Monthly Archives: June 2009

06.20.09
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If it walks and squawks like a carbon tax, it is a carbon tax

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By Ben Eisen
Policy Analyst
Frontier Centre for Public Policy

During the last federal election, the Conservatives skewered then Liberal leader Stephan Dion’s proposed carbon tax as a “tax on everything.” The Tories argued such a policy would place a significant strain on household budgets, curb economic growth, and contribute almost nothing towards the stated goal of the policy – to combat global warming.

In all this, the Conservatives were correct. Unfortunately, their alternative of a “carbon market,” some details of which were given recently, will produce all of the same negative consequences as a carbon tax, with a few additional problems on top.
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06.20.09
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The future of mental health care in St. Thomas-Elgin is the thin edge of the wedge

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Proposed funding cuts in Elgin county are the thin edge of the wedge — cost-saving measures that may make sense in a business model, but when you’re dealing with mental-health issues, you may be saving dollars, but don’t people count?
Paring back of the outpatient Crisis and Relapse Prevention Service (CRPS) based at Regional Mental Health Care, St. Thomas, accessible to the public and physicians for the past 34 years, is another tragic example of a funding bias on the part of the province.
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06.17.09
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In Carroll’s absence, vandalism continues at Alma

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From Bob Foster

Dear Mr.Premier,
For over 1 year supporters of the Alma College property have been asking,begging & pleading with culture minister Aileen Carroll to give provincial heritage designation to 96 Moore Street in St.Thomas,Ontario.The culture minister has not responded in any fashion to our requests.Alma College was lost to arson in May of last year,however 2 buildings still remain on the historic property,and were an important part of Alma College.It was reported yesterday that part of the historic front gate,known as “the Sifton Gate” has been stolen,leaving only 1 half of the gate.If the culture minister does not move soon to protect what remains,its only a matter of time before we lose whats left of the Alma College legacy.We ask you and Minister Carroll to give provincial heritage designation to 96 Moore Street,so we can restore the music building,the chapel and the outdoor amphi-theater.The theft of the Sifton gate is heartbreaking,and we now need to have government protection put in place to ensure nothing further is removed from this historic property.Will Minister Carroll do the right thing and honor this historic property with Provincial Heritage Desigantion? We await a response.

Sincerely,
Robert F.Foster
Brampton,Ontario

06.17.09
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St. Thomas and Elgin County Railway Museum purchase railway lands

From the Times-Journal
The future of St. Thomas’s railway heritage brightened considerably Tuesday with the announcement the Elgin County Railway Museum purchased its building from CN and the city acquired rail connections to the former L&PS nearby, now city-owned.

If the deal is finalized in approximately 90 days, it paves the way for St. Thomas residents to hear the sound of rolling stock moving along portions of the former Canada Southern line.

“At long last we have reached a stage for the purchase of the property,” Mayor Cliff Barwick said, addressing a small audience outside the railway museum.
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06.16.09
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Chatham-Kent council delays wind farm decisions

The deferral action was recommended by consultant Tom Storey as a result of changes being considered by the province under the Green Energy and Green Economy Act.

The two projects deferred were Invenergy Wind Canada ULC’s proposed Raleigh Wind Farm and Renewable Energy Systems Canada Inc’s proposed Talbot wind farm.

Storey said another half dozen wind farms being proposed for Chatham-Kent will also be impacted by the new legislation.

Although some councillors suggested forging ahead with current plans, Mayor Randy Hope said the municipality should hold off until the new guidelines are announced.

At the same time, he said there is a need for the municipality to speak on the matter with a strong voice.

“We want the province to know that citizens should be heard on this matter,’’ he said.
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06.15.09
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Central Elgin Ratepayers Association adds Port Stanley harbour special advisor

Fishing tugs in Port Stanley harbour

Fishing tugs in Port Stanley harbour


Municipality of Central Elgin, Ontario, June 15, 2009 – Bruce Lemon, President of Central Elgin Ratepayers Association (CERA) has announced the appointment of Dan McNeil as Port Stanley Harbour Special Advisor to CERA .

“We’re very pleased that Dan McNeil has agreed to advise CERA on issues that pertain to the on-going negotiations by the Municipality of Central Elgin to acquire the Port Stanley Harbour from the Federal Government.” ,said Mr. Lemon. “Mr. McNeil has been instrumental in lifting the veil of secrecy surrounding these negotiations and explaining how the Federal bureaucracy deals in these matters.”
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06.13.09
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Cash infusion a much-needed boost

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The timing couldn’t have been better.
The announcement one week ago outlining $3.4 million in upper-tier funding for St. Thomas surely is a shot of adrenalin after months of getting kicked in the backside … the result of layoffs and plant closings.
  A sum of $2.4 million to reconstruct a portion of Wellington Street and $1 million for an ambitious expansion at St. Thomas Municipal Airport to accommodate corporate jet travel is money that should have been ear-marked to this community ages ago.
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06.12.09
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Ford Canada seeks equivalent union concessions

Ford Motor Co. of Canada will seek labour cost concessions from its main union that would put the automaker on the same competitive level as rival General Motors of Canada and Chrysler Canada, where workers recently accepted significant cuts in compensation.

Senior officials for Ford and the Canadian Auto Workers plan to meet at an airport hotel today for a regular quarterly business update where the company will press for new savings immediately so it can remain competitive.

“We have to take action to be more competitive and maintain our manufacturing presence in Canada,” Ford spokeswoman Lauren More said.
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06.11.09
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Stirring the pot on wind energy projects

The winds of dissent are blowing across southern Ontario, buffeting the dreams of entrepreneurs hoping to cash in on elevated support for renewable energy.
“There’s a lot of controversy about it coming out now,” said Simcoe County Federation of Agriculture president Dave Riddell in a recent edition of the Alliston Herald newspaper, when asked to comment about prospective wind energy projects.
Increasingly well-organized groups of residents around places like Ripley and St. Columban might suggest Riddell’s comment is an understatement. But, in the interview, he pinpointed the problem.
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