Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-07-05, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018. Editorials Opinions President: Keith Roulston • Publisher: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld • Heather Fraser The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $38.00/year ($36.19 + 51.81 G.S.T.) in Canada; $160.00/year in U.S.A. and $205/year in other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Mon. 2 p.m. - Brussels; Mon. 4 p.m. - Blyth. Canada MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1H0 email: info@northhuron.on.ca We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. The Citizen P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG 1 H0 Ph. 519-523-4792 Phone Fax 519-523-9140 519-887-9114 E-mail info@northhuron.on.ca Website www.northhuron.on.ca ocna ab CCNA Member of the Ontario Press Council CMCA AUDITED We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Thompson faces challenges The appointment of Huron -Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson as Minister of Education in the new Progressive Conservative government of Premier Doug Ford offers a welcome opportunity to focus her ministry on the particular needs of rural Ontario. Too bad Thompson couldn't have had this post 10 years ago. While it was widely expected that Thompson would be named to the cabinet, the post most usually spoken about was as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. While she would have made an excellent agriculture minister because of her extensive farm background, the education ministry is a much bigger job with a much higher profile. In this position she has an opportunity to educate the education bureaucrats about the realities of rural schools. It's too late for northern Huron, of course. No matter who is education minister we're not going to see new schools built in the communities that lost theirs, including Thompson's own childhood school in Belgrave. However, hopefully she can change the priorities of the education system for the rest of rural Ontario to reemphasize that schools are essential parts of healthy communities, not simply education factories to churn out graduates to go off to the city never to return. Thompson will face challenges, beginning with the highest educational priority of Premier Ford — to revamp the sex education program that angered some fundamentalist parents. It seems like a misdirected use of the new minister's energy when there are so many more pressing needs with the education system. She is also likely to be frustrated by a lack of resources as the new government tries to simultaneously cut taxes and balance the budget. So the challenges will be great, but all residents of Huron Bruce, whether they voted for her or not, wish Lisa Thompson all the best in her role as Minister of Education. — KR The case against using a gun The claim that the legal system is racist after a Hamilton man was acquitted last week in the death of an Indigenous man he shot as he tried to steal a truck misses the point. The real lesson from the trial of Peter Khill is that shooting someone to protect property is just too extreme. The acquittal in the death of Jonathan Styres touched a nerve within the Indigenous community because it was so similar to the finding of not guilty earlier this year in the death of Colten Boushie. Boushie was shot by Gerald Stanley after he and a group of friends drove into the Saskatchewan farmer's yard. Stanley thought they were there to steal something and he claimed his gun went off by accident, but the Indigenous community felt he was acquitted only because he was white and the dead man was Indigenous. The urge to grab a gun to defend your property is understandable, particularly in Saskatchewan where other farmers have said they are plagued by thefts that police never solve. Still, is preventing theft of a vehicle worth the loss of a human life? And while critics think that Khill and Stanley got away with murder, they still had their lives ruined, spending time in jail, enduring arduous trials and no doubt spending more money for their legal defence than the property was worth if it had been stolen. And two young men lost their lives. In the case of Styres, while he was hardly innocent, vehicle theft is not a capital offence. It's easy to understand the urge to take violent action when your property is invaded and you think someone is stealing from you. The lesson, however, is that restraint and a call to 911 is the better course of action in the long run. — KR Don't spread misinformation Too often, Canadian media outlets play right into the hands of U.S. President Donald Trump when they repeat his dishonestly incomplete charges of trade unfairness. Such is the antipathy in urban media toward the Canadian supply management system in dairy, eggs and poultry that Trump's complaints about the unfairness of the system are only rarely questioned. More often his claim of a 270 per cent tariff on American dairy products imported into Canada is allowed to go unchallenged. Trump states the tariff number right, but what goes unreported is the rest of the story. There's the reality that the U.S. also restricts imported dairy products, allowing imports of about two per cent of its dairy market compared to four per cent in Canada. There's the fact that American farmers receive up to a third of their income from subsidizies while Canadian dairy farmers get all their revenue from their protected market. And there's the fact that despite the tariff, the U.S. exports five times the value of dairy products to Canada than it takes back. Canadians deserve the full picture before they willingly trade away supply management to appease the bullying U.S. President. — KR Looking Back Through the Years July 9, 1958 Rev. J. Greene, formerly of Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, was installed as minister of Melville Presbyterian Church, Brussels, and Knox Church, Belgrave. After the special service marking Greene's induction, several guest speakers spoke to the crowd. Brussels Village Council moved to have water services disconnected if the water rate wasn't paid 15 days after the discount date. Council also approved the purchase of 13 pairs of rubber boots and a new mask for the fire department. Blyth's Memorial Hall welcomed 108 4-H Club girls for a special club project. July 12, 1978 Blyth Village Council named Eugene McAdam as its building inspector and implemented significant changes to the rules around new buildings as proposed by Huron County. A new fee schedule was adopted and the $5 flat fee that was in place was changed to a $25 building permit fee with a $2 charge for every $1,000 worth of construction. McAdam's responsibilities included checking for shoddy workmanship, proper support installation, insulation and other structural points. He was also inspector for Hullett and McKillop Townships. William Willis of Turnberry Township reported six Western Hereford cattle missing south of Highway 86 in the Maitland River Flats. A new air conditioning system that was scheduled to be operational by the first day of the Blyth Summer Theatre Festival wasn't quite ready yet. The actors struggled through the heat to put on an excellent performance, however the audience had to fan themselves with the program. July 10, 1991 A requested substantial increase to its funding resulted in Huron County Council telling the Children's Aid Society to go back to the drawing board. With a proposed increase of 28 per cent, Huron County councillors called the increase unacceptable. Tom Knight, executive director of the society, made a presentation to council that was noted as being statistic -laden and had councillors noticeably nodding off. Councillors applauded the goals of the society, which Knight listed as being more interested in taking care of the children through having the proper support for its staff. Despite espousing the works of the society, some councillors disputed Knight's claims Reeve Bill Mickle of Exeter said the figures presented showed that Huron County either has a higher level of service or inefficiencies. The Huronview North project (now known as Huronlea) moved closer to reality with Granville Constructors Ltd. being chosen to complete the project. The tender price came in at $245,000 less than the original estimate for the project. July 10, 2008 Playwright/Director Paul Thompson was appointed to the Order of Canada. Thompson was among 75 people named to the prestigious Canadian institution and was lauded by Blyth Festival Artistic Director Eric Coates who, after working with Thompson on several projects, including The Outdoor Donnellys, said the recognition was deserved. While he is well known as artistic director of Theatre Passe Muraille, he was instrumental in the creation of The Farm Show in Blyth in 1972. That production proved to be the catalyst for the creation of The Blyth Festival. Central Huron's Deputh-Reeve John Bezaire and South Huron's Mayor Ken Oke decided to run for the Huron County Warden's chair for 2009. As a result of the pending election, South Huron Councillor George Robertson requested that Huron County Council return to a secret vote method, resulting in the Committee of the Whole investigating the change. Several local public schools were celebrating graduation. Valedictorians included Brooklyn Vercruyssen of Blyth Public School, Kayla Thalen of Brussels Public School, Jenny Anderson of East Wawanosh Public School, Colleen Eggar of Grey Central Public School, McKala Middegaal of Hullett Central Public School and Lexi Cook and Spencer Gibbs of Seaforth Public School. North Huron was facing cat problems in Wingham according to resident Phyllis Huffman, whose property had been adversely affected by what she called an "infestation of cats" She said the cats have been damaging her plants as well as hunting birds and fish in her pond. Councillor Archie MacGowan said there wasn't a simple solution like with dogs as, he believed, many cat owners wouldn't register the animals, making it expensive to keep track of them. Council vowed to gather more information on the issue.