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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-04-26, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2007.Editorials Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie GroppAdvertising, Ken Warwick & Kelly Quesenberry 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 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Looking Back Through the Years 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 $32.00/year ($30.19 + $1.81 G.S.T.) in Canada; $92.00/year in U.S.A.and $175.00/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 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 09244 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON N0G 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com April 26, 1961 Officials of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Ontario Farmer’s Union were taking a stand in an attempt to have the 11 per cent sales tax recently placed on wire fencing. The decision to take such action was made at a meeting between the two farmer’s organizations in Toronto. The OFA and the OFU were to each ask their own national counterparts, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and the National Farmer’s Union, to make a joint appeal to the federal government to have the tax removed. This would be one of the first times that the OFA and OFU worked together jointly to campaign a cause. The Ontario Beef Cattle Production Association of Toronto was proposing a plan to improve the consumption of beef in the province. The plan was to deduct 10 cents on every head of cattle sold for slaughter. This was also to include beef cattle sold at community sales for feeder and stocker purposes, even if the deduction might not count in these cases when the cattle were sold to packing plants or on public stockyards. The proceeds, which were expected to reach up to $70,000 per year, were to be used for administration and research funds by the beef cattle producers organization. The plan was also to provide negotiations for freight rates for live cattle verses dressed beef. Delegates examined beef potential in Ontario, and decided to ask the federal and provincial governments to work out several different issues in order to ultimately improve beef consumption in Ontario. An Ontario Hydro employee was electrocuted on the job. The victim was working on a pole near Ripley when he was electrocuted by a 4,800 volt live wire. An Ontario Hydro employee for 11 years, the man passed away, leaving behind a wife and seven children. General Victor Lundula of the Congo was becoming the last hope of the nation to bring an end to its civil strife. Lundula was a conservative regarded as the most influential member of the Stanleyville government, included leftist Premier Antoine Gizenga. A convertible automobile developed and manufactured by a company in West Germany was being tested in Michigan. The four - passenger vehicle was capable of 90 miles per hour on land and 10 knots in water, making it one of the first dual purpose autos ever to be tested successfully. American First Lady Jackie Kennedy decided that the White House pet cat Rom Kitten would be too lonely alone at the executive mansion. She handed the pet over to her personal secretary, Mary Gallagher, whose sons Gregory and Christopher, fondly renamed the cat Terrific Tom. The husband of famous actress Brigitte Bardot, Jacques Cherier was cast in a Second World War saga, Pigeon Shooting, as a soldier. Ironically, Jacques had in reality fudged out of the French army. April 26, 1972 Grey Twp. reeve Charles Thomas was nominated as the Liberal candidate in Huron at a well- attended convention held in Clinton. Thomas was a Morris Twp. native and a former Royal Canadian Air Force jet pilot. In honour of its upcoming Centennial anniversary, the Brussels Agricultural Society was co- operating with the centennial committee in a special effort to make the 1972 fair an extraordinary success. April 27, 1988 Residents of the hamlet of Belgrave would finally get cable television. Officials from Kincardine County Cable asked permission of the Morris Twp. council to install the facilities which would enable the residents of Belgrave to have cable television, meeting all government requirements. Playing at Brownie’s Drive In Theatre in Clinton was Michael J. Fox in Bright Lights, Big City. Also playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich was Biloxi Blues,starring Matthew Broderick, as well as the Walt Disney classic The Fox and The Hound. Several schools across the area were holding special events examining the lives of the pioneers as part of Ontario’s Education Week. Ontario Agriculture and Food Minister Jack Riddell announced plans for a $1.4 million program aimed to reduce pesticide use. The program was expected to cut pesticide use by 50 per cent by 2002, and named Food Systems Program 2002. April 24, 1991 Betty Graber was named Brussels and area Citizen of the Year. She was nominated for her service as village councillor and with the church. She was also responsible for setting up grief counselling in Brussels, and was a member of the medical-dental centre board. She also taught CPR to people in the community. One of the nominators said that Betty was “always ready to chauffeur sick and elderly people to the doctor’s office and help out when someone needs a visit to cheer them up. She is just an all-round good and kind person and it makes for a better town to live in.” THE EDITOR, I am wondering if some of your readers could help me. In my historical research regarding Wingham’s great racehorses, which set world records back in 1901, it has come to light that these world records were achieved with Al Procter at the reins. Apparently Al Procter was one of the best drivers of the era and as it stated in the Newport, Indiana newspaper: “Mr. Procter, Harold H’s driver, proved himself the peer of any in the curcuit.” I am searching for a photo of Al Procter. I was wondering if any of your readers would have a photo which I could borrow or if they have any information on Al Procter. I would appreciate hearing from them. The could contact me by phone at 519-357-1692 or by mail at Box 3, Wingham, ON N0G 2W0. Any help with information would certainly be appreciated. Bill Johnston We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Trickle-down taxes It’s budget-setting time for local municipalities and in most cases, taxpayers can look forward to an increase that is larger than the inflation rate. At the same time, the federal government has money, both to promise tax decreases, and to fund lots of new programs as they try to please voters and win a majority government. In between, is the provincial government that has been increasing taxes in an attempt to eliminate the deficit they inherited from the previous government and fund programs that were starved during the Harris era. Part of the shortage of money came because of tax cuts that government gave out at the same time as it ran up deficits. Some of those tax cuts, too, came because the government downloaded costly programs to the municipal level. Land ambulance service, for instance, became a financial burden until the McGuinty government began increasing funding to cover at least part of the shortfall. Passing more of the burden for social services to the municipalities could prove disastrous if we should sink into a recession and the number of people on welfare shoots up. The dominoes started falling under Paul Martin’s rule as finance federal minister in the 1990s. Faced with a huge deficit, Martin slashed programs, but also cut transfers to the provinces. As they tried to manage their higher costs (and in the case of Ontario still cut taxes) provinces shifted the burden to the municipalities, who have the least power to tax. So the municipalities end up raising their taxes at a time when senior governments can court favour with higher spending and tax cuts. Municipalities are the forgotten level of government — asked to do so much but left begging for handouts from the provincial and federal levels. And nobody seems ready to fix the mess. — KR No way to win support Public support for Canada’s mission in Afghanistan has always been tentative, with each casualty apt to tip the balance against risking Canadian lives for the benefit of people in a far-off land. Nothing can lose public support faster, however, than the news this week that combatants apprehended by Canadian troops are being tortured after they are turned over to Afghan authorities. The situation can undermine support in two ways. For one thing, those who support Canada’s efforts do so because they want to help the beleaguered Afghan people toward a decent life after decades of war. We want people to have human rights — for girls to be able to go to school, for people not to have to live in fear. But if the government we are supporting resorts to torture, many Canadians are going to ask if our efforts are worthwhile. We are also making our troops accomplices to war crimes. Some legal experts, in the wake of Monday’s revelations, suggested Canadian soldiers could even be convicted of war crimes. This is not why our soldiers are in Afghanistan. Our government, and our military leaders, must insist, as a condition of our support, that the Afghan government desist from torture, and must assure it takes action, or the public will turn swiftly and permanently against this war.— 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. Letter to the editor