Huron Expositor, 2006-10-25, Page 10Page 10 October 25, 2006
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Susan Hundertmark photo
The first of five all -candidates meeting in Huron East was held Monday night at Cavan United Church in
Winthrop. From left, candidates speaking were Bill Siemon, Jim Floyd and Andrew Flowers, all vying for
two available positions as McKillop candidates and Joe Seili and Lou Maloney who are competing for the
mayor's positions.
Mayoralty candidates ono•pposit
sides of beef plant issue
Huron East mayoralty candidates Joe Seili
and Lou Maloney came out on opposite sides
of the Brussels beef packing plant issue at the
first of five all -candidates meetings held
Monday night in Winthrop.
"I agreed on the $25,000 to do a study
because at that time the beef farmers were
having a tough time. But, since the federal
government has turned down giving us some
grants, I think we should put in on the shelf,"
said Maloney, currently a Seaforth councillor
in Huron East.
Seili, incumbent mayor, said the plans for a
beef plant in Brussels he's spearheaded over
the past few years, will be part of a proposal
the Canadian government will be taking to
China in January.
"I think we rattled some chains when we
said they wouldn't give us $50,000 for our
study but gave $50 million to researching
international markets for existing beef
plants," said Seili.
Seili defended the project saying that since
Huron East is not located on one of the 400
highways, it has to do something feasible to
help the area economically.
"We have to work at what we can do and we
know agriculture," he said.
Maloney said he didn't think there were
enough cattle in Huron County to supply the
proposed plant with beef.
"I wouldn't want to spend any more money
on it," he said.
Seili responded that the U.S. made a lot of
money when the border was closed to
Canadian beef and warned that U.S. politi-
cians could close the border again.
"We're looking at eight counties to supply
the beef and if the border's closed again, there
would be plenty of beef to supply the plant,"
he said.
Maloney said he was on West Perth council
when a hog plant was built but pointed out
the plant is "not employing a lot of people like
they said they would" and "has been closed 90
per cent of the time since they built it."
The three candidates running to fill two
positions representing McKillop ward intro-
duced themselves to a crowd of about 30
ratepayers.
Andrew Flowers, owner of the Dublin
General Store for the past 10 years, spoke
first telling voters he wants to bring their
ideas to the council table.
"If something is happening, I won't duck
you. I will be accountable. That's my business
and that's my job," he said.
Jim Floyd told McKillop voters he's not
aware of any major problems in McKillop but
wants to answer to the ratepayers.
"As Huron East, we need to get everybody
working together as a whole and have busi-
nesses coming into the municipality that keep
young people here," he said.
Floyd added that Huron East also needs to
continue attracting visitors "for the purpose of
a vacation or to see what we're all about."
Bill Siemon told voters he has a "profound
interest" in municipal government and has
time to do the job of representing ratepayers
after selling his insurance brokerage.
"I believe in good government and with the
farm crisis, we have to save everything we
can," he said.
When questioned about the weeds growing
in ditches in McKillop, Siemon said council
ought to look at cutting the ditches more
often.
"It's a false economy if we're letting half of
the weeds go to seed," he said.
Floyd said because the company tendered to
cut back the ditches hit rocks and bottles,
they sit waiting for parts.
"We can't- push them any faster," he said.
By Susan Hundertmark