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The Citizen, 2011-04-14, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2011.Editorials Opinions Publisher: Keith Roulston Acting Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny ScottAdvertising Sales: Ken Warwick & Lori Patterson The CitizenP.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. N0G 1H0 Phone 887-9114 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com 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 $34.00/year ($32.38 + $1.62 G.S.T.) in Canada; $115.00/year in U.S.A. and $175/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: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON N0G 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com April 10, 1974 A special meeting was scheduled to discuss the Huron County Board of Education budget on April 8, where full grant information for the 1974 budget was to be presented. A long-forgotten village in Hullett Township called Alma was about to make its return. The village, which was located in the southern part of the township, came under discussion at a special meeting of Hullett Township Council. At the meeting was Don Watson, who owned the property where Alma sat. Council agreed to open up several road allowances, also allowing Watson to build a house across three lots in the village. Those involved in the ongoing saga of the power corridor from Douglas Point down to Seaforth received some new information at a recent meeting. Wingham’s George Underwood told members of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture that some farmland has already been saved, despite the idea that Ontario Hydro was “gobbling” the land up for its new power corridor. Underwood reported that where Ontario Hydro was initially seeking a 900-foot-wide strip of land in areas in Bruce County, negotiations were now concerned with a 490-foot-wide strip, nearly half the size of the original proposal. While the planning was still ongoing, Underwood warned farmers that if there was indeed a power plant built in south Huron County, that Ontario Hydro would be seeking even more farmland for further power corridors. The Sunshine Unit held its April meeting where Mrs. Howard was in charge of the proceedings. Highlights from the Presbyterian Church were given. April 9, 1986 The Brussels swimming pool was proving to still be a controversial topic, with further discussion over the proposed building taking place and questions being asked about the nature of the original agreement between the village and the Lions and the decision to provide interim funding for the pool. It was stated that while there was no formal agreement, the Lions had provided a letter pledging that they would pay the entire amount back, in addition to interest, within three years. During discussion surrounding the East Wawanosh disposal site, township councillors were told by the Ministry of the Environment that the site would have to be done their way, or not at all. The main issue was the open burning of household waste, which Philip Bye of the Ministry of the Environment said would no longer be acceptable. Bye said the burning of household wastes sends toxic fumes in the air and wasn’t safe for the community. It did not, he said, reduce harmful leaching of toxic waste into the soil. The government’s position was that the waste was now supposed to be compacted and then burned and any other way would not be accepted by the Ministry of the Environment. The possibility of garbage costs in Brussels doubling was very real when councillors were discussing a new agreement for usage of the Morris Township waste disposal site. In 1985, Brussels residents paid 55 per cent of the costs towards the site, totalling $6,200, but when the Ministry of the Environment began to enforce stiffer rules, costs went up, with annual costs sitting at $11,000, being budgetted to rise to $20,000 for operation costs. April 30, 2003 Students at Blyth Public School received a visit from Huron-Bruce MPP Helen Johns and Agriculture Minister Ernie Eves on April 24. Eves was in town to make an announcement regarding additional consultations to improve funding to rural and remote schools. Eves even had time to watch some of the students make their technology presentations. Eves said that he hoped to help develop an allocation mechanism for the $50 million Rural Education Strategy, which was set to begin in September of 2003. On Earth Day, Mr. Weber’s Grade 4/5 class at Blyth Public School was rained out in their efforts to plant a new tree on the school grounds and pick up garbage around the school yard. However, the next day the students were out in full force and were able to plant their tree, which they named Martha. The tree was planted near the school’s playground equipment. The Morning Star Rebekah Lodge No. 315 began planning for its 70th anniversary, which they would mark on May 21 with a dinner at the Brussels Legion. An invitation to help them celebrate was extended to all lodges throughout the Huron and Perth area. Concerned residents planned an information meeting concerning the increased number of vacant storefronts along Blyth’s main street. The meeting was called to help seek ways to rejuvenate the main street, both for the short term and the long term. The Blyth Inn was celebrating its 20th anniversary with Ken Pennington providing entertainment throughout the weekend. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Let’s talk The ongoing misunderstanding between Township of North Huron and Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh (ACW) over Auburn-area fire coverage shows there’s a need for municipal councillors to talk to each other, instead of about each other. Last week, reacting to harsh comments from an ACW meeting that were published in another area newspaper, North Huron suggested it might not be worth meeting with ACW councillors because there seemed to be no willingness to negotiate a price for fire coverage in the southwest part of that municipality. With all due respect to newspapers’ roles in informing the public about happenings at council, it would be a shame if municipal councils stopped talking to each other because of comments reported in a news article. We need more, not less, communication between neighbouring councils. Before amalgamation, the small municipalities depended on each other and came together regularly for shared services, from fire departments to recreation facilities. That mindset seems to have been lost as municipalities got larger and adopted a sense they were more self- contained. The areas we have in common may have been reduced but we still do have to share services. Too often councillors are looking inward and turning neighbouring councils into “the other guy” who’s seen as getting a free ride at the expense of local taxpayers or, from the other side, making an unfair money grab. Sitting down face to face might help turn people back into neighbours again, looking at common problems not differences. We need regular conversations between neighbouring municipalities to rebuild a sense of common purpose. With the confidence of knowing what other councillors really feel, then maybe comments made in a newspaper article wouldn’t get in the way of co-operation. — KR The price of a principle If there’s one place where Prime Minister Stephen Harper gets widespread support from Canadians it’s likely in the idea of making the punishment fit the crime. Particularly nonsensical for most Canadians are the two-for-one deals that give convicted criminals credit for two days served for every day they spent waiting in jail prior to their trial. It just doesn’t seem right. But there’s a price to be paid for principle and in the case of the government’s Truth in Sentencing bill, the cost will be $10 billion over the next five years in building more jails to house prisoners longer, not to mention the cost of incarcerating more people. This cost will be not just to the federal government but to the provinces. Canadians need to know that, in a time when the Conservatives are pledging to eliminate the deficit and cut taxes, these extra expenses will come at the cost of other government services. But it’s easy to see why, aside from their own ideology, the Conservatives have introduced some 60 pieces of crime fighting legislation. According to one survey, 62 per cent of Canadians feel longer sentences are the best way to reduce crime. Some 44 per cent of Canadians believe that the number of violent crimes has risen, even though statistics show that the violent crime rate has dropped 12 per cent since 2000. Most Conservative supporters also think government has gotten too big, but they better be prepared for it to get bigger as the government’s anti-crime agenda fully kicks in. Not only will we need more jails and more jail guards and more people to feed and care for the prisoners, but we’ll need more judges and more crown attorneys and court house staff. If this is a choice Canadians are willing to make, to spend money on punishment that might go to health care or education, then it’s a legitimate choice. They need to be told the actual cost, however, something the government was trying to keep from parliament when it was found in contempt for refusing to reveal the real cost of some of its anti-crime legislation. — 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.