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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-08-26, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26,1992. E ditorial I Deals done. Get on with it! And now the nitpicking begins.The Federal government, the 10 provincial premiers and the leadership of the native peoples of Canada finally reached an agreement Saturday on a proposal to reform Canada's constitution. Canadians had hardly let out a sigh of relief before the carping and criticism of the deal began. Some of the criticism is inevitable. Nationalists in Quebec would accept nothing less than all the powers of an independent country with the comforts of having somebody else look after problems like a monetary system. To them, Premier Robert Bourassa's compromise was not good enough. Western regionalists, led by the Reform Party, have set a Triple E Senate as their symbol of success and anything that tainted the three Es means the deal isn't good enough. Already by the weekend western critics were indicating that in giving the Senate limited powers to block legislation and by giving Ontario and Quebec more seats in the House of Commons in return for their giving up power in the Senate, the "effective" part of the Triple E had been compromised. But how far can westerners expect to go? A Senate that gives each province equal representation, regardless of the population of that province, is already a huge step when it means provinces like Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia get the same votes as Prince Edward Island which has barely more than the population of Huron County. While smaller provinces need some extra protection beyond representation by population, it's a protection that can only be stretched to a reasonable limit. All in all, the deal struck by the first ministers last week could hardly have been expected to have been better. At least the federal government didn't give away the farm this time as it appeared to do under the Meech Lake proposal when huge handfuls of powers were transferred to the provinces. In addition, this time more of the pressing issues were dealt with. Senate reform was on the table and the new Senate seems a huge step over the old one, even if Quebec is still going to appoint senators instead of elect them. Aboriginal concerns have been dealt with this time, hopefully bringing a new era of self- respect to Indians, Metis and Inuit. Quebec has been recognized as a distinct society and seems to have been given powers it really needs to protect its language and culture without transferring other powers that have nothing to do with the distinctness of the province and have everything to do with a power grab. No doubt some of these powers will still be negotiated away by the federal government in direct negotiations in the coming months and years but it's to be hoped that such negotiations, while showing flexibility, will still keep Quebec a part of Canada in more than name only. Canadians' famous knack for compromise seems to have won out again for now, at least, though the compromises may have ramifications down the road that will cause more internal conflict. The deal al least seems a huge step forward from Meech Lake and, dare we say it, even worth the pain of the last five years. Hopefully Canadians in all provinces will agree and approve the pact as quickly as possible. Now that we've avoided the imminent break up of the country, it's time to get on to more pressing needs. — KR A little perspective Battered by three years of recession, depressed by a summer that isn't summery, Canadians can get pretty down these days. It gets even worse when you watch the news... except if you are able to get some perspective that our life right now is still pretty good compared to people in many parts of the world. Most heartbreaking are the pictures of the victims of war and famine in Somalia. Starved to the point they are hardly recognizable as human beings, these children and adults have suffered deprivations worse than Canadians could ever imagine. Hunger in Canada means missing a meal because we're too busy doing something else. Even our poor, people living in the streets of our big cities, live a life that would seem heavenly to the Somalians who just wanted to live and love. You wonder, how can any warring faction feel it is "right" enough that it can make people suffer this way, depriving them of the basic necessities of life. Similarly, the continuing carnage in Bosnia-Herzegovina is too horrendous for any logical mind to comprehend. How can people hate so much they destroy their own homeland just to deprive others from having it. Cold weather, even Alberta's snow, seems nothing in comparison. Photo by Chris Roulston Looking Back Through the Years ONE YEAR AGO August 28,1991 Bly th and District Fire Depart­ ment was called to a combine fire at Lot 22, Cone. 2, of West Wawanosh. The fire was confined mostly to the engine area of the combine, which was owned by J. Kryzanowski of RR 1, Auburn. Greg McClinchey, 15, of RR 1, Londesboro, returned home after being selected to represent Scouts Canada as one of their contingent to the Jamboree in Korea. Greg was a member the I Blyth-Londesboro Ventures. Volunteers from the Brussels and Grey Township fire departments responded to a single vehicle acci­ dent after a car went out of control on loose gravel and rolled over. The driver, Randy Johnston, of RR 3, Brussels was treated for minor injuries. THREE YEARS AGO August 23,1989 Well-known area skating duo, Peter Macdonald and Kerrie Shep­ herd. called it quits after six years together. Miss Shepherd decided to retire from competitive skating to pursue studies at the University of Waterloo. Blyth village council approved the calling of lenders for an addi­ tion which will link Blyth Memori­ al Hall to Blyth Festival's administration building. An historic quilt, dating from the early part of the century and con­ taining the signatures of many Blyth residents of the era, found its home in Blyth Memorial Hall. The quilt was raffled off and won by a bachelor who took it to western Canada. After his death his sisters offered it back to Blyth. FIVE YEARS AGO August 26,1987 Lisa Watt, of RR 1, Blyth won the High Point award for an Euro­ pean-bred Quarter Horse at the Ital­ ian Quarter Horse Association show held near Pisa. The Blyth Mites girls softball teams took both the "A" and "B" Event championship at an end of season tournament play in Londes­ boro. The Auburn Mites finished an undefeated season by taking the championship at the Mite tourna­ ment in Blyth. 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 paytfMe 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, Ljstowel, 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 r Serving Blyth, Brussels, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and the surrounding townships.