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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2019-02-28, Page 29THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2019. PAGE 29. 135 Argyle Ave N, Listowel www.listowelhearing.com EXPERIENCE LOVE at First Sound! Call 519.291.4554 to schedule your FREE demo today! • Rechargeable • Clear, rich sound • Automatically adapts to all listening environments • Wirelessly connect to your TV, take hands-free calls, stream music and more! Maryanne Perrie Hearing Instrument Specialist Keep up with the latest agri-businesses and the best of rural living! THE MAGAZINE OF AGRICULTURAL LIFE ... $2.50 PM 40037593 TheRural Voice Landowners and First Nations people consider justice as treaty truths are revealed March 2019 TheRural Voice LAND JUSTICE Verity Plow Works once employed over 250 men during its manufacturing heyday VERITY IN EXETER Choosing a sheep breed depends on management style, facilities and environment BREED CHOICES The magazine of Agricultural Life $20 for 12 issues $35 for 24 issues Please make cheques payable to North Huron Publishing Inc. Subscribe Today www.ruralvoice.ca The Rural Voice 413 Queen St., P.O. Box 429 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 Hospital asks county for help with ‘All-in’ campaign The Alexandra Marine and General Hospital is embarking on a $3.5 million campaign for a new CT scanner and to refurbish its mental health facilities and representatives are looking for support from Huron County. Shannon LaHay, executive director of the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital Foundation, and Bruce Potter, a member of the campaign team, both spoke to Huron County Council at its Feb. 20 meeting, outlining the campaign and where they hope Huron County fits into the project’s picture. LaHay and the group told councillors that the foundation is hoping that council will consider contributing $750,000 from the county to the project. That amount could be paid over a five- or 10-year period, representatives told councillors. Potter told councillors that while Huron County was a provincial leader and ahead of the curve 40 years ago by installing a mental health facility in its hospital in Goderich, 40 years is a long time to go without any significant improvements to the facilities. LaHay told councillors that with the funding, the foundation would hope to increase its capacity by 40 per cent. Right now, the unit can only house 20 residents in 10 double-bed rooms. The improve- ments would seek to increase the number of individual rooms, which are very beneficial to those struggling to improve their mental health. LaHay said that $1.5 million of the goal would be for the replacement of the CT scanner, while the remaining $2 million would go towards the mental health facilities. She said that while a massive fundraising effort resulted in the purchase of a CT scanner in 2006, all of the equipment that houses the scanner is still in good shape, it’s only the scanner that has to be replaced this year. In keeping within its procedural bylaw, council requested a staff report on the request to be presented at a future meeting. By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen THE EDITOR, The federal carbon tax made the federal government feel good on the world stage, but I do not believe it will have the desired result, which is to fight climate change. I have the 2018 income tax forms, which include the Climate Action Incentive. A single person in rural Ontario would receive $154, plus 10 per cent because that person resides outside a metropolitan area (i.e. no alternative transportation). This gives a rural single person an additional $15.40 for a total of $169.40. I have been informed the carbon tax will be 11 cents per litre on gasoline. From Brussels to Listowel is 20 miles and I get 20 miles per gallon on my vehicle. The cost would increase by $1 a day, or $250 per year, for a working person. This tax is a burden on working Canadians. Yes, I believe in climate change but not the federal carbon tax. The federal government should help fund good fast economical mass transit projects between the large cities and faster response to forest fires before they get out of control. This would actually decrease the greenhouse gases. Barry Currie. Continued from page 28 municipalities, but at the last minute two municipalities dropped out of that arrangement, leaving North Huron with a fairly large geographic area with a very small population (under 5,000), and a very low assessment and a range of services suited to a larger population (three arenas, three cemeteries, many miles of roads, large rural area). Communities were pressured to make rapid decisions and had no time to look forward. The property tax levels have been excessive ever since and there is no way of changing that significantly. Back to Education Changes: it appears that Ford’s only reason for effecting this change is to save money. History has demonstrated that in the field of public affairs, the most unlikely result that will follow is higher costs and a decline in education quality, and of course, a near complete loss of accountability to communities. H. Brock Vodden B.A., B.Ed. M.Ed. Amalgamation was rushed says Vodden Carbon tax ineffective: Currie Letters to the Editor High wind hazard Last Sunday, high winds raged across Huron County, felling trees, driving branches through local houses and turning over a westbound transport truck, shown above, on County Road 25 near mid-day. Firefighters from Brussels and Blyth responded to the scene, as did paramedics and the Ontario Provincial Police. The road was closed as a result. (Denny Scott photo) New member The Blyth Lions Club welcomed fourth-generation member Greg McDonald to its ranks earlier this month. McDonald, right, was sponsored by club member Ken ‘Tigger’ Stewart. (Photo submitted)