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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-01-08, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2003. Editorials & Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Alan Young, Cindy Smale 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 ($26.17 + $1.83 G.S.T.) in Canada; $80 00/year in U.S.A, and $100/year |h 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. 40050141 The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1 HO Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca J.ocna@« 9 Member of the Ontario Press Council ■KnraB Caught in the middle Anyone who wants to take a reasonable position on the issue of the Firearms Act’s gun registry is apt to feel like a ping-pong ba'I being batted back and forth between the idiocy of both extremes. The news broke that the registry, originally estimated by the government to cost $2 million, might now cost $1 billion by the time all is said and done and the pendulum of support tilted toward the opponents of the act. The credibility of the government was diminished even more by the fact that people trying to reach the gun registry by phone and e-mail couldn't get through in the rush toward the deadline. But then the word leaked out that part of the reason people couldn’t get through to the registry offices was because of a sabotage campaign by opponents to the registry and suddenly the credibility of the opposition took a hit. Then protesters started demanding to be arrested by police because they’d broken the law. They wanted someone to be charged so they could make a constitutional challenge. What’s going on? Have they borrowed the mentality of the National Rifle Association in the U.S. to the point they think we have a constitutional right to bear arms in Canada? Opponents of the Firearms Act are probably right that the act will do little to make the streets safer as former Justice Minister Alan Rock promised it would. Criminals will still find ways to get the weapons they want whether there is an agency or not. When you add on the ridiculous costs of the gun registry, the program is insupportable. But protesters use the cost overruns only to win new converts for their position of total opposition to the registry from the beginning. They get carried away with the issue by making it seem like a huge infringement on their rights to have to register their rifles. Don’t we have to register our cars? A little common sense would be greatly welcomed on this issue. — KR Who needs the feds? With the provincial government having already told municipalities and school boards how to do their business, and with our education and healthcare in such great shape it needs no attention, the Ontario government decided last week it’s time to help the federal government run its business too. The province called on the federal government to shut down the gun registry until a complete accounting has been done of where the money has gone. It might be a good idea but who is the provincial government to tell the feds what to do in an area of federal jurisdiction? Ontario is not alone on this issue with Alberta being strongly opposed as well and Nova Scotia recently joining the choir of complaint. It’s also not the first time the provinces have interfered in federal jurisdiction, trying to sabotage the federal government’s plans to sign the Kyoto treaty. For several decades now the provinces have been taking over more and more power in Canada, demanding the feds cede authority over ever more programs. Now it seems the provinces, who already control cities and municipalities, begrudge the feds control over areas that have clearly been federal areas of responsibility since Confederation. Perhaps they don’t think we need a federal government at all. Oh yes, we forgot: as long as there has to be somebody to blame when things go wrong there will be a need for a federal government. — KR Ouch, we’re the bad guys Everybody prefers to be seen as the innocent victims of justice instead of the bad guys, but Canadian dairy farmers got caught on the wrong side of international trade law when the World Trade Organization ruled, just before Christmas, that producing milk for export was a trade subsidy. We deserve.to have our knuckles rapped on this one. We got greedy and tried to have the best of both worlds: a supply management program for domestic supply but still have an export market. We have long argued that supply management was an internal affair that protected our own producers, then we tried to be exporters too. Sadly, some producers will be hurt by this WTO decision but as Canadians we deserve the penalty. Now, let’s take a closer look at other countries and blow the whistle on their trade games too. — KR Letters to the Editor * ■w THE EDITOR, Family coats in all sizes are still available from the Coats for Kids program. Over 450 winter coats, 70 spring coats, hats, mitts and boots - must be cleared out by the end of January. The last open house this season is Saturday, Jan. 18 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Huron United Way office, south of Clinton behind Huronview Retirement Home. Following this open house, coats will be made available to other organizations. We encourage those in need of winter coats to attend this open house or call Huron United Way (519) 482-7643 for an appointment, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thank you to Huron County residents for their generosity in donating over 1,500 coats to the “Coats for Kids” program this season. Melodie Northey Volunteer Co-ordinator, Coats for Kids 2002/03. eNev? year's J^selutiejos (his) that netfer steed s ehwce - 1 prOm/Be to Consider channel-suiting a fitness exercise. - - I will help with the housework, even if The Guys are gorma find out. Honey, | will listen to your problems without proposing so/ubons - --I'll fake you out more often without commenting on ike cost. --Ill watch less sports. Furthermore, I’ll <rt through Oprah with you without snickering, growling, Or making rude Comments- - -1 will be more sensitive to your moods; I’ll laugh at your jokes And not at your choice of movie*. __I'll pay closer attention at the way you look. I’ll never again miss tte fact that you've changed lipstick or hair ccfour. - -1 will demonstrate more affection and less of W other urge. --In our * discussions", these words will never pass my bps: shopping habits, PMS, the Christmas party, my in-laws. - From now on, I promise to listen when you ta|K... yes, foally. listen. * Looking Back Through the Years ► Jan. 8, 1958 Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Grant took possession of the Hugh Pearson business. On sale at The Rutledge Grocery was the 48-oz. size of Donald Duck orange juice for 33 cents, three tins of fancy red cohoe salmon for $1 and Pillsbury angel food cake mix for 51 cents. Vai’s Beauty Shoppe was offering a special on cold waves, from $4.65 to $9.75. Shirley Knight and Teddy Forman were the central figures in CBC- TV’s Nursery School Time, a new children’s program. The Dillabough Sisters with the Kansas Farmer were the featured entertainers for an annual concert and dance at the Brussels Town Hall. Admission was 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children. Mrs. Wm. Speir was named president of the Melville Presbyterian Church Women’s Missionary Society. Fuel injection would be available on some 1958 cars, but there wouldn’t be much talk about it. The industry’s decision to emphasize horsepower was due in part to high cost and production difficulties. An ad on the back page of The Brussels Post offered the top accommodation in Toronto. The Barclay Hotel was a three-minute walk from Union Station, had luxurious guest rooms and suites, nightly entertainment and good food. Rooms were “moderately priced” from $3.25 per person for double occupancy. Jan. 3, 1973 For the second year in a row, Janice McClinchey, RR1, Auburn, was one of the winners of The Blyth Standard’s colouring contest. Other winners were Rodney and Kelly Cunningham, Judy McDonald, Ken Siertsema and Teresa Konarski. Winners of the Blyth Legion’s Remembrance Day contest for posters and essays were Jeanette Manning, Philip Street, Mark Battye, Roger Barrie, Jayne Watson and Cliff Bailie. It was a cold wintry morning when Morris Twp. officials gathered at Clark bridge to carry out official opening ceremonies. The bridge was built at a tender price of $95,836.50. Specials at Cook’s Superior Food Market included a five-pound package of Tide for $1.69, one pound of cheese for 93 cents, bananas for 11 cents a pound and selected 48-oz tins of juice for 39 cents. Jan. 6, 1988 A Brussels couple celebrated a remarkable milestone as they marked their 70th wedding anniversary. Wilbur and Jennie Turnbull celebrated with an open house at their residence. Dora Shobbrook retired after 17 years as Londesboro correspondent. The Citizen announced the appointment of Dave Williams as advertising manager. Young Krista Bucholtz was part of an historic moment, even if she didn’t know it, when she helped her mother Marilyn (the former Marilyn Wightman of Belgrave and Auburn) hold the Olympic torch near Belleville. The baby arrived 11 days prior to the run. Former Auburn-area resident Nick Hill was featured in a full-page article in the Saint John, New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal. An architect. Hill was discussing various buildings in the historic city. MP Murray Cardiff hosted his annual New Year’s Day Levee at the Brussels arena. Jan. 6, 1993 Robert and Yvonne Wilts were parents of the area’s New Year's baby, Vanessa Amber, born Jan. 2 at Clinton Public Hospital. Police believed the message was getting through as the annual RIDE program resulted in few charges. After 30 years of volunteer service with the Blyth firefighters Don Craig retired. Belgrave and District Kinsmen honoured one of their members, Grant Vincent, for showing outstanding bravery and courage in saving the lives of several people who had been involved in a car accident. For the first time in 23 years the Huron-Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board had a female chairperson, Louise Martin. Jan. 7, 1998 Brussels village staff received a vote of appreciation when council approved a two per cent pay increase. The area.’s new year’s baby was Wesley Richard Johnathon Miller, son of Laurie-Anne and Richard Miller, who was born at Seaforth hospital on Jan. 1. The 1997 babies of the year were Victoria Claire Howatt, Lexandrea Smith. Laura Kathleen Shirley Souch, Reeve Melvin Earl McArter, Kimberly Diane Alcock, Mitchell David Kellington, Colton MacKenzie Keith Hastings, Ashley Jean Higgins, Emily Margaret Johanna Meier, Wyatt Russell GlanVille Stevenson, Justine Audrianna Lee Verburg, Connor William Bryon Rodger, Timothy Joseph Waechter, Taylor Breanne Higgins, Samantha Lee Thyssen, Matthew Ronald McNichol, Matthew Samuel John Terpstra, Lukas Christopher Button. Olivia Lila McArter, Adam Donald James Baan, Jordan Katarina Smith, Natalie Lanie Fear. Autumn Elleda Wightman, Jenna Thompson. MacKenzie Chalmers, Nathan Brian Glitz.