The Huron Expositor, 1994-12-07, Page 7News and Views
Johns wins PC nomination
BY PATRICK RAFTIS
former Expositor reporter
Huron Tories will attempt to ride
a dark horse to victory in the
upcoming provincial election.
Political neophyte Helen Johns
bested four other candidates, all
with either extensive experience in
municipal politics or long histories
of activity in the Progressive
Conservative party (or both) at a
nomination meeting, November 30
in Exeter.
Although it required four ballots
to decide the winner, Johns led
from the first ballot to the last,
after captivating delegates with an
upbeat candidacy speech which
focussed on the task of winning the
riding in the upcoming election.
By contrast, all four of Johns'
opponents (Lawrence Beane, Tom
Tomes, John Schenk and Howard
Armstrong) concentrated on how
an elected Tory party would gov-
ern, basically offering formulistic
interpretations of PC leader Mike
Harris' Common Sense Revolution
platform.
"The (Huron) Conservatives have
not elected a provincial member of
parliament in 18 years. It is imper-
ative that we (nominate) a candi-
date who can win this riding. I am
that candidate," said Johns in her
address to delegates.
"A candidate must have more
than a grasp of the issues. We need
a strong candidate who can win in
Huron County," she said, pledging
to travel throughout the riding in
an effort to win voter support for
the party.
Johns stressed her youth and
business experience as key assets
she offered as a candidate.
"Half of the people who will vote
in this election are 45 and under.
They may not he concerned about
the same issues that are affecting
you here in this room," she told the
gathering estimated at between 500
and 600 (including just under 400
delegates).
"I'm 41 -years -old and I can relate
to these people," said Johns,
adding that she can also relate to
the concerns of seniors.
Johns said she intends to initiate
polling of riding voters, "so we can
find the large swing vote that voted
NIT laBt tilntl:" . , rx
Johns, a financial consultant from
Exeter garnered 120 votes on the
first ballot, compared to 75 for
Beane, 60 each for Tomes and
Schenk and 47 for Armstrong.
PATRICK RAFEIS PHOTO
P.C. WINNER - Helen Johns reacts to the news that she had won
the nomination to represent the Huron Progressive Conservatives
in the next provincial election as her husband Larry (at right)
applauds. She beat out four other candidates at the nomination
meeting in Exeter on Nov. 30.
Armstrong, a former Huron
County Warden and long-time
Stanley Township Councillor
dropped out after the first ballot.
Armstrong was nominated by
Zurich Reeve Robert Fisher, who
billed him as "someone who will
say 'whoa' and pull the reins on the
bureaucrats who are making far too
many decisions."
In his address to delegates,
Armstrong said that jobs are "all
important," and advocated encour-
aging business by reducing red
tape.
Schenk, a former Wingham
Towns Council member, who once
worked as an "advance man" for
former Tory Premier Bill Davis,
was eliminated on the second bal-
lot, after gathering just 59 votes, to
Johns' 140, Beane's 75 and Tonnes'
60.
Schenk slammed welfare depen-
dency as a problem in Ontario in
his address, noting that welfare
costs have multiplied six times in
the past 12 years.
"Our current government seems
to believe there can be no happy
ever after, that we have to go on
spending until we are bankrupt,"
he said.
"I will seek to ensure government
`puts' the emphasis on individual
initiative, rather than trying to
socialize everything."
Tom Tomes, Stephen Township's
current deputy reeve and another
former Huron Warden, lasted until
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the third ballot, on which he gath-
ered 88 votes, while Johns upped
her total to 171 and Beane reached
105.
Tomes stressed his experience in
dealing with provincial govern-
ment departments and his support
for leader Harris' program in his
address.
"This campaign isn't a popularity
contest between us (the nominees).
It's a contest to see who can work
best with our leader Mike Harris,"
said Tomes.
"We don't want to leave Mike
Harris in the same position Bob
Rae has been in — surrounded by
inexperienced people who just
can't deliver."
The Tomes' vote split fairly even-
ly on the fourth and final ballot,
but still left Johns with a comfort-
able margin of victory over Beane,
at 209 to 147.
Beane had focussed on high taxa-
tion, and also took a swipe at wel-
fare recipients in his address.
"One thing we have learned is
that high taxes kill jobs," said
Beane, pointing out that Ontarians
have endured 65 separate tax
increases in the past 10 years.
"If this is the key to prosperity,
than Ontario should be among the
most prosperous places in the
world."
Beane said that Ontario's Welfare
benefits are 35 per cent above the
national average and said he would
favor reducing that figure to 10 per
cent.
Smoking increase
continued from page six
That student could not talk for the
rest of the day as they were pro-
nounced 'dead.'
In a press release by Huron MPP
Paul Klopp he said smoking among
grade seven students has increased
by 50 per cent since 1991. Klopp
called it "a staggering reversal after
eight years of decline."
The new Tobacco Control Act has
been called the strictest anti-smok-
ing law in North America. Under
the act it will become illegal to sell
tobacco from vending machines and
smoking is banned from schools.
Tobacco sales will also be banned
from pharmacies and health facil-
ities.
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THE HURON EXPOSITOR, December 7, 1994-7
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SEAFORTH
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Help Families.
Once again, t e Huron County Christmas Bureau will be hosted by Bethel
Bible Church, Egmondville. "The response last year was
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shown!"This year a "giving
tree" will be placed in
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can he picked off the tree
and people can buy for a
specific "age" & "size" for
each child. Drop boxes for
donations will be placed in
stores from Nov. 22 thru to
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EVERYBODY'S DOIN' IT
tiRigt
THE REAL VALUE OF TRAIL PERMITS
(c 1994 by Craig Nicholson All rights reserved )
Besides, local by-laws, safety concerns and good
neighbourliness should discourage riding on private
property, town streets, farmer's fields, unmarked lakes
and rivers, and along roads and highways. And it's
often this high risk snowmobiling by local riders that
results in tragedy. You can avoid these dangers and
breaking the law too, with a trail permit. The real
payback comes in supporting your local club, peace
of mind, pleasure, and participation in many family
and social events.
Last year the OFSC added value to trail permits. in
addition to an Ontario Snowmobiler subscription and
the Provincial Trail Atlas - an immediate $27 payback
on your permit price - you now receive the Sled Smart
Card. It entitles you to savings opportunities which
together can recoup more than your permit cost. With
this value, it's like riding all winter for free!
Over 400 businesses are participating in the Sled
Smart Card. These range from accommodations and
restaurants to car rental companies and long distance
carriers. In some cases, the member benefit can
amount to many hundreds of dollars. Many
establishments honour the Card year round, so
members receive added value anytime. Even if they
don't snowmobile very much.
A partial list of participating Sled Smart companies
appears on the 1995 TOP Trail Map, now available
from local clubs and tourism offices. In January, each
member will receive a 1995 pocket directory.
Meanwhile, bright orange Sled Smart decals at
establishments along the trails flag their participation.
•The Sled Smart Card has proven so popular that a
special Landowner Sled Smart Card has been
introduced so property owners can benefit too.
Yes, the $100 trail permit is a good deal. Priced ten
dollars less than Quebec's permit, it offers
considerably more value. And best of all, the price is
fixed for next season too.
So as you're contemplating all that expensive
hardware stored in the garage waiting for snow, plan
to buy an OFSC permit for each sled that rides OFSC
trails. The sooner you do, the sooner your benefits
start. Until next time, happy trails and remember: Sled
Smart - Ride Safe, Ride Sober. For information on
local snowmobiling, Snowaramas and clubs, contact
the Ontario Federation of Snow_ mobile Clubs (OFSC
at 705/739-7669. To plan your Ontario tour, call=
800 -236 -SLED.
20 -Dover St., Stratford
271-8911
Open 6 Days A Week
Tim l
Complete Line Of
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Performance Modifications
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R.R. 1 Stratford
(East on Vivian St.)
271-5888
BY: CRAIG:
NICIIOI.SON
SHOP LOCALLY
It Makes
Good
Cents.
1
Oome snowmobilers are complaining about the
cost of 1995 trail permits. And $100 a piece
($80 before December 1st) does sound steep.
But what's the real value?
Essentially a permit carries three member benefits,
plus an exciting added value program, called the Sled
Smart Card. Benefit one is groomed trails - for 10 to
16 weeks, depending on your location and mobility.
No, trails won't always be perfect, but overall you'll
still get the most consistent snowmobiling in North
America. The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile
Clubs (OFSC) estimates that annual operating
overhead runs to $343 for each kilometer of groomed
trail. So your $100 trail permit actually repays you
many times over in levered dollars spent to groom
hundreds of miles of trails you ride this season.
Benefit two is trail access. 286 snowmobile clubs
have land use permissions allowing OFSC members
to ride 35,000 kilometers of trails. Without a permit,
you're not a member and may be subject to trespass
charges. Moreover, trespassers may encounter legal
and insurance hassles if involved in an accident,
damage or injury while riding on an OFSC trail.
Besides, where else can you ride?
Benefit three is personal safety. Stats indicate that
97% of snowmobiling fatalities occur off -trail. I wonder
how many of these victims were trying to save $100?
OFSC trails are as safe as snowmobiling gets. Mostly,
they are engineered, groomed, maintained, marked
and patrolled for safety. So why risk riding anywhere
else?
If you travel beyond your own club's trail system, a
$100 amortized over a full season of snowmobiling
is an inexpensive passport to unlimited touring
anywhere, anytime. For touring snowmobilers,
improvements like better linkages, mapping,
signage, hospitality services and more consistent
grooming is value far beyond the price. The new
TOP Trail System is an added bonus. Kilometer
for kilometer, regular riders are paying pennies for
great trails. Compare costs: a child's hockey •
season or a winter's downhill skiing or a week in
the sun!
But what's the value for casual, local and family
riders? Unless you're prepared to snowmobile
cross-country, you'll probably use OFSC traits
just to get to grandma's or to go for brunch, so
e same trail benefits apply to you. Like roads,
trails are for both local and long distance use.
ski:doo.
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