Loading...
Huron Expositor, 2014-06-25, Page 44 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, June 25, 2014 www.seaforthhuronexpositorcom Seaforth Expositor PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 RO. Box 69, 8 Main Street Seaforth Ontario NOK phone: 519-527-0240 fax: 519-527-2858 wwwseaforthhuronexpositor SUN MEDIA A Quebecor Media Company NEIL CLIFFORD Publisher neil.clifford@sunmedia.ca MAXWELL BICKFORD Advertising Rep. max.bickford@sunmedia.ca DIANNE MCGRATH Front Office seaforth.classifieds@sunmedia.ca WHITNEY SOUTH Multimedia Journalist seaforth.news@sunmedia.ca SUBSCRIPTION RATES 1 YEAR $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 2 YEAR $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) Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT RO. Box 69 Seaforth ON NOK 1W0 For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: phone: 519-527-0240 Advertising is accepted on 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 the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical 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 Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time.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 Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. CanacE editorial Iraq's calamity shows fragility of fuel prices Gasoline prices haven't been this high in almost nine years — when hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and threatened a substantial part of the petroleum and refining industry in the United States. For a few days in September 2005, local residents were treated to prices that reached into the range of $1.40 a litre. Speculation that the continent's supply of gasoline and die- sel fuel would be cut by that hurricane chased prices up. Now another calamity is threatening our petroleum peace: the conflict in Iraq. Radical militants from among Sunni Muslims are seizing major cities in Iraq, their strength and brutality shocking the world. Their stated attempt is to unite Syria and Iraq into a new state that would acknowledge their religion's strict laws. The fear among nations depending upon Iraq's petroleum production is those supplies might be cut. Even though the conflict in Iraq is ongoing, that country's oil exports weren't curtailed until late last week. It's the fear that exports might be cut that spooks world markets. Iraq has the world's fourth largest oil reserves, but the second-highest production among the Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries. Only Saudi Arabia's production is higher. Since June 6, the world price for oil has climbed to $115 for a barrel of oil. That's the highest in nine months. The impact of that jump reached local fuelling stations this week. Yet there are other factors at play. The global oil market is looking at its highest season for gasoline consumption, espe- cially in the U.S. and Canada. Traditionally, the summer months place the greatest pressure on those supplies. Libya produces some of the best quality oil in the world, but its production has collapsed because of continuing national strife. A year ago, Libya pumped out 1.4 million bar- rels of oil daily. Today, that total is 100,000 barrels. All of this might be of little consolation to motorists. Dan McTeague, who daily tracks gasoline pricing for Ontario, stated last Tuesday on his website that increased energy costs could add as much as $2,000 in extra spending for the average Canadian household. That's an enormous bite in domestic budgets. Hurricane Katrina demonstrated how fragile oil pricing can be, and the Middle East has been a cauldron of trouble True north strong and free Whitney South Huron Expositor We've all experienced it. Whether we're traveling the globe ourselves, or meeting a visitor from another country, Canadians get their share of silly questions. So you're from Canada, does that mean you live in an igloo? Ride a dogsled? Can't you ski in the summer? Perpetuated by the media, including movies and TV, we're known as a country with a distinct, and at times, amus- ing culture. But what some may see as the silly, more soft-spoken cousin of the US, others see as a proverbial paradise. Living out in Vancouver, I found myself the lone Cana- dian citizen in my social group. It seems young people from all over the world choose to spend their work visas abroad in the Great White North, rather than with our neigh- bours to the south. Friends from Australia, China, Korea, Japan, France, Germany, England and Swit- zerland couldn't help but gush over the wonders found all across our great country. And despite living thou- sands of miles from their fami- lies, they felt quite at home here. Most didn't want to leave. Some didn't, choosing instead to prove themselves indispensable to their employ- ers and making a home for themselves. My first Canada Day spent in BC was a real eye-opener for me. A holiday that many take for Column Whitney South Huron Expositor granted, my international friends just couldn't get enough. Flags and face paint covered them from head to toe as they shouted and screamed, cheer- ing on the annual downtown parade and basically express- ing more Canadian patriotism than I had in years. What makes our country so great? So special? "It's the people," they'd say. "Everyone here is so welcom- ing, everybody knows Canadi- ans are always the nicest people." I couldn't help but wonder if that was a stereotype we could actually live up to. After a bit of reflection, I couldn't help but feel a little proud. Though most of my interna- tional family has gone back to their homelands, and our friendships have been con- fined to purely technological means, I still always cherish the sense of pride they were able to instill in me. This Canada Day, try and remember that even through the cloud of maple syrup, mounties, hockey and pou- tine, we are a country full of big hearts and even bigger smiles. Be proud to know we are a country envied around the world and show them what it truly means to be Canadian, eh? LLET'S ALL DO OUR PART! PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER SEAFORTH HURON EXPOSITOR — 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 519-527-0240 • FAX: 519-527-2858 www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com