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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-09-23, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23,1992. Warped logic When you want to believe something, you can turn just about any happening to support of your arguments. Such is the case of Ontario Labour Minister Bob Mackenzie. Mr. Mackenzie used his warped logic Sunday to turn the deaths of nine workers in a Yellowknife mine explosion into an argument supporting the need for Ontario's proposed labour legislation that would prevent companies from hiring replacement workers in the case of a strike by regular workers. The nine men in the Yukon were, RCMP says, victims of murder. They were strike breakers who tried to keep the company going after the miners' union went on strike. There have been other incidents on the picket line and other cases where explosives have been used to destroy mine property. The nine men were killed as they tried to go down the mine when an explosive was detonated as their tram passed. Many in the community blame the strikers though the Union vehemently denies it. Mackenzie says the explosion was "a clear indication that we would be much better off in this province if there was no automatic right for a company to use replacement workers." Bill 40, he said, will lessen the potential for violence. "One of our intentions was to remove one of the flash points for violence." Perhaps the mine company in the Yukon was being unjust in its demands that workers roll back their wages but nothing justifies what has happened to the strikebreakers. It is part of the creed of the NDP party, stemming from its labour roots, that the company is always wrong, the workers always right. So when picketers try to prevent replacement workers from entering a factory, or throw rocks at trucks trying to deliver goods into, or out of, a plant, the workers are only protecting their livelihood. When the company tries to keep on doing business, it is, however, a bad guy trying to crush workers. Both sides can be right and both sides can be wrong in labour disputes. Workers making $40,000 to $50,000 a year while a company is going broke are just as bad as employers who are stacking away profits while workers are asked to work for nothing in unsafe conditions. Saying the NDP's Bill 40 will be good because it will prevent violence is like telling merchants they can prevent break-ins by leaving their doors unlocked, or suggesting women walking alone at night should go naked so rapists won't have to tear their clothes off. Those who perpetuate the violence, whether from the company or the union side, are wrong. When companies used to send in goons to beat up strikers they were wrong. When workers smash windows and threaten the lives of replacement workers they are wrong. A government's only role in labour disputes should be to try to balance the odds. Government at one time had to step in to protect workers from companies that exploited them. Now, however, the NDP wants to put all the power in the hands of unions. It would be easier to organize a union in the first place, then the union could shut down the company and hold it ransom because the company could not replace anyone on strike and would be helpless until it gave in to workers demands, no matter how unjust those demands might be. Business has been fighting the labour legislation but the government has been saying they were over-reacting. Listening to Mr. Mackenzie twist a tragic situation to support his argument hardly gives confidence that the government is right and the business community wrong. When the labour minister wears blinkers and sees one side of an argument no matter what the evidence to the contrary, it's hard to trust him.—KR He's right, but... Former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's criticisms of the new constitutional proposals are probably closer to accurate than anything we've heard lately on the constitution ... it's just that they're irrelevant. Mr. Trudeau says Quebec nationalists have been blackmailing leaders from the rest of Canada into giving them more and more power. He’s probably right. He says that the demands for more power will likely continue. He's probably right. He says the "distinct society" clause is a racist notion that makes second and third class citizens of even people who speak French if they don't come from the "old stock" of original Quebecois. Others have thought the same thing but only a few foolhardy people like Mordecai Richler have had the nerve to say it. The problem is only Trudeau could go into Quebec and say such things and get away with it. We have no leader like that now. Under the current circumstances, we can't expect a better deal.—KR ONE YEAR AGO September 25,1991 An era ended as the Callander Nursing Home in Brussels closed, with residents and some staff mem­ bers moving to Braemare Nursing Home in Wingham. After close to 60 years of busi­ ness in the village, the Brussels 50 to $1 store closed. The Belgrave Bantam Boys won the 1991 WOAA championship. Duffs United Church in Walton celebrated its 126th anniversary. THREE YEARS AGO September 20,1989 Margaret White of Londesboro was presented with her plaque hon­ ouring her as Citizen of the Year at the Londesboro United Church. The Knox Presbyterian Church in Belgrave celebrated its 125th anniversary. FIVE YEARS AGO September 23,1987 Jeff McGavin of RR 4, Walton won the title of Junior Champion Plowman of 1987 at the Interna­ Photo by Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot Looking Back Through the Years tional Plowing Match in Meaford. The Walton Bantam Boys won both the WOAA playoffs and the Tri-Counly Championships to cap­ ture both trophies for the season. Long-time Brussels Volunteer Fireman Jack Whirter was present­ ed with a plaque from the village in recognition of his 35 years of ser­ vice to the community. The Citizen won the Ontario Community Newspaper Associa­ tion's (OCNA) general excellence in advertising award for newspa­ pers of under 2,500 circulation. The Citizen plans cookbook The Citizen is planning the publication of a Christmas cookbook and is asking for your help. Simply Elegant will be published in early November to give you plenty of time to plan your holiday entertaining menus. The recipes will be a compilation of festive, but simple ones sent in by our readers. The categories are hors d'eouvres, salads, main courses, cakes and desserts and quick tips to make ordinary entertaining elegant. Recipes should be mailed to The Citizen in Blyth or Brussels by Oct. 14. You may send as many as you wish, though they may not all be used. Please include name and address. C itizenTheNorthHuron P.O. Box 429,P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont.BRUSSELS, Ont.Publisher, Keith Roulston N0M1H0 NOG 1H0 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. 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