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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-09-03, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2003. Editorials & Opinions 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 The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 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 Jiocna (*sna Member of the Ontario Press Council Why governing is hard Helen Johns, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture and Food and Huron- Bruce MPP found herself in a muddle last week after government officials closed Aylmer Meat Packers and police were called in to investigate the goings on at the plant. Opposition critics called for her to resign for not acting sooner to shut down the plant. But the complaints that the government wasn’t tough enough on this particular packer recalled laments from the opposite direction back in March. At the Members of Parliament dinner of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture, local politicians and farmers argued that unnecessarily tough and costly regulations were driving small local abattoirs out of business, leaving farmers nowhere to go to have their animals processed. Johns sympathized with the situation but also worried about food safety. “How could I look people in the face if something went wrong and people got sick,” she said. At a June conference in Stratford organized by the National Farmers Union Johns’s government was again criticized from both sides. On one hand small-scale livestock producers worried about the decimation of small abattoirs — down 40 per cent since 1991 — while there were also complaints that the government was endangering the public because there are only 10 full-time meat inspectors left of the 142 there once were and much of the inspection is now done by 130 contract workers whose job satisfaction is so low there’s a 30 per cent annual turnover rate. From what little has been made public about the Aylmer situation, the problems appear not to have been with inspection but with processing being carried out when inspectors weren’t present. Still, the allegations by contract inspectors that the constant turnover is creating an inspection staff that’s inexperienced should be of concern for all consumers. It’s too early to judge how well Johns’s ministry has performed in the Aylmer Packers case. One thing that might have helped would be for provincial and federal officials to have provided more sound information instead of a cloak of silence that sent the media rushing off investigating possible cover-up conspiracies. Even early disclosure that the packer provided only one per cent of meat processed in Ontario might have lent a little bit of perspective to sensational reports that spread fear. While few of us in our area have much to fear from whatever happened at Aylmer Packers, the long-term fallout could be more serious to our local economy. First of all, of course, beef producers did not need one more bit of bad news on top of the full plate of trouble they’re trying to deal with through the BSE/border-closure issue. But the prospect of a government crackdown on meat processing similar to the government’s tough regulations in reaction to the Walkerton water crisis is truly troubling. In the water case, the government responded to criticism that it was too lax on water inspection because of cuts to Ministry of Environment staff, by creating tough new regulations that have made the cost of water services in small municipalities prohibitively expensive. Similar over-reaction in regards to small meat processing plants could drive out the few processors remaining in rural areas, handing a near­ monopoly to large-scale plants. Already we, in a county that produces more food than any of the Atlantic provinces, process very little of what we grow. Johns’s tough task will be to ensure food safety without making it prohibitive to operate small processing plants.— KR letters to the Editor THE EDITOR, Surely one of the most important functions of a smalltown weekly newspaper is to celebrate the positive local achievements and events. This is an especially important purpose during these times when small communities are facing so many challenges and threats to their economic vitality if not their very existence. I have been disappointed lately by a number of occasions on which The Citizen has failed to grasp the opportunity to highlight such events. Two of the most recent examples will illustrate what 1 mean. Blyth recently hosted an extraordinary display of antique cars. All reports that I have heard indicate that the participants in this event were delighted with the welcome they received and the great facilities which they found here. The local press coverage was, to say the least. sparse, and inaccurate in many respects. A few weeks earlier, a local business celebrated 30 years of operation in the village providing the community with a celebratory food fest and show. Five hundred people turned out to this event and appeared to enjoy themselves immensely. Thirty years of continuous service is a notable achievement. Once again, The Citizen provided meager coverage. A group of pictures and verbal description of events such as these help us to recognize and appreciate our achievements, and just as important, they help outsiders to see the vitality and spirit of the community. They provide the counterbalance to the news of less savory events, carping editorials, and critical letters to the editor such as this. Brock Vodden. Looking Back Through the Years Sept. 3, 1958 A new school year in Brussels saw 14 little tots off to school for the first time. While there were not as many beginners as the previous year the primary teacher still had 34 pupils to cope with in Grades 1 and 2. “We often wonder how primary school teachers survive day to day when many mothers find a couple of the little dears a nerve-wracking handful,” read the original story. There was only one change to the school staff. Mrs. K. Tyerman replaced Mrs. Byerman who resigned as teacher of Grades 3 and 4. The annual Upper Canada Bible Society Sunday Service was held in Melville Church on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. The special speaker was from the Upper Canada Bible Society. Sept. 5,1968 The'former Cranbrook School was sold by Mr. Urban Ducharme to Mr. and Mrs. Zehr of the Toronto area. The new owners hoped to move in soon. Teachers returning to their schools included Miss Kate McNabb to Temiskaming, Miss Beverley Evans to Kitchener and Brian Evans to Scarborough. Rev. Allen Johnston of Brussels United Church accepted a call to pastoral duties at Richard’s Memorial United Church in London. Sept. 5, 1973 Blyth village council voted to proceed with renovations to Memorial Hall. Costs were estimated at $20,000. The largest portion of the project was the removal and replacement of the roof. Citizens were invited to make donations for repairs. From a student’s perspective BY SARAH MANN As you read this I am back at Humber College in Toronto, attending classes such as opinion writing, page design, radio news and voice training instead of in Blyth, working at The Citizen. It’s nice to look forward to school and anticipate the year rather than dread it. Attending school for something you truly enjoy doing is great, especially when big money has to be spent. But working at a small community newspaper like The Citizen has given me the opportunity to learn what I won’t get to learn at school. Just recently I had the privilege of visiting at the homes of George Smyth, Jim Schneider, Bud Chamney, and Bob Oliver to write articles for the annual Thresher issue. The time and dedication put into their projects, hobbies, and jobs are a great reminder of what can be done when there is pride in work. Throughout the summer I also had the privilege of working with the staff, cast, and crew of a distinctive Canadian theatre, the Blyth Festival. Whether it was working on stories for the annual Festival issue, or attending coffee houses and penny sales, and of course, plays, this experience has helped me prepare for covering the entertainment beat specializing in theatre when I write for my school newspaper. Again, the Blyth Centre for the Arts is a great reminder of what dedication and love for your job can do. My favourite “duties” at work included going to take a picture of a Blyth public school class getting sundaes as a treat for selling the most magazines. I, of course, didn’t leave with an empty stomach as the extra ice cream couldn’t go to waste. Another favourite was going to tea with the Brussels Red Hat Society chapter, a group of women who showed me what it is to be carefree and young. And then there was the experience of learning what a Monday is like in the office at a newspaper that goes to press on Tuesday, the experience of hearing the fire scanner go off and realizing that you should be going out to the accident to take a picture of what these volunteer and professional lifesavers do, even if you don’t want to see it, and the experience of talking to a couple who has been happily married for 50 years. Thank you to the people who let me into their homes and shared their stories with me. Thank you to Keith for giving me the opportunity to write for The Citizen, as well as The Rural Voice. Thank you Bonnie for putting up with me asking the same question twice, maybe even three times and not getting annoyed and always giving me room to do my thing. I will miss the people of this community and what it was like to work at a paper that strives to serve its community but I look forward to what my future brings with excitement and know that what I learned at The Citizen will be invaluable. “May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. ..”