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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-05-09, 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 moiling costs. Publications Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 1374990 The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 PO. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca ocna *CpTA Member of the Ontario Press Council INETEMNI Keeping watch Photo by Janice Becker PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2001 Editorials & Opinions Downloading the tax burden The provincial government is today expected to deliver a budget with more tax cuts. Meanwhile, across the province, municipalities are, one by one, announcing property tax increases. It seems that the province hasn't 'just doWtloaded services but has also downloaded the tax burden. It wasn't supposed to be this way. The province promised downloading would be "revenue neutral". Provincial officials will tell you it was — that the whole problem is that municipal politicians just aren't up to making the (tough decisions of cutting costs, the way the provincial government has. After all, in the first years after downloading took place taxes didn't go up, For the ordinary citizen, trying to judge which side •of this argument to elieve can be impossible., Downloading came with gobs of supplemental funding which delayed the true effect of the shift in services and revenues. As long as the province continued to provide this funding. true downloading hadn't really taken place. If (or when) the government stops these additional grants, property taxes v, ill jump. - As well, one of the most expensive items in the downloading basket is just now turning up at the county and regional level: land ambulances. While municipalities have been picking up the tab for the provincially-run system for the past couple' of years, this year they are responsible for running the ambulance service for the first time. As well, the province has increased the standards these services are expected to .meet. Staff, for instance, is expected to be better trained. Ambulance stations that were fine for provincial use, must be upgraded to meet new regulations. That continued role of the provincial government is another aspect of downloading that's often overlooked. The • original idea of "disentanglement" when it arose first under the NDP government, was to give some - areas of jurisdiction to the province and others to the municipalities. What's happened, however, is that the province has kept regulatory control over many of the areas where they've shifted the financial burden to the municipalities. A change in government policy can mean increases for municipal property tax. Take water treatment. for instance. Following the Walkerton tragedy, the provincial government met criticism of its relaxed policies with a raft of new regulations. Most people were pleased, until the cost of implementing those regulations started to becOme evident. For rural areas with small water systems, the cost of testing and chlorination could be prohibitive. The province gets the praise for doing something, the municipalities pick up the cost. Municipal amalgamation is another area of provincially-initiated change for which the full cost is not yet known. The amalgamation process was greased with large amounts of provincial money to make the transition go smoothly. Only when these new larger municipalities, with their larger staffs, begin to get all their money from property tax will we know the true savings, or expense, of amalgamation. The Harris government may be trailing the Liberals badly in a recent poll but the public, generally, -has the sense they're good managers. That reputation wouldn't probably be confirmed by municipal politicians who have to make its policies work. Only time, and tax bills, will tell the ordinary person who's right. — KR Looking Back Through the Years May 10, 1950 A front page story told of a vicious killer of dogs at work in Brussels. Two dogs were found buried on a vacant lot owned by S.B. Elliott. One of the dogs was owned by Gus Eder and one by Bill Kellington. Both animals had apparently been beaten to death with a club. A warning also on the front page from S.B. Elliott stated, "Anyone disposing of dead animals or garbage of any kind on my premises will be prosecuted according to the law." The music festival at Belgrave drew a capacity crowd. Winners were: Darlene Pierce, Claire Chamney, Mary Johnston, Ula Griffiths, Johanna Hardema, Edith Davis, Raymond Walker, Jimmie Scott, Bob Jefferson, Billie- Thompson, Spika de Hann, Keith Rodgers, Tommy Brydges, George Baron, Richard McCutcheon, Donald Jardine, Barry Watson, Albert Watson, Gwen Walsh, Marlene Mackenzie, June Hackwell, Doris johnston, Claire Taylor, Shirley Badley, Marie Lyddiatt, Ian Griffiths, Louise Jefferson, Helen Haines, Donna Walden,' Audrey Hackwell, Barbara Smith. Dr. Jellinek, head of the school for studies in alcohol at Yale University. After thorough investigation he reported fewer alcoholics in rural areas than in urban areas. The rate of chronic alcoholism in cities of 100,(X)0 or more was higher by 33.7 per cent than in smaller towns and cities and higher by 105 per cent than in rural areas. The story went on to say, "Huron County is fortunate that it is a county of smaller towns and rural areas. It is also fortunate that it is under the Canada Temperance Act, that does not provide for liquor outlets." May 7, 1986 Following a lengthy closed-door meeting, Brussels council approved a Brussels Lions Club proposal for a new wading pool in a vote of "questionable legality". The club proposed to build the pool at the back of the lot housing the new swimming pool and use th location of the present wading pool for reinstallation of playground equipment moved to make way for the swimming pool. Council went into committee of the whole and five spectators, the press and even new clerk-treasurer Hugh Hanly spent 50 minutes on the street outside the office. The annual accounting bill for the Village of Brussels was going to be over $14,000, about double the normal amount. One Blyth organization found out it can be difficult to give money away. The Agricultural Society, faced with either making its account active or losing the money into the internal working of the banking system decided it would give away the remainder of its funds to an organization with a project in mind that would benefit agriculture in the area. Two weeks later no one had come forward. Marlene Albers. 16 was selected Queen of the New Canadian Club of Huron and Perth. Club members of longstanding were rewarded at 4-H,_ achievement: Connie Alcock, Darlene Darlow, Ruth Higgins, Rosse Ann Machan, Melanie Sanderson, Leanne Armstrong and Peggy McLellan. Leadership awl..rds went to Karen Stewart, Merilyn Lockie, Sharon Darlow and Ula Richmond. Members of the Brussels Bulls Junior C hockey team receiving awards at the annual banquet were: Kevin McArter, Kevin Ruttan, Tom Newbigging, Tim Fritz. Graduating from Junior hockey were: Matt Carter, Kevin Wheeler, Jim Bender, Rollie Smith, Dave Schmidt, Kirk Whitfield and Steve Conners. May 8, 1991 The grand opening for the new Farmer's Market at Brussels Livestock was set for later in the month. Jim Armstrong marked his 40th anniversary as a pilot at a special surprise party. He began lessons at Goderich airport on May I. 1951. Two Hullett residents, George Collins and Jack Lee, were honoured with certificates from the Ontario Municipal Recreation Association. May 8, 1996 Hours after the participants of the mystery dinner had left Blyth Memorial Hall, a real mystery was happening at The Book Shop. Someone broke into the bookstore through the back and selected nearly 20 books of science fiction and fantasy. The owner expressed disappointment, but added that at least no one was injured and the burglar "was neat in his dirty business." The yard at Blyth Public School received two additions when the Grade I class planted a pyramid English Oak and a weeping Japanese cherry to commemorate Arbor Week and the school's anniversary. Students at East Wawanosh had a rock-a-thon to raise funds for their class trip to Toronto and Evangel Hall, an inner city mission for street kids.