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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-02-07, Page 4PAGE 4, THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2001 Editorials & Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil 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 $28.00/year ($26.16+ $1.84 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/year In U.S.A. and $100/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 newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Publications Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 1374990 The Citizen 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 E-mail norhuronascsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca ocna CNA Member of the Ontario Press Council IIMTIMOI Poverty still here inlluron Anyone visiting Huron County would• get the impression that this is a pretty prosperous part of the world, While our farms and homes are well kept and there are few obvious appearances of poverty, however, there are still many who struggle to get by. Figures presented at Huron County council, last week, showed 645 families earned less than $10,000 a year according to 1996 Statistics Canada figures and another 1,420 families earned less than $20,000, The reality of poverty affects more than just those receiving social assistance. A single parent working full time at minimum wage typically has only $60 left over after necessities like for rent, basic groceries and utilities. All tolled there are 2665 children and youth under the age of 18 living in low income households, 965 of thr se under the age of five. Our "I'm all right Jack" attitude in the past few years has seen us ignore poor people. It's fashionable to see all those who aren't doing well as being the authors of their own misfortune. It's convenient to lump everybody in together, those getting social assistance and those who are working but can't earn enough to scrape their way out of poverty. Some of this attitude comes from frustration. Being a big-hearted society during the two previous decades didn't make the problem of poverty go away — in fact sometimes it seemed worse, particularly during and after the recession of the early 1990s. It was easy to preach that since being kind and helpful didn't work, perhaps a touch of "tough love" would do the trick. The problem, of course, is there's no single right answer and no matter how enlightened the policy or how harsh the penalties for not succeeding, we will always have poor people. What's most troubling are the numbers of children living in poverty. We know that poor children don't have as much chance to develop to their full capacity. Hungry kids don't learn well in school. They tend not to think they have the potential to escape the cycle of poverty. While we complain about taxes today, the penalty for allowing too many children to live in poverty is that some will become adults who will need assistance for years to come. Not every family and every child can be rescued, but imagine if our society attacked the problem of child poverty as enthusiastically as it attacked the problem of the deficit. Imagine if we put our resources to work as diligently in identifying each and every poor child and planning ways for each to reach his or her full potential. In the long run, the huge effort would pay off in creating more adults who can contribute fully to the country. The Huron Colinty Social Services department deserves credit for taking a small step in this direction through its Pathways to Self- Sufficiency program. This program tries to give a hand-up to poor families through emergency measures to help them keep their jobs and homes and seeking to help people gain the skills to improve their lives. It's a small program and as such can have only limited success. Still, every family helped creates the potential for children who will realize their potential in the future.— KR THE EDITOR, Four and a half years ago, I had the honour of being reunited with my (then) 22-year-old son, Greg, whom I had released for adoption as an infant. Meeting and getting to know him has definitely been the highlight of my life. He is a kind, loving, talented, unique young man, and I love him dearly. Jan. 28 marked 13 years since the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the- abortion law in this \country. Since Jan. 28, 1988 abortion has been unrestricted andiegal in Canada, for any reason, or for no reason, throughout the whole nine months of pregnancy; yes, abortion is legal in Canada right up until birth. I could have snuffed out the life of my child, legally, before he was born. But why? Why should ANY person, (Supreme Court judges included), have the power to choose who lives and who dies, before they're born? Greg is the very same person now, that he became when sperm joined egg. He did not suddenly become someone else at birth. God knew that unborn babies are defenceless, and in need of protection. That's why He placed them inside their mothers' bodies (I think). Someone once said, "No woman wants an abortion like she wants an ice-cream cone, or a Porsche; a woman wants an abortion like an animal caught in a trap wants wants to gnaw off its own leg". Abortion has become so politically correct that most women in crisis pregnancy have been made to feel as if abortion is their only choice. Is this the best we can do for 115,000 Canadian women and their babies, each year? I personally challenge anyone to give me one logical reason, from the baby's point of view, why a woman should have the right to choose to end the life of that baby, anytime she• wants to before it's born, but not after. There's help for women in crisis pregnancy. Please call 1-800- 665-0570. Second Chance Ministries welcomes the opportunity to assist anyone who is hurting from abortion. Please call Angelina at 905-430-7990. Sincerely, • Jean Hedley. Forming groups Feb. 8, 1950 The annual meeting of the Library Board was held and a successful year was reported. The sum of $219.70 had been spent on new books and the circulation was 5,904, an increase of 798 over the previous year. The exterior of the building had been freshly painted and a sink installed in the kitchen. The following officers were elected for the year: chairman, Rev. G. A. Milne; secretary, Miss Hattie Downing; treasurer, Mr. R. J. Bowman. Miss Dorothy Armstrong would be in charge of the story hour. The following Saturday, Feb. 25, moving pictures were to be an added attraction. Feb. 5, 1986 Huron-Bruce MP Murray Cardiff presented a cheque to the Blyth Festival from the Secretary of State for assistance in the purchase of the Festival's computer (installed last year. Receiving the cheque from Mr. Cardiff were Marion Douchette, president of the board and board members Don McCaffery and Carol Irwin. Joe Seili was presented with a plaque at the Canada Farm Show last week in Toronto. Huron Feeding Systems, operated by Joe and his wife Debbie were the top sales in Ontario for Ernewein Ltd. of Walkerton selling grain bins and aeration equipment. Several Blyth area merchants who took part in the Snowflake promotion gathered to draw the winners for the contest. Taking part in the draw were Hazel Bailey, Judy Brown, David Webster, Lois van Vliet and Lorna Fraser. The Walton annual Snowmobile Poker Rally sponsored by the Area Sports Club was held with 383 hands sold. Cash prize winners for best poker hands were Glen Van Wonderen, RR 1, Varna, $150; Shirley Coleman, RR 1, Seaforth, $75; John Brecker, RR 4, Walton and Chris Ryan, Brussels, $25. The Canada Goose met the Wizard of Woe in the play presented by the Grade 5 and 6 students of Blyth Public Schools at their assembly. Karil Yanchus played Canada Goose and Craig Roulston was one of the Photo by Janice Becker students sharing the part of the Wizard of Woe. Alzheimer Soc. says thanks THE EDITOR, The Alzheimer Society of Huron County held its sixth annual Walk for Memories event on Jan. 20. The society acknowledges the dedicated volunteers, walk participants, local businesses, secondary schools and residents of Huron County for the generous support of this year's event which raised $12,000 county wide. The money raised will go towards enhancing the services offered by the Alzheimer Society of Huron County which includes education, support, referral and research. Anyone wishing more information about our services, please contact the Alzheimer Society of Huron County at 481-1482 or 1-800-561-5012. Thanks again, Cathy Ritsema, Executive Director. Letters to the Editor Looking Back Through the Years