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The Citizen, 1992-07-29, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 29,1992. If at first you don’t succeed... Some time this week Canadians may get a new set of international trade rules to work with...whether they want them or not. And whether they mean anything or not. Trade Minister Michael Wilson said on the weekend he was optimistic a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is just a matter of days from being signed. Whether many other Canadians are so optimistic remains to be seen. Part of the lack of enthusiasm on the part of Canadians stems from the fact many are beginning to wonder why we signed the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement in 1988. So far we've had plenty of pain from the agreement but little gain. We were warned we really didn't have a choice but to sign the agreement. Protectionism in the U.S. was growing and if U.S. politicians were allowed to initiate trade retaliation every time they needed to win some votes, our goods would be shut out of the American market. So what has happened? Our hog shipments have been harassed almost continuously since the agreement was signed. We win one dispute under the Free Trade rules so they start another dispute. The U.S. continues to harass softwood lumber exports. Friday, the U.S. imposed a unilateral penalty on beer imports from Ontario, even though the settlement of the original U.S. complaint had been approved by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The Americans claim that an Ontario tax on beer in aluminum cans is really a tax on U.S. imports despite the fact it applies to all beer in such cans. Most American beer, you see, is packaged in cans. Signals from the NAFTA talks indicate Canadians may be unhappy with some of the provisions of the deal but once again the government is warning us that, no matter how bad the deal, we really don't have a choice but to sign. Indications are the Americans are trying to get through this deal what they failed to get with the last. The last time we were warned we had to have access to the American market. This time we're warned that if Mexico and the U.S. will go ahead without us industries will situate in the U.S., the hub of the wheel, so they can trade freely with either Mexico or Canada. Somehow we always seem to be in a bad trading position where we "have" to sign a deal no matter how bad it is. So what happens if the U.S. doesn't get what it wants this time? Does it then seek a deal with Brazil that Canada and Mexico will feel they must be involved in so are willing to make more concessions? Then Argentina? Then Chile? This could go on forever until we finally sign over the deed to the country to Washington. — KR But what about people? Living beside a rather boastful giant, the reticence of Canadians can sometimes be an endearing quality...but sometimes we could learn a lot from our neighbours. Imagine, for instance, if it was Americans instead of Canadians who were guarding die airport in Sarajevo, coming under shelling day in and day out, yet unable to fire back because they're supposed to be peace-keepers. Certainly there'd be a lot more fuss than there has been. This silence from Canadians goes beyond modesty to the point of absolute neglect of our troops. These brave Canadians are doing a tremendous job under terrible conditions. They are trying to keep the airport open so mercy flights can bring in food for starving and injured civilians. They seem to get little thanks, being blamed by all sides for siding with the other guys. Their lives are constantly in danger from shelling and more than one has been hurt. Yet we Canadians who have put a terrible weight on the shoulders of these men and women, have given them little support. They cannot shoot back because of their United Nations mandate and even if they could, they have only light arms against heavy artillery. What's more, their countrymen back home seem to have forgotten them. Our troops in the Iraq war got plenty of attention because the overwhelming U.S. media presence meant there was plenty of awareness of the war. But Canadians, alone in Sarajevo until relief troops arrive, seem to be forgotten here at home. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to these troops. We should be showing immense pride in their work. It's about time we showed them how grateful and proud we are. — KR Summer blooms Photo by Bonnie Gropp Looking Back Through the Years ONE YEAR AGO July 311991 Brussels' volunteer fire depart­ ment was called twice to battle a blaze in a vacant Catherine St. home. The old cement house, owned by Curtis Gardner, suffered extensive damage. Two Brussels area students were among the 23 Ontario Scholars named at Listowel District Sec­ ondary School. Anna Terpstra and Mary Terpstra of RR 3, Brussels both received an average of 83.5 per cent. THREE YEARS AGO July 26,1989 The village of Brussels imposed a total lawn watering ban so as not to deplete the village's water supply in the event of a fire. Lowell Winger of RR 1, Ethel achieved the highest standing of the graduating class of Listowel Dis­ trict Secondary School. Out of a class of 164 graduates, Mr. Winger attained the top grade of 97.5 per cent and was one of 21 students to earn Ontario Scholarships. Jason Lamont, of Ethel, another Listowel District Secondary School student, also obtained an Ontario Scholarship. A Blyth-area native, Mary-Ellen Walsh won a $7,500 doctoral scholarship from the Federation of Teacher's Associations of Ontario to help pay for her educational studies at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in Toronto. Blyth library became the first library in Huron County (besides the Huron County library) to receive a computer after Blyth council provided the funds needed. FIVE YEARS AGO July 29,1987 Blyth and District Fire Depart­ ment responded to a fire at the home of Dennis Bricker of Auburn. The fire was believed to have start­ ed from an electrical malfunction. Colleen Ann Lichti of RR 2, Brussels was one of 25 students from Listowel District Secondary School to be awarded an Ontario Scholarship. 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