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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-04-01, Page 4Don't do as they do Once again last week Canadians were treated to the edifying sight of their politicians sniping away at each other, all the while trying to sound very self-righteous. At the meeting of first ministers discussing the economy, Ontario Premier Bob Rae blasted the federal government for dumping its fiscal problems in the lap of the provinces. Ontario taxpayers, he pointed out, pay more money into federal coffers than anybody else in the country, yet we get far less back than we give. He was upset that the feds cut back payments to the province and expect the provincial government to deliver more. Federal Finance Minister Don Mazankowski not only called the Premier "juvenile" but again wagged his finger at the province for its deficit. Premier Rae has a right to be angry. The federal government is taking a holier-than-thou attitude on the deficit, pointing out it has been reducing its deficit while Ontario's has been sky-rocketing. But a good part of the problem is that the feds have been down-loading services and their costs to the province so the federal budget looks better. But Mr. Rae's outrage looks a little artificial when you realize his government has been doing exactly the same thing to the municipalities and school boards. Huron County, for instance, gets $622,400 less from the province for highways this year. The province has given school boards a one per cent increase in funding but has not given them any power to control the major area of expense: staff salaries. The old system of fact-finders reports makes it difficult for school boards to hold the lines. Much the same kind of dilemma faces hospital boards. Moreover the provincial government keeps mandating new programs that nobody at the municipal level asked for but they are forced to pay for. The STEP program in welfare, for instance, allows the working poor to have their salaries topped up through welfare assistance. It may have been a great idea in the 1970's and during the boom years of the '80’s but when the province introduced this and other welfare changes last fall, the writing was already on the wall that welfare costs would soar even without the expensive reforms. Now Huron County faces a 5.5 per cent increase in the county mill rate just to cover added costs of welfare due to the recession in general and new programs introduced by the province. There is nearly unanimous opinion that Huron county doesn't need or want Junior Kindergarten but the province refuses to drop the idea and, as the school board already struggles to keep its budget down, trustees must prepare to find the extra money for the program it doesn't want in the first place. Common sense seems lacking on the part of the province and the federal government. It often seems that ideology not wisdom is driving the decisions of both levels of government. It's time to take off the blinkers and see the real world and try to solve the problems not just preach. —KR Work toward solutions Members of the Huron County Library Board may have reasons that make sense for themselves in turning down the request of Belmore residents to save their library by paying all the local costs and using volunteer labour, but to everybody else, it shows a blind determination to close small library branches no matter what. The Belmore branch, along with six others in such places as Belgrave, Bluevale, Ethel, and Walton, were ordered closed as a cost­ cutting measure for the county library. Municipalities were upset they hadn't been given any chance to propose alternatives to closure but, faced with trimming budgets or seeing a huge tax increase, most councillors went along. Belmore residents, who saw circulation at their branch grow 44 per cent last year, made a proposal to pay the rent at the local library branch, use volunteer labour to keep the branch open and even to drive to Goderich to pick up books on exchange so the county could be saved staff time and mileage. Their proposal was turned down. There were explanations given at County Council Monday but surely there are also solutions that could be found to those reasons. Cutting costs in closing the branches is one thing, but if dedicated local people can find ways to keep the libraries open at virtually no cost to the county then every assistance should be given them in trying to find solutions. Huron was built on co-operation, volunteerism and local initiative. Most of the small libraries didn't ask to be taken over by the county system in the first place. Now the same county system is telling them they can't continue. There, must be a compromise solution.—KR Looking Back Through the Years ONE YEAR AGO April 3,1991 Mr. Tim Willis, an auto shop teacher at F. E. Madill Secondary School was named the Toronto Sun's "Teacher of the Year" A unknown man escaped with cash and cigarettes after robbing Today's Variety in Londesboro. Two young men were given 12 months probation and ordered to make full restitution after pleading guilty to the break and enter at the Diesel Car Diner and Brussels Variety. Brett Lee of Walton qualified for the Supercross dirt bike race at Pontiac's Silverdome. THREE YEARS AGO March 29,1989 The Ontario Provincial Police Extended Services Office opened in the Brussels Library. The office operates under the care of the Wingham detachment. Blyth 'A' Team won the 'B' championship at the Blyth Little Lions Novice tournament; while the Blyth 'B' Team captured the 'D' championship. Blyth student Jason Elliott had top marks at the Blyth Public School Science Fair for his project "The Crash". Jason determined that it is possible to make a more cost efficient and safer barrier rubber. Two Brussels area men were ordered to stand trial, before an Ontario Supreme Court judge and jury, in connection with the July 1988 break and enter and arson at the Brussels Legion. FIVE YEARS AGO April 1,1987 Blyth and District Fire Depart­ ment was busy contending with two fires in a matter of hours. Fire­ men first responded to a chimney fire at the Morris Township home of Roy Aitcheson, then to a bam Continued on page 6 CitizenTheNorthHuron P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1 HO 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; $41.73/year ($39.00 plus $2.73 G.S.T.) for local letter carrier in Goderich, Hanover, Ustowel, 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 © Copywright. 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