HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-07-08, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2010.
Tax package to create 600,000 jobs
Blood donor clinic coming back to Blyth
ACW addresses areas of concern on roads
Hydrants looking tired
Canadian Blood Services will bereturning to Blyth this summer aftera successful clinic last year.The clinic, which will be held at
the Blyth Community Centre on July
23 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., will have
six beds, with two volunteers
stationed at each of the six donor
beds.
Last July over 100 people attended
the first blood donor clinic held in
Blyth in years. With a goal of 72
donations set, that goal wassurpassed, with 82 donations beingcollected.Blyth Mason John Elliott has beeninstrumental in bringing the clinic toBlyth, and now that it’s here, he sayshe wants to keep it here.
“We spent a few years trying to get
a clinic here,” he said. “And finally
we got approval for the Blyth
Community Centre.”
Elliott said there were concerns
about the access of the clinic, but
those concerns were resolved before
last year’s clinic was held.
The Masons have always beeninvolved in the collection of blooddonations throughout Canada.However, it wasn’t until Elliott andthe Blyth Masonic Lodge receivedthe assistance of Ross Ferguson ofExeter, the Ontario Blood Donor
Chairman of the Masons, that final
approval was given for a clinic in
Blyth.
Elliott says that bringing the clinic
back to Blyth has been a joint effort
of the Blyth Masonic Lodge, the
Hullett Masonic Lodge and the
Blyth division of the North Huron
Fire Department.The way the schedule has beenshaped over the last two years,Elliott says, Blyth, if it can retain the amount of donations required,is set up to have a permanent dateeach year when the clinic can be
held.
It is an important time of year to
hold a clinic as well, Elliott says,
because demand for blood is higher
in the summer months, both because
donations tend to be lower and
outdoor activities are at their highest
level.
Elliott, who donated a plaque to the district of Masonic Lodges in 1992 for the top blood donor area, has hopes that maybe one day the plaque will make its way back to Blyth, but for the time being, he says he wants
to concentrate on retaining the
slot that Blyth has a hold on right
now.
“I would like to see the clinic
continue,” he said. “As long as we
can reach the levels we need to
continue to host the clinic, I’ll be
happy.”
THE EDITOR,
On Canada Day we celebrated
what we have achieved together. A
lot has been written about our
comprehensive tax package and the
HST. Much of it has been filled with
misinformation and half truths. I
wanted to take the opportunity to
deliver the facts.
Our tax reforms boil down to three
things: more jobs, more investment
and higher wages. It’s that simple.
According to tax expert Jack
Mintz from the University of
Calgary, our tax package will result
in $47 billion in new investment and
almost 600,000 new jobs.
We need to remember what’s at
stake: 600,000 more people
working, 600,000 more families who
can provide the same quality of life
our parents gave us and 600,000
more people supporting the strong
public services like our schools and
hospitals.
While many Ontarians agree that
more jobs and more investment are
good things, they are also concerned
about how tax changes affect them
and their families.
Our tax package will cut income
taxes for 93 per cent of Ontarians
and will mean that 90,000 of the
lowest income Ontarians will pay no
income tax. We are introducing a
permanent Ontario Sales Tax Credit
of up to $260 per person, per year.
And we are providing property and
energy tax credits to help people
deal with additional expenses.
We have a choice: together we can
emerge from the global economic
recession stronger and more
competitive or we can do nothing
and watch jobs and prosperity move
to other places.
Carol Mitchell, MPP
Huron-Bruce.
THE EDITOR,
Back in 2001, when the Village of
Blyth was competing in
Communities in Bloom, the
committee held a fire hydrant
contest. All 42 hydrants were
painted by clubs/organizations and
individuals. The hydrants looked
awesome and got many favourable
comments.
The hydrants are looking a little
tired and with new regulations in
place, the tops and caps have to be
colour coded.
The North Huron Water
Department would like to see the art
work refreshed again if there is
enough interest. If there isn’t, then
the hydrants will have to all be
painted just one colour.
If any person or group is interested
in refurbishing a hydrant or
hydrants, please contact me at 519-
523-4323 or e-mail bevjelliott
@gmail.com by July 18.
Yours truly,
Bev. Elliott
Blyth
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
Township Council was approached
by John Risk of RR5 Goderich
regarding the township’s asphalt
crack sealing practices during its
June 15 regular meeting.
Risk felt that the rounded gravel
used to prevent oil and tar spray on
freshly sealed roads caused unsafe
road conditions for all vehicles, but
especially motorcycles.
In correspondence, Risk stated
that, since moving to the township in
2002, the aggregate has been applied
three times without notice or signs of
warning.
One of the areas of concern is the
curve in MTO Road just east of
Highway 21.
After contacting ACW’s Public
Works Superintendent Brian Van
Osch, Risk felt his concerns were not
being listened to, so, according to
correspondence Risk provided to
council, he approached the Ontario
Provincial Police with the issue,
having an officer state that he too felt
his car ‘get loose’ on the curve.
Risk went on to say that he
requested the township and its
contractors be charged with Public
Endangerment or Public Mischief,
however the OPP couldn’t oblige
him, stating that it was a township
matter.
Since the letter was received by
council on June 3, he has been
erecting signs when the work is
being done to help prevent any
accidents, however, it looks unlikely
that the change of aggregate that
Risk would like is far from
happening.
Van Osch stated to council that he
had spoken to the contractor who
provided the service, stating that
they have used the same aggregate
for years.
Councillor Carl Sloetjes stated
that he himself had once fallen over
on his motorcycle due to the
aggregate, but it was because he was
unaware of the practice. Sloetjes
went on to say that the round pebbles
are part of keeping the road safe, and
he learned to watch for them from
that day forward.
Deputy-Reeve Neil Rintoul stated
that, as long as signs were being
posted, it was a good thing to do.
“It’s better to have the job done
right now than to not have it down
and have ice form in the cracks and
valleys in the winter,” he said.
Council directed Van Osch to
determine if there was an
opportunity to use another kind of
aggregate for the purpose of asphalt
sealing.
Letters to the Editor
Graduation
Tom Cronin, son of Tom and
Lynne Cronin graduated from the
Police Foundations Diploma
Program at Niagara College on
June 17, 2010. Tom has accepted
a position at Cantec Securities,
St. Catharines. All your hard work
and determination has paid off.
We couldn’t be more proud of
you. Good job!
Love always, Mom, Dad and
Robert
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