HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1996-08-21, Page 4BLUE
RIBBON
AWARD
1995
E ditorial
baah-ed group
Photo by Jeannette McNeil
Letter from the editor
Credit where credit's due
Dear readers,
An apology in last week's issue of The Citizen,
perhaps deserves greater attention and explanation.
In putting together special sections in recognition of
certain milestones or events; The Citizen typically
draws from a variety of resources, giving credit to the
original writer if necessary.
Our tribute to the Morris Twp. 140th celebration
"Morris Kicks in '96", published in the July 31 issue,
contained accounts of the communities that were part
of the municipality's history. This was collected from
Morris Township Past to Present, 1981, written by
Jeanne Kirkby for the 125th anniversary.
As is our practice, we fully intended to credit Mrs.
Kirkby. However, in the hectic schedule prior to
deadline, which you may only fully understand if you
have to deal with it, the acknowledgment of her work
was inadvertantly omitted.
We are human, we made a mistake. However, now
presently in the process of compiling a history for the
village of Brussels ourselves, we fully appreciate the
efforts and dedication a labour of love such as this
requires. We wish to publically recognize Mrs.
Kirkby's hard work and again extend our sincerest
apologies. We thank her, also, as without her book our
job would not have been so easily accomplished.
Letters
Writer says
thanks for
the care
THE EDITOR,
A great thank you for the care
given the Blyth Union Cemetery.
The grass cutting and trimming to
no end, flowers cared for and earth
fill added - grass seed sown, etc.
has taken many hours of working
hands to care and maintain.
It comforts many to see the
grounds of where our loved ones
have been laid to rest.
I thank you all for your work to
maintain.
Ken Hamm.
THE EDITOR,
After receiving requests from
some of your readers, your paper
asked for the names of those, who
registered for the Blyth
Homecoming and School Reunion.
It was not the intention of.the
committee to make public the
persons attending, although, the
names and addresses of long lost
friends can be given to individuals.
Upon completing the names of
those registered it has been
discussed and decided to place the
list in the local library or another
public location to be viewed upon
request. Therefore a list of names
will not be given to The Citizen at
this time. Individuals who wish a
name/address of friends or
classmates may contact committee
members or write to Loma Fraser,
Box 194, Blyth.
We wish to thank all those who
registered and those who made our
Homecoming a success.
The Registration Committee for
Homecoming '96.
Letters to the editor
The Citizen welcomes letters to the editor.
They must be signed and should be accompanied by a
telephone number should we need to clarify any
information. Letters may be edited for content and space.
The Citizen reserves the right to edit or not print letters.
Reunion committee
responds to request
PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21,1996
C T
e North Huron
itizen
P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, Publisher, Keith Roulston
BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. Editor, Bonnie Gropp NOM 1 HO NOG 1H0
Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 Advertising Manager,
FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 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 527.00/yea, ($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 0 Copyright.
Publications Mail Registration No. 6966
Sell reason, not power
Municipal Affairs Minister Al Leach warned leaders of Ontario
municipalities again Monday that there arc too many municipalities in
Ontario and gave the strong hint that they'd better do something about it
before he did. No doubt some
municipal leaders will snap to
attention and say "Aye, aye,
sir!" but he's going to have to
do a better selling job to get
agreement from most.
So far the provincial government hasn't come up with a better
argument for municipal restructuring than "because we say so!"
Certainly it's easy to argue that with 26 municipalities, for instance,
Huron has too many local governments. Trying to prove the alternative
will be better and cheaper, however, is much harder. Restructuring,
from regional government to county school boards, has in the past
created a system people found less responsive and that didn't even save
money. A whole new level of bureaucracy was set up that made people
feel they had less control of their lives. In general there have been few
savings in cost because the large bureaucracies created ate up any
potential savings.
If Leach wants municipal politicians to see the wisdom of voting
their municipalities out of existence, he'd better come up with some
compelling, common sense arguments and do it quickly. He's been
relying on threats to scare people into compliance, but the window of
opportunity is closing fast. Even if he cracks down now and forces
amalgamations, they won't come into effect until the 1997 elections.
That's perilously close to the provincial government having to seek a
new mandate. Regional government cost the conservatives heavily in
rural areas like Huron in the past. Peopletend to have long memories.
Leach must either explain how we're going to get a better system out
of municipal restructuring or drop the whole scheme. — KR
Refighting old battles
The media treated it as if it. were something entirely new when the
Canadian Medical Association debated a resolution calling for a two-
tiered medical system: the current publicly funded medical system and
a parallel private system that would provide extra services for those
who had the money to pay for it. Actually, the reasoning sounded like
the same arguments that came from some doctors more than 30 years
ago when medicare was first born.
Some doctors have always opposed medicare. They feel medicine
should be a free enterprise profession and, understandably, resent the
bureaucracy that government funding brings. Some look longingly to
the south where a medical degree means, not just a good income, but
almost certain wealth.
What has changed in 1996 is government cutbacks have put pressure
on the system to cut waste and made it more uncomfortable for all
medical professionals. Some doctors see the establishment of a private
healthcare system as relieving that pressure. They know there are many
people willing to pay to get faster service than the government-
supported system can supply.
And why shouldn't they? The argument is beguiling. If some people
can pay to get service from a private healthcare system won't that
relieve the pressure on the public system and give faster service for
everyone? In the short term, perhaps yes. In the long run, however, we
will have many doctors who will opt for the unfettered income of the
private system and leave the public system under-served. Private
hospitals and clinics will get new equipment that public hospitals can't
afford. Eventually, the well-to-do people who can afford the private
system, will pressure governments to cut the expense of the public
system so they can save taxes.
Many of the people who support a two-tiered health system for
Canada either weren't here, or don't remember the situation before we
adopted a universal public healthcare system. They can't remember the
days when people ignored health problems because they were afraid to
go to the doctor in case they couldn't pay the bill. They can't recall
when a major illness could create an economic crisis that could
endanger a family for years.
The medicare system has problems but the solution isn't to throw it
out. Thankfully, Health Minister David Dingwall said, the federal
government remains committed to equality for all in health care.— KR