region. Mr. Elston said a direct
Turn to page. 3
Premier Frank Miller tours three area rulings
Miller announced e
three new policies that he believes will help
eliminate the nearly $1 billion food trade
deficit in Ontario. Miller told the predom-
inantly rural audience that much of The
food imported by the province could be
grown in .Ontario. He said increased
exports were the best way to solve the
'chronic financial problems facing . many
farmers.
Miller has allocated $2 million to support.
.research into. developing crops not oom-
• monly grown in Ontario, but which have
significant commercial potential..
As examples of new crops, Miller cited
certain varieties of pears and plums, as
well as raspberries, strawberries, cauli-
flower, broccoli, flower bulbs and canola.
Miller described food as "one of our
B Rand Threndyle Speakrng in
Chesley,
. biggest exports ,and said Ontario has th
potential to sell more.
Real Benefits
Speaking in one of the largest beef
producing areas in the province, Miller
reiterated a program he had announced the
previous day. The new Farm Operating
Assistance program will "pay down,'
operating loans for qualified farmers to
9.75 per cent. '
Miller described the $44 million program
as a way to provide the necessary guar-
antees to keep beef farmers in business.
Ken Kelly., a Port Elgin area farmer and
vice-prrees�ident of the Bruce Federation of
Agricul `ire, said the new program appear-
ed to offer some real benefits to area
farmers. He said the program wouldn't
help people in severe financial problems
y y
•
Ontario Premier Frank Millet went deep
into the heart of opposition country last
'week when he made a whirlwind tour of
three area ridings.
All three local ridings are held by liberal
MPPs, but Miller with his Progressive
Conservative candidates in tow, hopes he
will wrest some seats from the lib'erais in
this predominantly rural area.
Southwestern Ontario has been a liberal
stronghold for the past several. elections.
• The liberals hold 'a block of five seats in
Bruce, Grey, Huron and Perth counties.
The significance of the Miller tiip into
'rural Ontario was not lost on party organiz-
ers as they used the opportunity to
announce new PC agricultural, policy.
because they wouldn't qualify. He suggest-
ed the plan would help farmers "about to
be in financial difficulty" and people who
haven't expanded their farms in the 10
years.
"People that have a problem are still
going to have a problem," he said.
Miller described the new program as
more than just an election promise saying
,"that program is available today". '•
Miller went to great length to identify
with the agricultural community saying he
had been involved in farming through his
son, who was a farmer. His son is 'now in
the car business.
"1f 1 learned one thing with my son, it's
unless you inherit a farm you haven't much
chance to break even. You simply have to
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