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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1990-02-07, Page 5Hockin speaks THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990. PAGE 5. Letters Writer defends Blyth council’s actions Tom Hockin, the federal minister of tourism and small business spoke at the inaugural meeting of the Goderich and District Chamber of Commerce on January 30. Hockin says tourism vital to economic growth BY LISA BOONSTOPPEL Canadians take for granted what they could use as symbols for Canada said federal minister for Small Business and Tourism, Tom Hockin after announcing a 20 million advertising campaign to sell Canada at the inaugural meeting of the Goderich and District Chamber of Commerce on January 30. The crowd of about 120 people at the Livery Theatre were told that a 1985 government study completely changed the way government view­ ed tourism. “We found out that Americans didn’t know we have cities. They thought we were all moose, mounties and mountains,’’ said Mr. Hockin. He added that he is now doing an update of that study, the results of which should be a “gold mine of information.” Using the information from the studies, Mr. Hockin plans to ad­ minister the 20 million campaign for the upscale travellers. “We want to put more emphasis on the seniors who are more energetic than they used to be. We want to show them about the hiking and skiing opportunities in Canada and the seniors market is more afflu­ ent,” he said. He also has plans to promote Canada as a four season destination. Mr. Hockin advised the assem­ bly to “keep tourism a clean business. It’s a good idea to bring in tourism but you must protect the environment around you.” He went on to say that tourism is vital to economic well-being. “Some people don’t think of tourism as a strategic industry and it’s the wrong attitude to think that tourism will just come.” In addition to tourism, Mr. Hockin also cited small business as being major assets since they are “both vital to the economy, both create jobs, and both pump billions Trip to Las Vegas an enlightening experience THE EDITOR, On January 28, 54 Radford Group employees and their families left Blyth by Cherry Bus Lines to Detroit where they boarded the airplane that took them to Las Vegas. For a very few people like Carman and I this was our first time for flying and we weren’t just sure what to expect. We lifted off at 3 p.m. for Vegas. Our travelling speed was 425 miles per hour and of dollars into the local and provincial economy.” “I have seen a fever of entrepre­ neurship in the last five years in this country,” he said as he announced that the federal govern­ ment is putting together a national policy to encourage entrepreneur­ ship. “We will be trying to create an awareness in people of the importance of entrepreneurial- ism,” he said. Its importance is evident in the job market as Mr. Hockin revealed that four out of every 10 Canadians work for small business and new jobs come from the small business sector. “We will be trying to foster education in the public schools about entrepreneurship. We want to put the idea in their heads about what it’s like to run and operate your own business,” he said. Besides jobs being created in the small business market, Mr. Hockin said that the proposed goods and services tax would create jobs. “The GST is there for us to increase production as a country and help the export sector.” He also said that the GST would aid the tourism industry since foreign travellers would get a rebate on the goods they purchase and their hotel accommodation when the new tax comes in. The minister complimented the people at the meeting by saying that “this is one of the most beautiful areas of Canada. It’s an attractive area for tourism and I wanted to come and acknowledge that today.” He stressed the importance of acknowledging and capitalizing on the area’s assets and commended the area for recognizing the value of such things as the Bayfield beaches, the Huron County Museum and the Blyth Festival. He toured the museum later in the afternoon. we were 35,000 feet high. We had a window seat by the wing and watched the rest of the world go by. A tasty hot lunch was served to the 362 passengers. We landed in Las Vegas about 8 p.m. and were taken to the Flamingo Hilton by bus. We were shown to a beautiful large room, one of 2720, with a breath-taking view of the city with mountains all around us. We Continued on page 8 The Editor, As a taxpayer and lifetime Blyth resident, I am following with interest the remarks made by the editor, to the editor and from the parties involved in the council versus Radford Construction dis­ pute. First of all, I would like to commend the Blyth council for spending a few tax dollars to seek legal advise regarding a very large amount of public monies. Maybe if those persons disputing the council would put the situation into per­ spective and disregard pressure from outside forces, they would also see the sense of bringing in legal aid. Let’s change the scene to private business with this example: You sign a contract to do a job for Lack of communication problem THE EDITOR, In the past few weeks the town has been abuzz with rumours and stories of possible secret council meetings, how things were done five years ago and large cost overruns. It seems to me that a council meeting that is not public know­ ledge can be seen as a secret meeting (and I am only saying that it can be seen that way. I am not saying that it is intended to be). So to stop these “secret meeting rumours” why does the council not have the suggested two monthly public meetings. And as far as what was done five years ago at council meetings, that has no bearing on today because no doubt, if you went back 20 years council five years ago were taking more time than was taken then, so could it not change again? I know in my small business the rules and regu­ Writer so mad he’s smoking The Editor, As a smoker I am mad, mad, mad. Let me explain. Last week two of us were in the city and went in to a restaurant. We asked about smoking and went to the back corner table in the smoking section. Two (ladies?) sat down at the next table. When we lit up a cigarette they got really insulting and caused a scene when the waiter told them they were in the smoking section. If we had been told it was a non-smoking place we certainly would not have lit the cigarette. All I ask is equal respect. Shortly before that I was asked if I was attending a day-long function in a strictly non-smoking building and I said No. When pressed for a reason I said as nicely as I knew how that for me the pleasures of the meeting would not outweigh the discomfort of going a day without a cigarette. In return I got a lecture on the evils of smoking and accused of being a poor citizen for not backing my community. I really believe that some places such as Doctor’s waiting rooms should be smoke free. As for hospitals, I think patients should have smoking areas. Visitors don’t need one, anybody can do without a cigarette for a while. If I have go to over about four hours without a cigarette when I am not sleeping I am unable to function normally. My nerves get bad and I become very short-tempered and rude. This interferes with any treatments or test I may be taking. I am quite willing for groups to have smoke free meetings or $1,000, the bill arrives at $2,000 and the job is only half done. Would you pay the $2,000 and merrily tell the contractor to go ahead and finish the job and you’ll be happy to pay antoher $2,000. 1 hardly think that you would. I believe you would probably put up a fight and if this was public money the only intelligent course would be to ask for legal advice. In reply to the letter in Jan. 31 paper from a local resident, I also believe that we are fortunate in the business services and trades that we have available in our town. 1 also argue that over the years local firms have given greatly to the needs of our village. However, times and people change. Busi­ nesses get larger, wages get high­ lations have changed drastically in the last 10 years making my so called “desk time” a lot greater, so can this not be the case with council? That meeting is already being held as a “Special Meeting” so why not make it a regular public meeting and let the business of operating our town carry on. Blyth Legion meeting over THE EDITOR, To the Reeve and Council Village of Blyth, We the members of Blyth Legion Branch 420 would like to discuss the problems encountered with the Village of Blyth Administration in obtaining our Nevada Ticket Lot­ tery Licence. These problems ap- buildings as long as they are willing to give me the right to not go there, but as long as the sale of tobacco products is legal I strongly believe smokers should have the right to do the same. When I was a teenager in 1940, most tobacco was sold in Smoke Shops with only a pop cooler besides tobacco and a smoke-filled pool room behind. If you were not a smoker you didn’t have to go there. There was a small room in each train car vented to the outside where you could go for a smoke. There was also the men’s beverage room. Everywhere else smoking was frowned on and everybody seemed content with the situation. Then things changed and cigar­ ettes were sold and smoked nearly everywhere in the sixties, seventies and eighties. Now things are changing again and I do not agree with the way they are doing it. If we are going to pass laws curtailing the use of cigarettes in places, let Environment endangered by bank's plan The Editor, At the end of last week I was phoned by the Bank of Commerce, Brussels Branch to advise me that the current cloth night deposit wallets, which were rented at $45.00 for the year 1989, are being increased to $90.00 for the year 1990. That’s a 100 per cent increase! An alternative was to pay a $25 fee for night deposits in 199G and purchase sealable plastic night deposit wallets for $25 per hun- er, taxes grown, the “dog eat dog” world we live in makes changes inevitable and business operations and good will do not remain constant. None of us can run on the reputation of our forefathers. The day of doing business with a hand shake is long past. I argue that we have a good community that is being inflicted with illness as Mr. Whitmore in his letter stated. However, I do not agree that council by asking for legal advice did anything that should not have been done. I believe they are acting in good faith, spending a few dollars to protect a lot of tax dollars. Ula Richmond Blyth. In regard to the Radford Ball Diamond issue, maybe more public council meetings could have block-, ed the need to spend more tax­ payers’ dollars on an out-of-town lawyer. It seems to me, our biggest problem is lack of communication. Paul Josling Blyth. wants lottery pear to be unknown to Village Council. The Nevada tickets raise a large portion of revenue with which we fund many projects in the local community and surrounding areas. Executive Committee Blyth Br. 420 J. H. Battye President. us pass laws only permitting the sale of cigarettes in places where they can be smoked. Any merchant who sells cigarettes and does not allow them to be smoked there is a hypocrite. I think our provincial and Dominion governments are two- faced wimps for allowing the manufacture and sale of cigarettes everywhere for the tax dollars involved while catering to health groups and non-smokers by re­ stricting where they can be smok­ ed. If any government has the guts to declare tobacco a hazardous habit forming drug and totally ban its sale I will cheerfully vote for them and declare myself a drug user without any rights. Until then, I am convinced that smokers are being treated unfairly by people and governments and I am mad about it. Wm. F. Buchanan Brussels. dred. These plastic wallets would be cut open when returned to the bank and then be destroyed. I’m concerned that the Bank has decided to take this route as it will be adding to the environmental waste that we are all concerned about. When questioned about the move to the plastic night deposit wallets, one bank official said that it had been pencilled out in head office and it was cheaper for the Continued on page 26