The Citizen, 1996-10-23, Page 1Crash claims life
A tragic car accident claimed the
life of an area youth last week.
Andy Nethery, 17, RR3,
Wingham, died at London Health
Sciences Centre on the evening
Thursday, Oct. 17. Goderich OPP
say that Nethery had been a
passenger in a 1986 Plymouth mini
van, which had been involved in a
single vehicle accident at 4:20 that
morning on Hwy 8 in Goderich
Twp.
The driver, Jason Richardson, 19
of RR4, Wingham and another
passenger, Sarah O'Hagan, 17 of
Wingham were treated at Alexandra
Marine and General Hospital in
Goderich and released.
Police are continuing their
investigation.
Meeting with MPP
disappoints group
The North Huron
itizen
Vol. 12 No. 42
Wednesday, Oct 23, 1996
70e + 50 GST 750
First, second, third?
The contest had only begun but these runners seemed to be setting up for their finishing
spots in the race as they set the pace in their division at the cross-country meet at Hullett
Central Public School last Wednesday. Eight schools, Walton, Hullett, Clinton Christian,
Clinton Public, Blyth Public, Seaforth , Vanastra and Huron Centennial, participated in the
athletic event, which was blessed by moderate temperatures and sunny skies.
Fate of hospitals uncertain
Sports
Some local Minor Hockey
teams get the season
underway
See page 14
Entertainment
Carlton Showband brings
farewell tour to Blyth
Memorial Hall
See page 27
Feature
Local business salutes
Huron's agricultural
industry
See page 28
By Janice Becker
With the backup of expert stud-
ies, eight municipal representatives
met with Huron-Bruce MPP Helen
Johns, in Exeter, Monday morning,
to state their strong opposition to
amalgamation.
"I was a little disappointed in her
attitude," said Blyth Reeve Mason
Bailey. "She appears to be a propo-
nent of top-down government. We
would like her to represent us."
"We were not being listened to as
well as we could have been," said
Hullett Twp. Reeve Tom Cunning-
ham. "She seemed to be holding the
party line."
Representatives from Grey, Mor-
ris, Hullett and East Wawanosh
Twps, Brussels and Blyth (The
Group of Six), along with Howick
Reeve Norm Fairles and Clinton
Mayor Case Buffinga, met with
Johns to deliver written details of
their objections to amalgamation,
(as well as voice their opinions),
said Blyth Clerk-Treasurer John
Stewart.
Johns told the gathering that leg-
islation would go before the house
for the vote, in mid-November and
would be in place by the end of the
year.
Stewart expressed concerns about
the passage of the bill because the
meetings have produced more
questions than answers.
"The municipalities are not sure
what the legislation will cover and
what the bill will involve. We do
not know if it will impose restruc-
turing or give permission to make
changes. It is hard for municipali-
ties to know what to do until the
Crombie Commission (which is
deciding who pays for what) has
completed their report," said Stew-
art.
Quoting research by experts at
Queen's University, the University
of Western Ontario and Municipal
World magazine, Cunningham said
there is no savings with amalgama-
tion.
"Rural areas are adversely affect-
ed by amalgamation. Past attempts
have seen an increase in the cost of
government. We showed sharing
services works," said Grey Twp.
Deputy-Reeve Robin Dunbar. "Big
government may realize cost sav-
ings with amalgamation, but the
citizens do not."
As well as pointing out the lack
of cost savings, Cunningham listed
occasions where the costs would
rise. "Local reeves and councillors
often answer questions for ratepay-
ers instead of them having to go to
paid employees. If there were no
local representatives, we would
have to hire another staff person
just to deal with inquiries," he said.
Past amalgamations have also
shown that municipalities rise to
the highest level of service when
joined together. "If people are pay-
ing the same taxes, they expect to
get the same services," said Cun-
ningham. "We don't have to have a
Continued on page 8
Huron and Perth residents will
know by Jan. 31 what future is rec-
ommended for the eight hospitals
in the counties, Janet Hook, chair
of the Hospital and Related Health
Services Study Task Force of the
Huron-Perth District Health Coun-
cil told Huron County Council
Hook said her 19-member task
force has a mandate to provide a
high-quality service with maximum
access and co-ordination while
trimming 18 per cent from the cost
of hospitals in the county over the
next three years. Given the infla-
tion over that period, the reality is
likely that up to 25 per cent might
have to be cut from budgets, said
Fraser Bell, who said the Ministry
of Health has given the group only
six months to come up with a plan
to restructure hospitals.
Bell said in the past public pres-
sure has been able to forestall hos-
pital closings, but Jim Wilson,
Minister of Health, has set up the
Hospitals Restructuring Commis-
sion which will make the final deci-
sion on hospitals, leaving the
decision at arms length from the
political level.
In response to the government's
Continued on page 7
Time to fall back
This Sunday at 2 a.m. marks the return to Eastern Standard Time.
Make sure to turn your clocks back one hour.
While EST typically signifies the long nights and short days of fall
and winter, there may be at least a brief plus side to the change. The
1997 Farmer's Almanac says that some psychologists have decided that
Daylight Savings Time can be dangerous.
According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the Monday
following the spring's one hour jump forward, traffic accidents increase
by eight per cent. Apparently people are feeling the effects of that lost
hour of sleep. But after falling back, the number of traffic accidents drop
on the first Monday. Unfortunately, they return to average a week later.