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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1991-10-16, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16 1991. [ Big money but.... We should open this editorial by confessing a conflict of interest This newspaper has a lot to gain by Ontario's fanners making a living wage. So has nearly everybody else in the province, particularly those who live in smaller communities. All of us had a lot more to gain by farmers getting proper government aid last week than we had to lose in the extra taxes we might have to pay. If farmers have money they will buy subscriptions and classified advertisements but more important, they'll buy cars and trucks, tractors and combines, groceries, clothes and furniture. Since 80 per cent of the revenue of a newspaper comes from advertising, when farmers have money to spend in local stores, this newspaper gets bigger, has more space to devote to news and the more money to hire people to investigate and report the news. If you own a business, pay taxes or own a house, (let alone like to eat), you have a vested interest in keeping as many of the dwindling number of farmers on the land as possible. If farmers are prosperous there will be more people to buy goods and services, more people to help share the local tax burden, more people retiring to town to bid up the price of housing. So the federal government's announcement of $800 million to Canadian farmers last week was both good news and bad news. If it can keep even a few more farm families on the land, it will help the economies of towns and villages across the country. Only a few farmers helped? With $800 million? It sounds like such a huge sum. But take a closer look. In 1989 production of corn, soybeans, white beans, wheat, barley, oats and mixed grains in Huron county alone was worth $116.6 million. That's one county in a huge country...and it doesn't even include things like livestock, eggs and dairy production or crops fed to livestock. The prices for those goods were already lower in 1989 than they had been a decade earlier and prices since then have dropped 20 per cent. Farm costs have increased since then. To even make up the lost revenue for Huron county could use up $23 million, a big bite of the $800 million. The federal government said it couldn't afford any more help. With its obsession with the deficit, that reticence is understanding. But the government couldn't, and still can't, afford not to rescue rural Canada from a disaster that is no more the fault of farmers than a hurricane or a drought. Take the farmer and his income out of Huron county, which we will do if we can't keep farm families on their land, and there isn't a lot left. Take farmers out of all the rural communities across the country and you've got an economic disaster that could pull the whole rural economy down. The only complaint about the federal aid is that it wasn't enough to really do any good. Making democracy work In these days of cynicism about politicians, it's truly heartening to see so many people offering their services to the people of their municipalities in the upcoming provincial election. Across the area, nearly every township and village has an election coming up, barring last-minute withdrawals by last night's 5 p.m. deadline. Some municipalities see lively competition brewing for all municipal offices. Most of the board of education seats in the area also are being contested. It could be an exciting month ahead. Many people today seem ready to write off the system, to think they can't change anything so why bother. There are good reason as more and more things that effect our lives seem to be getting away from our own control. The one form of government that does remain close to the people is the municipal government, even if too often the hands of our councillors are tied by federal and provincial regulations. Obviously there are a lot of people out there who feel they can still make a difference, at least in their own village or township. Over the next month we should question them, tell them our concerns, and most of all, encourage them. Whether wise or wacko, they at least have volunteered to do something. We can never have enough of that kind of person. Ready for picking Looking Back Through the YearsLooking Back Through the Years ONE YEAR AGO OCTOBER 17,1990 The 1990 Federation of Agricul­ ture Award for contribution to agri­ culture in Huron County was awarded posthumously to a former Moncreiff-area farmer, Bill Mann and to his wife, Mary Beth, who survives him. Blyth Festival Singers celebrated 10th anniversary. A freak accident occurred at the home of Bill and Muriel Coultes of Belgrave when a tree fell bn the roof the their house during a storm. The tree punctured a hole in the roof and the living room ceiling. Mrs. Coultes, her daughter Joanne Chapman and her son Jeremy were in the house at the time. In an environmental effort, Rad­ ford Auto in Brussels and Blyth, began giving out Blue Bux for your old car battery. The Blue Bux val­ ued at $1 each could be used towards the purchase of any store product. THREE YEARS AGO OCTOBER 19,1988 The Progressive Conservative campaign in the federal riding of Huron-Bruce acclaimed Ethel-area farmer Murray Cardiff as their offi­ cial candidate in the upcoming election. Seven people sought seats on Brussels council. Reeve Gordon Workman was acclaimed when nominations closed. Running were Barry Engel, Dave Hastings, Bruce Hahn, Gertie Kellington, Ruth Sauve, Mary Stretton and Greg Wilson. Lisa Boonstoppel, RR3, Aubum was crowned as the 1988-89 Huron County Dairy Princess. Gerry and Doug Fortune were joint winners of the Huron Federa­ tion of Agriculture award for Out­ standing Contribution to Agriculture in the county. The For­ tunes, both of whom have served as president of the Federation, origi­ nated the award back in 1976. FIVE YEARS AGO OCTOBER 15,1986 Construction was planned for a four-span $1,888,400 across the Maitland River south of Auburn Continued on pagel9 CitizenTheNorthHuron P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M1H0 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, Listowel, 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 newscrlpts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copywrlght. Editor & Publisher, Keith Roulston Advertising Manager, Dave Williams Assistant Editor, Bonnie Gropp Second Class Mail Registration No. 6968 _________Serving Blyth, Brussels, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and the surrounding townships.