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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-01-19, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2000. C itizenTheNorthHuron P.O Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 •i Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil (♦ONA Member Ontario Press Council P.O Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com 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 $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/year in U.S.A, and $100/year in other foreign coun­ tries. 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. Publications Mail Registration No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 1374990 Giving up on family farm The musicians were trying to draw E ditorial I............. That was an impressive turnout of Canada's musicians on Sunday for a Toronto concert to salute the Canadian family farm and it garnered a Jot of national media attention but in the end it all adds up to the equivalent of spitting into the wind. attention to the plight of family farmers across the country and put pressure on governments to relieve the problem but it has become increasingly obvious that our governments, at least the federal and Ontario govern­ ments, don’t really believe in family farms anymore. Over and over again our governments have signalled that they believe in a new kind of agriculture, more industrialized, more tied to the needs of large food companies. While other countries have found a way around international trade rules to continue to help their farmers compete, the federal government has cut funding and used international trade regulations as an excuse. Western grain farmers were left in an uncompetitive position when the government cancelled the Crow Rate rail subsidy that allowed wheat farmers to get their crops to market at a comparable cost to American farmers who could use the Mississippi waterway system. Here in Ontario, the recent decision to close local offices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, (after 90-plus years of service) indicates ministry officials figure the big farmers can afford to buy advice from crop consultants or through advisors of supply companies and the small farmers will have to get along with a telephone or internet consultation system. As well, through the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission (OFPMC), a number of decisions have been made that are reshaping the industry. No longer, for instance, will marketing votes be taken on a one- producer, one-vote basis but will be weighted in favour of large producers. Another OFPMC ruling has revolutionized pork marketing, resulting in nearly all hogs required by large packers being sold through private contracts rather than in an open market, auction system. While supply management in milk and poultry is under attack from processors, a supply management system is being introduced in commodities like pork by the packing companies. Their not-so-subtle message to hog producers is “sign our contracts or you won't be able to sell your hogs in this province”. This is the new reality in farming in Canada. The consumers and the stars who performed at the Family Farm Tribute on Sunday, and indeed, most farmers themselves, still believe in the family farm but government and the food industry don’t. For them, the small farm is a part of the nostalgic past and they’re in no mood to help it survive. — KR Photo by Vicky Bremner Looking Back Through the Years From the files of the Blyth Standard, Brussels Post and North Huron Citizen Will it work in rural Ontario? In an effort to improve health care and lower costs, the idea of creating clinics that will take patients 24-hours a day is being promoted by the provincial government and by some in the media. While the idea may work in cities, one wonders if it makes sense for rural areas. The system, now being tested in some pilot projects, would group doctors together in what has been called a 24-hour doorway into the health system. If you got sick at night, your doctor’s clinic would provide service instead of you going to the emergency ward. Patients would choose which doctor group they would get all their medical service from and the doctors would be paid so much for each patient enrolled in their clinic, rather than each time a patient was treated. There would be no incentive for doctors to see patients more than necessary since there would be no additional money coming in, yet doctors would have a stable, predictable income. Doctors who can guide patients’ lifestyles to stay as well as possible, will benefit. The system may work and if so has potential for larger population areas. But in rural areas the proposal seems unrealistic. For one thing, it’s already hard to get doctors to locate in rural Ontario and many areas are understaffed. Doctors in area hospitals already take turns being on call for emergency room service so that other doctors can have the night undisturbed. It allows those doctors we can get to practise in small communities yet co-operate over a wider area. If this medical clinic proposal is established in rural Ontario it may mean a few large clinics in large centres and no doctors in smaller towns — a sort of Walmartization of medicine. It could mean people would travel farther and farther to get medical care. — KR Jan. 15, 1975 Anson McKinley, of the Zurich area, was elected to the office of Huron County warden. At West Wawanosh Twp. coun­ cil’s inaugural meeting mobile homes came up for discussion. Reeve Robert Lyon and the clerk agreed to investigate the possibility of setting up a licensing system after council had held a discussion on the matter. Inflation, not recession was still the major problem in Canada. Unemployment was also on the rise. Dave Broadfoot, one of Canada’s top comedians, was bringing his revue to Blyth Memorial Hall in late February. Farmers’ anxieties were height­ ened due to continuing instances of strikes that had hit the business, at farm implement factories, grain handlers, meat packers, and machinery parts warehouses. The first annual meeting of The Voice of the Unborn, the Wingham Pro-Life group was scheduled for April. Jan.7, 1990 In her inaugural address at the meeting of the Huron County Board of Education, Chair Joan Van den Broeck referred to the plans of the education system in the 1990’s as a "blueprint for change.” Brussels councillors agreed at their meeting that if the price was right, they would sell the Elizabeth Street tennis court for an apartment development. A new park area for Brussels was under consideration through the combined efforts of the Brussels Masonic Lodge and the village. A delegation of Masons met with village councillors to discuss the possibility of using lots on Mill Street West for a small parkette. The lots along the river were owned by the Masons, but were unusable as building lots because they were too small. The issue of a school crossing on Turnberry Street, Brussels remained unresolved. Reeve Gord Workman had discussed the erec­ tion of a flashing light at the cross­ ing but was told that even with the light there should be a crossing guard. Council was going to inves­ tigate the price of a light. Because of the number of special meetings held in the previous year, Blyth Councillor Dave Lee gave notice at the January meeting of council that he would introduce a motion at the next meeting for twice-monthly sessions of council. The Brussels branch of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce welcomed a new man­ ager to its staff this month. Neil Thompson was formerly an assis­ tant manager with the Goderich branch. Ben Barnes, of RR5, Brussels, won third prize in the national Diane Thompson Student Writing Awards sponsored by MacLean’s for his essay "Crooks and Liars" based on the loss of political inno­ cence. Typical January weather resulted in the closure of several major high­ ways, including Hwy. 4 through Blyth. Jan.8, 1995 Local students contributed to the championship title earned by F.E. Madill’s track team as they trav­ elled to Copps Coliseum in Hamilton for the Spectator Games. Kara Pepper of RR5 Brussels, earned a silver medal as a member of the Midget girls relay team. Cory Bragg of RR5, Brussels was a member of the Midget boys relay team, which won the gold. Cory also got the gold in long jump. Farmers were concerned about the effects of an abnormally mild winter, remembered as one of the strangest in history. Snowmobilers too were frustrat­ ed, believing already that the sea­ son was over before it had begun. Disclosure, starring Michael Douglas and Demi Moore played at the Park Theatre in Goderich, while Dumb and Dumber starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels played at Wingham’s Lyceum Theatre.