Monthly Archives: October 2009

10.15.09
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CAW Under pressure to make deal with Ford

Pressure has shifted to the Canadian Auto Workers union after Ford Motor Co. struck a concession-laden deal with the United Auto Workers.

Canada must remain competitive with its U. S. neighbour to maintain automotive investment and the union must look at bringing Ford’s labour costs here in line with its American workers — as well as GM and Chrysler — or risk losing jobs, Ken Lewenza, CAW national president, warned Wednesday.

“There is serious pressure. We should not underestimate that we always measure ourselves against the Americans. We always have, we always will,” Lewenza said.

“They are better positioned now than we are,” he said of the UAW deal. “If we do not get an agreement, it will be disastrous.”

Full story

10.13.09
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Axe dangles over another St. Thomas school

The London-centered school board is ready to close another city school in 2011. Here’s the details from Kelly Pedro at the Free Press.

Senior administrators recommended tonight that area public board trustees close a St. Thomas elementary school.

After a so-called accommodation review committee report, staff are recommending Balaclava St. public school close and pupils there be folded into Edward Street public school, which will convert from a junior kindergarten to Grade 6 school to the Thames Valley District school board’s preferred junior kindergarten to Grade 8 model.

If approved, Balaclava would close in June 2011.

Staff are also recommending pupils who live north of Talbot St. and attend Scott St. public school – which is already slated to close – be transferred to Edward St., which will be renovated. Staff project that renovation would cost about $4.8 million and enrolment for 2011-12 is 349.

Locke’s public school would also be renovated to handle pupils from the Dalewood subdivision. Staff project that renovation would cost $4.1 million and enrolment for 2011-12 is 523.

Those recommendations, if approved, would take effect in September 2011.

After this ARC, all pupils in St. Thomas will be moved into the board’s preferred junior kindergarten to Grade 8 model in the next few years.

The public now has a chance to speak out about the senior administration’s recommendation before trustees vote on the issue Dec. 15.

10.13.09
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Ethanol subsidies a useless boondoggle

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Ethanol is the gift that keeps on giving – but only to corn-growers and opportunistic automakers. For taxpayers, however, it’s a dream that failed and a rat-hole down which our governments keep pouring our tax money. This useless boondoggle must stop.

Last week, CanWest News Service reported on a government memo that says clearly that Ottawa’s costly effort to promote E85 fuel – industry shorthand for 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent ordinary gasoline – will do no good.

In fact, we believe the whole push for ethanol – produced mainly from corn in Canada – will bring no actual reductions in total greenhouse gas emissions, but will cost taxpayers $2.2 billion in federal subsidies, plus more from provinces, especially Ontario.
Full story

10.11.09
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Aileen Carroll’s path of destruction continues

Vandals take their toll on Alma amphitheatre

Vandals take their toll on Alma amphitheatre


From Bob Foster in Brampton, Ont
Monday September 28th,2009 marked 16 months to the day that we lost Alma College in St.Thomas,Ontario.On the property at 96 Moore Street 2 buildings remain standing,as does the unique outdoor amphi-theatre.The thousands of Alma supporters would like our culture minister to designate the property with “Provincial Heritage Designation”,so the property will be protected from any further neglect.The chapel and music building have remained untouched since the May 2008 inferno completely destroyed beautiful & historic Alma College,sadly the outdoor amphi-theatre which was restored by residents of St.Thomas shortly after the fire,is now facing a daily dose of vandalism.Our culture minister has failed to see the historic value of this property and 2 remaining structures.In the headlines almost on a daily basis is our culture minister handing out millions of dollars to one organization or another,yet funds cannot be provided to fully restore the 2 remaining structures and outdoor amphi-theatre,at 96 Moore Street.If the property was protected with heritage designation,this would pave the way for the last remaining part of the Alma College legacy,to be preserved for future generations to enjoy.Aileen Carroll failed 16 months ago to properly designate Alma College,which more than likely would have prevented this tragedy from ever taking place,and instead of mourning the loss,we would have been celebrating the grand re-opening of this once magnificent structure.The Alma supporters ask Aileen Carroll to recognize the huge contribution 96 Moore Street has made to our province.The property is at risk of becoming a distant memory,but with government intervention the property could once again become a valuable part of St.Thomas.16 months of silence from Aileen Carroll is not a positive sign from the one person who is supposed to champion the cause of preserving our heritage,instead we are left to wonder,WHO IS PROTECTING OUR PAST?

10.11.09
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Ontario’s economy cannot prosper without a vigorous manufacturing sector

Formet Industries, St. Thomas

Formet Industries, St. Thomas


Posted by Ian:
Thanks to Serge Lavoie for the heads up on this positive look at this region’s manufacturing base. With plants and factories shuttered the length of South Edgeware and the Ford plant teetering, let’s hope that indeed the industrial engine is just idling.
So, here is the key question posed by the Toronto Star:

Without a revitalized manufacturing base, Ontario has little chance of a healthy economic recovery that delivers the good jobs and high productivity we need for sustainable prosperity.

So a key question as we face a federal election some time in the next 12 months is which party, Conservative or Liberal, can deliver the most effective manufacturing strategy for the province.
Full comment

10.11.09
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Small towns contributing to their own demise

An exodus of young people seeking education, adventure and success in bigger cities, combined with economic upheaval that has left little opportunity for those who stayed behind, has resulted in a dramatic “hollowing out” of North America’s small communities. And worse, by not adapting to this new reality, small towns are playing a big part in their own demise.

Other regions and communities have created incentives designed to draw back their educated young people. Aniko Varpalotai, a professor specializing in rural education at the University of Western Ontario, says St. Thomas, the town she lives in just outside of London, Ont., has used tuition relief and housing benefits to entice several of the medical students who passed through its hospital to stay. In different areas of the U.S., Carr found free land programs, student loan forgiveness and attempts to improve cultural amenities.

Full story

10.10.09
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11.2 per cent and rising

It’s Thanksgiving, but Londoners have no reason to be thankful for the latest job numbers.

Unemployment in the London-St. Thomas area edged up in September for the tenth straight month — to 11.2% from 11.1% — despite a surprising drop in both the national and provincial rates.

“London is threatening to become the land that recovery forgot,” said Douglas Porter, deputy chief economist for BMO Capital Markets and a London native and University of Western Ontario graduate.
Full story

10.10.09
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Do it right or remove all non-compliant crosswalks

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The brain trust at city hall has opted to wait until they receive a police report before examining the crosswalk where Harold Leslie Hill was killed last month.
A wise move at first glance. Except our municipal officials, and those who sat on the previous council, are well aware of the dangerous situation created by the questionable status of these crosswalks.
In fact, this corner clearly remembers a council meeting several years ago when the mayor and alderman were apprised of the fact a similar crossing on Fairview Avenue, between Wellington and Talbot streets, was not properly signed as per provincial regulation.
The addition of a yellow “stick man” sign at the hospital crossing merely indicates pedestrians are in the area. Continue reading →

10.08.09
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Tory MPP to ask Ont. legislature for provincewide moratorium on wind farms

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OWEN SOUND, Ont. — A Progressive Conservative will be asking the Ontario legislature for a provincewide moratorium on wind farms.

Bruce-Grey-Owen-Sound member Bill Murdoch wants the province’s chief medical officer of health to look into whether wind turbines cause health problems for residents who live near them.

Murdoch says the government has a responsibility and mandate to look into claims that wind turbines cause sleep deprivation and stress, among other things.
Full story