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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-04-22, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2010. NDP supports campaign for small abattoirs Hunger Awareness Day on the way Canadian Cancer Society thanks volunteers Writer concerned about fire ‘bickering’ THE EDITOR, During National Volunteer Appreciation Week, the Canadian Cancer Society, Huron-Perth Unit would like to thank our volunteers for their continued support in the fight against cancer. Volunteers are at the centre of all we do. Our committed volunteers are fighting back against cancer as volunteer drivers/transportation convenors, peer support volunteers, office volunteers, unit/branch council and group support facilitators. Our legions of fund-raising volunteers raise hope, awareness and funds for leading edge research as well as programs and services for people living with cancer and their families. Society volunteers are working throughout Huron and Perth counties to help ease the burden of cancer. We fight back by doing everything we can to prevent cancer from ever happening in the first place and we raise funds to outsmart cancer. Our volunteers empower, inform, support and improve the lives of Canadians living with cancer. Sincere gratitude to each of our Canadian Cancer Society volunteers for the difference you have made in the fight against cancer. Thank you. Janis Cunningham, Unit Manager Anita Looby, Volunteer Engagement Specialist Canadian Cancer Society Huron-Perth Unit. THE EDITOR, The Huron Bruce NDP is supporting Local 341 of the National Farmers’ Union in its postcard campaign to get attention for the plight of small business owners who operate small abattoirs and meat processing facilities. These locally owned and operated, provincially- inspected abattoirs in our community and across Ontario are a part of our local economy and are essential to the survival of family farms and rural communities. Small abattoirs across the province are struggling to survive for a variety of reasons. However, lack of demand for their services is not one of them . Most small abattoirs and small meat processors say they are busier than ever. But some are planning to close and others are questioning how long they can continue to operate under the prohibitive costs of compliance with tighter and tighter regulations. There is widespread and growing support for local food from all levels of government and from farmers, hunters, chefs, culinary tourists, small retailers and the general public. A short food chain from farmer to local abattoirs to consumer helps keep family farms viable, supports small business in our rural communities and provides consumers with healthy, nutritious delicious food produced by people they know and trust. But each time a local abattoir closes we all lose access to local meat. While effective regulation is important to food security, it is in the large federally- inspected plants where we have experienced the gravest concerns — and even deaths. Small abattoirs have an inspector on hand when each animal is killed and provide greater food safety for our communities. Local 341 of the NFU has produced over 10,000 postcards to raise awareness and to draw attention to this issue to our local MPP and Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Carol Mitchell. Many of these postcards have been placed in local butcher shops and the NDP has also provided them at several of our recent events. Food security is an issue that cuts across political boundaries. Supporting small abattoirs is supporting the economy of our riding as well as the safety of the food you put in your children’s mouths. If you would like to help with this campaign but do not have access to the postcard, please send an e-mail or letter to Carol Mitchell to let her know you care about our small abattoirs in Huron Bruce and beyond. Spread the word to your circle of family and friends, buy locally-produced meat and ask where the meat comes from at your butcher shop, local supermarket, farmers’ market or restaurant. You can vote for safe food with every bite you eat. The Huron Bruce NDP will be hand-delivering an envelope of postcards directly to Carol Mitchell’s office in the coming weeks. One of the first people to sign a card was Malcolm Allen, Federal NDP Food Critic. The text of the NFU postcard is included below for your convenience. Feel free to add your own personal notes as you see fit. Carol Mitchell’s e-mail is: minister.omafra@ontario.ca or mail to Honourable Carol Mitchell, Minister Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Public Archive Building, 77 Grenville St., 11th Floor Toronto ON M5S 1B3. “Save Our Abattoirs “Small, locally-owned and operated, provincially- inspected abattoirs are a key ingredient in safe, local food. They provide a crucial link between livestock farmers and the local food movement. “As farmers, meat processors and consumers committed to local food, we are afraid that small, provincially-inspected abattoirs are disappearing from our communities. As the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs we are asking you to help save the small abattoirs across Ontario.” Print Name____________ Signature_____________ Address______________ Willi Laurie President Huron-Bruce NDP THE EDITOR,I live on the London Road,immediately south of Huron County Road 25 on a property that has been occupied by my family for two generations. As I look out my livingroom window, I can see the Emergency Services Training Centre – a facility used by the Blyth Fire Department to ready themselves, and others, to provide world-class fire protection to thousands of people in the area. Sadly, after nearly 40 years, I now understand that I will no longer have the benefit and security provided by the North Huron (Blyth) Fire Department. While the Blyth Fire Department is my neighbour, I technically live across the municipal border in Central Huron, a municipality thatrecently decided that myhome and business would derive fire services from a new multi-million-dollar fire station located in Clinton. Because of this decision, should my home take fire, trucks would be dispatched from Clinton (almost 20 kms away) rather than from Blyth (which is within sight of my front door). Even when snow and ice do not cover area roads, this plan poses obvious problems. When I first learned of this, I called Central Huron Reeve Burt Dykstra to register my displeasure. After listening to him tell me all the reasons why this situation is North Huron’s fault, he went on to tell me that, in the event of a fire, Clinton fire trucks would be dispatched within 45seconds of any emergencycall for help. He added that, from the time of my call to the time his trucks would be sitting in my yard, not more than nine minutes and 30 seconds would pass. Even if this were true (which I seriously doubt), then why am I now hearing that my insurance company is planning to raise the rates I pay for fire insurance? According to local media, people living in the outlying areas of Central Huron (including all of Auburn) will face insurance rate increases of up to 300 per cent. If that isn’t bad enough, I live next door to Sparling’s Propane; a place that I would prefer did not catch fire (even for nine minutes and 30 seconds). The decision of the CentralHuron Council (and theardent defence mounted by Reeve Dykstra) would be laughable if it were not so dangerous. Reeve Dykstra tells me that it would cost the Township about $400 per year more to have Blyth fire services protect my home. I guess he needs that money to build that new multi-million- dollar fire station for the people of Clinton. At least I now know where I rate in the eyes of my elected municipal representatives (immediately behind everyone else in the municipality). There was a time when you could not put a price on human life… I sure am glad we have solved that problem. In case you missed it – it is $400 (per household).This entire matter has leftme frustrated and with many questions… 1. If the new Central Huron Fire Station is to service the entire municipality, then why is it being built in Clinton rather than in the middle of the municipality? 2. Is it right that my tax dollars are being used to construct a new state-of-the- art fire station for Clinton residents while I will also be required to pay extra fire insurance premiums because my property will be reclassified as a non-protected service area? 3. Is the silly bickering of municipal governments worth the potential loss of property and life that will almost certainlyaccompany less than stellar fire planning provisions? 4. Why would a business like Sparling’s (and others) not simply decide to leave the area if they are faced with loss of services and increasing costs for things like fire insurance? I want to be clear that I do not have anything against the people of Clinton. They have every right to expect great services from the fire department. That said, so do I. With this in mind, the only other question that I have is… how does one go about joining another municipality? Wayne McClinchey 82991 London Road Central Huron. THE EDITOR, Food Banks Canada has designated June 1, 2010 as “Hunger Awareness Day” all across Canada. As June 1 falls on a Tuesday, the North Huron Community Share is planning an afternoon of “Awareness” on the previous Sunday, May 30. We are planning a large event that will take place in the parking lot behind Home Video/Upper Deck, 405 Josephine St., Wingham. From 1 - 4 p.m. we will be holding an “Open House” at the Food Share, with entertainment as well as many other exciting events. In the near future we will be approaching businesses, churches, teams, schools, etc. to have them collect donations for the Food Share and actually deliver everything that Sunday afternoon. We are still in the process of fine tuning this venture, so watch the paper and other information media for updates. Food Banks Canada has so far secured six national sponsors for this campaign, including Campbell’s, Canon, Great West Life, Purolator, Sodexo and Investors Group. With everyone’s help, we can fill our shelves to overflowing to help us through the summer. As an indication of the number of clients using the North Huron Community Food Share, consider this: in March of 2010 we provided food for 90 families (a total of 331 people). A year ago, March 2009, we serviced 68 families (a total of 173 people). We take pride at the Food Share in still being able to feed everyone who is hungry, even though the numbers are still climbing. We need you, the public’s help to make this Hunger Awareness Day, a day to surpass all our expecta- tions. Remember – hunger knows no age limit! Gordon Kaster, Chairperson North Huron Community Share. THE EDITOR, So, there are 74 employees making $100,000 or more, “Sunshine List” in the Avon Maitland District School Board. Surprise! Surprise! Are we getting our money’s worth? You be the judge. Personally I think NOT! It seems to me, we have people more interested in filling their own pockets than helping our children and communities. Shame! Shame! It’s easy to close schools, but to keep them open requires VISION! John Stadelmann, Blyth. Every year, The War Amps Key Tag Service returns thousands of lost keys to their owners. When you use your key tags, you support The War Amps CHAMP Program for child amputees. For more information, or to order your 2010 key tags, contact The War Amps. E-ZEE ACCESS: TEL.: 1-800-250-3030, FAX: 1-800-219-8988 or visit our Web site at waramps.ca Charitable Registration No.: 13196 9628 RR0001 The War Amps Key Tags at Work D R IVE S A F E 1 23 4 5 6 7 89 Letters to the Editor Outrage over Sunshine List Stick With the Classifieds. 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