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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-08-31, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 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 People power goes to work If your neighbour isn't home any time in the next month or so, she/he may be one of the thousands of people who will make September one of the most exciting months of the year. The volunteers are getting busy. September is always a demonstration of the ability of volunteers working together to make this an interesting place to live, whether it's the workers behind the huge Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion, the Elementary School Fair in Belgrave, the Brussels Fall Fair or other smaller events. This year the once -in -a -generation addition of the International Plowing Match at Walton multiplies that September activity severalfold. All this is possible because people take up the challenge of organizing these events with no thought of personal financial reward. All of us, whether because we attend the events or benefit through extra business brought our way because of them, need to stop and say thanks to the people who give their time for their community. — KR Making the law seem foolish Here's a question impossible to answer: if Mike Duffy should be successful in winning his lawsuit against the Senate and the RCMP for his mistreatment during the high-profile investigation, suspension, and court case over his Senate expenses, and the taxpayers are forced to pay him the $7.8 million he seeks, which payout will rile up Canadians more — this one or Omar Kadhr's $10 million cheque? Senator Duffy isn't accused of killing anyone or being a terrorist but the not -guilty verdict in the 2016 criminal trial over his dubious activities in the Senate will always be seen as an example of the law being an ass by the majority of Canadians. If a court now decides that he is entitled to compensation for the violation of his charter rights and the "stress and serious financial damage" he suffered as a result, Canadians' respect for the court system will be diminished even further. Aside from all the other questionable dealings by Duffy, such as accepting a payment from Nigel Wright, chief of staff to then -Prime Minister Stephen Harper, there's one fact that most Canadians will never get around. The fact that he put in expense claims for the Ottawa home he had lived in for years before being appointed to the Senate, while claiming that his cottage in Prince Edward Island was really his primary home, will never seem right to Canadians. The fact that Ontario Court Justice Charles Vaillancourt in his 2016 judgement said these payments were legal under the Senate's ridiculous rules doesn't cut it from a moral standpoint for most people. In Kadhr's case, the payment came because the government faced the reality that the courts had twice before ruled that our government violated his rights by allowing an under -age boy to remain in a U.S. prison and be tortured. Many Canadians didn't agree with the government or the courts. Now the courts will be under public scrutiny again. At least Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must be grateful he won't take the blame this time if the courts go against public opinion. — KR The reason for a constitution The genius of the founding fathers of the United States has never seemed so prescient as in the era of the Donald Trump presidency. The people who drafted the U.S. constitution distrusted power and so they created a division of powers among the legislative (the Senate and House of Representatives), executive (the president), and judicial branches of the United States government in order to prevent abuse of power. This very division of power frustrates Trump and his supporters who think that because he won the presidential election (though supported by a minority of voters) he now gets to run the country any way he sees fit. He's been great at signing executive orders, but terrible in building a case to persuade the Senate and House of Representatives to pass legislation to implement his plans to repeal Obamacare, reform the tax system and build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. He's also been frustrated by judges who invoked the U.S. constitution to prevent his banning Muslims from some countries from entering the U.S. This division of powers should be of great comfort, both to Americans and the rest us, for tempering the unstable nature of this egomaniacal president. Trump tweeted last weekend, for instance, that Canadian negotiators were being "very difficult" in the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement and so he might have to cancel the deal. Some experts suggest he may not have that power — that it may take Congress to cancel the agreement and Senators and Representatives may think the deal is too important to their states to cancel. There have been times when the provisions for the division of power have seemed to make the U.S. ungovernable. Now, nearly two centuries into the country's history, that distrust of absolute power by the drafters of the constitution has never been so important. — KR Looking Back Through the Years August 30, 1944 The Bluevale Canadian National Railway station was re -opened, which locals said would be a great convenience for them. One of the first passengers was Mr. M. W. Kerr, who arrived in Bluevale on the Monday train at noon, returning from a term in the Canadian Army. The Prices Board announced that new Canadian Ration Books — number five — would be distributed throughout the country the week of Oct. 14-21. August 31, 1967 The Brussels Horticultural Society hosted another highly successful flower show, boasting 260 entries. The Brussels Squirts were the winners of the Bruce Long Trophy for the second year in a row after defeating the Ethel Squirts by a score of 22-9 in the final to win the area championship. The trophy, for the second year in a row, was proudly on display in the window of Murray Lowe's barber shop. Coach Al Johnston said the win was a total team effort with all of the 20 boys chipping in at points over the course of the season. August 26, 1981 The Londesboro Lions were busy and pictured on the front page of The Blyth Standard preparing breakfast for a number of hungry local diners. The club stepped up and fed over 200 people with a pancake breakfast, all in the name of raising funds for the Clinton Hospital Fund. All told, the local event raised $3,000 for the fund. Eleven people were sent to the hospital after an explosion rocked Huronview Home for the Aged in Clinton, injuring 11 and causing over $500,000 in damage According to the Fire Marshal's office, the blast occurred on Aug. 20 at 1:45 p.m. when fumes from a broken gas line were ignited by an electric pump. The building's auditorium was devastated by the incident "It was a very serious explosion and we're happy there were no serious injuries or deaths," said Frank Capitano, the London area manager of the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services. While it had yet to be determined for sure, The Blyth Standard reported that there was a chance that the building was structurally damaged as a result of the blast. September 3, 1997 There were some new faces as summer turned to fall and local public schools opened their doors back up again. Five new staff members graced the halls of Blyth Public School, including Margie Wise-Hellmuth, who would teach the Grade 3/4 class, Dianne Grail, who would teach Grade 2/3 and Joanne Drennan, who would be the school's French teacher for the coming year. Carolyn Regier was brought into the fold at Brussels Public School, all ready to teach the Grade 7/8 class, while Lisa Anguish would be teaching French. Erin Owen was brought in at Grey Central Public School to teach French there. A quick change to fall -like temperatures had some farmers, specifically corn growers, concerned with the early frost and what it would do to their crops. Brian Hall, a soil and crop advisor with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said that with most corn crops at the early milk stage, some farmers were concerned with the timing of the early frost and how mature the corn will be when it, hopefully, warms up again. The Village Eatery in Brussels was hard at work appealing to the crowds flocking to Blyth for the annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association. The restaurant was hosting "A Steam Show Weekend" that featured local talent Alex Blair on Friday night and karaoke on Saturday. Helen and Graeme Craig of Walton, along with their children Michael and Shannon, were set to become a common sight around Walton, as they had purchased the historic Walton Inn. The Craigs assumed ownership of the established local business on Aug. 20. The Walton Mite Boys baseball team captured the Tri -County B Championship after winning two straight games against a team from Wingham the previous week. Walton won the first game by a score of 18-16 and then followed it up with another convincing win, this time by a score of 10-6. In the final game, it was Mark Wilbee who went the distance on the mound, notching 10 strike outs, while Andrew McDonald got the job done at the plate, going 2-2 with a home run and a single. Scott Dalton was also 2-2 with two singles. With Barndance Live! on the Blyth Festival stage, a number of the production's actors were able to meet the real-life legends they were portraying as part of the dramatic process. Carolyn Hay was able to meet Cora Robertson ahead of the production. Hay portrayed Robertson in the play. Raoul Bhaneja was also able to meet and perform alongside Ernie King, the local legend he portrayed on stage.