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Times-Advocate, 1985-04-24, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, April 24, 1985 Sparse crowd at Lucan event Caii dites outline agrieulturcl programs Incumbent Jack Riddell suggested at an all -candidates' meeting in Lucan that Ontario voters were being asked by Premier Frank Miller to buy a pig in a poke, while later debate in 3jie session sponsored in Lucan by the federations of agriculture in Huron and Middlesex centred around the price consumers are paying for pigs. Only 100 people attended the debate between Riddell and his competitors, PC Bryan Smith and NDP Paul Klopp. Many of those were campaign workers, judging from buttons being worn. Each candidate was given a five- minute introductory speech allotment and a concluding two -minute speech. The balance of the night was spent in each responding in turn to questions submitted in writing by the audience. Klopp was first on the program. and noted that one of the main reasons he was running was due to the policy programs in Ontario which are causing deterioration in the agricultural scene. He outlined the NDP programs for assisting the family farm and small business. noting that farmers have to be given help to get their financing in or.er iu: ow -in a ra es Over a long term. The Zurich area farmer also cited the need for policies in Ontario to stop foreign land ownership, which he said was a pressure on young farmers wanting to get into the business. "We have to get the county offices back to snuff." he said in reference to the ministry of agriculture and food and said the NDP would work with the support marketing boards to get better prices for farm commodities. "If you're making over $75,000 an- nually, you probably won't be voting NDP," he advised. his audience, ex- plaining the party would fill tax loopholes which provide benefits for the rich and would instal a minimum tax on people who make aivee65O ObO. He said many initiat category do not now pay income taxes. The NDP would also provide long- term interest rate assistance to small businesses to help them create jobs as well as help them fight large coporations. "I share your concerns over what lies ahead," Smith said in reference to farming, which he noted has seen good and bad years. tie outlined Miller's $40 million assistance program which will reduce interest rates to nine and three- quarters percent on farm operating capital and also said that on June 1 the province would be involved in the national stabilization program for beef, hogs and sheep. He said that would be initiated "so farmers won't lose a great deal in any one year." Noting the federation's support for Premier Davis in the past, the Lucan • man said that the honest and fair treatment given farmers by Davis would continue under the present leader. Riddell's comment on buying a pig in a 'poke came in his opening remarks when he decried the fact Premier Miller was reluctant to debate the other party leaders and that the number_ o . a debates in the riding would be limited due to a request from one of the camps. He said it was unfortunate when voters were denied the opportunity to hear what the candidates have to say and he termed it a threat to the democractic process. That is also the label he put on the political patronage exercises of the government. Quoting a London Free Press writer, Riddell suggested Ontario couldn't survive under one-party rule, likening the 42 -year Tory reign as be- ing similar to one-party systems in Russia, Cuba, etc. He said es teh rule beyond rtvvaa ee terms start to think they have a divine right to rule and iner- tia sets in. He blasted Miller for calling an election before calling the Legislature back to hear the Throne speech, con- sider a budget or answer some impor- tant questions. "We weren't given the opportunity and now we're out on the election trail dealing with issues never addressed by the Premier," he commented. The Liberal member said he wanted to know Miller's agenda for getting Ontario's young people back to work, wanted to know what the government planned to do about an education system which has failed to meet those young peoples' needs and also wanted to know what the policy on full funding to the Roman Catholic schools would be so he could talk in- telligently with people who were ask- ing. He said he also wanted to know the Premier's positon on the propos- ed hydro corridor in Huron and Mid- dlesex, or if he had a hidden plan for more hospital closings. He was con- cerned with the lack of interest Miller appears to have in people as opposed. to his struggle to retain power. Questions and answers followed and some of the highlights of those were as follows: and Middlesex Both Riddell and Klopp said they would oppose such a line through the two counties, while Smith stated a concern that the line could go through valuable agricultural land. The latter said he would do his best to ensure that the opponents had the informa- • tion they needed to present their case at hearings. After saying "no way" the line should go through this area, Riddell said that was the message in 1982 and he couldn't believe they'd reverse it now. He said the govern- ment should send its top ministry per- sonnel to snake the same opposing stands as OMAF' did in 1982. Klopp, who was on the initial Foodland Hydro committee said any attempt at putting a line through .the two coun- ties should be stopped. MANY EMPTY SEATS — There were plenty of seats to spare when the federations of agriculture in Huron and Middlesex sponsored an all -candidates' meeting in Lucan, Tuesday. About 100 attended and many of them are shown stretching as the event concluded. Close to 900 attend Riddell's free dinner Almost 41N0 plates of food were serv- ed to the throngs of people who ac- cepted incumbent Jack Riddell's in- vitation to beef on a bun al a pre- election rally at the Pineridge Chalet on Thursday. The hard-working volunteers in the kitchen began serving beefburgers. beans and coleslaw 15 minutes before the advertised start of 5:00 p.m. and didn't stop until after eight..Even the host expressed surprise at the size of -the turn -out Riddell was in top partisan form. In Iwo speeches an hour apart, he lam- basted both provincial and federal Conservatives in his famous sten- torian style. The MPP tor Huron -Middlesex pin- pointed Ontario Ilydro's proposal to consider a power transmission line through some of the best agricultural land in Canada as the number one issue in this riding. Riddell bemoaned the tact the business of government in the pro- vince has come to a halt while ever+}•one is cxtt on the campaign trail because of an election called "so Frank Miller can retain power". He said Miller's policies on many impor- tant issues are unknown. "Where does Miller stand on SS board Continued from front page transporting Catholic trainable men- tally retarded students. The Catholic hoard is purchasing services for 12 mentally retarded students now. and the number is ex- pected to increase to 14 in September. The services are being purchased from both the iluron and Perth Coun- ty Boards' of Education. • Nlarcy also put part of the blame_ for the increase on the provincial government. Ile said the provincial government's grant to the Huron - Perth hoard only increased by about 3.5 percent. while 01111' premiums in- creased 15 8 percent. workman's . compensation premiums increased :16.8 percent. (*IC is up 10 percent and Canada Pension Plan premiums are up 17 percent The school hoard has also included $214.795 in its budget to buy 47 midi ttonal icons l educational computers and 10 printers. The hoard already has 35 Icons in its schools. Lane said the computers will not be purchased unless grant money is available from the province. universality of health care, opting out and extra billing?Where was Miller' when Mulroney was dealing with the foreign oil companies in an agree- ment that's going to cost us more at the gas pumps? Where was Miller when the pork tariff dropped the price of hogs to its current 58 cents?" Rid- dell asked rhetorically. Riddell touched briefly on issues such 'as youth unemployment, Tory patronage and the flurry of generous retirement pensions and appoint- ments made by former premier Bill Davis before leaving office. Ile was most concerned about Davis' promise of full funding for Catholic secondary schools with no accompanying details, leaving candidates for all par- ties floundering in the dark. Riddell said all parties supported full funding in principle, and it had been a Liberal party plank since7971. Ile told his audience Davis had not acted on his suggestion to set up an all -party selection committee to look into funding.. independent schools, curriculum and other related matters. "We should be back in the legislature hammering out solutions to these issues," Riddell concluded. HAPPY BIRTHDAY --- Dorothy Riddell marked her 83rd birthday at o pre-election rally at the Pineridge Chalet for son Jack, incumbent candidate in the Huron -Middlesex riding. She was presented with o pot of gloxinias by granddaughter Donna Overholt while great grandson Craig Overholt looked elsewhere. How to reverse the situation of lower provincial grants to education and the resulting higher property taxes to pay for same. Riddell said the Liberals would go back to 60 percent funding (from the Tories' present 47 percent), saying education was far too important to ex- pect municipalities to pick up the ex- tra burden. His party would also reform the tax system, saying it was ridiculous to collect property tax from farmers and then give them a rebate. He urged that the red tape and bureaucracy in that system be done away with and that only services to property should be put on property taxes. Klopp said th NDP would pay for education through income tax so it would not be a burden to local municipalities. Smith said the pro- vince should have the best possible education system and he would cut minor programs, "but in the com- puter age, we have to keep up." He said most of the provincial grants coming to the municipalities were for ecducation. Abortion Klopp and Smith voiced personal opposition to abortions. Klopp said present abortion situation and said opponents and proponents would pro- bably never meet in the middle. He said the party policy was to back freedom of choice, but with it would go programs to promote Ontario as a place to have kids and where un- wanted pregnancies could be averted through proper education. Smith said he was not in favor of abortions on de- mand. Riddell said the province has no jurisdiction over abortions on de- mand and therefore the questions was not something any Ontario party could do anything about. He said, however, he would come down hard on Dr. Henry Morgenthaler and his clinics, saying they should not be allowed and he failed to see the reason why the province didn't take a stand against people who break the law.. He said it was not Liberal policy to have greater access to abortion than at pre- sent under federal laws. Level of education and qualifications to represent the riding None of the candidates could understand the purpose of the ques- tion. Smith said he completed his high school educaton at night school and served on Lucan council and several committees. He said life itself is an education and he was interested in working with people. Riddell said self - education is often the most suc- cessful. He's a university graduate, former agricultural representative, small business owner, teacher and now farmer and politician. He said his experience as a teacher enabled him to understand that vast changes were needed in the system and fortunate- ly many had been made after the "cafeteria -style" education tried by former premier William Davis. Klopp said he wasn't as old as his opponents and therefore couldn't list as many experiences. He said that it was im- portant, hftever, that no matter what a person did, the person did it well. He's a graduate of CCAT and presently a farmer. Saying he had been married for eight -and -half months, he was also now a good listener. He said that through farm- ing with his father he was taught what to do, while his CCAT courses taught him why he was doing it. Farm Assistance Programs Riddell said the Liberal interest rate reducation program would drop the rates to eight percent for farmers on their operating debts up to $200,000 and said many thought this could get them over the hump. lie suggested there will be "a lot" of farmers who may have trouble getting spring re- quirements without this help. With hogs at 58 cents, he said many farmers wouldn't even be able to pay the nine and three-quarters percent outlined by the Tories. He also said the Liberal program would include farmers who rent, noting he never could understand why renters couldn't participate in the Young Farmer's program. Klopp said the NDP would also bring interest rates to farmers down to eight percent and would re -open the Ontario Savings of- fice as a lender of first choice for farmers. He said the Tory program now helps bankers, not farmers and the NDP would also help farmers get decent prices for products. Smith outlined the Tory OFAP and OLAP program that will be moved to one plan providing the assistance to farmers at nine and three-quarters percent over three years. Acid Rain Smith said this was a big concern and the government is moving to reduce emissions by 1990. Riddell said industries haven't followed govern- ment orders and the government in turn hasn't reacted. Ile said govern- ments may have to give loans to in- dustries, but it is imperative to make a start now to combat acid rain as 4,000 lakes in Ontario have already been destroyed and the number would reach 40.000 in the year 2000 if nothing is done. Technology is available but the government has never acted. Klopp also blamed the government for not enforcing rules for industrial pollution and said the NDP would make the rules stick and make in- dustry follow them the same as other people have tb follow rules. Encouragmenl for small business Klopp said the NDP would increase interest rate subsidy programs and the aid to farmers would also help small businesses back on their feet as the two are partners in the economy. Riddell said the Liberals would pro- vide tax credits to small businesses, but only if new jobs were provided. He said the tax holiday announced by the Premier was no guarantee that one new job would be provided and in fact the money could be used to refurnish executive offices. Smith said the Enterprise Ontario program would provide tax breaks that would create more jobs and the skills and develop- ment part of the program would train those unemployed to fill skill jobs. Supply management Riddell said he has always been a proponent of marketing boards and that without the chicken board, there would be no chicken industry in On- tario. He expressed concern over the price of quotas, and while he hoped they would level out, that has not hap- pened yet and it does restrict young people from getting into business in commodities covered by quotas. He said perhaps a ceiling is required on quota value, saying he hoped the government wouldn't have to set those but that the boards would recognize the problem and take steps themselves to correct it. He also warned the day may come when marketing boards will be challenged in constitutional courts. Klopp said that the buyer actually sets the price of quotas and he is a strong i ro . i nent i e ing care .. eir own in- dustry. He said other commodity groups should tackle the idea of mak- ing changes to ensure they make money. Smith said that farming is specialized marketing and new peo- ple coming onto the scene could revitalize groups. Separate school funding Smith briefly noted all three parties had agreed to the proposal. Riddell said the Liberals indeed supported the principle but had requested year after year that a select committee establish the guidelines and had Bill Davis followed that suggestion, there wouldn't be the problem of today where no one knows the extent of fun- ding that will be available or what criteria the separate schools will have to meet. He said the separate schools could actually lose their separateness under the Davis program and even Catholics were seriously questioning the programs. He said it was ir- responsible of Miller not to call the Legislature back to allow members to hear the plans beforethe election call. Klopp noted that Davis had said "no way" to full funding when he wanted votes in 1971 and said the about-face was frustrating for teachers and boards in both systems. He said it was unfortunate the Tories had in fact made it an election issue by not hav- ing answers to the questions being asked about their plans.. The NDP would not provide aid to other private school systems and no current teachers would lose their jobs. PCB spill in Northern Ontario Riddell said it was unbelieveable that the transport carrying the transformer which spilled PCBs was not labelled. He said there should be a code on such trucks. However, he said transformers of that nature were not being used now and the problem could soon become a thing of the past. It was important to ensure that they are properly transported now. Smith said the material should be disposed of quickly and put away from our children's future. Such items should be handled more carefully and there should be stricter regulations where they are stored and dumped. Klopp said it was important to get a safe place to dump dangerous wastes and that place should be close to the source so long-distrance hauling is not necessary. Some individual questions were ask- ed of candidates Riddell was asked what the Liberals would do with the Robarts school in London if the secondary school program, there is closed. He quickly replied the Liberals would not allow it to close and said John Robarts would flip over three times in his grave if he knew there was a move afoot to close it now. Riddell said it was discrimination to close the school for the deaf. He took the opportt.'nity to blast the Tories for closing the Goderich Psychiatric Hospital :shich he ex . la' r e s wa best in th world. Smith was asked for a comment on the good to Ontario of a $150,000,000 domed stadium in Toronto. He said he was not involved with the decision but it was something he'd take a second look at and possibly put the money to better use. In their summation speeches. Rid- dell was the first to speak and said he was concerned about the apparent submissiveness on the part of the Mulroney and Miller governments to U.S. president Reagan. He said it was a serious threat to Canadian sovereignty and some day there may not be a distinct Canada. He said Reagan would like Canada as the 5ist state and that would result in Canada losing its resources and industry and water from the Great Lakes would be diverted to the US. "I don't hear anyone standing up for Ontario," he said in reference to the expected increase in gas prices due to the federal agreement with the western provinces. Smith concluded by saying agriculture will get a great deal of time and attention from him and the Tory government. He predicted the party he represents will form the next government and if he wins, the riding will get noticed at Queen's Park. "It's time the riding was on the govern- ment side," he said. Klopp jumped on that to say he was insulted by a suggestion that a government would listen only to ridings where it had a, member elected. He added that many of the present farm programs are not ac- cessible to many farmers and the NDP would correct that. "We need a government that puts people first and not how many votes you can get, or who it will help." ,I• , ,• UNUSUAL SIGHT -- it's not often one can get a picture of three political candidates, each with his mouth shut, but that was the case (temporarily, of course) when the three Huron -Middlesex candidates attended on all -candidates' meeting in Lucan, Tuesday. The event was sponsored by the federations of agriculture in Huron and Mid- dlesex and attracted about 100 people. From the left are PC Bryan Smith, Liberal Jack Riddell and NDP Poul Klapp. F0RmE LOVE OF GOD. GIVE. The uniform is like a beacon on the street k signals help Compassion Caring. But not many people know how much it takes to be a soldier in the Salvation Army The inhuman hours The incredible patience The brutal situations. Taking responsibility for those whom society is unable to take responsibility for Providing help. and then hope. for the people who need it most But they know Anyone whose life the Salvation Army has touched knows And we ask for them. that you give As much as you can For the love of God For more information, please contact: Reg McDonald, 186 Anne St., Exeter Phone 235-0136 or Annie Lawson, 220 Carling St., Exeter, Phone 235-1320 NOM 1S0 NOM 150