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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-04-20, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2017. Editorials Opinions Publisher: Keith Roulston • Associate 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 $36.00/year ($34.29 + $1.71 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. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 Canada 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 1 HO NOG 1 HO Ph. 519-523-4792 Phone Fax 519-523-9140 519-887-9114 E-mail info@northhuron.on.ca Website www.northhuron.on.ca AOCna tom. Member CCNA Member of the Ontario Press Council CMCA AUDITED We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are m Copyright New revenue sources needed The city of Toronto recently made a proposal to create a new way to generate revenue, asking to be allowed to impose a tax on hotel room rentals. Big cities like Toronto aren't the only municipalities that need new revenue sources. Things are getting ugly between Toronto Mayor John Tory and the provincial government after he earlier proposed a toll on roads like the Don Valley Parkway to raise more money for expensive transit improvements. But the plan was thwarted by Premier Kathleen Wynne who probably wanted to win points with suburban voters who didn't want to pay a toll to go downtown in Toronto. Instead, Wynne promised Toronto would get a bigger share of the provincial gas tax. Tory's new proposal is clever because it would generate money, not from Toronto taxpayers, but from visitors to the city. The province has not yet agreed to let him go ahead with the tax. While Tory is no doubt frustrated with the provincial government for blocking his plans to diversify his city's revenue streams, at least he has some flexibility to look at new taxes. Rural and small municipalities can only dream of such opportunities. Our local municipalities have basically two sources of revenue (other than user fees for things like garbage collection or building permits). They get their money from the province through grants that seem to be shrinking every year as the province tries to balance its own budget or they can raise property taxes. That's leading to tax increases that often far outstrip the annual increase in the cost of living. Somebody needs to tackle this revenue problem. Here's an opportunity for opposition party leaders to totally rethink the issue and win the hearts of voters. Whether it's big cities or small townships, we need alternatives to property taxes to finance municipalities. — KR Now the problems begin It remains to be seen whether the federal government's legislation to legalize marijuana is a rational response to the reality that people are already using marijuana, or just creating a whole new set of problems. The rationale for legalizing the use of marijuana is similar to the ending of the prohibition of alcohol early in the last century. Back then it was realized that even though people would be better off not drinking, they were doing so anyway and creating a criminal black market as they sought sources to buy booze. After more than a half -century of governments taking the prohibition route, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has decided to legalize and regulate pot usage — oh and create a new source of government revenue, too. But passing the new legislation is the easy part. Provinces will now have the problem thrust into their laps as they must decide how marijuana will be sold and set an age limit, if they want it higher than the 18 years of age set out by the federal government. Police must figure out how to identify and charge people who are dangerously driving while under the influence of pot — and do so in a way that will withstand court challenges. Parents must try to convince their kids who are older than 18 that they might damage their brains (as medical research shows can happen for those who use pot under the age of 25) even when the drug becomes perfectly legal. Perhaps in the long run legalizing marijuana will make as much sense as the end of the prohibiting of alcohol. Here's hoping it works out for the best.— KR Turning down the greatest gift There's nothing sadder than seeing people willingly turn down democracy, the world's greatest gift, as voters in Turkey did earlier this week when they voted to diminish their democratic rights so that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could have greater power. Across the globe people seem willing, lately, to undermine democracy in order to turn their futures over to strong leaders. Even during the recent presidential election in the U.S., many voters seemed to embrace to the idea of one-man rule as the solution to their problems. Russians gave up a brief, messy taste of democracy following the fall of Communism for the comfort of the strong leadership of Vladimir Putin. Recent polls showed his approval rating at more than 80 per cent, even as he jailed opposition leaders and protesters. In South Africa, the party once led by the great humanitarian Nelson Mandela, is now headed by President Jacob Zuma who has plotted against opposition leaders and critics within his own party. In Zambia, an opposition leader was recently charged with treason after he refused to pull over to let President Edgar Lunga's motorcade pass him on a road. Those of us blessed to live in a democracy must set a good example to encourage others, and we must take the responsibility to make our own democracy work by being involved. — KR We spend precious quality family time bonding over our love of sports... Alk illi f� �� Looking Back Through the Years April 19, 1944 Huron County Crown Attorney D.E. Holmes and his wife had received word that their son, Dudley, had been wounded in his service overseas. Other than the fact that Dudley had been wounded in Italy on March 27, no other details were provided. Dudley had enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces at the age of 16 in 1941. He put his name forward to serve his country in Toronto. The re -opening of the Brussels blood clinic was set to take place at the Brussels Library on May 5. Residents were urged to come out and give their blood for those who were offering their lives through the war. It was reported that a large crowd was in attendance at the Brussels Town Hall for the village's annual Easter Dance. The Frankie Banks Orchestra provided the music and all of the proceeds from the evening went to the Overseas Cigarette Fund. Mr. L. Smith was pleased to announce that he had opened a new blacksmith shop in Ethel that boasted first-class horseshoeing and woodwork. David Stuart Sanderson, a technical advisor for General Motors in London for the previous two years died in his 42nd year. The 12 -year veteran of General Motors in London was born in Wroxeter. William Ireland and his wife of the third concession in Morris Township were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. They celebrated the occasion with friends and family playing cards and enjoying music. April 20, 1967 Members of the St. John's Masonic Lodge in Brussels were especially honoured with a visit to the village by the Right Worshipful Brother Thomas C. Boone of Kitchener. Boone was currently serving in the capacity of Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario. Lawrie Cousins welcomed Boone and the evening's other guests to the meeting, saying that it was a great honour and privilege to have him in Brussels for the meeting. At the Capitol Theatre in Listowel, the winner of six Academy Awards, Dr. Zhivago was on the screen for a special engagement from April 27 through to May 10 inclusive. Brussels Transport had placed an advertisement in The Brussels Post boasting over nine years in business. It urged customers to call George Jutzi at phone number 122, adding "It will be a pleasure to serve you". April 22, 1981 Harve McDowell of Blyth was on the lookout for someone who might have the collected minutes of the Blyth Horticultural Society stretching all the way back to the organization's formation in 1922. McDowell was hoping to use the records to construct a historical display for the upcoming annual meeting of District 8 and was searching the village for them. Earlier that week the Blyth society had held its regular meeting at Memorial Hall with over 80 members in attendance. The guest speaker for the meeting was Martha Veldhuis of Dundas. The Huron Trappers Association held its annual meeting on April 14 in Belgrave. The evening featured a selection of music performed on the bagpipes by Murray East of Clinton. It was Steve Cook of Clinton who oversaw the meeting's business. April 23, 1997 A high speed police chase found its dramatic conclusion in Clinton after police received information that the vehicle was thought to have been involved in a break and enter in the area. In the early morning hours of April 18, OPP officers spotted the vehicle and believed its driver had been involved in the breaking and entering of Brian's Valu Mart in Wingham. Police then attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled on Highway 4, reaching speeds of over 160 kilometres per hour at times. When the chase reached Clinton, police abandoned the pursuit in order to keep the public safe, but the suspect then lost control of his vehicle after running over a curb and flattening all four tires. The four occupants in the car then fled on foot, at which time they were apprehended by police. Facing a reasonable economic situation in the village, Blyth Council opted to freeze its municipal taxes at 1996 levels. Expenditures for the year totalled nearly $625,000, which was nearly $8,000 lower than expenditures in the previous year's budget. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs were set to hold the official opening of its new offices in Clinton on April 30. A number of provincial dignitaries, including Ken Knox from the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs and Ron Vrancart from the Ministry of Natural Resources, were scheduled to be part of the opening ceremonies.