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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-04-04, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 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 + $1.64 G.S.T.) in Canada; S65.00/year in U.S.A. and S100/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 0 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 4 OCna. +CNA „V 1 0r: a ' Member of the Ontario Press Council =mom P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 E-mail norhuron0scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.co The Citizen P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Who needs this? Provincial Energy Minister Jim Wilson's announcement last week that electricity charges will go up eight per cent is exactly the news beleaguered homeowners, farmers and small businesses didn't need. Rumours are that this is just the first of several price increases we may face as the electricity market is deregulated and privatized in Ontario. The privatization of electricity seems to be a victory for the provincial government's right-wing ideology over common sense. Ontario Hydro may not have been running as efficiently as possible but it was giving Ontario homeowners cheaper electricity than their neighbours and giving" Ontario industry a competitive edge. Believing implicitly in the value of competition, however, the Harris government has been determined to pr;vatize power generation. The problem is nobody wants to take over Ontario's expensively constructed power plants. So the government must give incentives to private industry to encourage businessmen to get involved. The Bruce Nuclear Power Development was leased at much less than its value so British Energy could hope to turn a profit and invest in refurbishing closed reactors. The eight per cent electricity rate increase is needed to pay down the debt faster so that private business will want to get involved in generating power. And of course a new business coming along will benefit from the higher price when it tries to build its own power plant. From California to Alberta there have been major headaches in privatizing electricity service. In theory, more competitors should mean lower electricity prices but to attract the competitors, prices have always gone up. While competition should promise savings, duplication of service plus the need to create double-digit profit levels to keep shareholders happy can more than eat up the savings. Let's not forget we once had competition in electricity in Ontario and the government took over and set up Ontario Hydro because it made good economic sense. We need economical power. Outside of the Harris government, most of us don't care if this is provided by a public or private provider. The government seems adamant in pushing its private enterprise agenda even if consumers have to pay more to make it happen. — KR Democracy gets messy Our newscasts are going to get nasty as the screens are filled with protests. This week it was demonstrators in Ottawa who were demanding the government release the text of its proposals for the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA). Later this month Quebec City will be the site of international protests against globalization. Most Canadians will either condemn the protests or not pay attention. Instead, they should be thankful sombody's fighting for something most of us can't be bothered sticking up for — democracy. Take the FTAA situation: shouldn't a government be willing to discuss an agreement it proposes to sign that can change the lives of people in its country? Under the new realities of global trade agreements, however, the demands of other governments for secrecy trump the demands for Canadians to debate what their government is signing. Sadly, most Canadians don't care about their democratic rights as long as the prosperity train keeps delivering new goodies. — KR First blooms Photo by Vicky Bremner Looking Back Through the Years April 5, 1950 A feature of the special musical service at Melville Church was an organ recital of descriptive music. This included The Russian Patrol, when the' organ becomes a bugle band with marching soldiers. Narcissus, Trumpet Tune and Air would be played. The choir sang Going Home, and a mixed quartette sing Up From the Grave He Arose. Miss Grace Stewart was in charge of the Easter Meeting of Melville WMS. She was assisted in the devotional exercises by Mrs. John Work who read the scripture and Mrs. Jason S. Armstrsong who led in prayer. The Old Rugged Cross was sung by Mrs. Walter Porter. Mr. Cornish and his staff of the Singer Sewing Machine centre at Goderich gave a very interesting, demonstration on Singer sewing machine attachments in the Brussels Town Hall. All the different attachments were displayed and participants had the opportunity of seeing the work being done and how the machine and each different attachment could be adjusted to suit the different materials. The ladies also were pleased to see a sample of the work done by the ladies in charge of the machines. They demonstrated the hemmer, showing the different widths, tucker, ruttier, or pleater, edge stitcher, bias binder, shirrer, zigzagger and the button-holer. A demonstration of darning brought the demonstration to a close. Mrs. Harold Thomas won the prize donated by Mr. Cornish. Mrs. Eldon Wilson and Mrs. W. Martin served a tasty lunch to Mr..Cornish and staff at the close of the demonstration. April 2, 1986 The historic Ball's Bridge in Colborne Twp., south of Auburn would be part of the scenic landscape for at least another 10 years according to a decision reached by Huron County council. The county was still planning a modern structure to more adequately meet the heavier traffic needs of the area, but the new bridge would be in addition to,. not instead of the old bridge. Uncovered for the first time in recent years with the demolition of the Queen's Hotel in Brussels was a very unique classic old shop window. The window, once the sample room of the hotel, will be part of the new Huron County Pioneer Museum. It was an unoffical "grand opening" for the building that would house Lyle Youngblut Plumbing and Heating on the main street in Blyth. The entire roof of the former Blyth Meat Market building had been removed and a second story was being added. The approval of the Huron County budget meant the approval of the allocation for renovations to Huronview. Scheduled over a three- year period, the renovations were meant to make the facility more like a home and less like an institution. The Belgrave Squirts completed a successful hockey_ __season_".by winning the Tri-County championship beating Hanover in the finals. Earlier in the season they competed in the Walkerton House League Atom Tournament and won the B Championship. Team members were -Kyle Moran, Tim Coultes, Ian Morton, Robbie Johnston, Jason Campbell, Mark Robinson, Richard McKeon, Paul McIntosh, Robbie Anderson, Jeff Olson, Brad Robinson and coaches Jim Johnston and Glen Coupes. Top herd owners were honoured at a banquet in Brussels. Allan Martin got the award for highest herd average. Bob Vodden of Hol-den Farms took the award for runner-up herd average and for greatest production increase. The awards for breeding efficiency and highest plus production cow went to Jim McKague of Belmore. April 3, 1996 Senior students from Grey Central Public School were given the opportunity to tnteract with the seniors _at_Huronlea in Brussels. The pupils regularly visited the facility to play games, sing songs, chat with residents and learn from a generation they may not have contact with. The Blyth Optimists Club donated $300 to the young Peacemakers at Blyth Public School, to the annual operating cost of the program, April I. Receiving the donation from Optimist President Alan Young were Peacemaker Teag Onn, Jackie Brak, Staff Advisor Cheryl Cronin, Elizabeth Ross and Chris Hill. The Brussels Bulls held their annual banquet in Brussels this past Saturday at the Legion. Trophy winners included were Jamie Taylor, Cor Bridges, Ryan Wright, Cory Bragg, Greg Fritz, Josh Alexander and Brian McNichol. Four Blyth PS students won prizes at the Zone Level of the Royal Canadian Legion's Remembrance Day contest: Jamie Lewis, colour poster. junior, Megan Campbell, essay, junior, Mike Walsh, black and white poster, junior and Brianne Schultz, poem. junior.