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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-11-19, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19,1997. C itizenTheNorthHuron P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. N0G1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@huron.net Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil _f*10 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 Putting yourself out of work While Canada Post and its workers continue to wrangle, one wonders if anyone on either side has really looked at the future of postal service in Canada — and the implications this will have on us all. Little by little, over the past 20 years, the post office has been moving toward J VH.IVF1. IC11 irrelevancy. Poor management, I | rotten labour relations and militant unions, have combined with technological change to hint at a time when the post office will be obsolete. The problem began with the endless labour turmoil that made postal strikes as depressingly regular as the coming of winter for Canadians. The postal unions were among the most militant in Canada, and gained support from workers because Canada Post management was one of the least enlightened in the country. These strikes coincided with the growth of the courier services. Suddenly businesses that would never have dreamed of paying Canada Post $10 to deliver a package, were gladly forking out that amount to guarantee delivery the next day — the kind of thing Canada Post used to do for pennies until its level of service declined. Next came the invention of the fax machine and companies and individuals realized that they could get instantaneous delivery of documents, usually for less money than a postage stamp. At the same time Canada Post was setting standards for “prompt” delivery that would have been laughably slow in the day of horse and buggy — two days between major centres (those of us in rural areas need not ask what the standard is for us). Canada Post could, and should, have grabbed onto the electronic revolution but management was absorbed in cutting costs by closing post offices and setting up postal outlets in stores, run by poorly trained staff who also sold whatever the store retailed. Now electronic mail is upon us, offering free delivery of documents to subscribers of internet providers. To date, this is a small portion of the population but it’s growing fast as more and more people buy computers and go on-line. As the number of people who are comfortable with computers increases, the use of e-mail will swell. So if Canada Post loses some of its business to the courier companies, some to fax machines and some to e-mail, how long will it be before it’s unaffordable to maintain a vast system across the country, given the volume of mail being shipped? What happens then to the ordinary people who don't have fax or e-mail? What happens to mail­ order businesses who depend on Canada Post to deliver their goods? What happens to the delivery of newspapers and magazines which are too big to be faxed, too small for the expense of courier service? There are serious issues it seems are being ignored while Canada Post management and union leaders fight. The rest of us have a huge stake in the future of the post office. — KR A whole new ball game Listen to most people talk about current issues, and you’d think that the late 1990s were just a continuation of the 1980s and the 1970s and all the time before then dating back to the Second World War. People don’t seem to realize that the rules of the game have all changed. Mention the word strike, for instance, and people immediately react saying the workers shouldn’t be so greedy. More often, however, workers these days aren’t striking for more, but to hold what they’ve got. The current Canada Packers strike is about the company trying to win huge wage concessions because it says it can't compete with lower wages in U.S. packing plants (echoes of the 1988 Free Trade Debate?). Typical greedy capitalists? Well, yes the McCain family runs Canada Packers but they bought it with money from the Ontario teachers' pension fund. Concern for maximizing return on our pensions (and RRSPs), has turned most of us into demanding capitalists, wanting large returns on our investments. We’d just rather not see the people who are getting hurt as a result of our demands. People also seem to think the Mike Harris government is just like any other government, perhaps a return to the comforting days of Bill Davis and John Robarts. It is, however, a government that’s running against the policies of that era as much as against the NDP and Liberals. It’s a government with a whole new agenda of undoing many of the things earlier PC governments did. — KR Photo by Janice Becker Letters THE EDITOR, I was surprised to read in Helen Johns' letter, that a consultative meeting for all boards from the Western Ontario Region, resulted in the recommendations contained in the document "The Road Ahead", written by the Education Improvement Commission. The Huron-Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School board was represented at the 90-minute session for trustees and board administration by Mike Miller, chairperson of the board; Louise Martin, chairperson of the local education improvement committee; Gaetan L. Blanchette, director of education; and Gerry Thuss, superintendent of business. The board's representatives were very surprised with the recommendations which were eventually released, because they were not indicative of the opinions expressed by my board and others at that session. In fact, much of the 90-minutes was used by the education improvement commission to outline the process they were undertaking. Although Ms Johns indicates that Bill 160 was based on "The Road Ahead", the Government of Ontario appears to be ignoring a very important recommendation of the report, "that any savings realized through the restructuring of the school boards be reinvested in education systems". Cuts in educational funding of at least $670 million have been confirmed in the draft employment contract of the deputy-minister of education and training. It would appear that just like their consultative process - if they don't like what they hear, they won't listen to it! Sincerely, Mike Miller Chairperson of the board. THE EDITOR, I would like to applaud our principal Mr. Morton of Brussels Public School. As a parent, I fully agree that the school needs to update the school code of behaviour. As parents looking back at our own school days I am sure we all can quickly name the bully, and things he/she had done. I am tired of seeing my children and other children coming home upset There is nothing more frustrating than trying to talk to a parent who feels their children can do "no wrong", or doesn't care because it’s not their children that are upset. Learning respect starts in the home and follows through our every day lives. So, it's good to know our principal has seen these problems and changes are being made, and action will be taken as needed. Emotional/physical pain causes many deep-rooted problems, not to mention what it does to self- esteem. I want to know that when my children are at school they are in safe hands, and do not have to worry about being teased, pushed, etc. Pulling together will make a better school for all our children. Respect is a wonderful thing - it's a two way street. Nancy Machan. THE EDITOR, Letter of Thanks to all Huron County Communities: The teachers of Huron County wish to publicly thank everyone, individuals and businesses alike, who contributed support to our recent political protest against Bill 160. We are back in our classrooms for one reason - our dedication to the students in every school in the Con tinued on page 6