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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-11-09, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9,1994. C itizenTheNorthHuron P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. N0G1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Sales Representatives, Jeannette McNeil and Julie Mitchell The 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 G.S.T.) 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); $60.00/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 Reasons to remember It’s ironic that Remembrance Day 1994 comes within days of yet another study recommending reducing the size of Canada's armed forces. Hopefully our leaders have not forgotten one of the lessons learned in World War II, that a country must remain prepared. _] • a • | The outbreak of WorldvJ.HOn.3.1. War II found Canada |............................. ..———-------1 hopelessly unprepared with a small, untrained army and a navy and air force that was virtually invisible. It took a huge effort and not a little time before Canada began to make the impressive combination to the allied war effort that we eventually provided. Our government, hit by hard times and a long period of peace, felt the armed forces were the last place money should be spent Today's situation has some similarities. With the Cold War over it is natural for people to want to forget about wars and the possibility of wars. We've just come through the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Our government faces a huge debt and an economy that's radically changing. Given the choice between money to help the unfortunate people who have been displaced by the economic revolution of the past five years and new weapons for the armed forces, it seems only humane for the government to have taken the direction it has. Moreover, the best hope we have for peace in the future is through collective action by the United Nations to try to defuse small wars before they can blow up into big ones. Canada’s commitment to peace­ keeping is a major contribution. The government's move to re­ emphasize the army, to put more soldiers in uniform to meet peace­ keeping obligations, is perhaps a good way to prevent war breaking out on a larger scale. Still, in downgrading the air force and the navy, the government would put many of its eggs in one basket. It's impossible to see into the future. The direction the world has taken in the last couple of years would lead to the logical conclusion that our army is more important than the other branches of the forces. If the government decides to move in that direction, however, it will be gambling the needs of the armed forces won't change quickly. Here's hoping that judgement is right or some of the lessons of those who fought 50 years ago will have been squandered. — KR Remember to vote The future direction of council in most area municipalities for the next three years will be shaped in next Monday's municipal elections. Will you have your part to play? If you don't, there is no excuse for you to complain about what your council is or isn't doing in the next council term. There is no expert like the instant expert who knows nothing about how council really operates but is sure the decisions are simple. Many people who have never been near a council meeting think that they know how things should be done. On one hand they think councillors have power far beyond what the municipal act allows them to have. They think councillors are responsible for things they have little control over, things that are mandated by provincial legislation. On the other hand, they think the decisions faced by council are black and white, that the choices are easy. Strangely, the more you get to know about municipal government, the more you respect how difficult the decisions are. And that's why electing people who are experienced and wise is so important. Your tax dollars and the future of your community is at stake. Make your decision wisely, then go out and vote. — KR We must stay involved The new police chief of Toronto has made community policing a priority of his administration. He wants to get the public involved in crime prevention. In a community policing project in Edmonton, police and hundreds of volunteers worked together in a tough neighbourhood to greatly reduce the amount of crime. Il's a movement that makes sense, but goes in the opposite direction. The last few decades as government has grown we've been more and more content to leave things to "the experts" while complaining as costs rose and we felt left out. People oiust get involved again. Just as local pairols have controlled Halloween vandalism in our communities, more community involvement can help improve life in so many areas. Our agencies must change to welcome volunteers and the community must get involved again in improving our way of life. — KR Letters THE EDITOR, Brussels community is fortunate to have many who volunteer to serve in a variety of ways. Among these, I am sure Tim Prior and Brian Deitner of Bell Canada, Hugh Nichol and Don Crawford, as well as the entire volunteer fire department stood out on Monday night as they helped ensure the safety of trick or treaters. From Brussels Public School we send our thanks for your generous efforts to promote a safe community. David Kemp, Principal. THE EDITOR, This is in reply to your paper, Volume 10, No. 43, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 1994 (Morris Residents attend Meeting - Karl MacNaugh- ton challenging for the Deputy Reeve post was not in attendance. The reasons I didn't attend are as follows:- - This meeting is put on by the present council members and held at the Municipal Office of Morris Township. With standing room, approximately 35 people would be able to fit into the Council Chambers. - The present council members take their seats at the council table and all the other candidates get to pop up from the crowd!!! to give their speech or to answer questions. This is hardly a level playing field and it makes me wonder why the incumbents needethis advantage. - To be fair to all, an all­ candidates meeting should be held in a hall like Belgrave or Brussels where there is ample seating capacity for those interested ratepayers to view the candidates, whether incumbent or hopeful, in a line in front of them. - However, this is not the first time, I feel this council has been unfair when dealing with members- to-be or not-to-be on council. I cite the way they dealt with the replacement of Councillor Riley when he resigned. In the election of 1991, Councillor Duskocy received 254 and Roy Aitcheson received 250 votes for the last seat on council. With 250 votes from the people, did Roy Aitcheson get the seat vacated by Mr. Riley? No, he did not! The four (count them - four!) remaining members of Council hand-picked their own man to sit on council for the remainder of the term, a man who didn't take the time and effort in the campaign of 1991 to put his name forward as did Mr. Roy Aitcheson. Once again, self-serving interest by the incumbent members of Morris Council. Karl MacNaughton, Candidate for Deputy Reeve of Morris Township. THE EDITOR, Tired of raking all those leaves? We may have an answer for you. If you have village trees adjacent to your property with branches which overhang your roof, simply visit our ever helpful clerk and ask to have the Public Works conduct some minor maintenance pruning. Now don't expect action right away. This will take several visits to the clerk's office to follow-up your request. But, once action is taken, it is blindingly swift. Our clerk will be on site to instruct the crew personally. And her experience in tree maintenance certainly leaves one awestruck. Her forestry management techniques rival those being procured in the Amazon rainforest. Why cut a few upper canopy branches when removing a 2.5 foot diameter main branch at the trunk will do? Selective pruning (mutilation is such an ugly word) is, after all, a good conversation practice. Here in Blyth, you ask for a little and they give you a lot! The real beauty behind asking the village to maintain their trees, is that you don't have to be involved. In fact, they like it that way. Ratepayer on-site consultation is just another speed bump to progress. The one drawback to this service is the cost to ratepayers. Had we all met on-site and discussed what should have been pruned, it would only have taken a couple of hours for the crew that was hired. As it was, the crew spent a full day and a portion of a second to complete what was set out to do. It might have cost a bit more, but look at the results. And if the trees live, there won't be a need to "selective prune" again (except for all of those existing dead branches that were missed). Our thanks are extended to our village clerk, who made this all possible. If it weren't for her, we would still have an attractive streetscape. G & C Peach 177 Drummond Street, Blyth. More letters pg. 6