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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2016-08-31, Page 44 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, August 31, 2016 www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com Seaforth Expositor PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 P.O. Box 69, 8 Main Street Seaforth Ontario NOK 1 WO phone: 519-527-0240 fax: 519-527-2858 www.seaforthhuronexpositor rp] POSTMEDIA ILI NEIL CLIFFORD Advertising Director neil.clifford@sunmedia.ca SHAUN GREGORY Multimedia Journalist shaun.gregory@sunmedia.ca DIANNE MCGRATH Front Office seaforth.classifieds@sunmedia.ca NANCY DEGANS Media Sales Consultant ndegans@postmedia.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES 1 YEAR $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 2YEAR $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) SENIORS 60 WEEKS $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 120 WEEKS $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) Publications Mail Agreement No.40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT P.O. Box 69 Seaforth ON NOK 1 WO For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: phone: 519-527-0240 Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. Seaforth Huron Expositor is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For more information or to file a complaint go to www. mediacouncil.ca or call toll free 1-844-877-1163. We acknowledge the financial support of the Govemment of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. Canada Different licence fees outdated pandering I is no surprise the Ontario government is again raising the renewal fee for vehicle licence plates. Those who own and operate a vehicle in this province are easy prey for a government that hasn't balanced a budget in recent memory and that has an accumulated debt of $300 bil- lion. At best, vehicle owners can only grin and bear it. But why the continued inequity in renewal fees based on the par- ticular address of the plate owner? As of Sept. 1, for example, drivers who live in southern Ontario will be paying $120 to renew a vehicle licence plate. That's up from $108. But if they live in northern Ontario, the renewal fee for the same plate would be $60, up from $54. As it is, vehicle owners in southern Ontario have been hit with considerable fee increases since 2011. Five years ago, the sticker renewal in southem Ontario was $74. When the new schedule is introduced next week, it will reflect a 62 per cent increase since 2011. Vehicle licence fee conces- sions for northern Ontario resi- dents have existed for some time. Part of it has been a con- tinued acknowledgment of increased fuel prices for those living in the north. But the break on sticker renewal fees represents a mild subsidy that in no way compensates for the often -steep prices northerners are compelled to accept. The lower fee is a political gesture, and it's always been apolitical gesture. One would think northern Ontarians would resent being treated as needy of such assis- tance, especially when the sym- bolism has more value than the $54 it represents. Indeed, when the Ontario Ministry of Transportation states the fee increases are necessary to help bear the cost of improving infrastructure and for the support of key services such as the main- tenance of provincial roads, Could Olympics use another Calgary? Athe curtain fell on the Rio Olympics, we are left to eflect on the good, the bad and the ugly of those Games. The good is easily defined: the first-rate performances by Cana- da's athletes, both in competi- tion and in behaviour. On the medal front, the Canadian effort can surely be judged a success. And praise for our women, win- ning most of the medals and reestablishing this country as a power in swimming. As for the bad, the decision to allow various Russian athletes to compete despite state-sponsored drug cheating at its own Games in Sochi was a shameful disgrace. Then, the host country announces the Paralympics will be severely curtailed because they've run out of money.. Then, the ugly sight of athletes involved in make-believe gunpoint robberies, while others are banned from the closing ceremony because of loutish behaviour. Meanwhile, the local crowds, not content with cheering on their own heroes, thought it sporting to hurl abuse at anyone challenging a Brazilian for a medal. Which brings us suitably to Calgary and the city's cautious first steps toward a bid for the Winter Games in 2026. "From almost the moment that I was elected mayor, six years ago almost, citizens have been coming to me saying, 'it's time,' " said Mayor Naheed Nen- shi in deciding to spend $5 mil- lion to explore the opportunity. "It's time in the worldwide Olympic movement; it's time in the sport history of this city, and it's time in the cultural history of this city for us to bid for another Olympic Games." We echo those sentiments, even during these tough eco- nomic times. We expect this fea- sibility study will be thorough and itself an exercise in frugality, just as we'd also expect that, if the bid is successful, the event would mirror that cost consciousness. The excesses of Sochi should no longer provide the standard for choosing venues. We have seen too letter to the editor Man frustrated over the public's perception of the word "local" Editor, As the building projects for the renovation of Blyth Memo- rial Hall and the new Cowbell Brewery in Blyth get underway; press releases, newspaper arti- cles, radio reports, etc. about these projects have been stating a "local architect," without the architect's name, or a "local architect, followed by the archi- tects actual name, have been engaged to do these projects. It has been brought to my attention that the term "local" means different things to differ- ent people. Apparently many people are retaining the term, "local archi- tect," with the assumption, that because my firm is located in a storefront on the Main Street of Blyth, it is my architectural firm that is doing these two projects, which is not the case. It has also been brought to my attention that people have unin- tentionally perceived that my firm is currently too busy and therefore are not contacting my firm about their architectural projects. There has been a decrease in the architectural workload at my firm at this time. Although not the only factor, the perception of the word "local" is probably one of the contributing factors. In future press releases, newspa- per articles, radio reports, etc. it would be appreciated if reference to a "local architect;' or any other business for that matter, also include the person's firms, or busi- nesses' actual name after the use of the word "local" in order to clarify how the word "local" is being used. Your truly, - John Rutledge bridges and highways, one has to wonder if such improvements and services cost half as much in the north as they do in the south. That's nonsense, of course, but so is the ministry's fee schedule. It's antiquated and should be updated. It does not reflect modern Ontario. The schedule should apply equally to every vehicle owner in this province. It shouldn't con- tain a regional bias that smacks of the type of political pandering that helps perpetuate a myth that northerners are mostly eking out an existence within a vast and unforgiving wilderness. Peter Epp much strutting and preening nationalism, inevitably leading to a legacy of empty, crumbling shell facilities. Such excess didn't happen in 1988. Countless Albertans and visi- tors enjoyed those Games, which made a profit of $140 million and left legacy facilities such as the Olympic Oval, Canmore Nordic Centre and Canada Olympic Park, which are still in active use. The volunteer spirit is still deeply rooted in the Prairie nature. Can anyone imagine Calgarians booing a competitor because failure might lead to a Canadian gold? Some will say we don't need another Olympics. Perhaps, but ask instead whether the Olym- pics might instead need Calgary. Correction On the front page last week it was stated that Shawn Maffenbeier came in second place at the Canadian Grand National Championship in Walton, it should have said Brad Nauditt. We are very sorry for the confusion. SEAFORTH HURON EXPOSITOR — HOURS OF OPERATION MONDAY: 9:00 - 5:00 • TUESDAY: - CLOSED • WEDNESDAY: - 9:00 - 5:00 • THURSDAY: - 9:00 - 5:00 • FRIDAY: - 9:00 - 5:00 • SATURDAY & SUNDAY: - CLOSED ADVERTISING DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 2:00 • PHONE 519-527-0240 • FAX: 519-527-2858 www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com