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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-04-16, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16,1997 The North Huron P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 itizen P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 807-9114 FAX 087-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/year in U.S.A, and $75.00/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: 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 Editorial Political fads crippling us A report released Monday says that Canada's highway system is getting in desperate shape and could hamper our ability to compete in a global economy. It seems in following political fads, we could have shot ourselves in the foot. In the 1980s, as the movement gained support to cut government subsidies and deregulate sectors of the economy, like transportation, the federal government rewrote the National Transportation Act to make it easy for railway lines to be abandoned. Rather than putting the onus on the railway to prove it should be allowed to close the line, the onus was on the public to prove the line could be profitable. Needless to day, many railway lines closed in a very few years. In the early 1990s, as the recession bit deeply into the lives of Ontarians, the NDP government put its resources into "people" services like welfare. There was little money for improving highways. Now the buzzwords in Queen's Park are "tax cut", and the provincial government of Premier Mike Harris is cutting spending on roads to help finance slashing the deficit and a 30 per cent cut in provincial income taxes. Many highways are being transferred over to the municipalities (here in Huron, Hwys. 83, 84 and 87 already and perhaps Hwys. 86 and 4 to come) at the same time as provincial funding for municipal roads is being slashed. So today, because of railway closings, we are totally dependent on a road system that, for one reason or another, we haven't been willing to maintain at proper levels. We are using our roads more than ever, but spending less to repair and rebuild them. It can't go on. If we can’t efficiently move goods, then we won't be able to compete in the new realities of a global marketplace. If we can't compete we lose jobs, we lose taxes and we back ourselves into a comer where we can't afford to fix the roads. It's time for governments, and the people who elect them, to start looking at long term needs and not at political fads. — KR Mocking Canada’s generosity Canada is again getting a black-eye internationally because it has become a haven for international war criminals. Recently a major U.S. television program showed how easy it was to locate Nazi war criminals hiding in Canada when the government said they couldn't be found. This week, CBC television located a number of people living in Canada that the Bosnian government wants to question in war crimes investigations during the vicious warfare in the former Yugoslavia. There have been charges that men who took part in the slaughter of innocent civilians in Rwanda are hiding in Canada. Canadians are justly proud of our record in helping the downtrodden of the world. Our soldiers risk their lives to try to bring peace to war­ tom parts of the world. We have a long history of opening our doors to refugees. We now have the most ethnically diverse nation on earth and, for the most part, are showing that we can make this work. Yet our refugee policy has made it too easy for the perpetrators of evil to slip into this country along with the victims. Once here, these people seem to be able to stay no matter what evidence comes up to show they don't deserve our generosity. We must find ways of rooting out war criminals and sending them home to justice, or we will tarnish our image around the world, and our own sense of ourselves. — KR Flirting with danger While the federal government of Jean Chrdtien confidently prepares for a June election its strategists seem ignorant of the dangers that lurk on all sides. As the election nears, the attacks from all sides increase. Nobody likes a party that seems too confident and everyone wants to knock Chretien down a peg or two. Real liberals and socialists complain the government has ignored the needs of people. Right wingers complain the deficit hasn't been cut fast enough, taxes are too high and government too big. The danger for those who'd like to punish the government is that the alternative is so scary. The government has failed to produce enough jobs but will the tax cut policies of the Reform or Jean Charest's Tories be even more destructive? — KR Letters THE EDITOR, MADD Huron/Bruce Chapter would like to thank all those who contributed to our successful 1996 Red Ribbon Campaign. With the help of dedicated individuals, businesses and services in both counties as well as Perth and Wellington, we raised over $3,400 and tied red ribbons on to many vehicles, signifying sober driving. These funds will go towards the purchase of equipment for police services to be used in the detection of impaired drivers, school programs, court monitoring, victim services and awareness projects. We are working hard to change laws regarding drunk driving, to support those who need help when a loved one is killed or injured by an impaired driver and to bring awareness to the public of the devastation caused by this terrible crime. Our spring and summer projects are in the planning stages now. We will participate in the Goderich Home and Garden Show, an Antique and Collector's Car Show in Goderich, our third annual MADD Golf Tournament at the Wingham Golf and Curling Club, June 18, 1997 and our second "Signs of Summer" campaign. Our board of directors is in need of volunteers from south Huron and Bruce Counties to join us in the fight against drunk driving. We hold eight evening meetings throughout the year in Wingham. If you feel that you have some concerns and time that could be well spent in helping us with our cause or wish to participate in any of the above projects, please contact our chapter at our phone/fax (519) 357-4552. Your involvement now could help save the life of someone you love! Yours in safe driving, Lynne Magee, Wingham, Ontario NOG 2W0. Nurses plan for special week THE EDITOR, Local nurses from hospitals, CCAC and the Health Unit were working together to provide an information evening called "Nurses Caring for Nurses" for all area nurses to commemorate Nurses Week, May 11 - 18. The theme this year is "Sharing the Health Challenge." Across the province, as well as locally, the past year and the future do indeed present a challenge for nurses. Nurses have faced cutbacks, layoffs, reduction in hours, transfers and being downsized right out of a job. Facing an uncertain future and convinced that nursing services as we know them will continue to change, the joint Nurses' Week Planning Committee has put together an evening to help area nurses to network and support each other while learning and laughing together. Nurses will also be given the opportunity to express why they provide positive and cost effective health care and what their concerns are for the future of health care in Ontario. On Tuesday, May 13, area nurses of all designations, whether working, not working or retired are invited to Goderich Twp. Hall in Holmesville. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with exhibits of interest Continued on page 5