Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-12-15, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1999. C itizenTheNorthHuron >cna (♦OJA 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 Member Onterto Press Council 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 E ditorial LZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZJ Clement, Minister of Munici Only one smart man in Ontario? Increasingly Ontarians should be aware that as far as Mike Harris is concerned, there is only one man of intelligence in the whole province — Mike Harris. Even if there’s more than one person of intelligence, they all work in the premier’s office or in high cabinet positions. Harris and his government are becoming more and more impatient with the dolts who just don't understand what is obvious to them and they're taking action to make sure those of lesser intelligence don’t get in their way. A couple of weeks ago Affairs, held a news conference and announced that Toronto city council had until the end of the week to agree to reduce the number of councillors or else he’d make the decision for them. He hinted the government might reduce the number to 22 — the same as the number of provincial and federal ridings unless the council agreed to cut its number to at least 44. Council quickly acted. An appeal court recently ruled the government has violated the constitutional rights of French-speaking residents of eastern Ontario when it ordered the closure of the Montfort Hospital. The government said Monday it will appeal that ruling, saying the government has the right to govern. Recently the government announced it was forcing the amalgamation of the Ottawa and Hamilton areas. They introduced legislation to allow the cabinet to change any regulation that stood in the way of the amalgamation process without having to go back to the legislature for approval. A proposed new bill will give Health Minister Elizabeth Witmer the power to close any hospital. Once, the government claimed it wasn't behind closures, that it was all being done by the arms-length Hospital Restructuring Commission, but now the government wants to concentrate the power in the hands of the minister. Harris and his Finance Minister Ernie Eves regularly lecture the federal government on how poorly it runs its business (though the federal government has balanced its budget and the province hasn’t, yet). They also know more than all the municipal councils, the school boards and the courts. Aren't we lucky to be ruled by people of such incredible intelligence? Shouldn't we get rid of the democratic hurdles that get in the way of them doing what's best for us all, whether we know it or not? — KR Photo by Janice Becker Looking Back Through the Years From the files of the Blyth Standard, Brussels Post and North Huron Citizen Rolling the dice Prime Minister Jean Chretien's decision to proceed with legislation to spell out the terms of any future referendum Quebec sovereignty reminds one of the expression of Brian Mulroney, former prime minister when he spoke of “rolling the dice” on constitutional reform. The prime minister and his advisers are gambling that they can get rules for a future referendum in place without stirring the fires of nationalism enough to allow the government of Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard to find his “winning conditions” for another referendum. Perhaps the timing of the legislation, two weeks before Christmas, is also intended to introduce the subject at a time when people are distracted by other things. Separatists like Bouchard meantime are trying to make the most of the issue before people in the province go back to other concerns. Separatist sentiment generally only increases in Quebec when the federal government or people in one of the other provinces does something that provokes anger at the province being belittled. No doubt Bouchard will try to create all the outreach over this issue as he can, claiming the federal government is impeding the democratic will of the people of Quebec. Has the prime minister made a winning toss in this game of craps? Only history will tell for sure. If he judged wrong that this is the time to set the rules for a referendum, Chretien may go down in history as the man who started the process that broke up Canada. If, by having the rules spelled out, he sours the appetite of Quebec separatists, he will have helped put the issue to rest once and for all. One thing is sure. If there, is another referendum the Quebec government will not be able to hold our tu/zy promises of what a “yes” vote means — that Quebecers are going to be get more without losing anything: that they can keep their Canadian money, their Canadian passports but have virtual independence anyway. At least the ground rules will be clear and honest. — KR Dec. 12, 1979 Prices of most things were going up and hydro rates for the Blyth community were no exception. An overall increase of 13 per cent was scheduled for Feb. 1, 1980. For res­ idential customers, the new mini­ mum billing was to be $4 and the flat water heater rate would be $17.40 per month. Bill Morley of Usbome Twp. was elected Huron County warden at the county council meeting. Simon Hallahan, East Wawanosh, was the proud recipient of the Huron Federation of Agriculture's Farm Award. In Industrial Hockey League action Manning defeated Blyth Inn 14-3, Radfords edged Watsons 6-5, and Bainton dumped Hubbards by a score of 8-3. Lucky winners of this week’s board of trade draw were Helen Gowing, Brenda Ball and Rita Flynn, Winnie Johnston, Nellie Verhowen, Flora Dowson. Fred Meier was elected Gay Lea director. Ross Procter was elected presi­ dent of the Belgrave, Blyth, Brussels school fair. Dec. 13, 1989 The cost of renovating part of Huronview to serve as offices for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food had jumped 700 per cent since the first esti­ mates were given. A Blyth landmark tumbled down as crews working for CP Rail demolished "the Arch" on the CP line at the northeast part of the vil­ lage. The arch carried the old CN Wingham-London line over the CP’s Goderich-Guelph line. Klaus and Kirstin Henschell appeared in court on 15 counts of fraud and theft in connection with the bankruptcy of Brussels Stockyards Ltd. Fire destroyed a large dairy barn near Auburn killing 25-35 head of dairy cattle. The Brussels Jr. C Bulls finished an impressive mini-home stand winning all three games by outscor­ ing the opposition 32-3, including back to back shutouts and holding visiting teams to an average of less than 20 shots per .game. The final scores were 13-0, 8-0 and 11-3. Four members of Auburn 4-H Clubs received presentations at the achievement night. They were Karen Bakker, Ingeborg Van Eeden, Ruth Anne Bakker and Jenny Van Eeden. Lorraine Franken received the Young Trophy for the jersey cow in Perth-Huron with the highest but­ terfat yield. Ryan Vandenheuval of RR2, Auburn got the Robin Acres Farm Trophy for the first pize calf in the junior special at Seaforth Fair. John Armstrong of RR2, Auburn was presented with the Westlandyn Jerseys Trophy for the junior cham­ pion at the parish show and the Tom Rathwell Award. Donna Lynn Armstrong won the George Bass Memorial Trophy for showing the first prize Junior Yearling at the junior special in Seaforth. Dec. 14, 1994 The new warden of Huron County for 1995 was Wingham Reeve Bruce Machan, whose nom­ ination went uncontested at the county council inaugural meeting. Wingham OPP were looking for information regarding vandalism at Blyth Public School, where two basketball nets had been smashed. The approximate damage was $300. The Huron-Bruce Member of Parliament, Paul Steckle brought his public input road show to Wingham’s F.E. Madill Secondary School and heard from a majority of those in attendance that unem­ ployment insurance and welfare payments were crippling the employed. Carol Campbell, owner of CAMC Bookkeeping and Income Tax Services Inc., along with her husband Allan hosted an open house at their new Brussels offices. Adriana Matthuis and Jens Schoenrank purchased SS No 11 in Hullett and were eagerly looking for any memorabilia as they researched the school's history. The couple also hosted an open house.