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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-04-01, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1,1992. The Other Side E thelThe news from Compiled by Margaret McMahon Phone 887-9250 By Keith Roulston Ethel-area couple Where is the leadership? At the height of the Great Depression in the 1930's U.S. Pres­ ident Franklin D. Roosevelt gave his famous speech that "We have nothing to fear but fear itself". I don't know if it did any good in getting his country out of its hard times but I wish somebody would even give us a good speech these days. Economists and politicians may quibble about whether or not we're technically in a recession but the truth everybody else knows is that Canada is still in trouble a year after the experts said this recession should be over. The scary part is that many people can't find many signs that things are about to change. It's easy to point out that about 90 per cent of people still have jobs and so there are many good things to be said about the current situa­ tion but the fact still remains that we're all scared skinny about what the future will bring. Although statistics released Monday showed the average working person last month earned more than five per cent more than last year, even those who have good jobs aren't spending because they're worried their jobs may evaporate. We're like people hiding in a dark comer following some natural disaster like an earthquake or a tor­ nado: somebody has to be the lead­ er and be first one to step outside, but everybody is afraid to be the leader. As long as nobody takes leadership, we're all going to stay hiding in the dark, fearing for our lives. The only relief will come when the people with money start spend­ ing it, but they must get confidence that the worst is over before they take that first step. We in the media get blamed right, left and centre for being purveyors of doom and gloom that make people afraid but we can only report what's happen­ ing. When a factory closes, we can hardly ignore the situation. Last summer the media was still pub­ lishing "we're on the way back" stories of how we were climbing out of the recession when anybody in business knew the situation had already changed and we were slip- Back Through the Years Continued from page 4 fire in Auburn. The bam owned by Bill McCormick was completely destroyed beyond repair. Blyth's former clerk-treasurer, Larry B. Walsh, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the theft of more than $94,000 from municipal accounts over the previous six years. A Blyth landmark closed as Piet and Ann Reinsma, owners of Wal­ lace Turkey Products lunch bar since 1964, announced their retire­ ment. Tammi Medd of Blyth was the overall winner at the Blyth Public School Science fair with her care­ fully researched project on "Spider­ land". Brussels Bulls won the O.H.A. northern division Junior D champi­ onship trophy after defeating the Exeter Hawks. ping back into recession. All the positive press in the world didn't help the situation. What we need is some positive feeling imparted by our leaders. The provincial government tried to bluff its way through last year by continuing to spend as if we had a booming economy, but even Bob Rae has reacted in fear now and is slashing costs wherever he can (while being stuck with the rising costs of programs he should never have introduced in times like these). The federal government, obsessed with the deficit and the inflation rate, has not offered any hope to anybody in a couple of years now. Its policy of free trade makes people wonder how long it will take us to ever recover to where we were in years past. Unlike many recessions, we know that many of the factories that have closed won't reopen as soon as time improves because they've gone to Tennessee and Mexico. There's no doubt that in the long run Canada can gain from the low inflation rate that John Crow, Presi­ dent of the Bank of Canada, has imposed on us at great cost. If our inflation rate is one per cent below the Americans, it means that we gain a one per cent price advantage for every year that goes past. Some time down the line we should have a big edge. The problem is, will many of us be here when that hap­ pens? I wish I had the confidence that the federal government knows just how bad things are. Many business­ es, including farmers, have been holding on by their fingernails hop­ ing that the end of the recession is just around the comer. Each month it doesn't improve their hold becomes a little more tenuous. If something good doesn't happen soon there is likely to be a new round of closings and bankruptcies. If some companies go bankrupt they may start a domino effect, tak­ ing other companies down with them and leaving thousands more unemployed. There's also the problem that many of those who are unemployed are running out of Unemployment Insurance benefits and may have to resort to welfare. Yet the federal government refuses to do anything to stimulate the economy and give people hope there is an end in sight. Nobody needs to create silly programs such as the Rae government has, but by moving ahead some capital pro­ grams that would have been done later anyway, they might help put the economy back on track. But Finance Minister Don Mazankows- ki seems to think the end is just around the comer anyway and so why take on more government debt. It reminds me of the Prime Min­ ister's famous "rolling the dice" speech after Meech Lake. If Mazankowski is right, fine, but if he has rolled the dice wrong, we're in desperate trouble. If his actions can't speak volumes to make us more confident about the future, I wish he could at least deliver a fine speech like President Roosevelt. Grey Council awards tender Grey township council held its regular meeting on March 23 and accepted the tender of Bannerman Contracting Limited for the crushing and hauling of 27,000 cubic yards “A” gravel to the roads in the north half of the Township. The Bannerman tender, amounting to $62,113.50 was the lowest of eight tenders received. Council approved a grant of $125 to the Blyth Festival for 1992. Council approved the budget of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Board of Recreation Management for 1992. Grey Township's levy of $10,395 represents a zero per cent increase from 1991. Council endorsed resolutions from both Zurich and Turnberry township. The Zurich resolution opposes the draft conflict of interest legislation and the Turnberry resolution asks the province to again require landowners to pay 50 per cent of their property taxes before they qualify for the Farm Tax Rebate, in order to reduce the level of tax arrears in rural municipalities. The next regular meeting of Council is scheduled for April 6 al 7 p.m. APRIL IS DENTAL HEALTH MONTH VW*” The members of your local Dental Society wish you a Smite.1 married 25 yrs. Happy 25th anniversary to Helen and Pete Albers of RR2, Bluevale. ‘ Grey township council hosted the Monday night euchre of nine tables. High lady was Doris Jack- lin, high man, Scott McLean; low lady Dorothy Hamilton; low man, George Pearson. There were also several tally card draws. Merle Bowes won the 50/50 draw of $14. The next euchre will be April 13 at 8:30 p.m. Grace Smith and Helen Cullen had a very successful lost heir tour­ nament. There were 11 tables. The top trophies were donated by Grace and Harry Smith and won by Scott McLean and Charlie Harrison. Two TSC gift certificates of $20 each were won by Lome and Ruth Jackson. A gift basket from Camp­ bell and Johnson Insurance and a level from Canadian Tire were won by Lois McLean and Eva Harrison. A prize from Brussels Country Inn and Moonlighting Studios was won by Brian McGuire and Ron McCluskie. Hats donated by Robert Farrish Construction and Radford's of Blyth and Brussels were won by Mary Bell, Marlene Losch, and John and Viola SubjecL Hats from Grey township were won by Jack and Dorothy Cox. Shaving cream and lip gloss donat­ ed by Laurie Middleton was won by Mary Bell and Brian McGuire. Low single score prize of glasses was won by Darlene Sisson and Eric Ortman. Low single score for Marlene Losch won her calendars from the Bank of Nova Scotia. Lowest total score prizes were fridge magnets won by Helen Dob­ son and Merle Bowes. The second highest single score was won by Scott McLean and Laura Middle­ ton. Ron Cardiff donated $10 for the Ethel Hall and the 50/50 draw of $25.50 was won by Ray Landon. There were several consolation gifts donated by the Bank of Nova Scotia, Royal Bank and Pro Hard­ ware. Dorothy Dilworth won the door prize donated by J & E Wood- shop, a wooden deer bookrack. a vehicle is a big decision! Let us help you make the right one! GARRY WOODCOCK Quality Cars & Trucks We Can Save You Money A Little - Save A Lot HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9 am-5 pm Sat. 10 am-4 pm C&M INCOME TAX SERVICE Senior Discount 10% T1 SPECIAL T1 GENERAL starting at *16.00 starting at *19.00 SENIOR SUPPLEMENT FORMS FREE "No G.S.T. on our services" Cindy Radford ’ Mary Cote 5 Ontario St. 482-5927 CLINTON HEALTH ON THE HILL A review of activities at SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL Upcoming Programs: "BE HEALTHY BE TRIM” Weight Management Program Learn techniques and gain support to change unproductive habits and attitudes towards food, eating, exercise, stress and personal self­ worth. Feel better emotionally and physically. Put an end to dieting, deprivation, swallowing your upsets and postponing your life. call 527-1650 Ext. 262 for more Information 8 week 2 hour classes Facilitator: L. Devereaux, Dietitian SHOP SMART SUPERMARKET TOUR Huron County Nutrition Committee invites you to celebrate Nutrition Month and learn to "Challenge the Nutrition Myths." What better place to learn but right in the grocery store! Shop Smart Supermarket Tours are focusing on fat. A few spaces are still available for Seaforth tour, April 2, 1:30 p.m. Phone Clara to register at 482-3416. Hospital Hl-Lighis; St. James Grade 4/5 Students visited the Hospital and toured each Department on March 11th. Department Managers spoke on each Department's role in the delivery of health care. Welcome to Kim Salverda, Co-op Student who is with us until June 19th to gain secretarial experience, and to Ellen Smith, new part-time Communications Clerk. Physiotherapy also welcomes Co-op Student, Katie Parkinson, here until June. Physiotherapy News: National Physiotherapy Week March 22-28 was celebrated at Seaforth Community Hospital last week. A poster display described repetitive strain injuries and displayed aids to their prevention and treatment. A FUN relay to involve as many Staff as possible was staged Friday, March 27th, and a presentation by the Staff entitled, "Your Neck: The Essentials of Computer Compatibility," rounded out the week. The theme of National Physiotherapy Week is "Physiotherapy: Your Key to Independence." This is a particularly appropriate theme. Physiotherapists pride themselves in education, treatments and prevention of recurrence of problems with which their patients present. Their aim is to give the patient the tools they need to make themselves eventually free or independent of the therapist. Unfortunately our Staff Therapist, Betty Duwyn, fell and fractured her leg. This has meant that waiting lists for therapy at S.C.H. have risen. Betty is, however, going to start to work as soon as her X- Rays and her surgeon allow, possibly within the next month. We miss you Betty, come back soon!