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Times Advocate, 1994-12-7, Page 15Page 15 of a news tip? 235-1331 0 fiRoofing � 0 0 0 0 0 For Flat U/ 235-3643 KELLER & Sheet Metal Co. all your roofing needs No job too small and shin le roof exerts g A 235-0053 --,.Fax: .P ■ Tintes-Advocate, December 7, 1994 MP --Suckle hosts public forum Educational reform, and student loans were hot topics By Heather Vincent T -A Staff EXETER - Emotions ran high during open discussion over the re- form of social programs at Huron - Bruce MP Paul Steckle's public for- um Thursday evening. The topic which raised the most debate was not reform to social se- curity but rather the provincial is- sue of post -secondary education. Massive tuition hikes have students concerned over their access to a university education. Although stu- dent loans are available, all grants to students have been abolished. The prospect of accumulating $100,000 in loans which have to be paid back with interest upon find- ing employment is daunting to stu- dents preparing to enter university. Adults at the forum felt strongly as did Steckle, that university is an investment in the future the same way starting a business is an in- vestment. There is no guarantee that either will provide a good fi- nancial return. It is a gamble. One student expressed her con- cern over the current trend in Can- ada to follow the American model of making university available only to a small affluent group. "This is a delicate issue being dealt with by a bulldozer," she said. The federal government plays a supporting role in helping fund pro- vincially administrated education. Federal spending on post- secondary education totals $8 bil- lion a year. Most of this comes through transfer payments. The federal government also spends $500 million on students loans. June McClelland, a member of the audience, voiced concern over the repayment of student loans. "It is not fair to the working person." Suggestions were mate that loan repayment be tailored to the fi- nancial situation of recent gradu- ates. In the current economic situa- tion, students may not immediately find the high paying jobs they ex- pected. All agreed that monthly re- payment of student loans should re- flect the salary earned and be spread out over a manageable amount of time. Steckle said he supports the re- alignment of the educational sys- tem to better meet Canada's needs. He is also in support of following the European model of apprentice- ships, providing employers with in- centives to participate in these pro - Huron Bruce MP Paul Steckle addresses the public meeting he hosted Thursday evening in Ex- eter. Co-op store plans re -location Hensall District Co-op holds its annual general meeting By Heather Vincent T -A Staff EXETER - The Hensall Dis- trict Co-op store, located at 206 Victoria Street West, is to be moved to a site at the north end of town just outside of Exeter. The rationale for the move is to better serve its members, both full-time and part-time farmers. The location is considered to be more viable because it will pro- vide better visibility. "A completion date in the 1994-95 fiscal year will be at- tainable", said board president Martin Van Raay during the an- nual meeting last Wednesday morning. The details of the re- location are still being worked out. Growmark, an American com- pany based in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, has made an offer to purchase the assets of United Co -Operatives of Ontario. Growmark has 90 members and $200 million in equity. Last week it was voted to sell the as- sets and it will go ahead if 75 percent of the membership signs the agreement. Van Raay fielded several ques- tions regarding the effect this buy- out would have on the Hensall Co-op. The membership was as- sured that the Co-op would ben- efit from dividend profits which would flow back to the members. Growmark would also assist in evaluating potential management and help make the region profit- able again by increasing the vol- ume of manufacturers who will use our product. Members voiced concern that Hensall would lose its ability to make decisions and autonomy in the local area. The board said that they would not sign any agree- ment which would jeopardize their local control. The Co-op is seeking legal counsel to fully un- derstand the ramifications of the agreement. This is the 57th year of the Hen- sall Co-op. During the past year the major investment was in the completion of the bean processing facility. This added value com- ponent gives the co-op the ability to pass on value to those who grow the crops. At the moment, the plant processes white beans but possibilities exist for coloured beans and edible soy beans. The Co-op purchased the Cargill fertilizer storage and blending fa- cility in Ailsa Craig. Two new Rogators were purchased to ex- pand the custom chemical applica- tion service. The Co-op has grown from a $40 million business to a $100 million business, said Van, Raay, during the six years he has been with the board. The co-op in- vested $4,927,697 in fixed assets and attained a net profit of $1,157,890. Jim Papple is retiring afterieight years on the hoard. The meeting elected three new director for the next three year term. Martin Van Raay, Bill Gibson and Bill Wal- lace were elected as directors. The new president will be announced this Friday. New phone service for Grand Bend? A reseller says it can provide residents with a cheaper alternative GRAND BEND - For those who live in the village of Grand Bend, getting your monthly phone hill can be a bit of a shocker, especially those long distance calls. Local residents will quickly attest to the fact that calling to London costs as it is not a local call and be- lieve it or not, even calling to Exet- er, Crediton and Centralia is a long distance call. Monday, representatives of the London division of Niagara Tele- communications visited Grand Bend and told council it could pro- vide a much cheaper long distance service. So much cheaper that it brought a great deal of interest from mayor Cam Ivey who responded, "there will be some considerable interest up here." Roy LeBlanc and Diana Fiorino from Niagara Telecommunications said that both Grand Bend, and an- other community they are trying to service, West Lorne, arc a little be- hind the telephone times. "They're (West Lorne and Grand Bend) thought of as dinosaurs of the phone industry," said LeBlanc. He explained that his company will be able to provide Grand Bend customers with long distance ser- vice to ,• London, Exeter, Crediton, Centralia, Hensall, Lucan and Kirk - ton for $18.95. That would be on top of the $13.90 customers already to the lo- cal phone company, Hay Municipal Telephone. LeBlanc said his com- pany can provide up to 35 percent in discounts on top of Bell Canada's rates. "As a company, we're looking at talking to local areas that have lim- ited calling," said LeBlanc. Councillor Shirley Andraza want- ed to know if there was a certain number of customers the new com- pany needed before they came into Grand Bend. LeBlanc said nmh- ahly about 30. Ivey suggested LeBlanc and Fi- orino contact the Grand Bend and Area Chamber of Commerce for its response. 5-i oI__I4 -I— • - N - Q. • Specializing in farm & business income tax • Computerized bookkeeping • Capital gain elections • 94 High Street, Ailsa Craig, NOM 1A0 519-293-3388 Fax 519-296-5999 10 Main St. Thedford NOM 2N0 519-298-5380 1-800-304-3988 Ask for Ron Steeper grams. Co-op education has had success at several Ontario uni- versities including Waterloo. These programs provide students with valuable experience, a connec- tion with an employer as well as a means to earn money. A second topic which raised con- cern was reform to the un- employment insurance program. Unemployment insurance was created in 1942 to help those able to work and available to work but unable to find work. Today it also tries to cover disability, pregnancy and seasonal layoffs. The group discussion over UI supported a back to basics ap- proach to reform. Any changes made, should be phased in gradual- ly to allow business time to re- structure. Hensall builder wins awards for renovations LONDON - A Hensall home building company was the recipient of two awards at the London Home Builder's Association fourth annual sales and marketing awards. Oke Woodsmith Building Sys- tems entered three submissions in the two competition categories, and came out on top with all three. In the "Best Renovation Under $100,000" category, Oke Wood - smith entered their work on the home of Bert and Nellie Dykstra west of Clinton. In the "Best Reno- vation over $100,000 category, they entered work they did on a Kincar- dine stone home, and a Sarnia "heri- tage home" that hadn't been occu- pied in a while. The presentation of the awards took place November 25 in London. Investments GIC/RSP 1 Yr. - 6.75% 3Yr. -7.875% 5 yr. - 8.25% Segregated Funds 1YR. -10.99% 2 YR. - 13.17% 4YR.-12.86%1 Gaiser-Kneale 235-2420,238-8484 • GIC rates subject to change. 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FEWER PLACES THAT CAN SELL TOBACCO PRODUCTS. FOR YOUR CHILDREN, TOUGHER I.D. REQUIREMENTS AND GREATER PENALTIES TO RETAILERS WHO SELL TOBACCO PRODUCTS TO THOSE UNDER 19. THERE'S A NEW LAW. A LAW CREATED TO HELP US ALL BREATHE A LITTLE EASIER. IT'S WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ASKING FOR. IT'S HERE. For an easy -to -read copy of Ontario's Tobacco Control Act, call the Huron County Health Unit at 482-3416 or 1-800-265-5184. This is a message from the Ontario Ministry of Health. `••5-n s+