HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-08-11, Page 4'For the sun of it
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PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11,1993.
The North Huron =
C itizen eNA
1,410
One thing leads to another
Howard Hampton, Minister of Natural Resources, learned a lesson
in how tough it is to govern, last week. He learned that one simple
decision can have repercussions far beyond what can be foreseen by the
people making that decision.
Mr. Hampton was in the area
talking to various groups E ditorial including the local conservation
authorities as well as a group of
nursery growers. It was from
those growers that he learned how much damage one little decision can
have.
Back in 1992 government budget cuts suddenly left the MNR with
millions of trees that had been grown but there was suddenly no money
to plant. Someone at the Ministry came up with the brilliant idea that
rather than waste the trees, they should be given away to any
landowner with a few acres to plant them on.
But as John Drummond, a nursery owner across the border in Perth
County pointed out to Mr. Hampton, the repercussions were that
suddenly there were millions of free trees on the market, destroying a
part of the living of people who grow trees. But the situation is worse,
Mr. Drummond explained.
The free tree give away has ended but for tree growers, it may take
years to recover from the blow it meant to the industry. For one thing,
when people see trees being given away, they then think trees should
be cheap and refuse to pay the prices nursery owners must have to pay
the bills. They forget that they've already paid for those trees in their
taxes.
But the problem goes further. Mr. Drummond told Mr. Hampton
that when he was at garden shows this spring, publicizing his nursery
and its stock, he had people coming up to him wanting to sell him trees.
Many of those free trees have been planted on land in the country and
allowed to mature and now are finding their way back into the city as
landscaping trees, Mr. Drummond claims.
The giveaway will have repercussions even further down the line
when many of those millions of free trees are mature enough to sell as
Christmas trees. Suddenly, he said, the bottom will drop out of the
market for all those people who regularly make a living from planting
and growing Christmas trees.
It seemed like a good idea back in 1992 when someone didn't want
to waste those trees. That good idea will haunt the tree industry for
years, however. It shows that governing is a lot more complicated than
many people would like it to be. — KR
A leader's more than an actor
Strange things are showing up in the polls these days as Canadians
head up toward a federal election in the fall. Polls show that the federal
Liberals are still heading the pack but that Prime Minister Kim
Campbell, head of the Progressive Conservatives, is way out front
when it comes to who people would choose as their leader.
Strange, and not so strange. Many Canadians might be attracted to
Liberal policies but they're not sure they want Jean Chretien as their
Prime Minister. In Quebec, there is downright hatred for Mr. Chretien
on the part of nationalists who see him as selling out Quebec. Many are
embarrassed by his "pea soup" accent when he speaks English. That
same embarrassment is felt by many outside Quebec who don't see him
as "prime ministerial". Outside Quebec many voters also aren't
enthusiastic about voting for yet another Quebecer.
On the other hand, Canadians tend to like the bubbly personality of
Ms Campbell. She speaks well, seems to have a sense of humour, and
as a woman, provides a distinctly different face as our leader. It's just a
matter of the people she has associated with....as in Brian Mulroney,
Michael Wilson et al.
Ms Campbell is playing the waiting game well these days. She's
trying to put as much distance between herself and the old guard as
possible. She's being seen having fun in all different corners of the
country letting us get used to the idea of a smiling new face.
She's not talking policy. (Neither, for the most part is Mr. Chretien.)
If she was, perhaps Canadians who aren't happy with her past
association with Mr. Mulroney, and Wilson and the gang, wouldn't be
quite so ready to give her the Prime Minister's office for a longer stay.
The fact is that while she talks about relatively minor, but highly
symbolic, changes like preventing MPs from collecting their pensions
until they're older, she still stands by many of the policies brought in by
her predecessor.
Do Canadians want a PM for looks, or for policies? If Canadians
really like Ms Campbell's ideas, they should support her. If they care
about appearance, perhaps we should just hire an actor. — KR
Letters
THE EDITOR,
On Friday, July 20, Heather
Hiscox presented a news story on
Global Television which examined
the smuggling of the corn herbicide
"Accent" into Canada. This report
provoked questions around why
other countries receive safer and
more economical herbicides long
before Canada does. Art Olsen,
Deputy Minister of Agriculture,
stated "We are concerned about
potential health and safety impacts
of a product that would be used on
Canadian crops and that might
show up in our food chain."
This statement is an example of
irresponsibility and disrespect for
Canadian Agriculture.
It is common knowledge that
food products from other countries
are sold in all our grocery stores.
The Canadian Pesticide Act does
not regulate imported food and
grain. Does this mean then that it is
acceptable for other countries to
place restricted pesticides on our
breakfast table?
The Canadian Agriculture
industry should demand accounta-
bility from such bureaucrats. The
farm community pays Canadian
retail prices for tractors, fuel,
labour, electricity and supplies
while Canadian farm products are
sold for the global wholesale price.
In order to survive in this global
marketplace, Canada's family farms
have changed dramatically. Higher
education and global communi-
cations have contributed to the
development of an aggressive
attitude that demands results. There
is simply no room for those who
are inadequate. People, who are
truly involved in agriculture, work
for farmers. The future is bleak for
those who cannot comprehend this
fact.
Art Olsen is an ambassador of
Canadian Agriculture. He missed
the chance to create the political
will needed to revise our Pesticide
Act. There was opportunity for him
not only to acknowledge the
obvious short falls of this archaic
Writer slams Dep. Minister
legislation but also to project process of streamlining the
farmers in a positive light. Instead, pesticide regulatory system. It
he chose to discredit the efforts of would be interesting to know what
people who have the common
sense to protect our environment. Art Olsen has done to ensure that
The next statement Art Olsen this new system is working for
makes should be addressed to his Canadian Agriculture.
employers, Canadian farmers. Michael Hunter
Agriculture Canada is in the Independent Crop Advisor.
Brussels girl
attends 1976
Olympics
Through
the Years
as moto cross racers from around
From the files of the Brussels Post,
Blyth Standard and The Citizen
17 YEARS AGO
the province invaded for two days
of hard, dirty riding.
Two Kincardine men were sen-
tenced to 12 months in reformatory August 12, 1976
for conspiring to rob the CIBC Maxine Watts of Brussels attend-
branch in Auburn. A third man
ed the Montreal Olympics as the received eight months for the same Young Olympians Co-ordinator. charge.
She was presented with a maple
Between 1,300 and 1,400 people
tree from Queen Elizabeth, during registered for the Morris Township the opening ceremonies.
125th celebrations. Grey Township Council appoint-
SIX YEARS AGO ed Harold Bolger as fenceviewer
August 12, 1987 for the township.
Brussels council agreed to a cen- Leni's Restaurant offered a
tral starting point to number hous- turkey dinner for $2.99 and break-
es. fast for $1.15.
Gypsy Lane Apartments held its On the shopping list for
the grand opening tour. The eight-unit week is: 8 oz. Kraft Singles, $.68; building, owned by Robbie and
160 oz. vinegar, $1.07; 4 bars of Carole Lawrie, was opened by
Ivory soap, $.59 and a King size Reeve Albert Wasson.
Cheer, $2.19.
Several Blyth residents were on 12 YEARS AGO
hand to meet Premier David Peter- August 12, 1981
son when he attended the annual The five week long drought suf-
barbecue of Jack Riddell at Dash-fered by most areas of the county
wood. did some good for the corn crop.
Brussels newest councillor was The corn roots had to grow
Ruth Sauvd. much deeper than usual to reach the
water table. This made the plant
Norman Alexander of Londes-
more stable and less likely to be boro was the first recipient of the
affected by lodging. It occurs when Maitland Valley Conservation
the roots are week and the plant Authority Conservation Award.
falls over. Murray Scott, RR1, Belgrave
Lucknow beat out two Blyth received a certificate for his conser-
teams to win the A and B divisions vation work on his property.
of the invitational slo-pitch tourna- Bruce McCall of Brussels was
ment. named MVCA chairman.
The peace and calm of Chris
The Brussels Mite girls won the
Lee's Walton-area farm was broken Tri-County consolation crown.
P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, Publisher, Keith Roulston
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