HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-02-05, Page 44 News Record • Wednesday, February 5, 2014
www.clintonnewsrecord.com
Clinton
News Record
PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860
53 Albert St.
P.O. Box 39 Clinton ON NOM 1L0
(519) 482-3443
www.clintonnewsrecord.com
SUN MEDIA
A Quebecor Media Company
NEIL CLIFFORD
Publisher
neil.clifford@sun media.ca
GERARD CRECES
Editorial
cli nton.reporter@sunmedia.ca
MAX BICKFORD
Advertising Manager
max. bickford@sunmedia.ca
DAWN JOHNSTON
Sales Representative
clinton.ads@sunmedia.ca
CHRISTY MAIR
Front Office
dinton.classifieds@sunmedia.ca
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)
Advertising is accepted on the 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 that balance of advertisement will be paid for at
the applicable rate. In the event of a typographic 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 Advertising is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn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 Clinton News -Record is not responsible for the loss or damage
of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for
reproducing purposes.
Publications Mail Agreement
No.40064683
RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES:
CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT
53 Albert St., Clinton ON NOM 1L0
(519) 482-3443
We acknowledge the financial support of the
Government of Canada through the Canadian
Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.
Canada
)ocna
Member of the Canadian Community
Newspaper Association and the Ontario
Community Newspapers Association
editorial
So... Liberals
aren't Liberals
if they sit on
the senate?
What a move.
Justin Trudeau has gone and booted his Liberal
senators from caucus.
In name, at least.
Whether it is the first step toward an independent
senate or just a publicity stunt remains to be seen,
but this is a first for a big -three leader. Will it spark a
drastic move on the other side of the house to fol-
low suit? Will it lead to an implosion? It's anyone's
call... except the Official Opposition.
Having no representation in the senate, the NDP
don't really get to take part in the fun and games. To
be fair, they have been strong abolitionists, but in
this case the hammer falls on a different anvil.
The next big move will either come from the
Prime Minister or the ex -Liberal senators them-
selves. The latter is already happening. Many have
stated publicly they still operate under the Liberal
name, and very much consider themselves Liberal
senators.
So... what effect was this supposed to have?
The idea of removing senators from caucus theo-
retically adds a degree of separation currently miss-
ing from the process. If they are removed from the
process at the House level, they should be better
suited for non-partisan review when issues finally
do reach the Red Chamber.
We've all heard the phrase 'sober second thought'
when it comes to the purpose of the senate. But,
will this be the case if ex -Liberals have even the
slightest bitterness about the move?
Trudeau has been criticized for having no plat-
form and no particular direction as leader of the
Liberal Party. This move to distance the party from
its senators is a complete wild card.
But when it comes as such a surprise - even to the
people affected - how much of it is knee-jerk policy
and how much has been carefully thought out?
The senate is full of problems, as the ongoing
audit suggests. But will dropping a moniker change
any of that or just lead to more infighting?
It's like switching to the metric system - either
everyone has to do it or nobody. - GC
Anyone else impressed
by how warm it's been?
Winter is the longest season of
the year, even when it's a short
winter.
But, here we are
already in February,
the groundhogs have
made their contra-
dictory predictions
and post -Superbowl
hangovers are a thing
of the recent past.
The days are get-
ting longer, and the
air is... still cold.
It's been a funny winter so far.
The snow has been constant and
the temperatures have been alter-
nating between instant frostbite
and c -c -cold! I'm probably not
alone when I say I caught myself
remarking how warm the past few
days of minus single digits have
been. Compared to the weather of
the last few weeks, minus two feels
like the first day of spring.
But, this unpredictable polar
vortex is causing some grief and
not only for us.
The Canadian media set aside
Justin Beiber and Rob Ford long
enough to do a story on poor old
Georgia, caught with a couple
inches of snow and a state of
emergency.
Collectively, Canada thought,
"boo-hoo."
I felt a little guilty chuckling at
the many digs and memes going
around online, because Georgians
got hit with something that they
were never prepared for. Sliding
down a busy freeway with no expe-
rience winter driving would be ter-
rifying. But to think of kids trapped
in a school overnight because of
two inches of snow seems ludi-
crous by our standards, where road
closures usually mean blinding
whiteouts or a foot of
snow. Couldn't they just
walk over it?
And in Florida, the
Sunshine State, schools
closed at the possibility
of ice and snow. Seems
n bizarre, but the only peo-
Colum
Gerard C
reces
ple with snow tires in
Florida have their cars
parked safely in Canada
for the winter.
We rural types have winter driv-
ing in our blood. Slow and steady,
and be ready to push. It's just who
we are. When the highway's
closed, take the back roads. When
the back roads are closed, call the
boss and say "see you tomorrow."
As much as I hate the intense
cold we've been having, I can't
imagine living in a land without
snow. The year would seem
incomplete, like a long Indian
summer.
I'm sure there are many folks
around here who think differently
- and many of them are probably
in Bruce County. That place has
been hammered even more than
we have!
Without the snow, we couldn't
appreciate the warmth of our
homes. Without snow we would
never know the pleasure of hur-
tling downhill on a sled. Without
snow, we wouldn't get snow days.
It does have its advantages.
So let the Deep South enjoy a
tiny touch of winter, Canada style.
Perhaps they will send some of
their weather our way soon.
clintonnewsrecord.com
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The News Record welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and
include a daytime phone number for verification purposes. Letters can be sent
care of the Internet at clinton.news@sunmedia.ca, sent via fax at 519-482-7341
or through Canada Post care of The Editor, P.O. Box 39, Clinton, ON NOL 1LO.
CLINTON NEWS RECORD — 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 519-482-3443 • FAX: 519-482-7341
www.clintonnewsrecord.com