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Zurich Citizens News, 1973-10-18, Page 14PAGE 14 ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1973 "^d,"^^ ter' JOtti gs by J ck from Queens Park Once again I am pleased to have this opportunity to report the proceedings of the Ontario Legislature in the weekly papers throughout the Huron Constitu- ency. After a summer which no one can deny as being a typical old fashion summer, with an abundance of heat and sunshine, the Ontario Legislature resumed on October 2, with very little fan -fare. Premier Davis introduced a bill to establish a Provincial Ministry of Housing. A report from the Task Force on Housing revealed a nearcrisis in housing in Ontario. It said one of every six families in the Province needed governmental assistance of some kind to secure housing they could afford. hir. Davis indicated that Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Ontario Housing Corporation were discussing ways to boost housing in 1976-77. As Premier Davis was making a statement about housing a distraught, dark-haired woman was escorted from the Ontario Legislature after she tried to speak out against the Workmen' Compensation Board from the visitor's gallery. Premier Davis told the Leg- islature that he will ask Prime Minister Trudeau to call a Fed- eral Provincial conference to examine the long term effects of inflation on the Canadian economy. The big news this week was the tabling of the Hydro report. The Committee began its inv- estigation in May and it stret- ched over 50 days, involved 2.4 million words of evidence and was one of the most thor- ough investigations ever at Queen's Park. The Committee dealt harshly with Ontario Hydro officials and the procedures used in giv- ing developer Gerhard Moog the contract to build Hydro's $44 million head office. The report said Chairman George Gathercole and other members of the Hydro Commis- sion were guilty of "an abdict- ion of their responsibilities." It went on to say that they had failed to guarantee that the public interest was being prot- ected in the deal which could. met Moog, a close friend of Premier Davis, a profit of $17.5 million over 30 years. The report also found no evidence that Premier Davis assisted Moog in obtaining the Hydro Contract. It said, however that Hydro officials were aware of the friendship between Moog and the Premier more than a year before the contract was signed. The Com- mittee felt this known friend- ship did influence the letting of the contract according to the report which states "It is the view of this Committee that it may have been one of the fact- ors which weighted upon Hydro, although it must be stated, that in the view of some members it was a factor." The report indicated Commit- tee Members felt Hydro may have been able to bargain Moog down to a lower rental payment for the building. Moog originally indicated that he would accept r esponsibility for sub letting 200, 000 square feet of office area, Hydro ult- imately assumed the responsib- ility for the whole of the office space. The definition of cost of the building was key. It will govern the amount up to $45 million which Canada Square can bor- row to finance the project and affect any possible rent rebates to Hydro, available if the build- ing cost less that $34 a square foot. Mr. Moog was allowed to in- sert, elements into costs which Hydro had never contemplated then switched to the terra "appraised value, " a definition which plagued the Committee in its hearings because it was never clearly defined. The Commissioners were adv- ised that Mr. Moog was reneg- ing and allowed him to do so. The justice committee of the Ontario Legislature dropped a clause in a bill to regulate credit information bureaus. The clause would have forced bur- eaus to notify a consumer when information about him was trad- ed. Two N.D.P. members of the Committee objected to the change in the bill. The appointment of Civil Servant David Caverly as chair- man of Ontario's Environmental Hearing Board to replace John Root (P.C. Wellington-Dufferin; goes part way towards meeting the recommenadation of the Camp Commission on the Leg- islature which said that the Government should end the practice of having elected members serve on boards and commissions. fest From Start To Finish! I NEER HYBRIDS Check the Govt. corn trials, then order your Pioneer Seed Corn from: IL UAM COLEMAN 262-5031 - KIPPEN ()ntario pensioners are to get $50 each from the Provincial Government this winter accord- ing to a plan announced by Premier Davis, A special act will be intorduced to provide annual payments geared to inflation and this year plans to pay $17 million to low income pensioners, that is single persons with an income below $3,100. and married couples below $5, 400. According to Rene Brunelle, Minister of Social Services, the $50. payment is an interim measure and will only go to those who receive the maximum Guaranteed in- come Supplement. Revenue Minister Allan Grossman announced that Ont- ario is to make lower cost mort- gage money available to build- ers willing to construct no -frill houses on their own land. First mortgages will be made avail- able at the preferred rate of 8.75 per cent to cover 05 per cent of the cost of house and land, or the appraised value, whichever is the lesser. The houses must be sold between $15,450 and $18, 000. Buyerfi' incomes must be' less than $32, 500. New Democratic Party Leader Stephen Lewis accused the government of abandoning an eight month old plan to constr- ain medical care costs. Premier Davis replied by stating that the Government had indicated it was developing some form of constrain medical care costs, Premier Davis replied by stating that the government had indic- ated it was developing some form of constraint but had never committed itself to a particular program. Mr. Davis indicated that the government would have the beginning of proposals that will introduce a degree of restraint in time for the next budget of the Province. Hydro thereby lost not only benefits of the earlier agree- ment but, also exposed itself to the possibility of Moog rais- ing $45 million against the security of the building without investing that amount in the building and without abatement of rental to hydro. The Committee also found that the answers to Liberal Leader Nixon's questions in the Legislature were in part "sign- ificantly misleading." The report also found that John Cronyn, a London business- man and the Chairman of the Government Reorganization Committee, was the person who phoned Donald Smith, President of Ellis -Don but, that no threat was in fact issued. In summary, the Committee found that there was no compet- ition and that Canada Square was the only company given serious consideration by Hydro. The Legislature has been giving consideration to the est - imates of the Ministry of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Social and Community Services. Congratulations go out to Charles Mac Naughton for his recent appointment to the Board of Directors of Redpath Indust- ries. The fall session of the Ontario Legislations will likely continue until the Christmas recess in which case I will spend the entire week exclusive of Sat- urdays and Sundays in Toronto. If there are problems which you are encountering that I may be able to assist with, then I will suggest that you either contact my home by telephone any day of the week preferably during the evenings or pay a visit to my home on the weekends. I am situated on #83 highway, 4 1/2 miles west of Exeter and my telephone number is 237- 3431. I welcome any call and I will be pleased to render any assistance that I can. 0 COLOURFUL CHEESE Consumers' Association of Canada advises shoppers that the flavor of cheese is governed by aging, not colour. Food colour- ing is added for eye appeal - usually to "mild" and "medium' cheese, while the sharper "old" is usually left its natural cream colour, CAC national head- quarters is located at 100 Glou- cester Street, Ottawa. fr, !i p� r NOW LOCATED ON HWY. #4 SOUTH OF CLINTON AT VANASTRA STORE HOURS --MON. THROUGH FRI 11 A.M to 9 P. M. SAT 9 A.M to 6P,M. MEN'S SLACKS PLAIDS CHECKS & PLAINS FORTREL DOUBLEKNIT SIZE 32 - 42 COMPARE AT $ 1 597 GIRLS' LONG SLEEVE PULLOVERS SIZE r+^� 8-i4 $337 MEN'S HYDRO PARKAS SIZE - 52 $ J 997 TO $2'097 RUBBER BOOTS BOYS' SIZE 5 AND UP $477 to $497 MEN'S SIZE 6 to 12 $597 to $ ;tW; 97 CHILDREN'S BLANKET SLEEPERS SIZE 3-6 $477to $:. 27 `r.