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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-06-26, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2082 Editorials & Opinion Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Alan Young & Mary Jean Kernaghan The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company inc. Subscriptions ore payable in advance at a rate of $28.00/year ($26.17 + $1.83 G.S.T.) in Canada; $80.00/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 Mall Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Moil Agreement No. 40050141 ocna ccNA Member of the Ontario Press Council P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM I HO NOG 1HO Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-911d FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca The Citizen Playing politics with farmers Canada's farmers became pawns in federal-provincial political games last week as the federal government announced $5.2 billion in financial support with the provinces expected to throw in another $3.5 billion. First of all, it's rather presumptuous for the federal gm ernment to start telling the provinces how they should spend money. Certainly the past cost-sharing formula between the federal government and the provinces has been 60 per cent to the feds and 40 per cent to the provinces but that doesn't give the right to Prime Minister Chretien to announce a program that the provinces haven't approved. At least he changed federal government position, in an ad lib during the press conference, when he said farmers would get the federal share of the money whether their provinces joined the program or not. But the politics weren't all on one side. Some provinces, led by Saskatchewan, held out for 100 per cent funding from the federal government. The need for aid was due tc unfair subsidies in the U.S. and Europe, they said. Since trade is a federal matter, it was up to Ottawa to provide all the compensation. That sounds like respect for the federal international authority until one remembers these were the same premiers who publicly embarrassed the prime minister at an international press conference a few weeks ago by saying they weren't supporting the federal government's signing of the Kyoto protocol on global warming. Almost lost in the game-playing is the need of thousands of cash crop farmers across the country. Grains and oilseed prices have tumbled because of a glut on world markets caused, to a large part, because subsidized U.S. and European farmers keep producing more than the market will bear. At the same time harsh weather conditions in the last few years have curtailed yields for Canadian farmers so they're getting low prices for smaller than normal yields. The plight of farmers should be the real issue, not the need to score points by provincial and federal politicians.— KR The doctor shortage continues to plague smaller Ontario communities with an estimated 1,500 doctors needed to get us to what's required for people to have a sufficient level of care. It seems impossible for our medical schools to graduate enough doctors to catch up. Yet at the same time, according to a CBC news report, there are up to 4,000 foreign doctors in Ontario who'd like to practice but must requalify in order to do so. Last year only 50 of these doctors were accepted to medical residencies in hospitals that will allow them to qualify to practise in Ontario, and that tiny number was actually an increase from the year before. The rest continue to work in menial jobs hoping to be accepted. On one hand we have the health of rural and small-town residents compromised by a lack of doctors while on the other hand we have doctors unable to use their skills. Certainly we do not want to diminish the level of health care in Ontario by allowing undertrained physicians to practise but surely more than 50 of those doctors are skilled enough to at least get into training programs. If the government wants to solve the doctor shortage is there not some way a commission could be set up to investigate the training given by different medical schools around the world? If these schools come reasonably close to Canadian levels could there not be some sort of apprenticeship program begun that would assign graduates living in Ontario to work with Canadian doctors for a couple of years? If the supervising doctors felt the skill level was up to Canadian levels the doctors could then be granted their certification to practise. The selection system we have now for qualifying foreign doctors smacks of snobbery wrapped in red tape. The medical establishment can sit smugly and get along with the status quo because they're not living in communities that don't have enough doctors. The government, if it cares about the health of small town residents, is going to have to break the log-jam and put the best-qualified of these ' foreign-trained doctors to work.— KR Letters Policy The Citizen welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and should include a daytime telephone number for the purpose of verification only. Letters that are not signed will not be printed. Submissions may be edited for length, clarity and content, using fair comment as our guideline. The Citizen reserves the right to refuse any letter on the basis of unfair bias, prejudice or inaccurate information. As well, letters can only be printed as space allows. Please keep your letters brief and concise. June 30, 1960 L.E. Cardiff, Huron MP, was honoured on his 50th wedding anniversary by the Commons. An parties joined in the congratulations.-- Mr. and Mrs. Cardiff marked the occasion with a reception the previous night in a Commons committee room. A fire, which partially destroyed a truck, threatened the Brussels Sales Yard. A woman driving past, noticed flames and found a truck, in close proximity to the barn, on fire. Successful candidates in the Royal Conservation of Music exams in Toronto were: Douglas Fischer, Honours, Grade 8 piano; Ruth McTaggart, Sally Galbraith, Honours, Grade 5 piano; Ann McKercher, Graeme Craig, Glenna Houston, Lois Whitfield, Mary Watson, Dianne Van Camp, Honours, Grade 4 piano; Douglas Elliott, Honours, Grade 3 piano; Ann Oldfield, First Class Honours, Nellie Baan, Marni Bronson, Honours, Grade 2 piano; Carolyn Fraser, First Class Honours, Dorothy Elliott, Joyce Huether, Archie McDonald, Honours, Grade 1 piano. Receiving 100 per cent in Grade Theory were Ann Cardiff and Geraldine Dennis. Some Like it Hot with Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon was playing at the Llashmar Drive-in Theatre in Listowel. The Sunday midnight double feature at Llashmar and Brownie's Drive-in in Clinton was Screaming Skull and Terror from the Year Five Thousand. Through the week at Brownie's it was The Horse Soldiers with John Wayne, William Holden and Connie Towers. A large box of Kellog's corn flakes was on sale at Willis's for two for 53 cents, while the large size of Tide was just 7 i cents. A 16-oz jar of peanut butter was one of the specials at -McCutcheon Grocery. It sold for 35 cents. Two pounds of margarine was 43 cents, while a 48-oz tin of tomato juice was 27 cents. July 1, 1987 Ralph Pearson retired after 37 years of driving school bus. The Brussels Lions Club executive was: Mel McCutcheon, past president; Neil McGavin, third vice-president; Gerrit Van Keulen, president; Paul McDonald, second vice-president; Murray Siddall, treasurer; Kang Yoon, director; Max Demaray, director: Bob Richmond, secretary; Ron Clarkson, assistant tail twister; Greg Ducharme, first vice-president; Bill Beacom, assistant lion tamer, Jim Oldfield, one-year director; Bruce Hahn, lion tamer; Jim Armstrong, bulletin editor. Sandra Walsh received a plaque for winning the Ministry of Natural Resources poster contest from Smoke the Bear. June 28, 1989 Margaret Whyte was named Blyth and area's Citizen of the year. Nigel Belichamber was named as the new county clerk-administrator replacing Bill Hanly who had retired. July 1, 1992 Nearly 100 people turned out to rpast Jane Gardner, who left her position as Blyth Festival's Director of Communications to take on the job of general manager of a theatre in Ottawa. Amy Thomas of the Brussels area took the Grand Championship in the Ontario Pork Congress feeder pig competition for the third straight year. This time she beat out brother Jamie, who took Reserve Champ. Joan Bernard received the District Deputy Commission for Huron District #23 in Toronto. Morning Star Rebekah Lodge received a DDP jewel, which was presented to Bernard. Blyth Lions presented a cheque to Dawn Gross to assist with her Lions Club exchange to Australia. Two students from Grey Central Public School were finalists in the forest fire prevention poster and slogan contest. Jeff Finch and Jason Snider were presented with their awards at an assembly. June 25, 1997 Blyth Lions Cub was planning Santa's Ride to benefit the Huron County Christmas Bureau. Brussels Sparks moving up to Brownies were Lindsay Watson, Janelle Bondi, Autumn Hachey, Madelaine Deitner, Tamara Darling, Meagan Keffer and Tiffany Roetcisoender. The big winner of the $5,000 Brussels Lions elimination draw was Joyce Harman. Charlotte Worsell of Auburn, a Grade 4 student at Hullett Central PS represented Blyth at the Legion's provincial public speaking contest in Elliott Lake and finished second. Belgrave Guides moving to Pathfinders were Jackie Sewers, Kerri Meier, Michelle Nixon, Jen Hopf, Lindsay Warwick. New Guides were Camerra Yuill, Janisa Cloakey, Leanne Elston, Lindsay Malhiot, Ellen Procter and Amanda Dorsch. Elizabeth Stanburry, a certified reflexologist and aroma therapist opened an office in Blyth. Noted actor David Fox was back in Blyth to reprise the role of Christy in the Festival's season opener. Quiet in the Land. A feature story told of a boom in the summertime sport of slow pitch. Over 450 people played in the Blyth and Londesboro area. Wasted talent should be used Looking Back Through the Years