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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-06-21, Page 4eNA BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1995 Keys to higher learning Photo by Bonnie Gropp Looking Back Through the Years From the files of Thg Blyth Stan- dard, The Brussels Post and The North Huron Citizen 28 YEARS AGO JUNE 22, 1967 As part of Centennial Week activities the Brussels 1948 Ladies' Championship Softball Club were asked to return for a reunion. The team's original coaches, managers, bat boy and players planned to play a game in the park. Soccer came to Brussels when a Goderich team and the Canadian German soccer team of London battled in the park. A contract worth $35,000 was awarded to Bernard TenPas and Sons for construction of the Brus- sels Medical-Dental Centre. Donald McDonald was installed as Worshipful Master of St. John's Masonic Lodge. The centennial parade in Grey township went on as scheduled despite bad weather. Other festivi- ties included an assembly to com- memorate the occasion, a dance, and ball games in the park. The June meeting of Duff's Unit- ed Church in Walton was held at the home of Mrs. John Fraser. The group prepared for the departure of Rev. A. Higginbotham and the induction of the new minister. The interest rate for five years at The Industrial Mortgage and Trust Company was six per cent. SIX YEARS AGO JUNE 21, 1989 Reeve Albert Wasson, Clerk- Treasurer Helen Grubb, and OPP Superintendent Murray Peer were on hand to officially open the Police Extended Services Office in Blyth. Constable Mike Alexander also attended the ribbon cutting ceremony, and estimated that he would spend 30-40 per cent of his time at the new office. A new budget designed by coun- cil meant that taxes in Blyth would be raised by 11.6 per cent for pub- lic school supporters and 12.91 per cent for separate school supporters. Blyth council pondered the future of the village under a proposed plan that would see a minimum 4,000 population in all Huron County municipalities. After discussing the matter council agreed to reject that particular provision in the county reform plan. Students at Walton Public School said goodbye to Principal Gary Jewitt at a ceremony held in his honour. Jewitt was involved in a program-that would send him to Liberia to educate Africa's princi- pals. "Batman," starring Jack Nichol- son and Michael Keaton was the feature attraction at local theatres. Letters An open letter to County Council DUMPING A BACKWARD IDEA - NOW WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE Inasmuch as Huron County council has not yet contacted me concerning the open letter sent to council three weeks ago, I thought that I would send a reminder. I am still interested in receiving answers to the questions asked, concerning Ashfield's rights to have a democratic say. I thought I would take this opportunity to outline a few of the points of contention the Alterna- tives Committee of Concerned Citizens of Ashfield and Area has with the Waste Management Committee. This pertains to the A3 dump in Ashfield. From the first public meeting on March 18, the committee has asked that an alternative be sought to building another dump. We were told that a law prohibited incineration. While true at the time, we argued that testing on the A3 site should be put on hold until after the election, when with a different government the rules might change. If a more favourable form of waste disposal was found it would prove to be a waste of taxpayers' money to invest in a dump never used. Their answer was test drilling; so much for taxpayers' money. During the election campaign, Mike Harris vowed to scrap Ontario Regulation 555/92 which prohibited the establishment of municipal waste incinerators. Still, the county moved forward to find a dumpsite. The Mike Harris government has now been elected. With this new Continued on page 6 PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1995. C The North Huron itizen Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Sales Representatives, Jeannette McNeil and Julie Mitchell P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG 1H0 Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9148 FAX 887-9021 The Citizen is published weekly In Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $23.00/year ($21.50 plus $1.50 G.S.T.) for local; $33.00/year ($30.85 plus $2.15 G.S.T.) for local letter carrier in Goderich, Hanover, Listowel, etc. and out-of-area (40 miles from Brussels); $62.00/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 Principles and politics Canadians are facing a conundrum these days after watching Liberal party members break ranks with party discipline and vote against their government and hate crimes legislation. Should the MPs vote with their parties, according to the wishes of their constituents or according to their own conscience? And beyond that, if you feel they should vote the way their constituents want them to, how do they get a true picture of constituent wishes? One of the most famous of the rebels has been Huron-Bruce's Paul Steckle, who not only defied government threats and voted against the gun legislation, but also voted against the hate crimes bill. His fate is as yet unknown but he might even be booted out of the Liberal party caucus. Steckle says he'll take the punishment but he must represent the wishes of his constituents. But how does he know what are the wishes of his constituents? In the case of the gun control legislation there has been a lot of discussion at least, but in the hate crimes legislation, few knew where Steckle stood on the bill until the vote was taken. There's no doubt many farmers and hunters in the riding supported their MP's position against the registration of shotguns and rifles. Many others in the riding supported him because they felt the bill was a cynical attempt by Justice Minister Alan Rock to appear to be doing something about urban crime when he wasn't really solving anything. Still, even with this, it's quite possible that if a vote were taken in Huron-Bruce, a majority might still have supported registration. In the long run, Steckle voted the way he wanted to and as a gun owner he was against the new law. Steckle also broke ranks over the law that calls on tougher sentences for those who commit hate-inspired crimes against people on the basis of race, religion or sexual preference. It was that sexual preference phrase that left many MPs against the bill. But how much did their constituents care? There didn't seem to be any huge hue and cry in Huron: no letters to the editor, no petitions we noticed? How did Steckle know where people stood? Did he attempt any kind of poll or did he just vote the way he felt was right by his own conscience? Pushed by the Reform Party, the issue of a more direct democracy is getting more thought these days. We've always taken it for granted that we elected people to make decisions for us, but with new technology we are getting closer to the day when people can vote from their homes on virtually every important issue. Do we want to let others continue to make decisions on our behalf? Do we want them to vote according to the wishes of the majority of their constituents or their own conscience? One thing is sure, however, if Steckle continues to want to represent the wishes of his constituents as he says, he'd better do more careful polling than happened on the hate crimes bill.— KR Watch out for new tax Lost amid the hype of Premier-elect Mike Harris's pledge to reduce provincial income tax by 30 per cent was a promise to increase a tax, in the name of efficiency. Harris promised to harmonize the provincial sales tax and the GST into one tax. Sounds like common sense until you realize you'll suddenly be paying provincial taxes on some items that haven't been taxed in the past. In Ontario we've always believed that books and other reading material shouldn't be taxed, for instance, but if everything that is taxed with GST also gets PST, it will mean books and newspapers (including this one) will be taxed an extra eight per cent. The birth notices and graduations you put in will be taxed as well. Harris's tax-cut will help the well-to-do save money but the little guy stands to pay more through PST on those products that are now exempt.— KR Silly season comes early As the heat of summer sets in we begin to see downright silly things happening. This year the silly season seems early, based on the lather Americans have worked themselves into over trade with Cuba. Some Republicans want to punish any foreign company that continues to trade with Cuba. They are aiding and abetting a foul communist regime, they charge. Yet they don't mumble a word as American businesses rushs money into China just a few short years after student protesters were massacred there. Silly! — KR E ditorial