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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-05-02, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013.Editorials Opinions Publisher: Keith RoulstonAssociate Publisher & Director of Sales: Ron Drillen Acting Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny ScottAdvertising Sales: Ken Warwick & Lori Patterson The CitizenP.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; $130.00/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 May 4, 1961 Fifteen thousand dollars was looted from the office safe at the East Huron Produce. The safe is believed to have been blown open with nitroglycerin after the building was entered through a window. Burglary tools were left behind by the criminals. A pinch bar, axe and batteries and wires were used in blowing open the safe. A fire occurred in the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Evans. The entire interior of the kitchen was heavily damaged by the flames and the entire house suffered gravely from smoke and water damage. May 13, 1988 Reeve Albert A. Wasson of Blyth received a plaster cast after his big toe was severely dislocated during a car accident at the junction of Highways 4 and 84. A southbound car cut across Wasson’s path while attempting to make a lefthand turn. Max Oldfield of Brussels was honoured when the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) presented him with a certificate of appreciation for his 25 years of “outstanding service as an issuer of sport fishing and hunting licences to the people of Ontario.” The certificate was presented by Ron Spurr of Belgrave, supervisor, Land Planning and Management office of the MNR. May 4, 2006 After Corporal Matthew Dinning of Wingham was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on April 22, the flags at Brussels and Blyth Public Schools flew at half mast to honour the soldier. The decision to lower the flags was not made by the Avon Maitland District School Board, but by a student. This helped spark the discussion amongst those involved with the government over the decision made by the new Conservative government. Prime Minister Stephen Harper wanted to return to the traditional way of only lowering the flag on Remembrance Day, instead of after any military deaths as the previous Liberal government had in place. After a heated discussion at the House of Commons on April 25, representatives came to the consensus that each area would make their own decision on the matter. North Huron Clerk-Administrator John Stewart had a night of farewell and heartfelt best wishes on April 27 at the Wingham Golf and Curling Club. Following dinner, the new Clerk- Administrator Kris Snell, made presentations on behalf of the Clerks and Treasurers Association and by North Huron staff. Cole Stewart of Blyth, Wingham Ironman left wing, was recognized as top scorer, most valuable player and named first to the team all stars in the Western Jr. C hockey league awards. Ironman defenseman Joel Hemingway and right wing Matt Hill of Brussels were also named to the first team all-stars. May 3, 2012 Members of the community crowded the main building at the Blyth Emergency Services Training Centre (ESTC) on April 28 to remember deceased Fire Department of North Huron (FDNH) Chief John Black. The celebration of Black’s life began with a procession of firefighters, family members and local dignitaries marching from the Blyth and District Community Centre to the ESTC to honour his memory. The service was led by FDNH Chaplain Gary Clark. He began the ceremony with the National Anthem, Psalm 23 and a thanks to everyone who attended the service. Black was remembered by Clark as “a leader and mentor to us all.” The Brussels Optimist Club raised money earlier in the year through the club’s annual springtime dinner and auction. The $13,000 raised was accepted by Keith Mulvey, a member of the Make-A- Wish Foundation on April 23. Grey Township’s “Bready Bunch” 4-H club held its achievement program. All 19 members set out from the centre of the village to collect roadside garbage. When they returned to Cranbrook Hall, members laid out their bread items they had made. Some included: French bread, cinnamon bread, nut bread, muffins and bread sticks. Central Huron Council will be taking a tour of the nuclear waste facility near the Bruce Power Plant, hoping it will make its way to Central Huron someday. Background checks will be required for the 12 people in attendance for the tour. The Blyth U18 Girls team went against Goderich on April 30 and were the first team to the Sparling Soccer Fields for the season. Despite the rain and cold weather, they beat the Goderich team. Part II Bistro, the brainchild of Peter and Sarah Gusso of The Blyth Station House, hoped to open its doors to the public by the end of May. Things were coming together of Brussels’ Homecoming ceremony, as organizers released a list of events for the celebration, which would be held in July. 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 We share global responsibility The news that hundreds of workers died and thousands were buried alive last week when their makeshift factory in Bangladesh collapsed has caused a lot of finger-pointing but the issue is more complicated than it seems on the surface. Many people have been scandalized by news workers were getting 23 cents an hour to make cheap clothing for European and North American retailers, with companies like Loblaws, which sells the Joe Fresh brand made in the factory, being accused of profiting at the expense of foreign workers. In Bangladesh itself, mobs have called for the hanging of the owner of the factory who built an illegal building and forced workers to go to work even when cracks had been found in the structure. Some westerners, at least, have looked in the mirror and considered their own role in the tragedy for wanting to have more and more for less and less. The whole idea that Canadian textile industry jobs have been lost to people who make pennies an hour working under terrible conditions is disturbing, and yet there are those who can see another side. It’s been noted that even at that seemingly scandalous wage, these jobs will earn many Bangladeshis more than they could earn anywhere else. They are helping to raise the standard of living and close the gap ever so slightly, between the Third World and the First. The argument can be made that it has started these workers on a ladder toward Western lifestyles. And yet many of these jobs in Bangladesh originally were outsourced to China. When workers there wanted more money and working conditions improved, it became more expensive to produce clothes there, so production moved to Bangladesh which was cheaper. People call for better pay and working conditions for workers in Bangladesh but if this happens, and costs go up, will companies look for somewhere else with cheaper pay and working conditions to make their clothing? What about the despised owner of that factory? If he had built a proper building with safe working conditions might his cost have increased enough that he lost the contract to make that clothing? Behind it all is our First World obsession with more and more. We want nice clothes, but we want them as cheaply as possible so we can save money to spend on other goodies. We have the best of both worlds, our higher incomes allowing us to buy goods made by people earning peanuts. We will reward those retailers who give us what we want. In their efforts to please customers and keep their business, retailers then press manufacturers, like the accused owner of that Bangladesh factory, for the cheapest possible prices. Companies want their shareholders, which often include the pension funds of ordinary Canadians, to maximize their profits. It’s a tangled web, but it begins with our own demand for more. As one person interviewed on a Canadian street said after the tragedy, she wanted the clothes – she didn’t want to think about where they came from. In a global world we have to start by taking responsibility for where our own actions lead. –KR If all Senators were like this Last week at Toronto’s Hot Docs documentary film festival, Canadian Senator Roméo Dallaire premiered a new film about the issue of child soldiers, pointing out there are an estimated 250,000 people under the age of 18 in Africa serving as soldiers or sex slaves for soldiers. The former commander of the failed United Nations mission in Rwanda has also created the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative to bring this problem to the attention of the world and prevent more children from having their lives ruined. Often in Canada the title of Senator in front of your name brings you immediately into ill-repute. Senator Dallaire shows that, at its best, the Senate is not a haven for party hacks but a place where the best people of our country can be called to serve. It’s not the appointed Senate that’s a problem but the appointment system in which successive Liberal and Conservative governments reward party workers with patronage appointments. Imagine what the Senate could be if inspiring leaders like General Dallaire, from all walks of life, were appointed to serve. –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.