By Brian Donlevy

A 13th name has been added to the Oxford County Agriculture Hall of Fame. 
John DeBruyn was part of an extra special ceremony. 
Not only was DeBruyn being inducted into the Hall, he was part of the ceremony at the Oxford County building that will house the Hall. 
Pictures and plaques will now adorn a wall as a permanent recognition of the recipients.  

Debruyn, from South West Oxford Township says he probably feels no different than the other inductees into the hall. 

DeBruyn is proud of the permanent home for the hall.  He hopes that someone seeing the hall will understand the importance of being involved in the community and takes the steps to do so.

By Brian Donlevy

At the end of 2012 the County of Oxford spent almost a million dollars less than they expected.  The audited financial reports for the County showed a year end surplus of $959,052. Some of the savings that led to the surplus was the mild 2012 winter meant less salt and sand was needed, a decrease in the caseload of the Human Services Department and additional provincial funding for Woodingford Lodge. This figure can fluctuate wildly, because it is the result of a number of issues that the County has no control over.

When it comes to long term debt in Oxford County the per household portion dropped last year. The amount of debt last year was $1463 down from $1552 the previous year.  The debt dropped because no new debt was taken on by the County and some long term debt has been paid off.

The County’s annual report and strategic plan was unveiled at Oxford County Council. This year both documents are in an entirely online format, but can be printed.  The annual report looks at all of the accomplishments in the County.  It also gives the citizens of the County a chance to see how their tax dollars are being spent.

A new Oxford tourism guide has hit the market.  This one is called a taste of Oxford and is a culinary and dining guide for the County.  Not only does it highlight local restaurants it also has a list of local artisans and farm markets.  There were more than 40,000 copies of the guide printed and they will be available at tourism information spots, local hotels and motels and other locations throughout the county. 

The group opposing the proposed landfill in Centreville want people to comment on the proposed dump, but they don’t want people to comment right away.  A draft terms of reference document around the landfill has been released and it is inviting comment, but according to OPAL any comments would not have any impact.  The time for meaningful public comment will be once the formal terms of reference have been filed with the Ministry which will be near the end of July.  Once filed the public will have 30 days to respond.  OPAL spokespeople claim that any comments against the dump will be used by Walker Environmental, the company that wants to build the dump, to strengthen their arguments to have the process proceed.

LONDON - British police say two more people have been arrested by officers investigating the hacking death of a U.K. soldier in London.

Scotland Yard said counterterrorism officers arrested a man and a woman - both 29 - on Thursday on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. Both suspects are in custody at a south London police station.

Two suspects shot and arrested by police at the scene Wednesday - a 22-year-old man and a 28-year-old man - remain hospitalized in stable condition with injuries that are not life-threatening, police added.

Documents obtained by the Committee studying the Liberals’ gas plant scandal make it explicitly clear that the Liberal government knew that the cancelled Oakville and Mississauga gas plants could cost $900 million, PC MPP Vic Fedeli said today.

“Documents from the Ministry of Finance demonstrate that the government was aware that the gas plant cancellations would cost upwards of a billion dollars,” said Fedeli. “The Ministry of Finance knew. Cabinet knew. The Treasury Board knew. Everyone knew that the costs were going to be significantly higher than the $230 million originally cited by the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals.”

Fedeli added that the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals attempted to cover-up that they were willing to spend $900 million to make this gas plant scandal go away. “The documents obtained are clearly redacted and further demonstrate that the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals will do anything to hide the truth from taxpayers.” 

This latest redaction makes it clear: the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals don’t feel that Ontarians deserve honest and truthful answers, continued Fedeli. “The Ontario PCs disagree and feel that the Liberals and NDP need to bring forward the PC’s vote of non-confidence to the Legislature. Ontarians deserve to have the opportunity to express their confidence in the Liberals.”

Fedeli concluded, “The Liberals have the most to lose and will do anything to protect their political power. I hope that the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals will stop lying and come clean about when they knew that the costs could be as high as $900 million.”

Importers of popular electronics such as big-screen TVs and MP3 players are ramping up their fight against federal tariff changes, accusing the government of misleading them by offering tariff breaks that it planned to claw back later.

Importers of televisions are already on the hook for about $16 million in retroactive duties from 2011 after last year's crackdown on a particular tariff exemption that has become a political football.

Electronics brought to Canada under exemption 9948 are supposed to be used continuously for four years while hooked up to a computer, and importers are required to provide an “end-user certificate” proving that's how each device was used.

No such end-user certificates for consumer electronics exist, something officials at the Canada Border Services Agency have acknowledged in internal emails.

Now a coalition of importers says it has documents that prove border officials allowed them to import products duty-free, knowing the government would claim the tariffs and penalty costs at a later date.

For a Conservative government that once made political hay out of accusing the New Democrats of planning an iPod tax, the new levies on electronic goods could prove embarrassing.

(The Canadian Press)

The federal Liberals are accusing the Harper government of misleading Canadians about a paper trail in the Senate expense claim scandal.

The Conservatives insist that no legal documents exist that spell out the terms of a $90,000 gift to Sen. Mike Duffy from the prime minister's former chief of staff.

But Liberal MP Ralph Goodale says the government has not denied that at least one email exists that could contain details of the transaction.

Nigel Wright resigned as chief of staff after acknowledging that he gave the embattled senator the money so he could repay questionable expense claims.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he only learned of the payment from media reports and he wouldn't have approved it had he known beforehand.

Once Duffy received the money, he stopped co-operating with an external audit of his expense claims.

(The Canadian Press)

 The lawyer for a second suspect charged in the death of a Hamilton father who disappeared after going for a test drive says they will be defending the case vigorously.

Twenty-five-year-old Mark Smich (schmick) was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Tim Bosma when he appeared in court today in Hamilton.

Lawyer Tom Dungey says Smich will plead not guilty.

Smich's next court appearance on the murder charge is set for June 13th, the same day the other suspect in the case is to appear.

Twenty-seven-year-old Dellen Millard is charged with first-degree murder as well as forcible confinement and theft of a vehicle.

His lawyer has said his client will also plead not guilty.

Police allege the suspects are the two men Bosma took for a test drive on May 6th.

He never returned and his remains were found about a week later.

Court records show Smich has five previous convictions, including two for drug possession in 2005 and 2006.

He is also facing a charge of mischief for allegedly spray-painting a highway overpass with graffiti.

(The Canadian Press

A man charged in an alleged plot to bomb a Via Rail passenger train says he wants to use a lawyer who agrees the Qu'ran should be used as a “reference” in his case.

Chiheb Esseghaier (shuh-HEB' EZ'-ah-GUY'-ur) appeared in a Toronto court by video link this morning.

He said he is seeking a legal aid lawyer to defend him against several terrorism-related charges in what the RCMP has called the first known alleged plot in Canada directed by al-Qaida.

The 30-year-old Montreal man said he wants a lawyer who can co-operate with his need to use the Muslim “holy book as a reference for my judgment.”

Esseghaier has said he does not recognize the authority of the secular Criminal Code, telling court today, “I don't want a book written by humans.”

Co-accused Raed Jaser (rah-EED' JAH'-ser) of Toronto also appeared by video link from an undisclosed jail and was scheduled for another court appearance on June 25 as his case goes through the disclosure process.

Esseghaier was scheduled to be back in court June 3 to provide an update on his legal aid request.

The justice of the peace told Esseghaier he would have to discuss his need to use the Qu'ran with his lawyer once one has been assigned.

(The Canadian Press)