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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-04-15, Page 4Spring in bloom Photo by Janice Becker Letter The North Huron itizen CNA 2.0 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 P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG IHO Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887.9021 norhuron@huron.net Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil YEillirie 0 CIPCuLATMAI E ditorial PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 1998. Who do they turn to? For hundreds of years in western democracies people, when they felt wronged have turned for protection to their government and its legal system. But what are people to do when the government, in the name of all of us, is the oppressor. There are a growing number of cases where government, in the name of saving money, seems not at all interested in providing justice. Currently the federal and provincial governments, by splitting hairs, are saying they can only compensate some of the victims who received hepatitis through infected blood given to them during blood transfusions. Others, those who were infected before or after the specific period the governments have agreed to accept responsibility for, are out of luck unless they want to sue the government. The thought of ordinary citizens having to go up against the resources of their government is daunting even for the healthy and strong. Think of what it would be like if you were gravely ill. But even the right to sue your government can be too great a threat to some governments. In Alberta, the government of Ralph Klein threatened to invoke the "notwithstanding" clause of the constitution to take away the constitutional right to sue for victims of forced sterilization programs by previous governments. His bill would have given the victims limited compensation but they wouldn't have been able to go to the courts if they didn't like the settlement. Luckily there was such an outcry that in less than 24 hours the government backed away from such a travesty against human rights. In Ontario the same kind of public pressure persuaded Premier Mike Harris to change his mind, ignore the advice of his lawyers, and compensate the Dionne sisters for money they claimed the government had taken from their trust fund over the years. And closer to home, a farmer from the Teviotdale area has been battling four successive provincial governments from three different parties in an effort to get compensation for illness to his family and his cattle caused by contamination of the groundwater from deterioration of asphalt paving buried, by the Ministry of Transportation, on the farm before he bought it. For the outside observer, the evidence is overwhelming, yet for more than a decade as he has tried to get the government to accept responsibility, it has fought every step of the way, perhaps worried it might be liable for problems from buried asphalt on others sites around the province. The case is now before the courts as the farmer tries to fight the might of the government. In all these cases, governments are fighting disadvantaged individuals in our name — with the goal of saving our taxes. Are we really comfortable such injustices are perpetrated on our behalf? — KR Cheap at twice the price The quality and price of meals available on Parliament Hill have always been controversial but recently politicians and journalists were served a meal with a different kind of price tag. They could have had a lunch at the National Press Club which would have cost between $14.80 and $20.55 in a similar restaurant. The menu included a devilled egg appetizer with a choice of a main dish of quiche lorraine, roast turkey breast, pizza or a grilled breast of chicken followed by a dessert of apple pie with cheese or creme caramel. The difference in this meal was that it was provided by representatives of the supply management farming commodities: chicken farmers, egg producers, dairy producers and turkey farmers. They informed the diners that, depending on which meal they chose, the farmer would have received from 70 cents to $1.36 for the costs of products involved. "Most people would leave more in gratuity (tip) than the farmer gets," said New Brunswick egg fanner Gordon Hunter. The meal was produced to counteract an attack from the Canadian restaurant and food manufacturing lobbies which have brought supply management under attack again as Canada prepares for the next round of World Trade Organization talks. They were trying to point out that what farmers get for their product is only a small part of the bill people pay, whether at the supermarket or the restaurant table. Strangely there's no lobby to complain that Loblaws or KFC makes too much money but the lowly farmer is constantly on the defensive over what he earns. — KR Looking Back From the files of the Blyth Standard, Brussels Post and North Huron Citizen April 18, 1968 $13,000. Quick action by the Brussels fire- The Blyth Butcher Shop, owned fighters saved the home of Cliff by Ernie Freck Button closed indef- Kemaghan when a grass fire ignit- initely. ed the shingled roof at the back of Blyth council received 15 appli- the building. cations for the position of clerk. The Majestic WI installed a new The Blyth Little Theatre present- executive. They were: Mrs. James ed The Farm Show, by Theatre Smith, president; Mrs. James Arm- Passe Muraille. . • strong, first vice-president; Mrs. The 30-voice Belgrave men's Earl Cudmore, second vice-presi- choir performed at East Wawanosh dent and Mrs. John Speir, district Public School, under the direction director. of Rev. John Roberts. Council passed a proclamation, April 16, 1997 declaring Daylight Savings Time to Colleen Schenk of Wingham won run from April 28 to Oct. 27. the Progressive Conservative nomi- Main street business owners were nation for the Huron-Bruce riding. asked by council to park their vehi- The board of education an- cles on side streets or at the public nounced a 3.5 per cent tax hike for parking lot in front of the arena to education purposes. leave room for customer parking. Eleanor Hemingway was hon- April 18,1973 oured by Majestic WI for her 50 Municipal budgets were fattened years of membership. when Provincial Treasurer John The Blyth Medical Clinic White announced grants. Hullett opened. Twp. received $35,000; Morris The Brussels Juveniles, Blyth Twp., $24,000; McKillop Twp. Bantams and Goderich Pirates cap- $21,000; West Wawanosh, tured WOAA titles. $16,000; East Wawanosh, $15,000, Jungle 2 Jungle played at the Colborne $14,000 and Blyth, Capitol. THE EDITOR, I have long had a hobby interest in horse-drawn fire fighting apparatus. I am currently researching the history of the Brussels Steam Fire Engine Co., which was operated by John D. Ronald in Brussels from approximately 1878 to 1912. I am wondering if any Citizen readers can assist me irr this task. Often sold by marketing agent Canadian Fire Engine Co. of London, the Company's fire engines were commonly referred to as either Ronald or Canadian engines and, in the latter care, generally carried a Canadian Fire Engine Co. builder's plate. I am seeking anything in the way of Brussels/Ronald corporate records, production records, advertising material or catalogues, and builder's photographs, etc. I would also like to learn if any Ronald engines have survived in the region. In addition, I am wondering if any descendants of Mr. Ronald still live in the Brussels area, as I would like to contact them. I can be reached by mail at the following address: James E. Lanigan, 2120 Southland Drive S. W., #4104, Calgary, Alberta T2V 4W3. Please note that I would also be pleased to accept any respondent's "collect" telephone call 403-265- 922'7 (office) or 403-281-4584 (home). Yours sincerely, Jim Lanigan.