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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-07-08, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 8,1992. Highways we don't want What Huron County doesn't need is even more highways to look after but that's what it may be getting due to pressure from the provincial government to take over Highways 83, 84 and 87. Huron County Council last week approved opening discussions with the province on the possibility. County Councillors are caught between a rock and a hard place on the issue. They don't want the highways, but they're afraid if they don't negotiate now they may get a worse deal in the future. Huron residents are in the same predicament. They don't want added tax costs, but the way the Ministry of Transportation has been reducing service, the county's superior maintenance looks good. It used to be the best highways in the area were provincial roads. In recent years the best highways have been county roads. Maybe it is best if Huron take over the roads but County council must drive a hard bargain to make sure the additional tax burden isn't too steep. We can't stop being good Twice in recent weeks Ontario Good Samaritans have been killed trying to help others, incidents that will no doubt make many people wonder if they should be helping out those in trouble. Despite the risks, we must not lose our determination to lend a hand to those in need. It's a sad comment on our country that it has now become dangerous to be helpful but recent events give that impression. First it was the Toronto student who went to the aid of women and children being attacked by a gang, gave chase and ended up being stabbed to death. But that, after all, was Toronto, we told ourselves. Then came the bizarre events in Muskoka where two young men stopped to help a car in trouble, and were shot on the spot. The three men in the car who did the shooting later also shot a police officer who stopped them. Coming so close together, these events give the picture that it's better to let people fend for themselves than to offer help. If ordinary Canadians start worrying about such possibilities instead of leaping to the aid of those in trouble, however, we will have lost something of the kind of country we want to be. Some other countries have already lost that sense of responsibility to their neighbours. We can’t afford to slip into that sad state. The politics of jealousy As Canada’s constitutional marathon nears one more pressing deadline, it seems that driving force is jealously of other regions of the country. Everybody is afraid someone else might get an edge, even if that edge really won't affect how they live their own day-to-day lives. That kind of silliness has been evident in English Canada for years where many people have carried secret, and not so secret, resentment toward bilingualism. For some people the sight of french on the back of a cornflakes box is enough to start their morning off in a bad mood. Others complain about the "huge" expense of bilingualism in government services. Studies show that the cost isn't really very high and there are probably lots of other things that are going to hit us harder in the pocket books but to many people it sounds like the biggest problem facing the nation. Ontario-envy hits others in the land. Albertans in particular, seem ever on the alert for advantages Ontario has gained through its dominant economic position, its central location or its large population. Maybe it's time out leaders showed that we've grown beyond the point of worrying that some other region might have an edge. Maybe more should follow the lead of former Ontario Premier David Peterson who, in the ill-fated Meech Lake negotiations, was willing to give up some Ontario's Senate seats if it would help bring an agreement on a new constitution. There is something that isn't truly democratic about a Triple E Senate reform package that gives Prince Edward Island the same power as Ontario with many times as much population but as long as the reformed Senate doesn't deliver us into an even tighter constitutional straight jacket, what's the harm in Ontario giving in? Perhaps if Premier Bob Rae could show some good will in recognizing the concerns of smaller provinces, others could begin to look at the whole country and not just at his own province. That would be real leadership. Looking Back Through the Years ONE YEAR AGO July 10,1991 Maxine and Bill Seers, the own­ ers of Maxine's Lunch in Auburn sold the business they started 30 years ago to Helen and Jerry Sabo, from Georgetown. Blyth hosted 15 representatives of a Tokyo theatre who came to see the theatre that made The Tomor­ row Box famous in Canada. Anne Chislett's play about a huron Coun­ ty farmer who decides, without telling his wife, that he is selling the farm and they are going to retire to Florida, was a major hit in Japan. THREE YEARS AGO July 5,1989 Four students from the Blyth, Londesboro and Auburn areas were among the 10 Ontario Scholars at Central Huron Secondary School. The students who received scholar­ ships of $100 were Jeromy Ten Hagg, RR 1, Auburn; Christina Roulston, RR 3, Blyth; Elaine Poore, Blyth; and Deanna Lyon, Londesboro. Michael Schneider of Auburn received the highest honour a scout can achieve when he was presented with the Chief Scout's Award at a Scout’s Award ceremony at the Wesley Willis United church in Clinton. After 39 years of service to the Blyth area, Lloyd Tasker sold the Tasker Funeral Home to David Beattie of Clinton. FIVE YEARS AGO July 8,1987 For the second time in the first year and a half of the three-year term of Brussels council Reeve Hank Ten Pas resigned his position due to continual disputes at coun­ cil. Two Londesboro students were among the six Ontario Scholarship winners graduating from grade 13 at Central Huron Secondary School. Brenda Nesbitt of Londes­ boro and Sandy Carter of RR 1, Londesboro were fourth and fifth in their class. Two other local girls, Marie Perry of RR 3, Brussels and Cheryl Smith of Walton, also received Ontario Scholarships at a banquet at the Seaforth District High School. CitizenTheNorthHuron P.O. Box 429,P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont.BRUSSELS, Ont.Publisher, Keith Roulston N0M1H0 NOG 1 HO Editor, Bonnie Gropp Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 Sales Representatives, FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 Jeannette McNeil and Merle Gunby 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; $31.03/year ($29.00 plus $2.03 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 newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copywright Publications Mail Registration No. 6968