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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-05-14, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2003. Editorials & Opinions Small step back The victory for the Progressive Conservative party in Monday’s Perth- Middlesex federal by-election is a good step toward returning true democracy to Canada. Democracy requires credible choices, something that has been truly lacking for most Canadians since the Progressive Conservatives disintegrated at the end of the Brian Mulroney era nearly a decade ago. Since that point Canadians in the middle of the political spectrum have had nowhere to turn for an alternative to the Liberals, unless they wanted to lean far to the right and support the Alliance or to the left for the New Democratic Party. Traditionally, the Conservatives have been to the right of the Liberals, but not so far that middle-of-the-road Canadians couldn’t turn to them as an alternative from time to time. And we need an alternative, even if it’s hard to argue that Canada is suffering right now under the Liberals. Though the right wing tries to portray the Liberals as reckless spendthrifts, we have a country that is in better financial shape than any of our allies. Our economy has been growing faster than other Group of Eight countries. Unemployment is lower than in recent memory. The Canadian dollar is soaring in comp­ arison to the currency of our debt-plagued neighbour to the south. Even the spector of Quebec secession seems to have receded at least for now. But governments get complacent without the challenge of real competition and though the Conservative party has become a laughing stock in recent years, it’s the only credible party to the right for all but western voters. Any revival of the party’s fortunes is a good sign. — KW Proving the point The insults and hand gestures exhibited in the Ontario legislature Monday in a debate over contempt of the legislature charges proved the very point the debate was about. Supporters of Premier Ernie Eves tried to shoot the messenger in the form of Gary Carr, speaker of the legislature, who ruled last week that the government’s decision to deliver the budget in a made-for-TV event at an autoparts plant instead of in the legislature, was in contempt of the legislature. Though Carr is himself a Conservative, some party members tried to brand him as biased against his own party. Tempers erupted, insults flew, one backbencher gave the opposition the finger, denied it, then admitted it when he was told it was recorded on TV. And through it all the premier was absent from the legislature. The shenanigans just showed the speaker was right in his judgement. The government and its backbenchers don’t respect the parliamentary process, feeling they have the right to do as they please. From the beginning many government leaders and backroom strategists have felt only the media and opposition politicians cared about the rituals of parliamentary democracy and the issue would quickly go away. Perhaps it would have if Carr hadn’t stood up for what he felt was the integrity of the process. Now with the government wanting to get on with an election, Carr’s embarrassing ruling stands in the road. Ironically, in their vicious attacks on Carr and the opposition, Tory backbenchers are proving they have contempt for the legislature and the tradition^ of democracy. — KR Letters to the Editor THE EDITOR, I am writing to advocate the case of 30-year-old Amina Lawai, a woman found guilty of adultery, who has been sentenced to death by stoning by a court at Bakori in Katsina State in northern Nigeria. Her sentence was upheld by the court of appeal on Aug. 19, 2002. As part of an international effort many people from this riding petitioned the Nigerian government in February asking for her acquittal. Although our request was denied, the second appeal date for Lawai’s trial has been set for June 3. St. Anne’s Catholic Secondary School students and staff did not let this crush their hope for social justice. Instead they wrote over 100 Councillor clarifies story THE EDITOR, In the; May 1 edition of The Citizen, regarding a recorded vote by members of council of Huron East, the story names those voting against the motion, and states Graeme MacDonald abstained from voting. letters to local Member of Parliament, Paul Steckle, asking the federal parliament to put pressure on the international community to make the death penalty in this case a violation of international law. I urge other members of the community to do the same. Together we can save Amina’s life and the lives of others who are harshly punished for questionable offences. Please feel free to contact me for further information regarding the Amina Lawai case. Sincerely, M. Kate Bartz, 282 Mill Rd., Goderich, ON N7A 4A2 (519) 440-0153. The fact is I left the meeting at 9:15 p.m. for medical reasons so I was not present when the vote was taken. For anyone who would like to know how I have voted on this motion, it would have been no. Graeme MacDonald. Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Alan Young, Patty Van der Meer 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 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 Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 40050141 P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 E-mail norhuron@scsfnternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca A°cna@NA & Member of the Ontario Press Council MEQEBB Looking Back Through the Years May 14,1958 A number of young musicians from the area did well at the county festival. First and second class honours were won by John Pipe and Geraldine McTaggart in the saxophone class and Gerald Thoms got first class honours in clarinet. David Kennedy was awarded first in four saxophone classes and also the Marie Thornton Woodwind Trophy at the Oxford Festival of Music in Woodstock. This was the same trophy won by his brother Robert four years earlier. David also won two firsts at the Stratford music festival. The Saturday double bill at the Llashmar Drive-in in Listowel was Joel McCrea in Stranger on Horseback and Voodoo Island starring Boris Karloff. On Sunday at midnight it was Richard Denning and Beverley Garland in Naked Paradise and John Ireland in The Gunslinger. For children at Listowel’s Capitol Theatre it was Walt Disney’s Perri. Adults could see Rock Hudson, Dan Duryea, Jock Mahoney and Alan Hale in the “thrilling saga of a flying parson in the Korean War”, Battle Hymn. At The Rutledge Grocery in Brussels, three cans of Silvergleam Cohoe Salmon was selling for 95 cents. A 48-oz can of Hunt’s Tomato Juice was selling for 28 cents and two 20-oz cans of Alymer Pork and Beans cost 39 cents. A notice appeared in The Brussels Post reminding residents that dogs are not to run at large during gardening season. The notice stated owners of dogs running loose during this period would be severely punished. The Brussels Royal Canadian Legion branch won a television for having the most new members of any in the district. May 16,1968 The highest mark given out by music festival adjuticator Dawson Woodbum was 90 and was awarded to unison choruses from the Brussels School Grades 7/8 Wednesday class and the Tuesday Grades 3/4 class. A top mark of 90 was also given to Joan Currie and David Street, both competing in solo classes for singers 14 and under. Maitland Edgar was chosen as Liberal candidate in the Huron riding at the Liberal nomination meeting in Clinton. A CN one-way train ticket from Brussels to Toronto cost $3.40. The Saturday night double feature at Brownie’s Drive-In was John Wayne and Robert Mitchum in Eldorado and The Silencer Thread staring Sidney Poitier and Anne Bancroft. Six girls were given their 4-H provincial honours. They were: Judy King, Wendy MacEwan, Gladys Stephenson, Donna MacMurphy and Marilyn Craw­ ford. County honour pins and certificates were given to Jean Brown, Elizabeth Galbraith, Beverly Newton, Linda Douglas, Laura Inglis, Karen Brown, Marjorie Eadie, Elaine Kieffer, Marie Baillie, and Elinor Ronnenberg. The awards were presented by Mrs. Stanley Bride. Five pounds of white sugar cost 43 cents at Stephenson’s Bakery and Grocery. The 24-oz package Puritan meats cost 49 cents and 8-oz Kraft Cheese Slices was selling for 39 cents. May 18,1988 Six Blyth Brownies graduated to Guides in a “fly-up” ceremony: Kathryn Jankowski, Margaret Ann Stewart, Jennifer McDonnel, Kimberley Lee, Amanda Howson, The Citizen RO. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1 HO Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 and Tara Wilson. David Sparling represented Central Huron Secondary School at the 17th Annual Provincial Debating Seminars in Toronto. Sparling tied for one of two trophies presented to the debater who “best exemplifies the spirit of Provincial Seminar” Ketchup was selling for $2.69 per 1 L. bottle at the Brussels Village Market. Valencia oranges were $2.39 per dozen and a 3 lb. bag of California carrots cost $2.39 per dozen. May 12,1993 Students from Brussels Public School were cleaning the town as part of Pitch-in Week. Chris Coulter, Joshua Acton, Mark Kroll, Josh Jorritsma, Michael Brewer and Andrew Grant were in charge of the northeast end of town. A post-mortem determined that the woman involved in a car crash died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision, which occured on County Rd. 25. John Verwey, won the Royal Canadian Legion Command Singles award and became the first Blyth Legion player to ever do so. May 13,1998 Frank and Jennie Schimanski became the new owners of Betts Funeral Home which would eventually be called the Schimanski Family Funeral Home. Adam Lutz received first place at the Walkerton Music Festival with a mark of 82. The F.E. Madill Drama Guild presented its Broadway Revue. Performers included Darryl Manjin, Ashley Gropp, Rachel McQuail, Matt Campbell, Miranda Haasnoot and Karen Prentice. Performances were from West Side Story, Hair, Pirates of Penzance, Les Miserables, Grease, Guys and Dolls, Stomp, and Jesus Christ Super- star.