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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-02-04, Page 4C itizen P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG 1H0 Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil C CNA WER.ViC E-mail norhuron@huron.net _MO 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 The North Huron lice sculpture Photo by Bonnie Gropp Letters THE EDITOR, On Saturday, Jan. 31 myself and Detective Constable Paul Graf of the Goderich Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police had occasion to attend the first annual snowmobile drag races held at the clubhouse at the Blyth Snow Travellers in East Wawanosh Twp. Using the Force snowmobiles, we were to provide a police presence at this event. Given the recent poor publicity that the sport of snowmobiling has received, it was refreshing to see such an extremely well-run and alcohol-free event. It was a treat to see an event in which safety was stressed first and foremost. The participants got to claim their bragging rights via a safe, organized outlet, not on the trails. It was quite evident that a great deal of planning and research went into this event. This was proven by a completely incident free and thoroughly enjoyable day. Hats off to the Blyth Snow Traveller's Club and all the volunteers who helped make this day the true success it was. Such events deserve a higher profile to demonstrate that the vast majority of snowmobilers are responsible, law abiding folk who juit want to enjoy their rather considerable investments. We look forward to attending future such events. Perhaps next year we can convince our Staff Sergent to let us enter the Force Sleds in a few heats! Yours in safe snowmobiling Detective Constable Mike Scott Goderich OPP. THE EDITOR, On Saturday, Jan. 24 the Alzheimer Society of Huron County held the third annual indoor walk-a-thon, "Walk for Memories". Through the special efforts of participating walkers $8,000 was raised in Huron County. The money will be used to continue supporting families in Huron County who are affected by Alzheimer disease. A year ago the Alzheimer Society of Huron County provided the Clinton Huron Adult Day Centre with $5,000 to expand their day-away program. This year the society is pleased to provide Wingham Adult Day Centre with $3,750 to extend their day-away program. Our fundraising also supports the services organized by the Alzheimer Society of Huron County, Special Steps (Friendly visitor program), Caregiver Support Groups, Wandering Persons Registry, Workshops, Resource Library, Speakers Bureau, Telephone Reassurance. In addition, each year, 10 per cent of our fundraising total goes to research to find a cause and cure for Alzheimer disease. Thank you for giving so generously and supporting the participants in the walk-a-thon. Your financial help provides "Hope for Today — A Cure for Tomorrow". Fran Hook. We welcome letters to the editor PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1998. Shoot-from-the-lip Harris As the provincial government of Premier Mike Harris enters the second part of its mandate and looks toward winning re-election, leaked strategy papers suggest the government needs to show a heart. It may be difficult as long as the premier continues to use his mouth without his brain in gear. On a talk show in Toronto on Monday the premier was asked about a recent student protest against higher tuition fees for university and college students. The premier blamed the protest on the Canadian Federation of Students. "They've called for free tuition and free this and free bread and free housing and free boats and whatever. I mean I think they get a little silly." The premier later admitted he'd exaggerated but accused the students of exaggerating too. He's probably right, but'the fact remains that today's student faces a tougher battle to get an education than his or her parents. Tuition in Ontario will, by the year 2000, have increased by 50 per cent under the current government. At the same time, the tough job market has made it harder for young people to find the after-school jobs in high school to let them put away money for their education, or the summer jobs to help them earn money while they're in university. While all this was happening, the federal and provincial governments also cut the outright grants that used to help students get their education without amassing huge amounts of debt. Today, it's estimated, a student in Ontario may have $25,000 to $30,000 in debts when he or she graduates from university. But the problem is just beginning, because for many young people there are no jobs to go to, at least non at the level of income they need to repay their loans. One of the great successes of the Canadian education system since World War II has been its ability to let people, through education, rise from whatever financial status they were born into. We didn't need to have affluent parents to get a university or college education and qualify for better jobs. We can't afford to let this system collapse in the name of government "efficiency". We need to encourage people to reach for their goals of bettering themselves. Young people are facing a huge problem not of their own making. The federal and provincial governments must find the solutions or face the consequences of a generation that is not able to meet its potential. Premier Harris has won a lot of support over the years for being a "speak-your-mind" kind of person, but by treating a legitimate problem as if it were a joke, he is not showing his government has a heart. —KR A world out of our control Economists keep assuring Canadians that there is no reason for their dollar to be under pressure on international money markets, yet the dollar has reached record lows. The government has done virtually everything the business community has demanded. The federal deficit has been eliminated at great cost to Canadians in terms of jobs and living standards. Provinces too have taken on deficits, with equal pain. Through free trade arrangements businesses have been given much freer access to our markets. Deregulation has got the government out of many areas that once irritated business. Yet still Canada stumbles along. Economists predict that Canada will have the best growth of any of the Group of Seven major economies, yet huge numbers of people are unemployed or under employed. And the dollar is under such pressure that only a rise in interest rates was able to keep it from dropping lower in relation to the U.S. dollar. That increase in interest rates, some experts fear, may diminish the potential for growth in Canada at a time when we desperately need jobs. There's a sense of desperation in Canadians — a sense that they have no control over their lives — and the manipulations of international money markets increase that sense of being helpless. You want to cry out, "What more do you want?" to the big businesses that increasingly control the world economy. The answer? Well, right-wing thinkers like those at the Fraser Institute want a lower minimum wage. There's also the suggestion that we should lower our environmental restrictions to free up business. Weren't these among the fears that opponents of free trade talked about a decade ago? Are those predictions coming true? — KR E ditorial