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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-04-18, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 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 Putilishing 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 portibn 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 4:) 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 Member of the Ontario Press Council m:'6:ciml P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 ocna lit CNA E-mail norhuronwscsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca The Citizen P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Rights without responsibilities Despite the protests and demonstrations outside the Summit of the Americas this week, the movement to give more rights to companies trading internationally will continue its momentum. The question remains about when there will be an international movement to impose responsibilities on the same companies. Right now powerful multinational companies are enjoying what every child dreams about having when he or she grows up: freedom from rules. When we grow up, however, we learn that with freedom from our parents' rules comes responsibilities. Such is not the case in international trade, however. Trade agreements, particularly now that they are expanding into the area of services, are giving multinational companies greater and greater freedom 'from national laws, yet no one is talking about international laws that would impose responsibilities such as care of the environment, just treatment of employee. or fair competition with smaller competitors. To expand the comparison to families, what we have in the world now is like the position of the child whose parents are divorced and who learns to play one against another. Huge corporations tell national governments that they'd better be given what they want or they'll take their business elsewhere. Worse still, new trade agreements give international companies the right to take complaints against governments to secret trade panels which can overrule the democratically-elected government's legislation. If there was a democratically-elected, world-wide government to replace the power of the national government there would be some counter balance. As it is we have what amounts to international anarchy with the most powerful bully getting his way. And the mysterious thing is no one seems to care: certainly not our governments nor most of the electorate. Aside from a few thousand protesters, which most people either ignore or condemn, there is no opposition to this trading of the democratic power of the majority for the hope of greater prosperity. What was it that the Bible story said about trading your birthright for a mess of pottage?— KR Where do we fit in? The provincial government is encouraging doctors to join group practices in an attempt to make health care in Ontario more efficient. There are certainly examples of how these larger practices could make the system work better for patients. We have one right in our backyard where the Seaforth Medical Clinic has been able to recruit doctors that other communities couldn't attract and provide better service because of it. The Seaforth operation has been able to branch out and meet shortages in Brussels and Blyth when no one else was willing to- help these communities. But one system seldom fits all and one hopes the province doesn't get too mesmerized by this one. What happens, for instance, with small remote communities that can only hope to support one or two doctors? Could their situation become worse instead of better? — KR Volunteer ready to go Photo by Jane Hoggart Looking Back Through the Years April 19, 1950 Mrs. A. Lane was hostess to the Friendship Circle for their April meeting. The theme centered around Easter. Betty Cousins and Jean Cardiff favoured the Circle with an Easter duet. Mrs. A. McTaggart gave the topic from "Growing with the years". On April 18, the Melville Women's Guild met at the home of Mrs. Gerald Gibson. The chairman for the evening was Miss Jessie Little and "Easter" was the theme of a poem read by Mrs. Alvin Logan to open the meeting. The theme was carried out in the hymns and roll call as well. Mrs. William Martin read the prayer. Police announced that a man apprehended in North Bay was being held for questioning in the $500 robbery from the Export Packers in Brussels. The theft of the money from the cash drawer of the office was discovered'by the manager of the plant, Charles Doll, in the early hours of the Saturday morning. A bill for clothes circa 1890 was found, from the "leaving town sale" of the H. E. Maddock Dry Goods Co. of Brussels. Men's suits valued at $15, were on sale for as low as $3.50. Boots and shoes were 75 cents, while mens' shirts were just 35 cents. The 25th anniversary of the Huron Presbyterian Society was to be held in Ontario Street United Church, Clinton. The scheduled guest speakers were Mrs. George Telford of Oshawa; Mrs. Sybil Courtice of Clinton who had recently returned from Japan and Mrs. L. C. White, president of London Conference Branch of the WMS. This was a very special meeting summing up the work of the WMS over the last 25 years. . April 16, 1986 In a photo in this week's edition of The Citizen Colborne Twp. Reeve Russell Kernighan showed reporter Wilma Oke the route of the preferred alternative for a new bridge and county road to replace Ball's Bridge. About 50 people attended a meeting in Auburn to learn more about the bridge replacement program. Greg Wilson, president of the Brussels Optimists Club presented a cheque for $2,000 for the Brussels Lions Pool Committee to pool committee chairman Paul Mutter and Bruce Hahn, chairman of the finance committee for the pool. Bill Brady was the guest speaker at the annual dinner meeting of Town and Country Homemakers. Head table guests included Maggie and Bruce MacDonald, board chairman Lauretta Liegner and executive director Jean Young. Neil McGavin and son Brian represented two of the three generations to have seen tremendous growth in the farm implement business since Gordon McGavin started selling equipment from his Walton area farm in the mid 1930's. In 1985 the company's sales topped $4 million. Tom Perry turned his idea for a crop consulting company into a company showing explosive growth as farmers, looking for ways to increase efficiency used information stored on the Auburn company's computers to try to give them a profit edge. Wayne Fear of the Huron County Pork Producers presented a brief at the Member of Parliament dinner held by the Huron County Federation of Agriculture in Clinton. Shelley Paulocik of the Bluevale- area showed one of the first of her apple trees to reach a saleable size. After long research and several years of work she had brought old varieties of trees back into the gardens of area landowners. Jack Armstrong, one of the original members of the Lc.ndesboro men's bowling league received a plaque on his retirement. Mr. Armstrong started with the club in 1947. The musical play Oil! Oil! Oil! appeared at Blyth Memorial Hall. The play, produced by the Victoria Playhouse Company from Petrolia told the story of the first discovery of oil in North America's new Petrolia in the mid-1800's and the boom it brought. April 17, 1991 Blyth Public School won a co-ed volleyball tournament that the school hosted against other schools from the area. Members of the winning team were: Margy Stewart, Sandra Walsh, Kim Lee, Amanda Howson, Shawna Walker, Sharon Baechler, Jeff Ferguson, Greg Blok, Kurt Lentz, Mark Wilson, Shane Burkholder and Craig Empey. Bob Livermore coached the team, to victory. The Brussels Atom Rep top players received award at the annual banquet. They were Scott Clarkson, most improved; Craig Thompson, most sportsmanlike and Brett Fischer MVP. April 17, 1996 Cam Proctor presented Doug Walker, coach of the Belgrave Atoms with the 3M Coach of the Year award at the community's annual minor hockey banquet. Members of Belgrave Guiding were ready to take off on their.cookie blitz last Thursday evening. Involved were: Brownie Lindsey Malhoit, Pathfinder Heather Black, Spark Shauna Dawson and Guide Candace Procter. Kathy Hunt of Ethel was in tine form when she captured four gold medals at the North American Speed Skating Championships in Red Deer, Alberta.