By Anne Fnlay-Stewart
Owen Sound's water infrastructure dates back to the 1880s. Today the value of the assets in the existing water and waste water systems is $172 million or an investment of approximately $25,000 per customer. The last few weeks have proven just how valuable that infrastructure is to our quality of life.
In 2000, seven deaths and many more illnesses in Walkerton were attributed to contaminated water. The inquiry that followed made 93 recommendations and the province responded with several pieces of legislation including the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Water Opportunities Act. The former includes quality standards, chemical levels, training of operators and licensing requirements. The latter legislation and its unfolding regulations are intended to ensure that water services are maintained and improved to ensure that future demand can be satisfied. As a condition of our licence to operate a municipal water system, the city must create plans that include maintaining and replacing infrastructure, risk assessment, conservation, and a sustainable financial plan to pay for it all.
On Monday March 16th, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound member of parliament Larry Miller appeared on the CFOS Radio call-in show the "Open Line" with Bill Murdoch. During the show, a caller claimed that he "knew it was wrong" to cover one's face during citizenship ceremonies. Mr. Miller stated his position and then said "I think most Canadians feel the same."
At the Hub we are curious whether our readers agree. Do most Canadians feel this way? Who are "most Canadians" and how do we determine how they feel on this subject? We invite you to submit your opinion in writing to both the Hub and Mr. Miller's office.
by Anne Finlay Stewart
Twenty-five years ago a visionary woman left a bequest to buy a concert grand piano for the musical community of Owen Sound. On Saturday, March 21 at 8:00 p.m. that piano will be re-dedicated at a concert by Angela Park, a classical pianist of international repute.
Ms. Park will perform at the Harmony Centre, at 4th Avenue East and 9th Street. The community-owned teaching and concert space for many of Owen Sound's aspiring and professional musicians is now the permanent home for the grand piano, in the care of the Georgian Bay Symphony.
Formerly Knox United Church, the building has a rich musical heritage. In the 1930s and 40s, Mr. Cyril Moss was the organist. He often held public concerts at the church, encouraging its use for social and entertainment purposes to create and strengthen a sense of community.
On March 14 roughly 100 people gathered together on the steps of City Hall in Owen Sound. The Owen Sound demonstration was one of over 70 similar demonstrations held in communities across Canada to speak out against Bill C-51, the Conservatives' latest proposed anti-terror legislation.
Opponents are particularly concerned about the changes the Bill makes to CSIS. Formed in 1984 with a mandate to gather and and analyze intelligence and assess risks, if the Bill passes unamended the agency would be given powers previously reserved for law enforcement agencies like the RCMP. Because the work of CSIS does not bear the scrutiny of open court, C-51 has been dubbed the "secret police" Bill.
By Anne Finlay-Stewart
It takes a lot of money to provide a quality post-secondary education, and in Ontario students are bearing more of that cost than ever before. Yet the Students' Administrative Councils of Georgian College's Owen Sound, Barrie and Orillia campuses have committed to the largest single donation the college has ever received. The students will contribute $7.2 million over the next ten years to the college's Power of Education campaign to "help transform the student experience". The money will fund a unique on-line portal that will essentially provide students access to services at all seven Georgian campuses 24/7, as well as specific projects at each of the three main campuses. In Barrie, part of the money will be spent on a sports field to replace one ripped up in the process of adding a building, adding "value to the college and community", according to the Georgian news release.
Which begs the question – isn't this what taxes are for?
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