HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-09-08, Page 4Another swinging summer ends
Letters
Arthritis
campaign
begins
THE EDITOR,
Now that September has arrived I
wish to remind your readers that
the Arthritis Society will be starting
the annual fund raising campaign in
Blyth.
This year there will be a door to
door canvas conducted by local
volunteers. Those who wish, may
drop their donations off at the Mini
Mart. Please put your name and
address on the front of the envelope
so that you will not be canvassed at
the door.
Thank you for your support of
the Arthritis Society.
Arlene Wood
Campaign Chairperson, Blyth.
THE EDITOR,
It is that time of the year when
we at Wingham and Area Palliative
Care Services take the opportunity
to again express our sincere
appreciation to area businesses,
service clubs, and community and
church groups for their continuous
support.
Your donations make it possible
for us to enhance the quality of life
for those suffering from critical and
terminal illnesses and to continue
support for the family during the
bereavement period.
Trained volunteers provide this
service free of charge to anyone in
our community. Although we are a
Through
the Years
From the flies of the Brussels Post,
the Blyth Standard and The Citizen
44 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 7, 1949
Duff's United Church in Walton
hold their anniversary services with
Rev. Walter Kitely of Norwich as
the guest speaker. The Cranbrook
Male Quartette joined the choir to
present special music.
The unveiling of the War Memo-
rial Tablet will take place at
Melville Presbyterian Church Sept.
11.
Brussels Public School has 13
students enrolled for grade 1 and 34
students will enter Continuation
School.
Skinny men, women gain 5, 10,
15 lbs. Get new Pep, Vim, Vigor.
What a thrill. Boney limbs fill
out; ugly hollows fill up; neck no
longer scrawny; body loses half-
Photo by Janice Becker
volunteer organization, we depend
entirely on your financial assistance
to continue our efforts in this
critical area of need.
Thank you for being part of this
compassionate caring work.
Joanne King, Lorraine Poulin,
Co-chair, Wingham and Area
Palliative Care.
Duff's
16th Line
sponsors
concert
starved, sickly, "bean-pole" look.
Thanks to the special vigor-build-
ing, flesh-building tonic Ostrex.
The 16th Line Group of Duff's
United sponsored a concert. Some
of the performers were Glen Oliver
and William Proctor on violin and
soloists Brian Travis, and Mrs.
Walter.
Cash for dead animals: cows and
horses, $2.50 and hogs, $.50.
Sky Harbour Air Services adver-
tises flying lessons for all aged 16
to 60. Remember, the government
gives everyone a gift of at least
$100 to those who obtain their Pri-
vate Pilot's License.
24 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 10, 1969
This year's edition of the Thresh-
ers' Reunion was a huge success.
Friday and Saturday's attendance
Continued on page 5
PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1993.
C 'The North Huron
itizeil eNA
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FAX 523.9140 FAX 887-9021 Jeannette McNeil and Julie Mitchell
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Fuzzy logic on spending
Even if you agree with the strange mathematics of Prime Minister
Kim Campbell's announcement last week of a $1 billion saving by
cutting seven helicopters from the $5.8 billion, 50-machine order, one
has to wonder why the other 43 helicopters are still being purchased. It
seems to illustrate the strange logic of right wing thinkers that there's
entirely too much government,
except when it comes to defence
and police costs.
Prime Minister Campbell,
having photo-opted her way to
the top of the popularity polls, felt she had to do something about the
one policy that made her most vulnerable before the election was
called. The same polls that said she was the most popular prime
minister in 30 years also said that people were against the purchase of
the EH-101 helicopter that she, as defence minister, ordered. Yet she
couldn't just say she made a mistake and cancel the order — too many
of her supporters feel strongly that the defence is one area of
government spending that shouldn't be cut.
It's a familiar tale of right wing governments around the world. In
the U.S. under Ronald Reagan and George Bush, citizens were told that
fighting the deficit was so important that money for education and
health programs couldn't be found, yet the budget for the military kept
on growing. Mr. Reagan created the "evil empire" of the Soviet Union
in order to justify the huge new "star wars" defence program. Even
after the Soviet threat was gone, Mr. Bush continued to throw money
at the defence industry.
So it is in Canada. Under the Campbell and Mulroney governments
the pressure has been on social programs from unemployment
insurance to the federal government's share of health and welfare costs.
There have been some cuts in defence, to be sure, but the same people
who say social programs must be cut, can staunchly defend spending
billions on helicopters to defend us against non-existent Soviet
submarines.
Maybe what we need is to have Prime Minister Campbell apply her
mathematical wizardry to the costs of social programs as well. If she
can save $1 billion by cutting just seven of 50 helicopters, perhaps she
can make even social programs not seem so expensive. — KR
Even giants have rights
Most of our government regulations are designed to protect the little
guy from being stepped on by giants but sometimes our protectors can
be unfair to the giants too.
Last week the Canadian Television-radio and Telecommunications
Commission(CRTC) rejected an appeal from Bell Canada for a 40 per
cent increase in the monthly charge for telephone subscribers, leaving
one of Canada's largest companies in a precarious position.
Certainly the size of the request made by Bell Canada was
outrageous, but the principle behind it was understandable. For years
other companies tried to bring the kind of long-distance telephone
competition to Canada that has taken place south of the border. Bell
Canada, and other communications experts, warned that if long
distance costs went down, local rates would have to go up, because Bell
subsidized local calling with its $7.5 billion revenues from long
distance calls. The CRTC, however, ignored the warnings, however,
and awarded Bell's competition the right to cut in on its profits, without
having to provide all the local services that Bell does. The competition
is being allowed to cream off Bell's profits, leaving it the losses.
Various competitors have picked up an estimated eight per cent of
Bell's long distance business. To meet the competition which was
offering cheaper long distance rates, Bell has dropped its own long-
distance charges. As a result, Bell's financial picture has suffered. Its
stock dropped last week. Three major rating services are threatening to
downgrade the company's credit ratings.
It's hard to cry for one of the world's most powerful companies like
Bell Canada, but the results of all this can hurt the ordinary little
consumer. The benefits of long distance bargains go mostly to
businesses. In a world of computers and fax machines zipping
information over long distance lines, the monthly telephone rental rate
is pretty small potatoes for large companies. For many ordinary
homeowners, however, the monthly rate is the largest part of the
monthly phone bill. It's that small user who had the most to lose by the
40 per cent hike Bell wanted and it is unfair to that small user to have
to pick up the tab for the savings big companies get.
It's also unfair, however, for Bell to have to keep paying for the
expensive part of the service without the profits it once got through
long distance. Somewhere the CRTC has to find a fairer rate increase
that will protect the little guys and be fair to the giant as well. — KR
E ditorial