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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-03-29, Page 1610 40 GST650 Vol. 11 No.13 Wednesday, March 29, 1995 Ontario's Progressive Conservative leader Mike Harris made a brief visit to the Huron riding on Friday. Prior to lunching at the Wingham Legion, he enjoyed the sunny skies with, from left, Bruce PC candidate Barb Fisher, Huron candidate Helen Johns from Exeter and Perth candidate Bert Johnson. Ontario's PC leader delivers his common sense message Sports Blyth Bantam hockey team wins Group E crown See page 3 Community Workshop shows youths a new perspective See page 6 Farm Guest speaker talks about life on family farms See page 14 News Conservation Foundation plans annual auction See page 23 itizen The North Huron Good neighbour thwarts efforts of would-be thieves By Bonnie Gropp Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Mike Harris was in Wing- ham last Friday to deliver his com- mon sense solution to change. Addressing' the 200 people attending the luncheon at the Wing- ham Legion, Mr. Harris paid tribute to the three ridings represented, Huron, Perth and Bruce, saying he was in the heartland of an area that was very important to the rest of the province. "I am happy to have the chance to share our vision of hope and prosperity," he said. ''We are tired of sharing the misery and hoping to share opportunity." Stating that goVernMent barriers must change, Mr. Harris said he was confident that under his party's -leadership the province would grow and once again be able to compete with the rest of the world. In his conversations with constituents, the biggest concern he has heard is that government isn't doing its share. While govertunent has asked peo- ple to cut back and make sacrifices, it has not done so, Mr. Harris said. There have been 65 tax increases in the past 10 years, he said, and gov- ernment spending has increased from S25 billion in 1985 to S56 bil- lion today. "In essence government has said, 'We can spend your money better than you can.' People .are saying this is enough. It's got to c:minge." Farmers, he said, arc asking for a level playing field so they can com- pete. The average family, he added, has not had a raise in take home pay in seven years, because of higher taxation. "People are work- ing harder and getting farther behind." Where once Ontario was the leader, its young people are now leaving to find work in other provinces. "Why aren't we getting more jobs," he said. "People are telling me, Ontario is a great place - to live, but it's a lousy place to do businesses." Government, he said, has taxed and regulated people to the point they would be more com- fortable having a job in another province. Using education as an example, Mr. Harris said that this province has gone from a system that rewards excellence to one of medi- ocrity. "We've got to change this valueless system where a person can stay home and do nothing and make more than when working." Mr. Harris said opportunities should be designed to address the work ethic on an equitable basis throughout the province so that urban doesn't benefit over rural or vice versa. Mr. Harris promised that if his party wins the election the number of politicians and bureaucrats will be reduced and tax rates cut. "We will cut out waste and duplication and take spending back to the rate it was before Rae took office," Mr. Harris said. "We're going to cut $2 billion in the first year, $1 billion in the sec- ond and another billion in the third. Can we do it? Frank McKenna has in New Brunswick." Mr. Harris said that some have referred to this move as right wing politics. "This is what Ontarians want. I call that mainstream poli- tics. Listen to what people want and respond." Noting that five premiers and five provinces have produced a bal- anced budget, Mr. Harris said that it is time for a national solution because "at the end of the day there's only one taxpayer." Growth and getting people back to work are also a priorities, but he said not through a government job creation program, but rather a peo- ple job creation program. "This province that led Canada out of a recession is now dragging her down. It has not had the coura- geous leadership (of others). We desperately need that belief, the intestinal fortitude to bring com- mon sense back to government." "We need an Ontario that can lead Canada. That's the kind of Ontario I grew up in. I believe this province is worth fighting for. Help us fight to take it back." Huron candidate Helen Johns joined Mr. Harris and Bruce candi- Continued on page 7 It was a case of a concerned neighbour that thwarted the efforts of two car thieves on Friday night m Blyth. According to a Wingham OPP report, two males in a pick-up truck were acting suspiciously, which promoted a neighbour to contact the owner of a vehicle that the males were "checking out". The would be thieves were actually in the car at one point before being confronted by the car owner and the neighbour. They sped away but not before the neighbour got the licence plate number of the truck. The police were contacted within three hours, two suspects had been arrested. Police learned that the thieves. had stolen the pick-up truck earlier and were attempting to steal By Bonnie Gropp At a special performance in Blyth on April 15, people will be given some insight into the beauty that children can create from the midst of turmoil. Jon White, one of the four co- founders of Light the Way Chil- dren's Fund International will be presenting a fundraising perfor- mance, "A Return to Innocence", at Blyth Memorial Hall, from 7:30 until 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 15. The show will feature a concert of Mr. White's music as well as an original work based on a visit last fall to war-torn Bosnia, which will feature several students from Blyth Public School and will be chore- ographed by Jayne Marquis of Blyth. "Jayne is very excited about re- creating an afternoon we spent in Bosnia," Mr. White said. Ms Mar- quis travelled there last September with Light the Way. "We had asked the community we were visiting to gather some young people together to come to see our show. We went into a back- yard, one of the few that had not been ravaged by the war, where we met about 40 children. When we finished our show a group of about 10 children came to us and very shyly asked if they could do some- thing for us. What we saw blew our minds. It was a stunning example of what a child can create in the Wind knocks out power The residents north of Blyth .and into Belgrave may have had a hard time making it to work on time last Wednesday morning. Due to wind conditions and freezing rain in the early morning hours, bouncing wires knocked out the switches north of Blyth, says a spokesperson from Ontario Hydro's Clinton Operations Centre. It is estimated power was out for approximately three hours, being restored between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. the car when the owner confronted them. Charged with theft under $5,000, attempt theft under $5,000 and possession of stole property are 19- year-olds, William Joseph Watson and Carl Jeffery VanderWouden, both of Blyth. Both accused will appear in provincial court in April to answer to the charges. Police say this is a clear case of how neighbourhood watch can work in preventing crime. The Wingham OPP would like to take this opportunity to remind residents to lock their vehicles and houses at all times as a crime prevention method. Also thanks to all the witnesses who came forward in this case to bring it to a speedy conclusion. middle of war to keep spirits alive. It was a remarkable afternoon." "We are now looking forward to giving the audience in Blyth that experience," Mr. White said. Light the Way was founded three years ago by a group of people who were all involved in social services and had each just returned from trips to Bosnia and Chernobyl. "We realized then we shared a vision to address the needs of children faced with these tragedies. We can't change reality, but if we are there to show we care perhaps we can increase the chances for survival of the spirit," Mr. White said. The purpose of "A Return to Innocence" is to raise funds for a trip this May to four of the five countries, Croatia, Bosnia, Ukraine and Belarus, (the fifth is Canada) where Light the Way concentrates its efforts of bringing hope to the children through song and music. "Our work is funded entirely by fundraising and we accept no money unless it is given Uncondi- tionally. If there are any strings attached we will not accept it." For example, Mr. White tells of one person who wanted to give money for pictures that the organi- zation had taken. "We said from the beginning we would not exploit these children. The person was told then if he was prepared to be trained to come with us he could Continued on page 11 Forward to spring If there was any question that spring is around the cor- ner, it should be answered this weekend as we make the move to Daylight Savings Time on Sunday morning. It may mean one hour's less sleep, but if you don't want to be late for church, you'd better remember to turn your clocks ahead before retiring on Satur- day night. Light the Way plans fundraising concert