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The Citizen, 1997-06-04, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4,1997 C itizenTheNorthHuron P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil E-mail norhuron@huron.net 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 E ditorial L............ I A nation of discontent Once upon a time there was a blessed land — a land so fortunate that people were willing to crowd into leaky vessels for long sea voyages to get to. Those people who managed to survive the voyage were rewarded for their hard work with a life better than they could have imagined in their old land. Over time the new land was recognized as the envy of all the lands, a place where people could live in peace and harmony, could be rewarded for their hard work but could be sure someone would be there with a helping hand if fortune wasn’t kind. But over the years in the new land, the children and grandchildren of earlier arrivals failed to see how blessed things were around them. Instead they saw only what they felt was wrong. People in one part of the country grew unhappy because they felt everyone else was ignoring them or worse, hating them. People in other parts of the country felt the people in the first part didn’t recognize that they really had the most power. People in the west of the country resented people in the centre of the country because they felt the land was run by people there. People in the east of the country, tired of seeing their sons and daughters have to leave to find jobs, resented the rest of the country. The people who were most blessed by the new country, resented paying taxes to support those who needed a hand up. And so the people bickered and complained and they heard only the complaints of people in other parts of the country and became more and more angry. Before long, the people of the blessed land had tom their country to bits. The pattern of voting by region in Monday's federal election, each region expressing anger against another, seems to confirm that this blessed land is Canada. — KR Media failed in election Pick up a newspaper Tuesday morning, listen to the radio or watch television, and one would get the impression that the winner of Monday’s federal election was anyone but the Liberals, the party that will govern Canada for the next four or five years. The headline on Canada’s largest-circulation newspaper read: Liberals — barely (the Liberals won by 95 seats over their closest competitor but were only four seats over a majority). Elsewhere on the page a columnist suggested the end was in sight for Prime Minister Jean Chretien because he didn’t cruise to a massive victory. Early-morning television shows Tuesday talked about every one of the parties but the one that won. The Reform Party had won because it was the official opposition. The Bloc Quebecois had won because Reform was the official opposition and would say such outrageous things about Quebec that people would vote yes in the next election. The NDP had won because they had made a breakthrough in the Maritimes, winning six seats in Nova Scotia. The Progressive Conservatives won because they increased their seats from two to 20. To listen to these analysts, only the Liberals were losers. The post-eleclion commentaries follow the bizarre coverage the media gave during the campaign. Massive attention was given to Reform Party leader Preston Manning because he kept saying outrageous things. Massive coverage was given to Progressive Conservative leader Jean Charest because there was hope that this would be the “great white hope” who could hold Canada together heading into the next referendum in Quebec. NDP leader Alexa McDonough could get hardly any coverage at all with her message of the need for jobs — yet she ended up with more seats than Charest. If our country is so divided today perhaps it is because the media’s love of conflict emphasizes our divisions, not our similarities. — KR Support for men of principle Two election results Monday confirm voters will support people of principle. John Nunziata was booted out of the Liberal party for voting against the government’s budget because it didn’t carry out its promise to replace the GST. He was re-elected as an independent. In Huron-Bruce, Paul Steckle was rewarded for voting against the government on gun control (and being punished for it). He won a huge victory. Would more MPs showed such principle. — KR Photo by Janice Becker Letters THE EDITOR and Citizens of Wingham and District Hospital Community, We attended the regular scheduled 8 p.m. open board meeting of the Wingham and District Hospital on May 1. Unfortunately the open meeting started at 7:30 p.m. with no prior notice to the public. Who was responsible for the change of time without advance notice to the general public? The board's actions should be a concern to the general public of the hospital area. At 8:10 p.m. we realized the board meeting was in progress and not the 7:30 p.m. education meeting. By this time the CEO's report had been given. Needless to say we were disgusted by the decision to have the meeting start early. In an editorial in The Kitchener Record on Saturday, May 5 it stated "The hospitals in Kitchener are not just facing financial problems, they are also facing leadership problems". We urge you to attend the annual hospital meeting on Thursday, June 19 at 8 p.m. and buy a $5 membership by June 4 in order to vote for board members that will represent you in making good sound decisions in the management of our hospital. Let us remember the patient should come first. Without patients we would not need a hospital. Yours truly, Lorna Cook, Mary Procter, Margaret Black and Janet Reid. THE EDITOR, The Golden Avenue/Broadway Public Schools Reunion '97 Committee would greatly appreciate your help in locating former students of these two schools located in South Porcupine, Ontario. These schools have been in operation since 1911 and all former students from either school who may have attended from 1911 to 1997 are invited to attend. Festivities are scheduled to take place Aug. 1 - 3, 1997, in South Porcupine. For more information, or to provide names and mailing addresses of former students, please contact: Will Saari Golden Avenue/Broadway Public Schools Reunion Committee P.O. Box 2049 South Porcupine, ON PON 1H0 (705) 264-0811 Fax (705) 267-6222 Internet E-Mail saariw@vianet.on.ca Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated. Sincere regards, Will Saari Public Relations Co-ordinator. THE EDITOR, On behalf of Town and Country Support Services, I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the people and businesses in the North Huron County area. Wednesday, May 21, was our day for volunteer appreciation. An enthusiastic crowd gathered in the Blyth Memorial Hall to take part in the festivities involved in our "Giggles and Gags" program. Our surprise guest, "Beany The Clown", had everyone in attendance smiling with her message of laughter and humour and the repercussions it has on others. "Beany" brought smiles to faces, left twinkles in eyes, and left everyone feeling good about themselves. Who said clowns are just for kids! Our appreciation is 10-fold to Wingham businesses who were kind enough to donate flower arrangements, which doubled as Continued on page 8