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Times Advocate, 1999-06-02, Page 44 .ti Exeter Tithes -Advocate In the News Wednesday, June ?, 1999 Agricultural issues dominate Perth- Middlesex all -candidates meeting By Katherine Harding TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF ST. MARYS — More than 150 people at- tended a Perth - Middlesex all -candidates meeting. The event was co- ponsored by the Perth and Middlesex Federations of Ag- riculture last Wednesday at the Community Cen- tre. Five candidates are contesting the riding's provincial seat. The Tories were repre- sented by _ Perth MPP Bert Johnson; the Liberal candidate is John Wilkin- son, a Stratford financial planner; the NDP can- didate is Walter Vernon, an Ilderton substitute teacher; the Family Co- alition candidate is Strat- ford's Pat Bannon; the Freedom Party's can- didate is Robert Smink, the co-owner of London's Fabulous Forum. While the focus of the two-hour meeting was on agricultural and rural issues, the public was in- vited to grill candidates on other issues affecting the riding's constituents. Candidates' views on agrarian issues like fi- nancial disaster as- sistance for farmers, right to farm legislation and nutrient man- agement were hot topics. Johnson said safety net programs and farm relief concepts "had to be pro- tected" and that during his term he was a strong advocate of the Ontario farmer. Both Wilkinson and Vernon agreed farmers had to be protected from threats to their industry like transportation strikes. In a related question Wilkinson stressed that he would fight to main- tain a Minister of Ag- riculture and OMAFRA. "I haven't heard any of the other candidates say that," he said. "We need to have a voice at the cabinet table and I'd fight to keep that voice." Smink said farmers were "successful despite government meddling" and that "government should get out of farm- ers' way." Bannon agreed farm- ing was a private sector concern but is a strong supporter of right to farm legislation. On the issue of sup - Cadet's 25th anniversary The 2923 Huron and Middlesex Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps celebrated its 25th anniversary last Saturday in Huron Park with its annual inspec- tion, which included a parade, an Officer inspection, demonstrations, a drill team and awards. From left, Cadet CarrieVenner, officer Kim Wegg and Cpl. Anne McPherson participate in the annual tug -o - war competition. a Ft is.rs- * 4$01 9A� int pa. Nt The Huron and Middlesex Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps drill team demonstrates its "march past" for the audience at the corps' 25th anniver- sary and annual inspection. Commanding Officer Kim Cottel said she was pleased with the day, which saw nearly 150 spectators, including many former cadets.The demonstration in Huron Park was followed by a dinner at the Exeter Legion. porting legislation that would allow municipal- ities to regulate nutrient management in their ju- risdiction the candidates were in agreement some form of legislation was necessary. Wilkinson said "a farm- er knows you don't foul your own well." He also said the issue of "super farms" in the riding needs to be looked at. Smink also agreed leg- islation was necessary but stressed private property rights have to be protected. He also stated . polluters should have to pay for pollution they've created. Candidates were also faced with an ideological question — would they vote for their constitu- ents . as opposed to al- ways . towing the party line on issues. Johnson conceded while he thoroughly sup- ports the Tory agenda he has - "moral, Christian family beliefs and when it comes to those I'd vote against anything." Wilkinson said the needs of constituents' will came first but he recognized "politics in Ontario is a team sport." Perth -Middlesex candidates from I -r: PC's Bert Johnson, Liberal's John Wilkinson, Family Coalition's Pat Bannon, NDP's Walter Vernon and Freedom Party's Robert Smink. He went on to criticize his own party for the negative ads the Liberal Party have run through- out the campaign. "I'm opposed to these negative ads, I don't care who does it." Smink also said he'd put constituents needs first. "This is supposed to be a ground -up democracy," he said. `:.I'd represent the riding, not the gov- ernment in Toronto." Bannon said he'd sup- port constituents' views on most issues but he'd tow the party line on moral and family issues. Vernon said "I'm no one's puppet and I have my own mind and I'll use it." During the course of the evening candidates also answered questions on their opinions of pro- vincial "downloading" to municipalities, the re- cent collapse of the com- modity prices, company monopolies, user fees, riding restructuring, the affordability of post- secondary education and taxes. Traditionally, . Perth riding and the area have remained loyal to elected candidates. It was Liberal for 23 years before 1990 when NDP Karen Haslam won. Before the Liberal run, the riding was a Tory stronghold. Water supply issue to be settled soon as consultant's report is due By Kate Monk TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — A con- sultant's report due in June should help Exeter council decide whether or not it needs water from the Ausable River. Nabisco used water from the river for many years until the better quality Lake Huron pipeline water came to Exeter. Since early '98, coun- cil ouncil has discussed the 'is- sue of reinstating the river water supply to help with the town's wa- ter reserve capacity. In Exeter, peak water consumption for in- dustrial and lawn wa- tering purposes occur at the same time which is considerably more than the amount used on an average day. For plan- ning purposes, peak use has to be considered. It was initially believed getting the river water supply equipment back in service would be very expensive and meet more stringent environ- mental criteria. Since then, cost estimates and the amount of water Na- -bisco says it needs have decreased. Town administrator Rick Hundey said he hopes the consultant's report will be ready for the June 7 council meet- ing. The outcome of the re- port has implications for the Morrison dam and reservoir which is a storage area for the wa- ter extracted in Exeter. The dam was built for that purpose in 1959 and since then, the Exet- er Hydro Electric Com- mission contributed to the maintenance costs. With the introduction of the Lake Huron wa- ter, the HEC says it doesn't need the river water and wants to pull out of the Morrison Dam partnership. The town is hesitant to do so until it finds out if the ,,Ausable River water is needed. The annual main- tenance budget is only a few thousand dollars but the dam needs repair work with Exeter's share of the project costs being $31,600. Exeter's water supply comes from a number of wells and Lake Huron pipeline. The amount of water the town can get from the Lake Huron system is limited by pumping and pipe ' ca- pacity. Hydro Electric Com- mission manager Sher- man Roth said he doesn't know if the well levels have dropped af- ter last year's drought and this year's dry weather but said wells have not had any\ trouble keeping up with the demand. HEC staff are in the process of checking well levels. Roth said the lawn wa- tering restrictioris shave the peak off high use pe- riods. Last year, res- idential customers were permitted to water their lawns for a few hours each day. This year, the west side of town waters on even .-numbered cal- endar days and the east waters on odd num- bered days. Roth said Exeter's re- strictions are "really quite lenient compared (to other communities." "As consumers be- come aware of the re- strictions, I doubt that it will be a problem," he added. Last summer the Springs Well east of Ex- eter was taken out of use because of high ni- trate levels. It has since been returned to service and although "occa- sional" nitrates are present, the water from the Springs Well is blended with water from the other town wells, bringing the nitrate level to within a safe range, Roth said. The condition of the old mill pond in Mac - Naughton Park is an- other issue councillors and citizens have com- mented on. When water was taken from the pond for industrial use, the pond was treated to inhibit algae growth. Last year, the pond was covered in algae which also grew downstream of the dam. The lack of water flow and proliferation of al- gae were blamed for a fish kill in late June '98. Hundey said staff haven't had time to look at the situation to decide what should be done.