The Rural Voice, 1981-04, Page 25VOICE OF A FARMER
A waste disposal
site would give
us jobs
BY ADRIAN VOS
When Dr. Harry Parrott. Ontario's Environment minister,
announced the new location of a chemical waste disposal site in
Cayuga, he mentioned that a second site considered was in
Huron County.
Immediately rumors began to fly that this second choice was in
the Hensall area.
In view of strong efforts made by Hensall council to attract
industry, I thought that Huron would welcome a new industry
with open arms, and ask the minister to make their area the first
choice.
However, the opposite happened. County council began to talk
about plans to fight a chemical "dump" if Cayuga should be
rejected.
The latest rumours have it that the Huron site considered is in
Ashfield township, in the north of Huron county.
Of course. much testing of the soil would have to be done, but
supposing that the site was suitable for its purpose, a welter of
mixed emotions would be unleashed.
I have no idea how many people the plant (not dump) would
employ, but for those whose children would find a job there, it
would mean that these kids could hang a few years longer on
mother's apron.
It stands to reason that those families would consider a
disposal plant a blessing. as jobs in Western Ontario are few and
far between.
However, the municipality of Ashfield has long been a staunch
defender of food producing land (with some exceptions. like the
cottage development on the lakeshore.) Ashfield has also been
very supportive in the struggle against a electric power complex
in the county.
But neighbouring townships may have a differnt perception of
development. Reeve Simon Hallahan of East Wawanosh told
visitors to the January council meeting that he welcomed
severances in his township because the houses on them brought
in revenue, revenue needed to replace that from disappearing
farmers.
Depending on the number of people to be employed at the
disposal plant, it could well be that some would want to settle in
West and East Wawanosh or in Huron Township of Bruce
county. While this undoubtedly would make it difficult for some
farmers to expand their operations if needed, it would also
undoubtedly bring in temporary relief to the treasuries of these
townships.
If the land needed for a site were to be expropriated from
absentee foreign owners, who already have such a large slice of
the township's good food producing land, there could even be
some glee.
Looking at it from an economic viewpoint, any new industry
would be a boon to the whole area. From job creation to
strengthening of the slowly dying communities, improved roads.
national recognition as a progressive community. not afraid of
the unknown, and the possibility of attracting more chemical
industry.
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THE RURAL VOICE/ APRIL 1981 PG. 23