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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-06-08, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8,1994. The North Huron itizeno P.O. Box 42$, BLH^Ont. N0M1H0 Phone 523-4 92 ^AX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1 HO Phone 807-9114 FAX 887-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Sales Representatives, Jeannette McNeil and Julie Mitchell r«io rhe Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $20.50/year ($19.16 plus $1.34 GST.) for local; $31.03/year ($29 00 plus $2.03 G.S.T.) for local letter carrier in Goderich, Hanover, Listowel, etc. and out-of-area (40 miles from Brussels); 560.00/year for U.S.A, and Foreign. 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: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 E ditorial Rough road ahead A strange thing has happened on area highways in the past decade or so. Where 30 years ago the red lines on the map designating provincial highways had meant those were the roads you followed if you wanted the smoothest ride, in the past decade those who did a lot of driving in Huron County got to know that the best roads were county roads. While the provincial roads deteriorated, the county road system continued to improve. The roads were smooth and wide and maintenance was good. Service on the provincial highways, however, continued to deteriorate. The province is apparently out to change all that ... but not in the way we might wish. Oh, the quality of Highway 4 has improved immeriscly, but the condition of provincial highways in general is going downhill. Now the province apparently wants to see the county highways deteriorate too. The Ministry of Transportation has cut the grant to the Huron County highways department by 14.3 per cent, nearly $700,000 (and of course after the county had already set its budget to meet the provincial deadline for county budgets, March 31). Lumped on top of other recent cuts it means that since 1991 the reduction in funding for Huron County highways has been $1.4 million. There has been much talk lately about the importance of infrastructure in creating jobs. But in Ontario, infrastructure seems to be coming apart at the seams. Where once we had the best highways and the cheapest power and businesses fought to locate here, today our highways are pot-holed and our power rates have soared to uncompetitive amounts. Somebody in Queens Park seems to have lost track of just what bought our prosperity in the first place. — KR Holding up the mirror For those who continue to question the taxpayer money spent on CBC television and radio each year an appropriate answer was seen on the airwaves this past weekend. As thoughts turned to the 50lh anniversary of D-Day, the importance of the part Canadians played in the invasion of Normandy, was never more evident thanks to a media barrage of stories. While U.S. President Bill Clinton was telling his people that Americans had liberated Europe, while the U.S. airwaves and magazine pages were bringing their myopic view of the invasion as a strictly American affair, Canadians had a chance to see that they really had played a part to be proud of in the whole affair. They learned, many for the first time, because their views had been shaped by American or British storytellers in the past, that there were five beaches in the landing and one of the five was a Canadian operation. They learned that Canadians were in the centre of the attack area and that their beach, code-named Juno, was one of the most heavily defended. They learned that, of all the armies landing, the Canadians were the only ones to reach, and hold, their objectives that day. All the Canadian networks gave fine coverage of the anniversary celebrations but CBC devoted the most time. While the private networks also did the superb job, one wonders if not for the competition and influence of the CBC they might have been content to take the inexpensive satellite feeds from U.S. and British sources and pocket the extra profits. Canadians must hear their own stories. Just as the price of maintaining an army is an important investment in our nation, so telling us about ourselves and Our accomplishments is an investment in keeping our national sense of purpose. Unless we know that we matter, that we have wonderful stories to tell like the stories of the D-Day veterans, then we won't have the will to make Lhis nation work, no matter how large an army. — KR Little town, big ambition Londcsboro residents proved, on May 24 weekend, that its the size of the spirit that matters, not the size of the town. Led by the Londcsboro Business Association and the Londcsboro Lions Club, the village planned a whole weekend of activities from a church bake sale to a barbecue to the area's largest fireworks display. Previously the community had promoted itself through joint advertising and placcmats. New signs have been erected at the edge of town. As a local businessman said: "We can be well known even though we arc small." It's a spirit all our communities could adopt. — KR Photo by Bonnie Gropp Bill 45 concerns writer Letters THE EDITOR, In regards to the upcoming vote on Bill 45, in our provincial government, I feel we need to make our voice heard. Below is a sample letter for citizens concerned as I am, to use. We can't keep letting a minority voice govern our country and ruin the standards we have and want to keep. Re: Bill 45 - Extending Spousal Benefits and Responsibilities to Same Sex Couples. I would like to voice my disapproval on the subject of spousal benefits being issued to same sex couples. I do not dislike homosexuals, nor do I feel that they should be alienated for choosing to live in that lifestyle, however, I cannot approve of a relationship that is strictly opposed to what the Bible says and to the Christian principles that Canada was founded upon. Homosexuality is a sin before God! Homosexuality is what destroyed Sodom and Gomorra! The Oxford Dictionary of Current English gives the following definitions: Spouse: "husband or wife": Husband: "married man in relation his wife" Wife: "married woman in relation to her husband" In the light of these definitions, how can we extend "spousal" benefits to couples of the same sex? Please Premiere Rae, don't let the standards that our country was founded upon waver. Please don't allow Bill 45 to pass legislature. Thank you for including this in your publication. I trust other concerned Canadians will make their voice heard. Mrs. Gladys Ellsmore. THE EDITOR, Every day tens of thousands of sad and lonely cats and dogs wait behind bars in Canadian humane societies and pounds. Some meow or bark loudly, while others just sit quietly hoping someone will take them home. For many, that day will never come. Instead their lives will end at the hands of caring humane society and municipal workers faced with no other option. In Canada, more than 50 per cent of the cats brought to humane societies or picked up as strays are euthanized. Dogs fare much better, at just over 20 per cent killed. Yet these percentages translate to tens of thousands of healthy, trusting companion animals put to death every year. ~ The only way to end these deaths is by preventing irresponsible breeding. There are far more puppies and kittens bom every year than there arc homes available. Society can no longer afford to allow pets to breed randomly or so the kids can see the "miracle of birth". Anyone who breeds animals should be prepared to take responsibility for all the offspring they produce. This means ensuring that each one of them goes to a loving and lifelong home and that they are all spayed or neutered to prevent breeding. In addition to the cost in animal lives, there is a significant cost to Canadian municipalities of controlling stray animals, managing pound facilities and euthanizing the unwanted animals. This cost runs well into the millions of dollars annually, and could be dramatically reduced if all pets were spayed or neutered. Pets should be considered as lifetime companions. Many people will put more thought into the purchase of a stereo or household appliance than a pet that will share their lives for up to 15 years or more. The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies asks you to please spay or neuter your pets. For more information, contact your local humane society/SPCA or a veterinarian. THE EDITOR, June has been declared "Tourism Awareness Month" by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, and I would like to take this opportunity to remind the people of Ontario of the importance of one of Continued on page 5