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Clinton News-Record, 1978-02-23, Page 8PAGE 8--CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1978 Jottings from Queen's Park BY JACK RIDDELL, M.P.P. • This seems to be an ap- propriate time of year to remind you of the Ontario' GAINS Program, which is a kind of Guaranteed Annual Income System, introduced to benefit residents over 65 years of age and those who are blind or disabled. For senior citizens, benefits are administered by the Guaranteed Income and Tax Credit Branch of the Ministry of Revenue, whilst the blind and disabled are taken care of by the Ministry of Com- munity and Social Services. In order to qualify for assistance under the GAINS Program, people must have lived ten consecutive years in Canada, and have lived for the last full year in Ontario, immediately prior to ap- plying for benefit. Alter- natively, one must have lived in Ontario for one full year immediately prior to ap- plying for GAINS . and have been resident in Canada for periods totalling twenty years since reaching age eighteen, or have lived in Ontario for periods v4hich add up to twenty years since reaching eighteen. " Items which are considered income for purposes of the GAINS Program are ear- nings from employment, net income from a profession or business, income from superannuation, retirement pensions, annuity payments and other sources, including pensions from any other countries, which are taxable in Canada. Bank, bond, mortgage and other interest are also included, as are net dividends and net taxable capital gains, unemployment insurance benefits, net rents from property and income from family allowance. Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement payments are included, as well as payments from the Canada Pension Plan or Quebec Pension Plan. The guaranteed minimum is reviewed every three months, and if the total in- come from all sources is below the current level, a cheque is sent each month from the Ontario Government to qualified recipients to make up the difference. At this time the monthly minimum for senior cens is $299.94 for a single person, and $599.88 for a married couple who . both qualify. These figures are applicable as of January 1, 1978. The current minimum for the blind and disabled is $270; if a married couple are both disabled, the minimum is $540. The minimum is $430 if only, the husband is disabled and the wife is not. Under the present system, the disabled male who is dependent on his spouse for support and maintenance is eligible to apply for an allowance whereas a disabled female is not. This means that for the purposes of the GAINS Program, women are con- sidered dependants of husbands (breadwinners). The Ontario Advisory Council on the Physically Han- dicapped maintains there is no justification for this practice, and has recom- mended that it be changed so that men and women are treated equally. .- People over 65 years of age who receive OAS -GIS Through the weeklies The Goderich Signal -Star reported that the Goderich Town Council has approved the idea of the alternative property tax system in Ontario, along with the proposal of market value assessment. It was noted by council members that the change can come none too soon and the change, which is under consideration of Treasurer Darcy McKeough, will benefit the Goderich ratepayers a great deal. Clerk Larry McCabe ex- plained to council that the property tax reform would lessen the many tax inequities that are present in Goderich. He noted that the high residential tax base in Goderich makes the present property tax assessment system "even more inequitable," Reeve Bill Clifford also noted the change could mean a saving of seven mills alone for county purposes. The Wingham and District Hospital board of governors has decided to spend $148,000 on a new boiler system that will guarantee enough steam to present and future needs and sharply reduce operating costs. The Wingham Advance - Times reported that the board recommended the hospital purchase three 134 - horsepower water tube boilers with a total capacity of 13,000 pounds of steam per hour. The total cost of the boiler system includes a new boiler room and all the engineering and installation. It was also noted that the new system will reduce operating costs by about $35,000 a year, mainly through the fewer number of persons required to operate it. The Listowel Banner reported that tenants who have a good credit rating with the PUC may be receiving a cheque in the mail in the near future. The cheque will be a refund of the consumer deposit which was paid to the PUC. The PUC noted that a good rating will be granted to tenants who have paid their bills on time, before the discount date, for at least two years. The idea of returning deposits cam a'b ut after it - was noted that PUC h`'ave deposits going back a number of years for $2, $5 and $10. Last year the PUC increased their initial deposit to $50. Presently, the PUC has deposits totalling $7,967 and to the year 1975, tenants with good credit rating will be refunded a total amount of $2,100. The Mitchell Advocated reported that secondary school teachers in Perth County voted last week to reject the latest 1977-78 contract by the Board of Education and now may be facing the possibilities of a strike if the dispute isn't settled. In all, 276 teachers rejected the contract offer while only 23 teachers from the county's five high schools agreed to it. Similarly, the majority of the teachers agreed to strike action to back contract demands. As of press time, not date had been set for the beginning of strike action. The strike will take the form of work to rule and may eventually lead to full stoppage of work by the teachers. St. Marys in its move to restore and preserve historical buildings, is trying to ensure the future of the CN Junction Station. The St. Marys Journal - Argus ' reported that Perth MP Bill Jervis thinks that the Canadian National Railways should ease up on its con- ditions for allowing the Junction Station to be taken over by St. Marys to be restored. CN has said that they will sell the building if they are guaranteed from the town that the old station will be moved from the present site, adjacent to the Stratford - London main CN line. However, Jarvis is arguing that a railway station near Grimsby on the CN's Hamilton -St. Catharines line has been restored and it wasn't moved from that busy area. Jarvis explained that the station site itself has historical significance. The St. Marys Heritage Com- mittee also noted that the building would have to be taken apart piece by piece and the costs for such an extensive project would make it prohibitive. Jarvis says that he is ready to deal with CN officials in Toronto, to maintain the 120 - year -old stone building that was once said to be the work- place of Thomas Edison. The Lucknow Sentinel reported that a former reeve of Lucknow from 1943 to 1947, John Wesley Joynt, 87, died in Wingham and, ' District Hospital on Thursday, February 2. Mr.- Joynt was also a valued member of the Lucknow United Church, the Masonic Order, Old Light Lodges 4'o. 184, a number of other lodges and was also elected in 1947 as the Warden of Bruce County. The Kincardine News reported that; the town's rec. board will be sending a request to council asking for roster cards identifying the town committees to the ratepayers. By doing this, the rec, board felt that people would know who was responsible for what in the town, and would tell where information could be found When needed by the ratepayers. It was decided that the easiest way to circulate the cards would be to send them out to the ratepayers with the tax notices. The proposal is still subject to council's approval. Residents of Zurich learned from the Zurich Citizens' News that they will have to pay the village $3 if they wish to have their driveways cleared out by the village works', department. BUYING? SELLING? Let everyone know in The News -Record 482-3443 The Zurich Council decided that it would be a financial hardship on the public works' department and the com- munity if a charge wasn't set for the snow removal. The Huron Expositor noted that Seaforth now has a waiting list of 55 people who have applied for senior citizen housing in the town. The Huron County Housing Authority recently gave this figure to the town council. It was decided that the council would get a monthly copy of the Authority' report which shows how many people are on the waiting lists. Mayor Cardno noted that the local people want to know where their applications stand and neither the clerk nor the council can tell them. payments from the Federal Government, need not apply for the Ontario GAINS Program. Their eligibility will be determined automatically. Those who do not meet the 'residency requirements for the Old Age Security Pension, but appear to satisfy GAINS requirements, should request an application form for GAINS by writing, visiting or telephoning the Ministry of Revenue at Queen's Park in Toronto (M7A 2B3). You may call the Ministry free of charge. Dial "0" and ask the operator for ZENITH 8,2000. Those people who are blind or disabled and are now receiving assistance under Ontario's Family Benefit Program, will receive benefits cheques each month, automatically. No application is necessary. People who do not receive Family Benefits may qualify for the special GAINS program. Applications must be made through the District Office of the Ministry of Community and Social Services. Dependants of special benefits recipients will receive additional assistance, based on the size of the family and the ages of the children. This program does not apply to the totally unem- ployable, who have been transferred to Family Benefits from General Welfare Assistance. Those who qualify for the special benefits program, Family Benefits or the federal Old Age Security - Guaranteed Income Sup- plement are entitled to receive approved drugs on prescription, free of charge. A card should be mailed to those eligible automatically, but if you qualify for this assistance and have not received the drug benefit card, please contact the Ministry - either Revenue or Community and Social . Services. Ontario doctors, dentists and pharmacists have a list of drugs approved by the Ministry of Health which may be dispensed free of charge under the Drug Benefits Program. Little Kevin Meade, 2, doesn't seem to be having fun, but mom, Linda Meade seems to be enjoying herself. The Meades came out to the Clinton Arena on Tuesday af- ternoon to skate with the kindergarten children from the Clinton Public School. (News -Record photo) News of Middleton by Blanche Deeves 482-3383 or Audrey Middleton St. James Church at 482-9838. ,Morning Prayer was held Those who have ordered at St. James Anglican Church tickets are asked to give their at 11:50 a.m. on Sunday money to Mrs. Deeves or Mrs. Middleton. Personals morning. Estelle Wise read the lesson with Don Middleton and Edward Deeves receiving the offering. Rev. Bennett spoke to the children and the congregation on Lord Baden Powell, this being the anniversary of his birthday. - Bus trip The ACW still have a few seats available for the Jce Capades in Kitchener on Thursday, March 9. Anyone wishing to gci is asked to contact Blanche Deeve6 at Jack and Marion Smith were supper guests with the Deeves on Thursday evening and later went and paid a surprise visit for a cup of hobo tea with Dean and Phyllis Aldwinkle. Sunday guests with Ross and Mabel Middleton were D. Neale and Sharon Trewartha of Toronto, David and Sandra Orr along with Angela and Gentry of Goderich and Drew of London. OPEN: Mon. thru. Sat. 9 A.M. - 9:30 P.M. A&P Sunoast Mall GODERICH ALL PRICES SHOWN IN THIS AD GUARANTEED EFFECTIVE THROUGH SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25th, 1978. Grade "A", Eviscerated, Fresh ROASTING CHICKENS 1b884 Cut From Canada Grade "A" B Excellent for Braising Ib BLADE STEAKS 813 MEATS 885/ SALE VALUESI Grade "A". Eviscerated, Young, Fresh - RKE Imported New Zealand — Shoulder 6 to 10 -Ib Ib average FROZEN LAMB CHOPS Ib 1 SWIFT PREMIUM SUGAR PLUM, COOKED, DINNER STYLE Boneless Hams HIGHLINER; FROZEN Boston Blue Fillets 895i Chicken Cutlettes 16884 GOLDEN SKILLET, FROZEN, HEAT & SERVE 21/2 -31/2 -LBS AVG. MARY MILES, FROZEN 1e 2.48 Beef Steakettes WHOLE B.B.Q. 69 CHICKENS, each • (Available in stores with Deli depts. only ) Schneiders Freezer Fest! 2•Ib pkg 1.59 Rsip s VEAL CHOPS Loin Chops Ib 1.88 Ib 8854 AQP is a Veal Shop.! SCHNEIDERS, 5 VARIETIES BONE IN, SHANK, FLANK OR BREAST 1/4-IbHamburgers Ib 1.18 Stewing Veal SCHNEIDERS 2 -LB BUCKET BONELESS Bucket of Chicken 3.48 Veal Cutlets Grade "A" Eviscerated FROZEN DUCKS 5 to 6 -lbs average Mary Miles, Hot or Sweet Italian Style SAUSAGE 8¢ Ib �e 88,i! 1e 2.28 Canada Packers Join A&P's 885 Sale! Maple Leaf, All Varieties (2 -Ib Vac Pac 1.75) 1 -Ib vac pac 885/1 Maple Leaf, Sliced — 4 Varieties — 12 -oz vac pac COOKED MEATS c‘.8851 Maple Leaf,, Regular, All Beef, Thick Sliced, Garlic 16 -oz vac pac BOLOGNA SLICED WIENERS Smoked Cooked, Picnic Style PORK SHOULDERS 5 to 7 -lbs Ib Fresh Parts Backs Attached '$ CHICKENS LEG or BREAST QUARTERS Ib 1111101.1101.111111111111111101011011