The Wingham Advance-Times, 1987-09-01, Page 01..r
toAMAUA l t.) UL:UA It — All three Huron candidates in the Sept. 10 Central School. From left are: Brenda McIntosh, the association's
pr cial election took part in a debate sponsored by the Huron ting president and the meeting chairman, and candidates Jack Rid
Cpdnty Federation of Agriculture in Londesborough last week. More Liberal; Paul Klopp, New Democrat; and Nico Peters, Progres
than 200 people attended the event in the auditorium of the Hullett Conservative.
Foreign ownershIII
ip of-lan"d
election issue., Riddell told
Despite earlier statements by
Jack Riddell, Liberal candidate for
Huron in the Sept. 10 provincial elec-
tion, that foreign ownership of land
will not be an election issue, more
than just his opponents made it
obvious last week that they differed
with his opinion.
During an all -candidates meeting
in the Hullett Central School at Un-
desborough, Mr. Riddell was not
only challenged by the Progressive
Conservative and New Democratic
Party candidates on his position
regarding foreign ownership, but he
also was taken to task on the contro-
versial issue by one of the more than
200 in the audience.
Dashwood area farmer Paul Greb
took exception to Mr. Riddell's
claim that foreign ownership of land
is not the problem it once was in
Huron County. The Liberal can-
didate claimed foreign-owned
farmland had dropped to less than
one per cent of all farmland in
Ontario since the government had
closed a loophole in the law which
charges a tax on non -resident -owned
farmland.
However, Mr. Greb argued that
the problem had not gone away,
claiming that five farms which
changed hands in Stephen Township
during the last year now belong to
foreign owners.
"We're monitoring it (foreign ab-
sentee ownership) and if it appears
to be getting out of hand, we'll have
to look," Mr. Riddell said. "If it gets
Early morning crash
sends. two to hospital
Two area men remain in hospital
in London following an early mor-
ning accident last Saturday at
Wroxeter.
An Ontario Provincial Police
spokesman at Wingham said Roger
P. Brown, 22 of RR 3, Wingham and
Larry Ruttan, 31 of Wroxeter, were
southbound on County Road 12, near
Wroxeter, at 2:45 a.m. Aug. 29.
The 1979 Pontiac Mr. Brown was
driving, owned by Mr. Ruttan,
swerved onto the north shoulder,
skidded through the intersection,
went into the ditch and struck a tree,
say the police. Damage to the
vehicle has been estimated at $5,000
by the OPP.
The two men were taken to the
Wingham and District Hospital by
ambulance and later transferred to
hospitals in London.
A patient in St. Joseph's Hospital,
Mr. Brown's condition was listed as
fair Monday morning. Mr. Ruttan is
in University Hospital and his
condition was good Monday mor-
ning.
Candidates on Issues
4A
Track athletes
misleading people by equating Bill
complete season
213
Children In school
3B
Inside Crossroads
is wrong.
Theatre reviews
3A
Antique or Junque
SA
Andy Rooney
7A
Peter'Trueman
SB
Show Bit
13B
SI I nger
1413
out of hand, we know what other
provinces have done."
In his comments on the issue,
Progressive Conservative candidate
Nico Peters criticized Mr. Riddell
for saying a few weeks ago that
foreign ownership of land would not
be an election issue.
Although he said there was noth-
ing wrong with people from other
countries buying land and coming
here to live on the land and to work
the farm, he opposes absentee
foreign ownership.
"It's the sentiment of all of us that
it's just fine if foreigners im-
migrate," he said. "But don't
bulldoze the building next to me.
Don't destroy my neighborhood."
Mr. Peters had been critical
earlier of a provincial government
policy which allows a 100 per cent
rebate of taxes on farmland and
charges taxes only on farm
buildings. He said it encourages
farmers to destroy the building on
farmland in order to save on taxes.
The policy could lead, he said, to
situations such as those he's seen
already in Bruce County where
there is such distance between
r
farmhouses that if one were to
fire no one would see the smoke
New Democrat Paul Klopp
the audience that Mr. Ridell's
that foreign absentee owners
down to less than one per cent
total Ontario farmland is no
more than a good use of figure
said he feels foreign ownership is a
problem and Ontario should in-
troduce legislation similar to that of
Saskatchewan in order to dis-
courage the practice.
"In Saskatchewan, they say if you
don't want to come and farm, you
can only own ten acres," Mr. Klopp
said. That applies to corporations as
well as foreign landowners, he
added.
In Ontario, foreign landowners
have used numbered companies in
order to squeeze through the loop-
hole in the tax on foreign-owned
farmland, he claimed.
"The bottom line is that we have to
set up a policy in this province
giving people the right to farm. Land
speculation has caused many of
those living in rural communities to
leave," Mr. Klopp said."
7"
l'p
a� r
i
Bilingualism stirs emotions,
during- all -candidates debate
The subject of bilingualism in
Ontario provoked heated discussion
during last week's all -candidates
meeting in Londesborough last
week.
More than 200 people attended the
meeting, sponsored by the Huron
County Federation of Agriculture
and held in the auditorium of Hullett
Central School
The topic was clearly the one
which managed most to stir up the
emotions of at least one of the
candidates as well as a number of
those in the audience. The meeting's
atmosphere quickened in intensity
as Progressive Conservative can-
didate Nico Peters drew a hearty
response for declaring he is against
bilingualism for this province.
In answer to a question from the
floor, said he is not opposed to the
voluntary participation in such
activities as French immersion
classes in schools, but he does not
agree with having French rammed
Gorrie you
in singlemc
A 17 -year-old Gorrie youth is dead
and three others remain in hospital
following an accident last Friday
evening in Turnberry Township.
Dead is John G. Husnik of Gorrie,
according to the Ontario Provincial
Police in Wingham. He was in a car
driven by Paul Kenneth McArthur,
16, of Wingham, who is in
satisfactory condition in them
Winghaand District Hospital.
Michael Latronico of Gorrie was
in good condition in St. Joseph's
Hospital, London, on Monday
morning and Dorothy Roesler, 16, of
Gorrie remains in satisfactory
condition in Wingham hospital. A
fourth passenger, 15 -year -,)Id
Dwayne Hickey of Wingham, was
released from hospital on Sunday.
An OPP spokesman said the 1976
Oldsmobile Mr. McArthur was
driving was southbound on Con. 4 of
Turnberry Aug. 28 at 11:15 p.m.
travelling at a high rate of speed. It
missed a curve in the road, struck
the stop sign, crossed the B-line,
entered the ditch, rolled over and
then struck a tree, according to the
ac- police report.
dell, The Wingham and Area Fire
sive Department was called to't}ie scene
to rescue several of the victims from
the car. The vehicle is owned by Alf
* , B91dwin of Gorrie. ,
John George Husnik Jr. was the
son of John and Blanche (Dobson)
Husnik of Edward Street, Gorrie.
Born March 23, 1970, in Woodstock;
he was a resident of Grey Township
before moving to Gorrie. He had
been employed by Borg Textiles in
Elmira during the summer and was
catch returning to F. E. Madill Secondary
School to further his education in the
told fall.
claim Left to mourn his passing, besides
hip is his parents, are three brothers,
of the Robert of Kitchener, Thomas of
thing Wingham and Charles, Gorrie; one
s. He sister, Mrs. David (Della) Bridge,
I
M
� MISS KATIE STEELE of Wingham celebrated her 90th birthday last
week at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Born at Lucknow, Miss
Steele has Nved In Wingham for over 50 years.
e
down people's throats."
New Democrat Paul Klopp, how-
ever, suggested the PCs are using
"scare tactics" in their references
to bilingualism during this cam-
paign and that he didn't recall
"anybody trying to ram anything
down anybody's throat.
Mr. Klopp said he had not been
"mature enough" while a Grade 9
student to decide to take French and
now he regrets not doing so. ' `I think
we can have French and English in
this province and get along," he
said.
Mr. Riddell also charged the
Progressive Conservatives of fear -
mongering and quoted a Toronto
newspaper columnist who supported
tlyat claim. Premier David Peter-
son, Mr. Riddell said, is trying, to
bring the people of Ontario together,
not divide them.
Using Bill 8 to illustrate, Mr.
Riddell said the. legislation ex-
tending French language rights to
government services received the
unanimous approval of all three
parties and provided government
services in both languages where the
numbers of French speaking people
warranted it.
Mr. Riddell's statement prompted
a question from the floor. Grant
Sparling of Blyth asked why this
province should provide services in
both French and English when
Quebec does not have official
bilingualism. He said his company
does considerable businesh with
Quebec and alNocuments from
there are printed in French.
Mr. Riddell's reply was that he
feels the attitude has been changing
in Quebec now that the Parti
Quebecois is no longer in power. He
said that during a recent trip to
Quebec, he found that people quickly
switched to English to converse with
him when they found out how dif-
ficult it was for him to speak in
French.
r This, he said, is a great im-
provement since the PQ days when
people would not speak English at
t all.
The last word on the issue, how -
3r a C C I d e n
ever belonged to Mr Peters wh
Candidates meet tomorrow
in Town Hall auditorium
At press time, at least two of Huron's three candidates had agreed to
attend an all -candidates meeting scheduled for tomorrow evening in
the upstairs auditorium of the Wingham Town hall.
While Liberal candidate Jack Riddell has said he will be unable to
attend because of an already heavy campaign schedule; Progressive
Caiservative..Nico Peters and New Democrat Paul Klopp will be
there.
The debate, organized by the Wingham Business Association, will be
conducted under a fairly controlled format and chaired by WBA Presi-
dent Elmer Squires. A panel consisting of three media representatives
and one from the business community will direct questions at the can-
didates.
Some of the regional issues likely to be raised are:
—Why new industry is being directed away from Wingham by
government agencies.
—Rebuilding of the Lower Town Dam further down stream to create
a lake surrounding Wingham on three sides.
—Restoration of Howson Dam by Riverside Park.
—Wingham's inadequate sewage system.
—Proposed widening of Highway 4 from Blyth to Wingham.
—Wingham's proposed land annexation from Turnberry Township.
Huron candidates attract
large turnout to hear debate
More than 200 Huron County elec-
tors filled the auditorium of Hullett
Central School in Londesborough
last week for an all -candidates
debate sponsored by the Huron
County Federation of Agriculture.
In the audience, the team of
Progressive Conservative candidate
Nico Peters appeared to be the most
evident as placard -carrying sup-
porters filled the front seats of the
auditorium. Although the PC group
was the most enthusiastic in vocal
support, the other two candidates
were not without their followers as
many Liberal -red buttons denoting
support for Jack Riddell were
visible throughout the audience as
were those indicating support for
New Democratic Party candidate
Paul Klopp.
Although some of the questions
directed at the candidates dealt with
such issues as free trade and
bilingualism, most of the meeting
centred, predictably on farm -
related topics. In addition to the
federation's sponsoring of the
meeting, all three of the candidates
are farmers.
The meeting's format managed to
keep the question and answer period
flowing somewhat smoothly and
with the exception of one or two
minor outbursts, emotions stayed at
a reasonable level of intensity.
Brenda McIntosh, acting president
of the federation and the meeting's
Ad deadline
this Friday
'Rae deadline for classified ad-
vertising to appear in next week's
issue of The Advance -Times Is this
Friday afternoon, Sept. 4.
The advanced deadline is required
due to the Labor Day holiday
Monday, Sept, 7.
chairman, limited most of the ownership of farm land.
questions to those submitted in Following five-minute opening
writing. speeches from each of the three
Among issues provoking an candidates, the question and answer
emotional response were those of period filled the major portion of the
bilingualism and the foreign two-hour meeting.
Provincial NDP leader
Bob Rae visits in Clinton
Ontario New Democratic Party
Leader Bob Rae made a campaign
stopover in Huron riding last Friday
when he toured the troubled
Sherlock -Manning Piano Company
at Clinton.
Owned by Draper Brothers and
Reid Ltd., the company manufac-
tures Sherlock -Manning pianos,
which have been produced for 100
years and is the only remaining
piano manufacturer in Canada. The
company also faced bankruptcy as
of Monday, Aug. 31.
Mr. Rae spent one hour touring the
threatened plant, which needs
another $400,000 in government
financing. This would be in addition
to the money already secured to put
the plant back into full production.
Although the plant has firm orders
for 1,500 pianos, Manager Paul
Ryckman said repeated funding
requests to the federal and
provincial governments have been
denied. Clinton Mayor John Balfour
has circulated a petition which
reads, in part: "We urge the Federal
and Provincial Governments of
Canada to help Draper Brothers and
Reid Ltd. flourish by providing
financial support."
Following his tour of the factory,
Mr. Rae said he wait determined
Lo sometning should be oone to
help save the 100 -year old company,
not out of a sense of nostalgia, but to
save jobs.
Mr. Rae went on to say the Ontario
government should be doing what it
can to make sure the public sector
buys Canadian pianos, pointing to
government contracts with Korean
and Japanese manufacturers to
supply pianos for Ontario schools.
"We accept the fact that goods are
coming into this country, but it
(Please turn to Page 3A)
Durham man
will stand trial
on murder charge
A three-day preliminary hearing
in Owen Sound resulted in a Durham
man being ordered to stand trial for
the March slaying of 14 -year old
Jacobina Carman of Ayton.
Judge Francis Olmstead ruled
that Richard Scott Johnston, 23, will
be tried on a charge of first-degree
murder before a judge and jury at
the Supreme Court of Ontario,
probably beginning Oct. 19.
Miss Carman's partially -clothed
body was discovered early March 29
in a ditch beside a country road
north of Hanover. She died from two
shotgun blasts, one to the head and
the other to the chest and shoulder.
The Grade 9 student at John
Diefenbaker Secondary School in
Hanover was the only child of the
town's chief librarian, Kate Car-
man.
Mr. Johnston lived in an apart -
(Please turn to Page SAI
IV ■
o
claimed it is the Liberals who are
RR 1, Wroxeter; two nieces,
misleading people by equating Bill
Samantha and Nicole; grand-
with bilingualism. Bill 8, Mr. Peters
parents, Rita Meggitt of Toronto and
said, is fine, but official bilingualism
Robert Meggitt, Hanover and great-
is wrong.
grandparents, Laura and Joseph
Hutchinson of Gorrie. He was the
Van Ankum trial
dear friend of Kim Patterson of
Wingham.
at Goderich
The late John Husnik Jr. rested at
the Gorrie Chapel of M. L. Watts
in' January
Funeral Homes where friends paid
their respects on Sunday. Funeral
Hilbert, Van Ankum of RR 2
service was held Monday at two
Wroxeter, has been remanded until
o'clock, conducted by Rev. Donald
Jan. 19 when he will appear in court
Pugh. He was carried to - his final
at Goderich for trial on a charge of
resting place in Gorrie Cemetery by
failing to provide proper care to an
his three brothers, Robert, Tom and
animal.
Charles, David Bridge, Garry
Mr. Van Ankum .was charged
McArthur and Tim McArthur.
earlier this year by the Kitchener -
Donations to the Children's Hos-
Waterloo Humane Society.
pital of Western Ontario would be
He was remanded to Goderich in am
appreciated by the family as ex-
brief court appearance at Wingha
pressions of concern and sympathy.
on Wednesday.
Candidates meet tomorrow
in Town Hall auditorium
At press time, at least two of Huron's three candidates had agreed to
attend an all -candidates meeting scheduled for tomorrow evening in
the upstairs auditorium of the Wingham Town hall.
While Liberal candidate Jack Riddell has said he will be unable to
attend because of an already heavy campaign schedule; Progressive
Caiservative..Nico Peters and New Democrat Paul Klopp will be
there.
The debate, organized by the Wingham Business Association, will be
conducted under a fairly controlled format and chaired by WBA Presi-
dent Elmer Squires. A panel consisting of three media representatives
and one from the business community will direct questions at the can-
didates.
Some of the regional issues likely to be raised are:
—Why new industry is being directed away from Wingham by
government agencies.
—Rebuilding of the Lower Town Dam further down stream to create
a lake surrounding Wingham on three sides.
—Restoration of Howson Dam by Riverside Park.
—Wingham's inadequate sewage system.
—Proposed widening of Highway 4 from Blyth to Wingham.
—Wingham's proposed land annexation from Turnberry Township.
Huron candidates attract
large turnout to hear debate
More than 200 Huron County elec-
tors filled the auditorium of Hullett
Central School in Londesborough
last week for an all -candidates
debate sponsored by the Huron
County Federation of Agriculture.
In the audience, the team of
Progressive Conservative candidate
Nico Peters appeared to be the most
evident as placard -carrying sup-
porters filled the front seats of the
auditorium. Although the PC group
was the most enthusiastic in vocal
support, the other two candidates
were not without their followers as
many Liberal -red buttons denoting
support for Jack Riddell were
visible throughout the audience as
were those indicating support for
New Democratic Party candidate
Paul Klopp.
Although some of the questions
directed at the candidates dealt with
such issues as free trade and
bilingualism, most of the meeting
centred, predictably on farm -
related topics. In addition to the
federation's sponsoring of the
meeting, all three of the candidates
are farmers.
The meeting's format managed to
keep the question and answer period
flowing somewhat smoothly and
with the exception of one or two
minor outbursts, emotions stayed at
a reasonable level of intensity.
Brenda McIntosh, acting president
of the federation and the meeting's
Ad deadline
this Friday
'Rae deadline for classified ad-
vertising to appear in next week's
issue of The Advance -Times Is this
Friday afternoon, Sept. 4.
The advanced deadline is required
due to the Labor Day holiday
Monday, Sept, 7.
chairman, limited most of the ownership of farm land.
questions to those submitted in Following five-minute opening
writing. speeches from each of the three
Among issues provoking an candidates, the question and answer
emotional response were those of period filled the major portion of the
bilingualism and the foreign two-hour meeting.
Provincial NDP leader
Bob Rae visits in Clinton
Ontario New Democratic Party
Leader Bob Rae made a campaign
stopover in Huron riding last Friday
when he toured the troubled
Sherlock -Manning Piano Company
at Clinton.
Owned by Draper Brothers and
Reid Ltd., the company manufac-
tures Sherlock -Manning pianos,
which have been produced for 100
years and is the only remaining
piano manufacturer in Canada. The
company also faced bankruptcy as
of Monday, Aug. 31.
Mr. Rae spent one hour touring the
threatened plant, which needs
another $400,000 in government
financing. This would be in addition
to the money already secured to put
the plant back into full production.
Although the plant has firm orders
for 1,500 pianos, Manager Paul
Ryckman said repeated funding
requests to the federal and
provincial governments have been
denied. Clinton Mayor John Balfour
has circulated a petition which
reads, in part: "We urge the Federal
and Provincial Governments of
Canada to help Draper Brothers and
Reid Ltd. flourish by providing
financial support."
Following his tour of the factory,
Mr. Rae said he wait determined
Lo sometning should be oone to
help save the 100 -year old company,
not out of a sense of nostalgia, but to
save jobs.
Mr. Rae went on to say the Ontario
government should be doing what it
can to make sure the public sector
buys Canadian pianos, pointing to
government contracts with Korean
and Japanese manufacturers to
supply pianos for Ontario schools.
"We accept the fact that goods are
coming into this country, but it
(Please turn to Page 3A)
Durham man
will stand trial
on murder charge
A three-day preliminary hearing
in Owen Sound resulted in a Durham
man being ordered to stand trial for
the March slaying of 14 -year old
Jacobina Carman of Ayton.
Judge Francis Olmstead ruled
that Richard Scott Johnston, 23, will
be tried on a charge of first-degree
murder before a judge and jury at
the Supreme Court of Ontario,
probably beginning Oct. 19.
Miss Carman's partially -clothed
body was discovered early March 29
in a ditch beside a country road
north of Hanover. She died from two
shotgun blasts, one to the head and
the other to the chest and shoulder.
The Grade 9 student at John
Diefenbaker Secondary School in
Hanover was the only child of the
town's chief librarian, Kate Car-
man.
Mr. Johnston lived in an apart -
(Please turn to Page SAI
IV ■