APRIL
Royal canadian legion Polish Branch 412
Tickets: $25 advance Z $30 at the door
More dates and tickets at:
3
Saturday
APRIL
5
Royal canadian legion Branch 120
KITCHENER, ON Georgetown, ON
www.fredeaglesmith.com
saturday
APRIL
12
Tweten’s Photography
FRED eaglesmith
thursday
Royal canadian legion Branch 229
Elora, ON
03 | 22 | 2014 VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 12
RECOGNITION FOR HER SERVICE TO THE THEATRE LIVING HERE PAGE 28
COMMENT PAGE 6
PUBLIC INTEREST DERAILED IN POOR LRT DECISION
www.OBSERVERXTRA.com
Breslau station Breslau pork producer sees benefit to Canada's trade deal with South Korea not included in GO Train improvements WILL SLOAN
Province pledges to increase number of trips, upgrade line to reduce travel time and delays between region and GTA STEVE KANNON Provincial pledges to improve GO Train service in Waterloo Region don’t include an anticipated park-and-ride station in Breslau, at least not yet. Speaking at a Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce event Tuesday, Premier Kathleen Wynne promised fullday, two-way GO Train service between Kitchener and the GTA. The plan calls for more GO Train trips, with operator Metrolinx to introduce two additional morning and afternoon peak period trips by 2016. There will also be upgrades to the rail corridor to improve travel times. The move would restore the number of trains initially planned half a dozen years ago when GO Transit trains were proposed for Kitchener. Ridership numbers have been a sore spot since the service began, with complaints about speed and reliability. Currently, the route between Kitchener and Union Station takes about two hours, with delays hitting about a third of the trips. With upgrades, one trip between WaGO TRAIN | 4
Province pledges to increase number of trips, upgrade line to reduce travel time between region and GTA
Minister of Public Works and Government Services Diane Finley (top) and MP Harold Albrecht (bottom left) touted the trade deal at Conestoga Meat Packers. Bottom right: Kitchener MP Stephen Woodworth and several factory employees were on hand for the announcement. [WILL SLOAN / THE OBSERVER}
Pointing to the advantages offered to Canadian meat producers in the global marketplace, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Diane Finley visited Conestoga Meat Packers on Tuesday to tout the benefits of a new Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement. The pact comes as something of a response to the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, signed in 2012. Finley told media that Canadian businesses saw a $1.5 billion decrease in exports to Korea after the U.S. deal, and Arnold Drung, president of Conestoga Meat Packers, said that his company’s dealings with the country experienced a similar fall. “Canadian pork has had success in Korea in the past. It saw significant erosion in the past few years due to trade agreements between Korea and other pork exporters. With last week’s announcement, Canada will again be on a level playing field where we can ably compete.” Kitchener-Conestoga MP Harold Albrecht added, “Even the best business in the world – the most efficient, most competitive business in the world – cannot compete if the rules of the game are stacked against them.” The fourth-largest market in Asia, South Korea’s population numbers 50 million. The agreement, Canada’s first free trade treaty with Asia, will eliminate 86.8 per cent of agricultural tariff lines, with duty-free exports of meat and animal products. “The Korean market places a higher value on certain cuts than other markets around the world do, so it’s important to have access in order to maximize returns FREE TRADE | 5
FLOOR MODEL BLOWOUT! NO TAX on selected items. See store for details.
Clean-up Out with the old! In with the new!
NO Charge Financing! Don’t Pay until June! Queen Upholstered Beds only…
$
479
King Size only…
$
579
7 Piece Rustic Dining Set only…
969
$
Includes extension table, dining bench and 5 side chairs.
SAVE THE TAX on your choice of matching furniture pieces and mattress sets.
OPEN 7 DAYS | 30 Benjamin Rd., Waterloo (across from St. Jacobs Outlet Mall) 519-746-0060 | FLYER SPECIALS www.funiturehouse.ca