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4 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, Wednesday, November 3,1993 Section Two Fonner Publishers Rev. W. R. Climie, 1854-1878 • M.A. James, 1878-1935 • George W. James, 1935-1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited For 139 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher - John M. James Assoc. Publisher - Richard A. James Plant Manager - Donald J. Bishop Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Editor - Peter Parrott Production Rick Patterson, Ross Fisher, Laurens Kaldeway, Doug Lugtenburg, Sharon McMullen, Barb Patterson, Ralph Rozcma, Jim Snoek, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Laveme Morrison Editorial Brad Kelly, Lorraine Manfredo, Laura J. Richards Office Angela Luscher, Junia Hodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasancc-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherford P.O. Box 190, 62 King St. W., Bowmanville, Ontario, L1C 3K9 905-623-3303 Fax 905-623-6161 PAID Win-Win Agreement The Municipality of Clarington has taken the prudent course of action in settling its accounts with Ontario Hydro now. The $13.4 million agreement announced last week is a milestone in the municipality's history because it ties up many of the loose ends related to construction at Darlington and to the nuclear plant's impact on this community. As is the case in any negotiation, it is always possible to argue that the municipality might have held out for more. However, it is unlikely dial more could have been achieved without the municipality engaging in a protracted legal battle, whose outcome would have been uncertain. In other words, Clarington could have faced high legal costs and lengthy delays and been no further ahead than it is today. The other point to keep in mind is the fact that Ontario Hydro cannot be asked to contribute more than what is reasonable. It is one thing for the municipality to ask Hydro to pay for impacts created by the construction of the nuclear plant. But, it is quite another thing for the municipality to treat Hydro as the proverbial goose that lays the golden eggs. Most of what Ontario Hydro has paid the municipality compensates Clarington for the tangible costs of having a nuclear power station in its jurisdiction. For instance, it is only reasonable to assume that one of the world's largest nuclear power installations should be served by round-the-clock fire protection. If Darlington were not here, the municipality could likely use existing part-time and full-time protection. It is reasonable that, since Darlington is the main beneficiary of round-the-clock service, it should pay the $6.1 million towards additional staff and a new fire station. In other words, some compensation can be reasonably expected from Hydro. But, demanding huge sums from Hydro just because it might pay such an amount would be opportunistic. Another thing which should be considered in the discussion is the fact that Ontario Hydro is a public agency which, ultimately, gets its money from electrical customers across Ontario. If Clarington were to push for more than it needs from the utility, the funds which would be paid would simply push the cost of electricity higher. And that's yet another reason why Clarington showed good judgement in keeping its demands reasonable. It might be argued that the amount of money Clarington is to be paid does not take into account the safety factor associated with living next to a nuclear power station. This may be true, but it is also true that three successive political parties who have formed the government of Ontario have not seen Darlington as an unacceptable risk. Moreover, the plant has received the seal of approval from all the necessary regulatory agencies. If a Chemobyl-style accident were to occur at Darlington, there might not be enough money in all Ontario to pay for the damages. But, since such a disaster is not seen as a possibility, the safety issue is not really part of the overall agreement between Hydro and Clarington. The agreement assumes that the Darlington plant is safe. / Finally, we should also point out that the generating station's benefits cannot be measured solely by the $13.4 million agreement. Since construction began in the late.l970's Darlington has contributed thousands of skilled jobs for- the community. And the spin-off effects from those jobs'continues to this day. Even now, with construction substantially over, there are enough jobs in day-to-day operations at Darlington to make it the largest single employer within our municipal boundaries. If any respectable company were to arrive on Clarington's doorstep today and offer a similar number of jobs, it would be eagerly welcomed. And there probably wouldn't be much talk about extra compensation for the town. The agreement between Hydro and Clarington was described by Mayor Hamre as a win/win proposition. Clarington gets the extra cash to improve the quality of life for its citizens and Ontario Hydro ties up more financial and legal details associated with the Darlington mega-project. If only all disputes could be solved so readily. Other issues between Hydro and Clarington will arise in the future. The settlement reached last week should set the standard for further negotiations. Letters to the Editor Name Change Member Responds to Clarington Criticisms Dear John: Throughout the course of the name change process in the summer of 1992, I resisted the temptation to write a letter to The Statesman. At times there were misconceptions or misinterpretations presented by letter writers who were legitimately concerned concerned about the process and how it would affect them. The committees of volunteers chose to address these concerns at open public forums and by Rick James If I follow the suggestions outlined in my personalized personalized Home Power Saver Check-Up Report, I should soon be removed from Ontario Hydro's large volume customer list. I've spoken to several people who took the time to fill out the questionnaire sent to Ontario Hydro customers a few months ago, and all are suspicious of the findings that have been returned, returned, along with suggestions about how to become become a Power Saver. For example, the number one usage of power in our household is for central heating. Since our house has an electric furnace, it came as no surprise surprise that it accounts for 46.7% of the annual bill. But, I was very surprised to see that air conditioning conditioning only accounted for .5% or $12.79. Especially, when my cold-blooded nature enjoys temperatures that only a penguin could appreciate. appreciate. The report also indicates that our family only spends $14.06 a year on television. After a marathon Blue Jays session last month, plus a non-stop barrage of Barney, I'd have thought that figure would rival central heating. Here's the rest of the findings. If you received a report, I'd be interested to know how your figures figures compared to those below. Especially after one person told me his report showed that air conditioning and dishwashers account for a large percentage of use. Strange indeed, since he doesn't have either appliance in his housel Appliance Central Heating Pool Pumps Water Heating Refrigerators Lights Freezers Fans Cooking All Other Uses Laundry Humidifiers Well Pumps Microwave Oven Stereos .05 .7 Televisions .04 .6 Air Conditioning .04 .5 Dishwashers .03 .5 Total $6.77 100.0 on a one-to-one basis on the telephone. telephone. In other words, we avoided getting involved in a publicized letter .writing campaign that could, have : created further concern or confusion. However, since I have read the ; latest in the seemingly endless line of 1 diatribes from Ann Cowman, I can resist no longer. The fact that Ms. Cowman finds the name Clarington "tacky tacky" is of no concern to me. She is most welcome to express her personal opinion. As a name change committee member, I know that this name was widely accepted across the entire municipality as a replacement for the name Newcastle. What has left me somewhat incensed is the reference, reference, once again, by Ms. Cowman to her disappointment that the name could not have been changed to Bowmanville. Bowmanville. The former councillor, and mayor wannabe, knows very well why the fine name of Bowmanvillc was not considered. The reason for the name change was to get rid of the confusion created by having the municipality, municipality, and one of its communities, communities, sharing the same name. Further, if all Ms. Cowman truly wanted was a name with history and dignity, then one would think she would have been lly Cost % $3.16 46.7 .63 9.2 .61 9.0 .49 7.3 .41 6.1 .30 4.5 .25 3.7 .23 3.4 .22 3.3 .15 2.2 .06 .9 .05 .7 .05 .7 The above figures were calculated by Hydro based on my answers to the questionnaire. So, to be fair, I may have provided Inaccurate data about some items which could reflect how Infrequently Infrequently wife Kim uses power for laundry or cooking. cooking. Then again, if I pursue that reasoning any further, I could save even more power by enjoying enjoying a generous helping of "cold shoulder" for dinner. dinner. Although I am suspicious of the actual usage reported by Hydro, there were several suggestions suggestions listed that I have initiated. For example, I have installed a timer on the swimming pool pump that should save between $135 and $165 per year. Our home Is now equipped with 15 watt compact fluorescent bulbs that save about $5.50 per bulb annually. We will save $39-$48 per year by washing clothes in cold water. And lastly, I wrapped our water heater and pipes in Insulation to save a few extra pennies per year. At the rate I'm becoming a Power Saver, It won't be long before Hydro starts sending me cheques Instead of bills. Fat chance. Remember two weeks ago when I suggested there was a spelling crisis among a lot of people under the age of 35... content with leaving the name Newcastle. Newcastle. So, I have been trying to fathom why Ms. Cowman would once again attempt to flog this dead horse issue, especially now when the name is becoming becoming familiar to everyone and virtually virtually all signs are in place. Could it be that the rather straight forward and common sense reasoning against replacing replacing Newcastle with Bowmanville has slipped her mind? After reading her long letter about being a movie extra a few weeks ago this did seem a possibility. But alas, I finally struck upon an idea that may well explain her actions. It occurred to me that in one year's time there will be another municipal election. Could Ms. Cowman Cowman be constantly writing letters to local papers, taking shots at the efforts efforts of our local council in an effort to launch yet another bid at becoming mayor? Her attempt to portray herself as a concerned citizen while trying to further her own political aspirations aspirations is exceedingly blatant. To express express my own personal opinion, I find this to be tacky, tacky. D. Wing Bowmanville Municipality of Clarington Boo! So, what do you think is more scary than going to a scary movie? Halloween goblins, Stephen King novels, rimning out of gas on rainy nights near suspicious-looking manors or getting up in the morning and looking looking in the mirror? For this reporter, it's a trip to the dentist -- like the one I have scheduled scheduled for Friday, Nov. 5 at 4:30 p.m. Yup, it sounds like a doomsday appointment appointment to me! While my dentist seems like a nice fellow, I have only been to sec him twice -- both times for very painful sinus cavities. Nothing a prescription for antibiotics couldn't fix up. I have already begun imagining this next trip to the dentist. He will be looking after two chipped teeth. (Gulp!) Actually, that's pretty good, considering considering it has been two (short) years since my last real check-up. Like many people my age and older, older, pain always accompanied my trips to the dentist when I was a child. I kept wondering, as a child, if the dentist dentist was using me as a test case for new or older drills. (The dentist played by Steve Martin in Little Shop of Horrors had nothing on my first dentist.) The most dramatic times at the dentist have been the dreaded root canal canal in Grade 12 and the wisdom tooth extraction back in February of 1987. During the month before the root canal, everyone and their dog told me about their root canal job and how bad it was. The pain, the blood, the smell and the pain. What they neglected to tell me was about the relief! No more blinding toothaches and nightmares that went with sleeping with the aches and pains. As for the surgery on the wisdom tooth -- from what I've been told, the surgeon and the nurse had to yell at me to bring me back from la-la land. remember having some pretty amazing dreams while under the influence influence and humming "Strawberry Fields Forever." Once the pure oxygen made its way into the brain, I was still feeling quite happy and woozy. The floor did its best to greet me when I straggled off the "table" and landed in a wheelchair. wheelchair. The nurse scooted me out to a small chamber where there was a cot to lie down on. 1 was a "stoned" happy camper. Until the pain hit. A cure was to pop a pain pill which worked so well off I went again! Wccce! As I look at tilings now, I am sure glad I didn't have any more than one wisdom tooth. I was one of the lucky kids in my household -- my two brothers had four each. While I had one of the best dental surgeons I could find when I lived in New Brunswick, I delayed getting a dentist when I moved to Ontario. I have never been in the habit of going out of my way to inflict pain upon myself, if you know what I mean. Let me tell you about my former dentist. His offices arc in a bright, historic building, have inspiring posters on the walls with cute dogs, cats, flowers and scenery shots. There were mobiles hanging overhead (giving patients somethinc to focus on durine the drill- Continued on Page 5 Pll We Asked... What will be the greatest challenges facing the newly elected Members of Parliament? ... And You Said f Les Trot man Helen J ankovich Wilmot Creek Green Road "Keeping inflation "The economy, and down, working on unemployment." the national debt and providing an annual statement on the GST." Margaret Smith Green Road I don't know." Herman Prins Hampton "The deficit for sure is one of the main things. If that is under control everything will flow from there." week's question: Do you think the Ontario government should imnni.il i .mi .ill non imik .mil hnttli'd