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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-03-05, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015. Editorials Opinions Publisher: Keith Roulston Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Lori Patterson & Amanda Bergsma The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Ph. 519-523-4792 Fax 519-523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. N0G 1H0 Phone 519-887-9114 E-mail info@northhuron.on.ca Website www.northhuron.on.ca Looking Back Through the Years CCNA Member Member of the Ontario Press Council 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 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON N0G 1H0 email: info@northhuron.on.ca March 1, 1962 The Melville Presbyterian Young Women’s Guild celebrated its 15th anniversary at a meeting with 26 members present. James Mair of Brussels was elected to be president of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies. The election took place at the organization’s annual meeting, which was held at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto. The East Huron Agricultural Society was also a winner in the association’s annual photography contest. The organization entered six slides into the competition and won six prizes; three first place finishes, one second and two thirds. The slides were taken during the dedication ceremony for the Centennial gates, as well as scenes from the Centennial Fair. February 28, 1979 The Brussels Figure Skating Club walked away with the top team trophy after members scored the highest amount of points during an inter-club competition held at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. Brussels took the top prize with a collective 19 points. Wingham came in second with 12 points, followed by Stratford with 10 points to round out the top three. With no room left in Huron County Council Chambers, it was suggested that deputy-reeves may be a thing of the past – at least at the Huron County Council level. The executive committee reported to council that a number of municipalities were approaching the threshold that would see those councils send both a reeve and deputy-reeve to council meetings. Two Brussels-area residents, Mrs. Ross Procter and Charles Thomas, were elected to the 1979 Board of Directors for the Huron County Family and Children’s Services Agency at the organization’s annual general meeting. February 28, 1990 A meeting during which a new hall at Hullett Central Public School would be discussed attracted 75 residents to discuss the proposal. Councillors said they hadn’t expected much of a response to such a meeting, after the results of an initial questionnaire came back with an overwhelming amount of negative answers to questions pertaining to the potential for a new hall. More than 200 Huron County dairy farmers rose to their feet to honour Don Pullen by way of a standing ovation when he announced that he would be stepping down as Huron County’s agricultural representative at the end of March. Pullen made the announcement at the annual meeting of the Huron County Milk Committee in Brussels as members of the group applauded his 22 years as the head of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s office in Clinton. A public meeting was set for Blyth where residents would have a chance to discuss rutabagas as the village’s next attraction after theatre, leather mills and steam engines. The concept of a rutabaga festival was expected to pack the Blyth Village Council meeting set for March 1. It had first been raised at a meeting of Blyth-area merchants the previous November. The event would be a fun one, said Jane Gardner, communication director for the Blyth Festival, that could potentially be tied in with the Blyth Lions Club’s annual 1950s dance that same weekend. February 28, 2001 North Perth OPP officers were dispatched to an incident involving a pellet gun at Listowel District Secondary School which resulting in charges being laid against two young men who had brought the CO2-operated gun to the school. Police were first dispatched to the school after a report that a student had been shot in the back with a pellet gun. Officers said they were extremely concerned with how realistic the weapon appeared to be, in fact an exact replica of a Glock 4-calibre semi-automatic. They added that if they encountered the student in the hall holding the gun, it would have been very easy to mistake the pellet gun for a live firearm. After the incident, police released a report stating that the gun had been purchased via the United States online. The Brussels PeeWee hockey team found themselves on the wrong end of a three-games-to-one series, ending their Western Ontario Athletic Association (WOAA) playoff dreams for the season. The series ended after a game in which Brussels had been leading, but members watched as their lead evaporated into a defeat by a score of 11-5. Bluevale residents were left looking for answers elsewhere as a municipal water system had been ruled out as being too expensive. At a meeting with over 65 residents in attendance, Morris- Turnberry councillors explained that while initially there was some thought given to a communal water system for the hamlet, but with a price tag of nearly $2 million, it was deemed to be too expensive. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright The high cost of justice The word this week that three wind generation companies are seeking recovery of $340,000 in legal costs from area families who lost a court challenge to halt wind farms they felt endangered their health demonstrates why some local municipalities were hesitant to sign on to fight wind farms. Although anti-wind groups were asking municipalities for relatively small contributions to a fund to challenge wind power companies, municipal lawyers warned they might be on the hook for much more if the companies won their case and municipalities were forced to pay for the companies’ legal expenses. These days of high legal fees tilt the justice system in favour of those with the deepest pockets. Certainly the wind companies have the right to defend themselves as best they can against those who would shut them down. But in a battle of who can afford the best legal advice, it’s as if a kindergarten student was pitted in the ring against a heavyweight champion. Companies can employ teams of topnotch lawyers while individuals are lucky if they can afford one experienced lawyer. When, on top of that, the little guys realize that if they lose (a good chance given the mismatch of legal advice both sides can afford), they also must pick up the high-priced costs of the companies’ legal team, it can mean legal challenges aren’t mounted in the first place – as is the case of municipalities not wanting to be involved. There’s a delicate balance to be maintained in the name of justice. Companies and prominent individuals should not be harassed by trivial lawsuits and therefore there’s an argument to be made that they should be able to recover the costs of defending themselves. However if the powerful are given more power because the weak are afraid of the cost of challenging them, even if in cases where the powerful are wrong, then justice will not be done. The justice system must offer the opportunity for justice. –KR In the name of tolerance It’s a plot device as old as storytelling that sex makes people set their better judgement aside, and it certainly seems to be the case in discussing the proposed new sex education curriculum in Ontario. The most hysterical criticisms of the curriculum seem to be based not on what is actually in the new rules, but in people’s worst fears of hidden agendas behind the curriculum. Some groups have used the fact that Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is a lesbian to claim there’s a secret plot to encourage homosexuality. Last week, federal Conservative Cheryl Gallant got up in Parliament to argue for tougher rules against child sexual predators because she said the Ontario legislation would groom children for exploitation. But government politicians didn’t exactly show their own sense of tolerance when they jumped all over Progressive Conservative Rick Nicholls who admitted he doesn’t believe in evolution and would be in favour of kids being able to opt out of being taught that, just as he would in kids being able to opt out of sex education. Whether others agree with Nicholls or not, he shouldn’t be ridiculed for his beliefs. One of the aims of the new curriculum is to provide facts and try to reduce intolerance in sexual matters. Politicians setting an example of tolerance would be a good start. –KR Pity Russians What can you do about a country that apparently just doesn’t want the gift of democracy? That seems to be the case of Russia. Last week Boris Nemtsov, a vocal opponent of President Vladimir Putin was assassinated. Few Russians will care. Even though elections are held, Russians seem happy to live in a virtual dictatorship. People seem to want a strongman, not someone answerable to the voters. Despite a declining economy, Putin’s poplarity is at 86 per cent, up nearly 20 points since early 2014, when Russia seized Crimea. Russians seem blind to the value of democracy. Seeing the price they are paying for this should make Canadians determined to guard their own democratic rights. –KR & Letters Policy The Citizen welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and should include a daytime telephone number for the purpose of verification only. Letters that are not signed will not be printed. Submissions may be edited for length, clarity and content, using fair comment as our guideline. The Citizen reserves the right to refuse any letter on the basis of unfair bias, prejudice or inaccurate information. As well, letters can only be printed as space allows. Please keep your letters brief and concise.