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The Citizen, 1999-10-27, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27,1999. C itizenTheNorthHuron Ona P.O Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil Member Ontario Prette Council P.O Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of S27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/year in U.S.A, and $100/year in other foreign coun­ tries. 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 newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Publications Mail Registration No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 1374990 What do you mean, equal? E ditorial rzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz In theory, we in Canada believe all people are equal. In reality, few want to agree that everyone is equal to them, especially if they are among those with increasing clout in our society. In the farming community there’s considerable consternation over a proposal from the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission (FPMC) that would throw out the basic philosophy that all pro­ ducers of a farm commodity should be treated as equal, no matter what their size. The FPMC has suggested in future it may require a two-thirds majority of farmers to pass marketing legisla­ tion and that majority would have to represent half of the total production of the commodity. There has been resentment on the part of large-farm operators, with the idea that all farmers are equal no matter how much they produce. They regularly point out that 20 per cent of the farmers produce 80 per cent of farm produce (this “truth” has become so accepted no one ever seems to challenge its validity). Why, members of the 20 per cent wonder, should they have only the same power in making board decisions as a member of the 80 per cent of small-timers? Under the current rules, the 80 per cent of small producers can actually control the activities of a board through majority rule, even if the decision was opposed by the fewer, larger producers. The FPMC seems out to set that straight. In doing so, they seem to be following a trend in government, particularly in Ontario. Government is now seen as answering not to “the people” but to the “taxpayer”. That simple change in philosophy alters the entire way government operates. If government answers to the taxpayer, then the more tax someone pays, the more they deserve to be listened too. People who pay little, because of poverty, and ask for a lot of services are not worth listening to. Basically, people — especially those who have prospered and see themselves as smarter than others — do not trust democracy. Those who truly believe in the concept that all people, rich and poor, smart and slow, are equal in society, had better start standing up for democracy before it is lost. — KR Photo by Janice Becker .ft. Looking Back Through the Years Hollow victory? There was a barely-restrained sense of glee in English Canada when a Quebec judge last week struck down Quebec’s law that required French to predominate any commercial sign in the province. Here’s hoping a backlash doesn’t develop in Quebec that will have us laughing out of the other side of our mouths. The separatist government of Premier Lucien Bouchard has been look­ ing for “the right conditions” to call another referendum on sovereignty, the right conditions being a chance of winning. There has been little chance of that happening lately as polls show fewer and fewer Quebecers want a referendum. But the gloating of some anglophones in the province could be the trig­ ger the separatists need. English rights activists think the court decision puts them on a roll and they want to expand their gains, force greater use of English in the schools and workplace and recapture some of the priv­ ileges they had before the Quebec government introduced legislation to promote the use of French at the expense of English. On the other hand, one thing that unites French-speaking Quebecers is the fear that their lan­ guage will be overwhelmed by the huge majority of North America that speaks English. Certainly many of the regulations that came about because of Quebec’s language legislation seem silly. The idea of sign police who go around and measure the lettering on signs to see if it lives up to the “letter” of the law seems like something from an absurdist movie. Yet over all, the sac­ rifices asked of English-speaking people living in Quebec have not been overly onerous. It would seem these people have much more to gain by language peace, and the continued erosion of separatism, than any minor victory over the size of lettering on signs. What Quebec needs most is to renew its economy through a long peri­ od of stability. Two decades of fear about the future have undermined any attempts to build business confidence in the province. Montreal, once the most powerful city in Canada, now suffers by comparison to other large cities in the country. It’s easy to celebrate a victory over the silliness of the sign law. That “victory” could be sour if it fans separatist flames again. — KR From the files of the Blyth Standard, Brussels Post and North Huron Citizen Oct. 24,1979 Ken Ramsay of Blyth exhibited the first prize breeders herd at the Tri-County Holstein Show in Walkterton. The senior citizens residence in Blyth had two flags flying with a new one presented by the Blyth Legion. Hydro was cut off in Blyth for close to two hours when a truck loaded with com cut a comer on County Rd. 25 east of Blyth and broke a guy wire on a hydro pole. Hullett began building a new bridge across the Maitland River on Ball’s road. Bill Pullen of Morris Twp. was presented with a gift of apprecia­ tion from the Huron Federation of Agriculture. Merle Gunby was re-elected president of the Huron Federation of Agriculture. Other executive members were Max Demaray, director; Gerry Fortune, first vice- president; John Van Beers, second vice-president; Bev Brown, direc­ tor and Jim Hunter, director. The Blyth PeeWee Boys won the Tri-County championship. Team members were; Brad Ferguson, Michael Chalmers, Brent Brooks, Scott Machan, Garth Wittich, Don Good, Tom Bailey, Ken Whitmore, Rob McDougall, Todd MacDonald, Ken Ho watt, Larry Good, Roger Cunningham, Pat Cronin and Drew Vodden. Coaches were Gary Hesselwood and John Vodden. New communicants at Blyth Trinity Anglican Church were Michael Henry, Lisa Watson, Kim Sargent and John and Lori Leibold. Oct 25,1989 Huron County farmers were fac­ ing another year of lower than nor­ mal crop yields. The Brussels Legion had another break-in. The guilty parties dam­ aged several door and window locks, eventually gaining entry through the bar door. The alarm system fortunately frightened off the burglars. Work began at the Blyth Memorial Hall expansion project with a ground-breaking ceremony. Present were: Mr. Grant, contrac­ tor, Chris Borgal, architect, Helen Grubb, clerk; Lois van Vliet, board member; Katherine Kaszas, artistic director; Carol Irwin, president; Shirley Fyfe, councillor; Doug Scrimgeour; Dave Lee, councillor; Larry Walsh; Doug Whitmore, Bill Howson and Joel Harris, general manager. Bernice Passchier was the new arts management intern at Blyth Festival. The Crusaders trounced Kurtzville 27-0. Blyth skate-a-thon was deemed a huge success with $2,300 raised. Top girl was Christine Lapp, fol­ lowed by Sherry Baan and Kimberley Richmond. Boys were Chris Lee, Wes Wilson and Darryl Shannon. Huron teachers were recognized for 25 years of service. They were Idella Wilson, Mary Moffatt, Shirley Lyons, Joan Perrie, Gwen Patterson, Donelda Charter, Dawn Szarek and Yvonne Grey. Oct 26, 1994 A robbery at Grandview Restaurant netted thieves lottery tickets valued at $465, 45 packages of cigarettes and $30 in cash. Two candidates, Graeme MacDonald and Charlie Thomas stepped forward to fill the vacant Grey Twp. council seat. The results were in and the Grade 9 students of Huron County had placed above the provincial aver­ age in both reading and writing. Margaret Jarvis finished first in the Toastmaster’s Area II competi­ tion. Corp. Kevin McDougall, former­ ly of Blyth. left on a six-month tour as a peacekeeper in Bosnia.