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Times-Advocate, 1987-09-02, Page 3•. 4 Times -Advocate, September 2, 1987 Page 3 Candidates optimistic on last lap of campaign trail Huron The three candidates in The candidates in riding have been out knocking on doors, meeting %the public, and ad- dressing the regional and more general concerns brought up by the people who will be deciding their fate on September 10. Incumbent Jack Riddell has been doing double duty, interrupting his time on the campaign trail intermit- tently to rush back to Toronto to at- tend to his duties as minister of agriculture. Riddellsingled out free trade as the common concern everywhere. He reported that people he has talked to are annoyed at being kept in the dark, and want to know what is being negotiated, who would benefit, why the big push, and what effect a free trade agreement would have on business; the processing industry, the family farm, and the quota system for eggs, chicken and dairy operations. Riddell said his ministry's budget has increased 72 percent to $563,000,000 and 80 initiatives have been started in the past two years. Plugging the loophole with a 20 per- cent land transfer tax had alleviated a major complaint about non-resident foreign ownership, the minister noted. Riddell itemized some of his goals if he remains as minister of agriculture after the election. Heading the list is financial stability for farmers. Riddell maintains sub- sidies are not the answer; those given in food -producing countries have distorted national and world markets. Riddell pointed out that all 10 agriculture ministers signed an agreement last year approving a na- tional agricultural strategy toin- troduce programs "putting all farmers on a level playing field" by eliminating the past practice of treasury competing against treasury, and allowing all farmers throughout the country to compete on a Canadian basis with farmers in other countries. "We are putting in stabilization pro- grams which will take the valleys out of the price farmers receive... but they are not subsidies which would continue to distort the marketplace," Riddell said.. Riddell said .f the financial dilem- ma if dilem- ma in agriculture did not demand priority, his greatest concern would be soil preservation. Prime land is be- ing lost through erosion, encroach- ment, and destruction of the soil's basic structure throe: •ractices like continuous corn. the $40,000,000 soil stewardship program introduced to assist farmers in taking fragile land out of production to plant to soil - building crops, and modifying equip- ment to leave crop residue on the land, would continue. The same would apply to enhance water quality by providing financial assistance for pro- per manure storage and erosion control Riddell would beef up research to help farmers become more selective in what chemicals are applied to the land, and would increase the em- phasis on biological control of pests. This reminded him of a world-class food -testing lab to be built at Guelph within the next two years to test for hazardous substances in or on all food grown in Canada or imported. ' "Some real challenge lie ahead as consumers become more and more . involved in what we do on the farm", Riddell concluded. * • • PC candidate Nico Peters, who has been campaigning since April, had knocked on between four and five thousand doors by the time he was contacted last week. He said he is amazed at the reception he has received, rating it 9.5 on a scale from one to 10. Peters found the main concern voiced throughout the riding was the lack of jobs and the fear there will be little future development. The Brussels dative said he is shocked at the number of empty stores in many of the county towns, and by the numerous businesses that have come and gone in the last few years. He at- tributes the prosperity in Exeter and Goderich to diversification. Peters notes that the economy of this riding is based on agriculture, and financial health will return "if we keep the farmers where they are". Peters feels the dual assessment on farms introduced in the last budget will have an adverse effect on the farm community. Farmers hard- pressed for cash may only pay the land portion of their taxes, "putting municipalities in a bad position", and other farmers could argue that if their house and. best acre is taxed at 100 percent, they might as well move to town where taxes are lower, neighbours and shopping are nearby, and services such as sewer, water, fire protection and garbage collection are available. He expressed amaze- "1 hope to see a number of new, ment that no farm group has spoken idealistic members on both the • against the tax change. government and opposition benches A local issue in the Wingham-Blyth who will speak with a fresh voice, peo- area is the need for a more efficient ple who still have their dreams and. highway corridor. their long-term goals," Peters Peters said he could give no objec- commented. • • NDP candidate Paul Klopp said his campaign is going very well. in his se- cond run for a provincial seat, he is "more on schedule", and his workers are "optimistic and glad to be along". Klopp has found those he talks to are very aware of both local and pro- vincial issues, and the stands taken by the candidates. A major concern of Huron voters is keeping employment in the county, Kropp said. Many wonder too what effect free trade would have, and whether or not it is a good deal. Klopp said his par- ty's message is clear - the NDP is op- posed to free trade "and•the way the federal govenrment is going about it". Klopp said others have brought up the environmental pollution issue. and asked why tougher laws are not enacted and enforced. Child care is another issue raised by residents of this riding. tive assessment of how he is doing, but has a good feeling about his pro- spects. Ile predicts the outcome in Huron is "going to surprise a lot of people". Turning to the troubles in agriculture, Klopp said the NDlyhas supported agriculture minister Jack Riddell's policies, but some people he had talked to don't think changes are occurring fast enough. Klopp will interpret an increase in NDP support as a message that "more concrete moves are needed". - He said that would make all the time he has spent campaigning instead of farming worthwhile. Exeter Optimist Club, Exeter Minor Baseball and Ontario Baseball Association arepleased to present the 1987 ONTARIO BASEBALL ASSOC. JR. D. CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT Don Currell First year coach, former player for Hamilton in the Penn- sylvania Ontario New York League Terry Evans Lucan Minor Baseball Product in first year 4 L9! Ron Anderson First year coach, former senior player for Hensall in the old Huron -Perth league. Daryl Little 3rd year Exeter Minor Baseball product. Steve Merner Captain of Junior team and led team in stolen bases Tournament Schedule Warty Martin Dashwood Minor Baseball Product, and catcher hit .355 and led in RBI's Saturday 9 a.m. Lakeside vs Shelburne 11:30 a.m. Litte Britain vs Kingsville 2:30 p.m. Exeter vs Glanbrook 4:00 p.m. Sunday Games at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. Doug Schade Dashwood Minor Baseball Product. Hit .373 led team in hits, total bases. OBP. Monday Championship Game at 11:30 a.m. Additional possible championship game at 2:30 p.m. DESTRUCTION -- Teacher Helen Biemen sees for the first time the burnt-out ruin of the music and French room. She lost many teaching . aids, but music teacher Joan Perrie lost an irreplacable music library built up over the lost 20 years. rA.. r fir +Pr s +, �V apt.. V Dignan Landscaping Sod Suppiy \,lf can 236.4457 R.R. 2 Hensall, Ontario LANDSCAPING Your key to year round beauty • Take advantage of our complete professional landscape design service. • Phone and our landscape designer wilt make an appointment to call on you and produce o detailed drawing. • Paving Brick • Fertilizing • Ground Work • Sodding • Seeding • • Railway Ties • Design Service • Nursery stock planting Fred Gregus First year Exeter Minor Product; hit .289 Adults $1.00 per day Children under 12 Free Storting pitchers for Exeter Co-op Juniors at Ontario Baseball Association Championship Tour- nament this weekend will be Scott Lovie, Scott Miller, Doug Schode, Darrin Akey, Dave Akey, and with relief help coming from Terry Cox, Terry Evans, Steve Neil. Their catchers in the weekend tournament will be D'arcy Martin who hit .355 this year and led the team in home runs. and George Pratt who's just recovered from a shoulder injury in hockey lost winter. This advertisement made possible through the generosity. of: SIM Dennis Kints Hod .444 on base percentage. led team in walks a Exeter. Optimist Club Exeter District Coop "Pleased to be team sponsors„ Jack's Plumbing a Heating Exeter 235-0581 Order your nursery stock now...or the work }can be done by our ' landscaping specialists. \1l (II 40 ,.; ,r,. , Scoff Lovie Lead pitcher in wins Dashwood Service Centre D+ashweea 237-3353 Missing when photos were token Scott Miller 4th year junior, hard throwing right hand • pitcher. Ray Anstett Seaforth Minor Baseball Product; in first year hit .245. All nursery ' stock guaranteed 236.4457 Quality is first in our busitneis Stove Noll Lucon Minor Baseball Product. Hit .273, relief pitcher Darrin Crocker Seaforth Minor Baseball product; in first year hit .275. Dave Akey Hit .348 and led pit- chers with 3.66 ERA George Pratt 4th year junior Terry Cox First year with Co-op Jr,s. Product of Clin- ton Minor Basebell Darrin Akey Hit .391 this year as a 16 year old.