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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-02-14, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019. Editorials Opinions President: Keith Roulston • Publisher: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld • Heather Fraser The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Ph. 519-523-4792 Fax 519-523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. N0G 1H0 Phone 519-887-9114 E-mail info@northhuron.on.ca Website www.northhuron.on.ca Looking Back Through the Years CCNA Member Member of the Ontario Press Council The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $38.00/year ($36.19 + $1.81 G.S.T.) in Canada; $160.00/year in U.S.A. and $205/year in other foreign countries. 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: Mon. 2 p.m. - Brussels; Mon. 4 p.m. - Blyth. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON N0G 1H0 email: info@northhuron.on.ca February 14, 1973 Stephen Lewis, leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), was in Clinton to support Paul Carroll, the local NDP candidate ahead of the riding’s by-election, which was set for March 15. The Blyth Standard said that Carroll was expected to pose strong opposition to both the Conservative and Liberal candidates, which were expected to be named the following week. Carroll, a 28-year-old teacher from Goderich, said there were a number of issues facing the area as the by-election closed in, including frustration on behalf of voters. Hullett Township Council was brought up to speed on the development of the new Hullett Wildlife Area. Another planning meeting for the site had been set for March 1. Council would be meeting with members of the Huron County Planning Board as well as the Ministry of Natural Resources. February 15, 1995 Smoke detectors were being held up as heroes as they saved the lives of a Morris Township family in the early morning hours of Feb. 13. Wingham and District Fire Chief Harley Gaunt said that a defective chimney liner was a factor in the fire at the home of Dennis Wray. All family members were able to escape the home without injury thanks to the operational smoke alarms sounding, though the fire was said to have caused $20,000 in damages. Three local men had thrown their names into the ring to represent the Liberal Party in the yet-to-be-called provincial election. John Jewitt of RR1, Londes- borough, Doug Garniss from the Wingham area and Rick McInroy of RR1, Walton all put their names forward, joining Sharon Wurm in seeking the nomination. The foursome would find out who would lead the party in the next election at the nomination meeting on March 29 at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton. The Blyth Festival welcomed two new faces to the team leading up to the 1995 season. Leah Hood was hired as the Festival’s new director of communications, while Rick Fedorick was filling the position of assistant development co-ordinator. February 19, 2009 Tom Murray was officially introduced to the community as the new minister at Knox United Church in Belgrave. Murray came to Belgrave with his wife Brenda by way of Beamsville. He said that it was clear God was calling him to Huron County, but that he didn’t have all the answers. He had high hopes for the Belgrave community and its church, but he hoped to engage community members and keep the church a crucial part of the community. With its debt creeping up to approximately $70,000, the Brussels Cemetery warranted a closer look by Huron East Council, said Treasurer Brad Knight. As council began its annual budget deliberations, Knight warned that if the cemetery’s financial situation were to worsen, council should consider stepping in. Opinions were split on the proposed centre of educational excellence at the core of the current accommodation review committee process that threatened to close a number of local elementary schools. While some area parents could see the merit in a “super school” option that would amalgamate area schools and bring local students together, others lobbied for their community’s school identity, which they felt would be lost if a super school was to be approved. A softball team comprised largely of Brussels players found themselves on the hallowed turf of the Rogers Centre as part of an around-the-clock tournament that brought 92 teams from across the province to Toronto. Pam McLean, Joan Warner and Gail Semple were among the locals who showed off their talents at the home of the Toronto Blue Jays. While the experience was once- in-a-lifetime for members of the team, they didn’t find the success they sought, only winning one of the three games they played. February 15, 2018 The Brussels Leo Club, a youth- oriented branch of the Brussels Lions Club, celebrated its five-year anniversary with a special event held at the Four Winds Barn, which had yet to officially open to the public. Kathy Nichol of the Brussels Lions Club said the celebration was meant to be a retrospective of all that the Leos had achieved and given back to the community over the previous five years. Nearly 40 people were in attendance for the inaugural meeting of the new Brussels community singing group called Sing Sing Sing. Despite empassioned pleas to the contrary, Huron County Council denied a funding request from the Tanner Steffler Foundation, which was looking for a grant of $650,000 at a rate of $130,000 per year for five years. After serving in the role in an acting capacity, Meighan Wark, the former Huron County librarian, was named the county’s chief admini- strative officer on a full-time basis. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright It’s a different job Watching and reading the news last week it was hard not to think how vastly different the role of a journalist for a community newspaper is compared to his/her colleagues who work for a large newspaper or television network. Big-time crime reporters were excitedly covering the sentencing hearings of two mass murderers: Alexandre Bissonnette who killed six men and wounded many others in a shooting in a Quebec City mosque on Jan. 29, 2017 and the sordid, sexually-perverse murders of eight members of Toronto’s gay committee by Bruce McArthur. The stories dominated newscasts for days, with reporters following up with the reactions about sentences by members of both communities involved (most people wanted harsher punishments). Meanwhile, over on the political beat, reporters seemed to be nearly salivating at the possibility they’d caught the federal Liberals in a government-destroying scandal. What were our local journalists covering? Difficulties about what to do about a local museum, economic development activities and a plea for a loan for a residential hospice, among many other things. There may be a scandal there somewhere but it would only be accidental. The gung-ho journalist seeking sensational stories to cover generally won’t last long at a community newspaper. Yes, we cover politics, but in terms of reporting what takes place at council meetings. Though reporters may now and then roll their eyes at what local politicians say or do, they generally regard them as honest. There’s not, as with national or provincial reporters, an assumption that all politicians are schemers who sooner or later will be revealed as morally deficient. As for crime, generally we don’t have anything more serious than a break-in or a drug bust, although, sadly, we now and then have murders here, too. Community reporters generally report the full spectrum of their communities. Their work may not be as exciting as uncovering a huge story, but it’s a more accurate reflection of the world we live in – with joy and sorrow and human success and failure. – KR Governing’s tough The potential scandal over possible political interference in a criminal case against Quebec construction giant SNC-Lavalin Group (there may be more certainty by the time you read this) shows how complex the role of governing is compared to judging from the sidelines. SNC-Lavalin was charged by the RCMP with fraud and corruption in relation to work done in Libya while the corrupt regime ruled there. If it is found guilty, it cannot bid on Canadian government contracts for 10 years, meaning the future of the company’s workers could be endangered. There is another form of punishment available, however, in which the company takes responsibility for wrongdoing, pays a financial punishment and relinquishes any benefits gained from the wrongdoing. The Prime Minister’s Office is accused of trying to pressure former Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to give the latter form of punishment, which would allow the company to do business as usual and protect workers’ jobs. Sitting on the sidelines whether as a member of the general public, a public commentator or opposition party critics, it’s easy to say the issue is cut and dried – the company broke the law and should be punished. While shareholders would suffer, so what? But then how do you deal with the workers who will lose their jobs? This complex moral issue is similar to the case of the sale of light armoured vehicles made by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada in London for Saudi Arabia. It’s easy to say the Canadian government should cancel the contract with the corrupt kingdom but the price will be paid by London workers who lose their jobs. These are the conundrums politicians face when they form the government. It makes you wonder why they want the job so badly. – KR When the people speak Letting the public have their say in deciding important political issues seems to make sense – until you look at the mess Britain is in over the plan to pull out of the European Union (Brexit). With time winding down, British Prime Minister Theresa May still has not been able to fashion an acceptable plan for a smooth divorce. Currently a disastrous scenario seems likely that Brexit will happen next month with no agreement in place. Common sense says this must be avoided, yet common sense seems a rare commodity. Since the painful ramifications of Brexit are far more evident than when the original vote took place, a second referendum seems to make sense, but May won’t go there because voters already voted once to leave the EU. Public voting is easy. It’s up to politicians, however, to somehow deal with the consequences. – KR &