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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-05-30, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 30, 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; $180.00/year in U.S.A. and $380/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 May 30, 1968 Robert Stanfield, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, was set to speak in Wingham on May 30. It was anticipated that Stanfield would speak to a full rally of supporters at the auditorium of the Wingham public school. Stanfield would be landing in Wingham via helicopter before being escorted to the school by way of a band and a cavalcade of cars. In addition to attending the rally, Stanfield would also be taping an interview at CKNX before being on his way. Ray Hemingway, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hemingway, won the C.I.L. Trophy for the highest score in the swine section at the Huron County Livestock Judging compe- tition, held in Seaforth on May 25. May 30, 1973 The Blyth Little Theatre was set to present its first-ever production, Mystery at Green Fingers, at Blyth Public School on June 1-2. The company producing The Blyth Standard announced the second issue of a new magazine it was producing, entitled Village Squire. Aimed at urban dwellers in both Huron and Bruce Counties, the magazine specialized in reporting on arts and social issues throughout the community, featuring articles on theatre, crafts, painting and more. Emily Gertrude (Gertie) Campbell of Belgrave died at her home at the age of 95. Born in 1878, Campbell had been married for 75 years at the time of her death. Campbell had married Ira Campbell in 1897 in Algoma. They celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary the previous year. There was a large number of people in the audience for the annual meeting of the Huron County Historical Society, bringing people from Wingham, Brussels, Clinton, Goderich, Bayfield and Hensall to the meeting, which was held in Wingham. Mr. H.G. Turner, president of the society, conducted the business of the meeting. May 31, 1995 Brussels businesswoman Dorothy Cummings, the owner of Barmy Tech, was set to be featured on Global TV’s Town & Country Ontario as one of a growing number of Ontario entrepreneurs building a business out of their home. Tragedy struck on May 25 when a vintage aircraft piloted by 77-year- old John Hindmarsh of RR2, Goderich crashed into a field in Colborne Township. Both Hindmarsh and 16-year-old Mark Mathers of Goderich, the passenger in the plane that day, were killed as a result of the crash. At an all-candidates meeting ahead of the coming provincial election, all local candidates had a chance to debate the issues and state their platforms for voters at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton. Phil Cornish of the Family Coalition Party, Kimble Ainslie of the Reform Association of Ontario, incumbent Paul Klopp of the NDP, Liberal John Jewitt and Helen Johns of the Progressive Conservative Party were all on hand to speak and address residents on the issues of the day. June 4, 2009 John Stewart of the Blyth Lions Club was named District A-9 vice- governor at the 35th annual district convention, which was held at Sauble Beach. Stewart would take office on Canada Day, July 1, for a one-year term. The position was one to groom Stewart for the next step up, which would be district governor the following year. A member of the local club for nearly 35 years, Stewart would be the first member of the Blyth club to hold vice-governor and governor positions. That wasn’t the only good news for Stewart at the convention, as he was awarded the International President’s Commendation from Lions Clubs International President Al Brandel of New York. “You are hereby commended for distinguishing yourself as an everyday hero by creating miracles through service,” Stewart’s award read. As part of National Hunger Awareness Day on June 2, a number of local celebrities and members of the media would be taking the food bank challenge by eating from a basket of food bank fare for two days and writing about their diets. Jason Badley of Brussels created a one-of-a-kind Chevrolet S-10 Crew Cab dualie pickup truck and not only was his creation featured in Mini Truckin’magazine, but it also netted him a best-in-class finish at the Canadian Truck Nationals, which were held in London. Four East Wawanosh Public School students could now officially call themselves published poets as their work had found its way into Harbour: A Collection of Poems Written by Young Canadians. Dylan Bromley, Megan Stute, Kathleen Stennett and Jarod Logan were all victorious in a contest hosted by Polar Expressions, which in turn awarded the students with being published as part of the collection. 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 Huron’s quietly successful While the perception of Huron County is that we’re a slow-growth area, perhaps even slipping backward, a closer look tells another story. While major employers like Goderich’s Volvo and one of Wescast’s Wingham plants, have disappeared in the last decade, smaller, less visible manufacturers have replaced them. Many main streets also have too many empty storefronts as the retailing pattern shifts to fewer and larger regional shopping centres and online shopping, yet a major issue when you speak to employers or those involved with economic development is the shortage of people willing to work. Further evidence that things aren’t stagnating in the local economy is the fact that any discussion about economic development includes concerns about housing shortages. From Exeter in the south, where there are three housing developments under way, to Wingham in the north where the North Huron Council is so concerned about a housing shortage that it’s getting involved in preparing a new development, the need for new accommodation is apparently acute. This type of growth seems ideal, presenting new opportunities without the pressures of rapid expansion created in areas near larger cities like Toronto. We might just need to change our own perceptions of our county. — KR Balancing the power As might be expected, new contract talks between Ontario’s teachers’ unions on one side and the provincial government and the association of local school boards on the other have not gotten off to a great start. The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation complained last week that issues which were formerly negotiated at the local board level are now on the agenda for central bargaining. It’s not surprising that the provincial government wants a say in matters that were formally dealt with between unions and local boards, matters such as bereavement leaves and administration of sick days. For one thing, this government seems to think it knows better than those at all other levels of government whether it be the federal government, municipalities or school boards. But at the same time, as a spokesperson for Education Minister Lisa Thompson told the Globe and Mail, items such as these have financial implications and as the main source of funding for education, the province feels it needs a say in negotiations. To some extent, education is in the bind it’s in because of an imbal- ance in bargaining strength that favoured unions for a long time. Salaries escalated rapidly in the days when they were negotiated between small, local boards and their unions. A leap-frog process occured then as a local union would claim its members were the lowest paid in the province. They’d get a raise, then some other region’s union would claim its members were now the lowest paid. On top of that, administrators’ salaries were scaled upward from the highest teacher’s salary. Today, most of the resources in the education system are tied up in salaries, which is why the current provincial government has taken steps like increasing class sizes in order to keep costs from rising at a time when they’re trying to rid us of a massive deficit. The previous Liberal government bought labour peace by being friendly with the teachers’ unions, adding to the deficit. We’re paying the price now with changes to education funding that are hardly ideal but are among the parts of the system the government can actually control. By taking some areas of bargaining away from local boards, the province is rebalancing the power in negotiations. It won’t be at all surprising if the unions, already understandably unhappy with the loss of teaching positions, decide eventually to go on strike. If so, parents will likely blame the government but the roots of the problem go back 30-40 years to when the escalation of salaries for both administrators and teachers began to take up more and more of the education budget. Now laid-off teachers, students, parents and taxpayers are all sharing the cost of past decisions. — KR Happy retirement Ordinarily, when someone loses a job you offer them your condolences. In the case of British Prime Minister Theresa May who’s stepping down next week, it feels like congratulations are in order. May has spent nearly three years trying to deliver on the results of a referendum in which the British people voted to pull out of the European Union. She tried to negotiate an exit plan that would satisfy both sides in Britain. Those who wanted Britain to stay as part of Europe felt it was too harsh. Those who wanted to leave, thought it was too soft. Some people think it’s time for a new referendum in case voters have changed their minds, but last week’s election for the European parliament saw Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party win 29 seats, by far the largest block. May might be the lucky one. Save condolences for her successor – and the British people. — KR &