Clinton News Record, 2014-04-16, Page 5Wednesday, April 16, 2014 • News Record 5
Ir
www.clintonnewsrecord.com
letters to the editor
Bluewater ignores
common sense in
Bayfield Arena
decision
To the editor:
John Murray Taylor's letter in
the April 4 Focus concerning the
removal of ice from the Bayfield
Arena mirrors the outrage and
frustration of many in our
community. The decision by a
handful of councilors without
prior consultation and a public
meeting open to debate was
despicable.
Bluewater council has no
qualms about spending tens of
thousands of dollars and more
on surveys, studies, consulting
fees, etcetera but when
presented with a logical, concise
accounting of the actual ice
expenses by user groups it fell on
deaf ears.
One councilor in particular
was like a man on a mission - the
ice was coming out no matter
what!
Why?
Is there a hidden agenda or a
conflict of interest? It makes no
sense.
Council demonstrated a lack of
respect for BCH Minor Hockey,
the Bayfield Skating Club, ice
users, the Village of Bayfield and
local taxpayers. But worst of all
no respect for those who came
before us who through hard
work, sacrifice and genuine
community spirit, built the arena
and installed the ice surface
many years ago.
Council ignored the fact that
70 per cent of tax revenue for
Bluewater emanates from west of
21 Highway.
Bayfield has grown steadily
over the last three decades that I
have resided here and if you want
it to continue to grow and thrive
as a community you don't
remove infrastructure and
activities that attract newcomers
and young families. I hope the
Bayfield Arena Community
Partners and the user groups will
continue the fight as there is a
municipal election coming.
Councilors who ignore the
wishes and common sense logic
of the taxpayers risk their wrath
at the ballot box.
George Kruse,
Bayfield
It is Called Democracy
To the editor:
I read with interest Mr. John
Brand's letter regarding the issue
of local communities being
represented by local officials. Mr.
Brand should be commended for
exercising his right to free
speech, first acknowledged in the
"middle ages" by the Bill of
Rights from the mid -1600s.
The purpose of codifying any
right is to ensure that
governments at all levels obey
the law and that everyone
understands that the power is
with the people and not with
elected officials. We, as
Canadians, have far too often
seen an attitude by elected
officials that they possess a
superior entitlement of authority
and they forget that is through
the people that authority comes.
There are also people within our
society who fundamentally
believe that bigger government
means better, while others
believe that individual people
know best how to control their
own lives.
Goderich Township functioned
for about 200 years without the
need for a larger government.
For almost two centuries the
community was able to provide
its own "fire, police and road,
water and sewer services" but if I
understand Mr. Brand's
comments correctly, suddenly
they are unable to and when
amalgamation happened did
people in Goderich Township
suddenly see lower taxes because
larger government means less
expensive services?
What I found amazing from Mr.
Brand's letter is the idea that
somehow, if residents of
Goderich Township talk about
lower taxes or how they have
been served by amalgamation
then people are being pressured
into signing the petition. During
every election in Canada
politicians talk about whether or
not they are going to raise taxes
and what services they will
provide - it is called democracy.
I have never heard anyone say
that politicians are pressuring
people into something simply
because they express their views
regarding taxation. The people of
Goderich Township have the
same right to express their views
regarding whether they are
receiving services for the taxes
they are paying.
Those who support bigger
government apparently believe
they must belittle other people
by misleading the public into
believing that somehow smaller
local governments are inherently
evil. To mislead the public into
believing that the residents of
Goderich Township want no
government or they seek self-
government controlled by the
select few is not being very
honest in my opinion.
Goderich Township had
elections, a Reeve and Council
without turmoil. After almost 200
years why does Mr. Brand
suddenly believe the residents of
Goderich Township have become
anti -Canadian?
What is interesting is that when
amalgamation occurred there
were no politicians who ran their
election campaign telling the
public that if elected they would
amalgamate. Torontonian
bureaucrats were behind the
amalgamation scheme and local
municipalities were pressured to
amalgamate or the government
would simply create large
municipalities for them. The
whole process was very
undemocratic. Now the people of
Goderich Township want the
Queen to uphold the rights all
citizens have. The authority and
power of the people overrules
elected officials who care little
what the people think. The
landowners of Goderich
Township are appealing to the
Queen because elected officials
in their municipality, county and
provincial government don't
seem to care that forced
amalgamation is negatively
impacting them.
Maybe what is really bugging
some people in Clinton isn't that
the good people in Goderich
Township are expressing their
democratic will, but that the
town has benefited from the
amalgamation and they don't
want to lose their tax base?
Instead of sitting around and
whining about politicians, the
people of Goderich Township are
exercising their democratic right
over their own future. All
Canadians should be proud that
there are some who will stand up
for their rights. For far too long
communities throughout Ontario
have been ignored by Toronto.
BTW: Neither I, nor CANACE
are receiving any money from
anyone related to any issue
involving Goderich Township.
Gary McHale
President of CANACE
Canadian Advocates
for Charter Equality
289-286-0423
Fair board seeking
ambassadors for 2014
To the editor:
The Clinton Spring Fair will cele-
brate 160 years in June. It takes
countless hours by dedicated volun-
teers to make the fair special for eve-
ryone. This year the fair takes place
from June 5-8. Last year, with the
addition of the new arena, some of
our program dates changed. We
changed the Ambassador of the Fair
competition to the Thursday
evening to allow competitors to
enjoy the Friday night at the demoli-
tion derby with their friends. The
ambassador and runner-up were
also available to present the derby
winner with their trophy. We are try-
ing to find ways to entice
contestants.
The fair board awards prize
money to everyone competing in
the competition. The chosen
ambassador is very fortunate to also
receive a $500 scholarship to be
used for their future studies. This is
sponsored by Huron Commodities
Incorporated and the fair board is
very appreciative of this extra incen-
tive for contestants. We are also
grateful for the assistance of the
Clinton Kinettes. They co-sponsor
this event and host a parent -contest-
ant information dinner in May.
However, we are very frustrated
and disappointed this year to learn
that both area secondary schools
are holding their annual formals the
same weekend as our fair. This
makes it even more difficult to find
contestants for the ambassador
competition. It will also take away
from our gate receipts as attendance
will be down for the demolition
derby as well - income that we
depend on to be able to continue to
offer our annual fair to our
community.
We would appreciate if in the
future, these schools would con-
sider working with your community
fair to allow the students to be able
to attend both events - theirs and
ours.
The Clinton Spring Fair is always
held the weekend of the first Satur-
day in June.
This is the 43rd year for the
Ambassador Competition. My late
uncle Bill Flynn was one of the first
organizers of this event, and I would
hate to see it not take place anymore
the year after he passed away. We
would like to reassure anyone that
would like to compete in the
Ambassador of the Fair competition
that if chosen on the Thursday night
as the ambassador we fully support
you attending your school formal.
We hope this does not discourage
you from wanting to enter this com-
petition. You can do both.
Competitors can be male or
female, 17 years old by the first of
August up to age 22, non -married.
There are a lot of great opportunities
following the event. You can attend
an all expenses paid trip to the Royal
York fair board convention in Febru-
ary. It is a fun filled weekend that
our past ambassadors always enjoy.
The overall experience of the
ambassador program is very
memorable.
Anyone wishing to compete or
looking for more information please
contact Dawn Powell -Parker at 519-
482-3915 or ddkmparker@cablety.
on.ca, or Brenda Hart at 519-482-
5519. We will find you a sponsor if
you are interested. Registration
deadline for the ambassador com-
petition is May 9.
Dawn Powell -Parker,
President, Clinton Spring Fair
LEN'S MAKE CANCER HISTORY
For information about cancer,
services or to make a donation 1-888-939-3333 • www.cancerca
Canadian
Cancer
Society.
s'
ri
Societe
canadienme
du cancer