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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1991-10-09, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9 1991. [ Some backyard The problem encountered by officials who have to do things like find waste disposal sites is the "not in my backyard" syndrome. Grey township residents found out last week that theirs is the favourite backyard in Huron county when the township won the lottery and had four of the six candidate sites for a Huron county landfill site set in the township. The first reaction among township residents may be to panic. The first reaction of people in other parts of the county may be to relax. It's too early for either reaction. The six sites chosen were picked through a lengthy, and expensive, system of discarding obviously unsuitable sites: sites too near towns or airports, sites where there is evidence the soil type is wrong to contain the chemicals that can drain out of a landfill, sites that aren't big enough to hold the amount of garbage the county is expected to produce in the next 40 years. But all the selection process so far has been based strictly on paper evidence. The study team hasn't even set foot on any of the six sites yet. When they do they may quickly see some of those choices are wrong. Those not quickly eliminated will undergo testing to see if the correct soil conditions are present to allow the land to be used for a landfill. That may eliminate some or all of the sites. In fact the study team is quite prepared to have all the current sites eliminated and have to start looking at a new batch of sites. The selection process so far has tried to avoid the best farmland in the county but if none of the current sites prove possible, good farmland may have to be considered. It's easy to tell the Grey residents involved to relax but a lot harder for them to do it. On the other hand, it's easy for others in the county to think their backyard is now safe, even though it isn't. This story is a long way from over. No blank cheques please One of the things that killed the Meech Lake agreement was the uncertainty about just what was meant by the Distinct Society clause. The federal government has included a new term in the current constitutional proposal that is almost as ambiguous: the right to property. Few people deny that Quebec is a distinct society: they just were worried about what the term might mean in terms of the province being able to override the basic laws the rest of the country supports, such as the rights of individuals. Similarly, few people would disagree with the concept of equal pay for equal work, but in its application, the concept has brought a lot of extra baggage with it. And few people will disagree with the idea of enshrining the right to own property in the constitution. Pierre Trudeau had included that right in the Charter of Rights earlier but some provinces objected so it was dropped. If the old red terror Trudeau could accept the concept, why wouldn't people in this more right-wing era. The problem is, nobody knows what it will mean. When the federal government spells out its plans in more detail, there may be nothing to fear. But the enshrining of property rights, if done in the wrong way, could fundamentally change the way the country operates, even put handcuffs on society. What do those rights include? Could it mean that the owner of a property has the right to do on his own properly whatever he pleases? Could it mean that zoning laws would be thrown out and someone could set up a pig bam in a lot in a residential neighbourhood? With nasty decisions like the setting up of a Huron county landfill site coming up, what would happen to the right to expropriate? Some cynics even see this as part of the right-wing Mulroney agenda to allow businesses to escape some legislation regarding the rights of employees that now exists. Probably there are no such intentions. The sooner the government spells out exactly what is meant, the better. We don't need to sign any more blank cheques. the harvest Looking Back Through the Years ONE YEAR AGO OCTOBER 10,1990 Two Brussels area farms sus­ tained damage after a twister touched down. Trees were toppled, windows blown out and a clothes­ line full of clothes at the home of Leo and Rita Deitner of RR1, Ethel. Across the road, Elizabeth DeWit and her children huddled in the basement while trees fell caus­ ing damage to some of the outdoor buildings. Five area people were recognized for their contributions to agricul­ ture. They were: Maurice Hallahan of RR1, Belgrave, Lyle Martin of Ethel, Jean Mathers of Bluevale, June Robinson of RR2, Auburn and John Underwood of RR1, Wing­ ham. Grey Township purchased a new tanker for its area fire department. Belgrave hosted the 39th Huron West District annual. THREE YEARS AGO OCTOBER 12,1988 Tony McQuail, a West Township fanner, won the New Democratic Party nomination for the federal election. Gladys Ellsmore opened Country Garden Flowers in Brussels in the old Brussels Post Building. One thousand people attended the annual Belgrave turkey supper. Five Walton-area students were among the 26 graduates of Seaforth District High School to receive Honours graduations diplomas at the annual commencement. They were: Kim Fritz, RR2, Brussels, Jeff Alcock, RR3, Brussels, Donna Godkin, RR1, Walton, and Mary Continued on page 19 CitizenTheNorthHuron P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $20.50/year ($19.16 plus $1.34 G.S.T.) for local; $19.16 + $1.66 for each month after March 31/92 + G.S.T. for local letter carrier in Goderich, Hanover, Llstowel, etc. and out-of-area (40 miles from Brussels); $60.00/year for U.S.A, and Foreign. 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. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copywrlght. 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