Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-03-07, Page 4Publisher, 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; $65.00/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, PO. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1HO NOG 1H0 Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca ocna ENA Member of the Ontario Press Council A bundle of springtime Photo by Bonnie Gropp PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7; 2001 Editorials & Opinions Some leadership would be nice Stockwell Day finally, and reluctantly, decides he'll pay part of the Alberta taxpayers' bill for—settling his lawsuit. Prime Minister Jean Chretien orders his party to vote against an opposition resolution that repeats one of the promises of his 1993 election campaign platform. Who are Canadians supposed to turn to for a real vision of leadership? The two most powerful political leaders in our national parliament seem to be letting their personal foibles get in the way of what's best for the people they claim to represent. In the case of Chretien, pride has blinded him to seeing how silly he looks in blocking the opposition party's call for an independent ethics commissioner who answers to parliament. Chretien is angry that the opposition, especially Progressive Conservative Leader Joe Clark, won't drop questions about whether he acted improperly in helping a constituent in his riding. The current ethics commissioner, who answers to the PM, has said there's nothing wrong. The RCMP won't investigate. Yet Mr. Clark won't let the issue die and that brings out the stubbornness in the prime minister. It puts Liberals like Huron-Bruce's Paul Steckle in a difficult position: either go against your party or go against a policy you ran on to get elected. Mr. Steckle, to his credit, voted with his conscience. Meanwhile Day went with his conscience and didn't use his head. As an Alberta cabinet minister he attacked a Red Deer lawyer, in a published letter to the editor, as someone who supported child pornography because he was defending a pornographer in court. As a political leader, he should have known better than slander someone in print — a much more serious thing than slandering them in a legislature. But worse, when the lawyer threatened to sue, Day's stubbornness kicked in just like Chretien's and he refused to settle. Eventually there was a settlement for $60,000 but legal fees for lawyers fighting the case put the total cost -at $792,000. The tab was picked up by a special fund of the Alberta government. Leaders are human like everyone else, but the reason we choose them as leaders is they're supposed to be able to set aside their own frailties better than others. Sadly, both Chretien and Day are proving otherwise. — KR When is business just business? In an age when the consumer's interest seems to rule everything else, it seems strange that the Competition Bureau is taking on Air Canada for selling airfares too cheaply. The bureau said Monday it feels Air Canada is guilty of predatory pricing for undercutting the fares of smaller rivals who are trying to get started. They could well be right, but one wonders why the bureau isn't applying the same standards to other areas of the economy. When independent supermarkets in Atlantic Canada and northern Ontario, for instance, complained about competing stores from large chains selling products cheaper than the independents could buy the product at wholesale prices, the bureau just shrugged and said "that's business". If we want competition we must have rules to protect small entrants in the marketplace from bullying tactics of large companies. We need the bureau to be as vigilant with others as it is with Air Canada.— KR Looking Back Through the Years March 8, 1950 A robin, that cherry harbinger of spring, was seen in the village by Mr. John Rowland. Rev. George A. Milne, minister of Melville Church for the previous four years, had accepted a call to First Presbyterian Church, Merrill, Oregon. Rev. Mr. Milne expected to be inducted to his new charge late in April. Congratulations went to Miss Margaret Perrie, who passed her first piano examination (grade IV) with first class honours, at the Western Conservatory of Music (which is affiliated with the Western University) at London. She earned the very high mark of 87 per cent. She was a pupil of Mr. L. D. Thompson, and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Perrie. The New Postal Badge in Girl Guiding was earned by three Brussels Girl Guides: Lavarre McNair, Mary Agnes Higgins and Sheila Porter. These three girls had the distinction of being the first in Ontario to win this badge. After them, two other Guides from Toronto were successful. Presentation of their badges was given at a later date, and the public was to be invited to witness the presentation. Miss Mary Lott of Brussels celebrated her ninetieth birthday. Born in Lockport, New York, in 1860, she joined the Salvation Army, but after passing the various official ranks until she became adjutant, she quit at the age of 55 to take care of her parents. The musical play Randolph Ranch presented its opening performance to a packed house on Friday night and was declared a smash hit by the appreciative audience. Attractive costumes, the smart routines of the chorus girls, the romance and beauty added by the singing and dancing of the four "j girls", and the music, with the performance of the main characters, all went to make a show that appealed to the large audience. Tuesday night of that week, another packed house, with many being unable to get in, greeted the second performance. The new east window of St. John's Church Anglican Church was unveiled and dedicated on Sunday, March 12 at 3 prn. The Rev. B. H. Farr, A. A., Lth., Rural Dean of Huron was the preacher, while other visiting clergy were also present. Still more old coins had been brought into the newspaper office. An English penny dated 1806 was brought in by Mrs. G. McDowell. Mr. Percy Tyerman of Exeter sent word that he had a number of old pieces that he unearthed some years ago when he was plowing and leveling the road side. His father told him that years ago there was a toll gate located on or near the spot where the coins turned up. They include an 1812 half penny; Upper Canada penny dated 1852 and one of 1854; a United States of America one cent 1850; and several others minted in the early 1850's • March 5, 1986 Bill Robinson, president of the Auburn and District Lions Club, recently presented the club's first ever Citizen of the Year Award to Warner Andrews of Auburn. The award was in honour of his tireless efforts on behalf of the community as one of the village's board of trustees and elsewhere. As Mr. Robinson said: "the place couldn't keep going without Warner." Brussels Public School held its public speaking contest. Winners were; Elizabeth Haines, Amy Albrecht, Tim Machan, Lori Willie, Margaret Jarvis, and Scott Johnston. Some 60 to 70 students participated in the high school Festival of plays at Memorial Hall. Ab Hesselink and Allan Teeft who would operate the new EMA Foods supermarket in Brussels were in town to talk to the business community. Mr. Teeft, his wife and two daughters would be moving to Brussels in preparation for the opening of the new store expected in June. Grey Central School held its public speaking contest recently. Winners were: Cathy Earl, Becky Earl, Wong Yee Fun, Ann Morton, Melanie Vermeer, and Jared McCutcheon. March 6, 1996 The senior students at Blyth Public School had their hands and desks full as they took on the daunting task of stuffing and addressing more than 1,100 invitations to the Blyth Public School Reunion. Members of the Brussels Figure Skating Club came home with medals and ribbons from the Interclub competition in Stratford Feb. 18. Winners were: Jeanette DeWetering, Tanya Franken, Leisa McCall, Christa Smith, Nicole Mastnak, Lacey McCall, Michelle DeWetering, Samantha Thomas, Katherine Cameron,_ Christine Michelle Smith, Julie Nolan and Amanda Stevenson. The DeWeterings advanced to the Western Ontario Interclub Sectionals. Coaches for the club are Michelle Black and Faye MacDonald. Members of the Blyth Figure and Power Skating club were honoured at the achievement night on Friday for being the most improved. They were; Amanda Cook, novice; Jamie Lewis, senior, Paul Walker, Power Skating, Laura Meier, senior, and Andrea Sturzenegger, junior.