Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-03-15, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2000. C itizenThefXJorthHuron Aocna ^CNA P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Bolt 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil Member Ontario Press Council 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 Saying ‘enough’ at last The provincial government of Mike Harris has been, able to change the face of Ontario in the past five years because it correctly judged the mood of the people — apathy. Public school trustees in Windsor last week sig­ nalled that in one small group at least, the apathy has ended. The Harris agenda of changing school funding and amalgamating municipalities has, for the most part, been carried out by trustees and municipal politicians who often don’t even believe in the | program. Here in Huron and Perth Counties, for instance, Avon-Maitland District School Board trustees have made themselves the target of attacks by angry parents because they stand as a shield between those parents and the government which is setting the policies the board must follow. Why? They’re afraid of what the province might do. Municipal politicians in Huron are completing an amalgamation process most of them have little faith in but they’re doing it because they’re worried about what the government might do. But last week the Windsor trustees called the government’s bluff. The government has legislated that school boards can’t run a deficit or the board can be taken over by the province. Tired of making cuts, Windsor trustees said they'd run a deficit and if provincial officials didn’t like jt, they could take over the school board and do the dirty work themselves. Faced with this rebellion. Education Minister Janet Ecker threatened to fine trustees $5,000 (about their year’s stipend) each if they didn’t back - down. So far there’s no word how they will react to this threat. The Windsor trustees may send an example of courage to other local government officials across the province. Perhaps local politicians and trustees will agree they don't want to be puppets and strawmen anymore — doing the government’s dirty work and absorbing the public’s abuse. If the movement should spread, the government would be forced to implement its own agenda — and take any abuse that results. — KR ditorial It’s time to leave Rumours that Prime Minister Jean Chretien intends to lead the Liberal Party into one more federal election show that some people just don’t know when enough is enough. Chretien is still popular with Canadians, despite detractors in the media who have never thought him the kind of dynamic leader the country needs. He’s managed to duck most of the Back over the problem with grants to his riding that seemed to have been, at best, a waste of money. The prime minister has benefitted from the same kind of inertia that has allowed the provincial government to push through its changes: people just aren't in the mood to be involved and are quite happy to delegate authority to governments while they concentrate on improving their per­ sonal lives. There’s no doubt, too, the Liberals are also in excellent position to win the next election. Right now there’s no acceptable alternative for most Canadians. Most people east of the prairies won’t support the Reform Party, at least under Preston Manning. The Bloc Quebecois splits the vote in Quebec so no party with government potential, other than the Liberals, can pick up seats. Canadians may be unhappy with the government on some issues, but not enough to make a radical leap to the opposition. But that mood won’t last forever. The longer Chretien stays, the more tempting it will be to take that chance. The secret of success in the longevity of the Liberal Party’s power has been leaders knowing when it was the right time to go. Chretien could jeopardize that success by not knowing when to go home from the party. — KR How many injuries does it take? The Don Cherry mentality continues to dominate the National Hockey League and because of it, player’s careers and lives continue to be at risk. Saturday night, as Cherry defended hockey fighting in the wake of the Marty McSorley stick attack, the brilliant future of Toronto Maple Leaf defenceman Bryan Berard probably ended when he was struck in the eye by an errant stick. In the macho world of Cherry and other defenders of good “old fash­ ioned” hockey, fights are good, face shields bad. Cherry will mock as unmanly, anyone who dares to take protection against the kind of injury Berard suffered. Testosterone, it seems, dulls the common sense. — KR Spring flood Photo by Janice Becker Looking Back Through the Years From the files of the Blyth Standard, Brussels Post and North Huron Citizen March 19, 1975 The thorny problem of keeping taxes down to a reasonable level and still getting something done in the village had Blyth councillors in a turmoil. Blyth councillors discovered yet another problem. After two years of trying to get a senior citizen’s apart­ ment project for the village, progress was at a standstill, or per­ haps even regressing. The Huron Federation of Agriculture was to hold a special meeting for beef producers in the Londesboro Hall. In the meeting, the beefmen would be asked what they want the organization to do about the low prices farmers receive for the product. With the number of municipali­ ties in Huron county waiting for the completion of their official plans, county council authorized the preparation of a general zoning by­ law to be in effect until the official plans were complete. Huron County council approved a budget that was nearly 20 per cent higher then the previous year’s. Blyth Tyke A’s journeyed to Teeswater to take part in the Tyke tournament. The team was presented with the championship trophy. March 14, 1990 Huron County Council was to meet to consider a proposed budget that would increase the mill rate 4.99 per cent. The budget called for expenditure of $23,344,894 an actual increase in expenses of 7.1 per cent, but growth in local assessment in the county meant the net impact on res­ idential property was 4.99 per cent. After three years in business Grey Owl Enterprises in Brussels was closing its doors, and an auc­ tion was to be held to sell the equip­ ment. After 32 years, Harvey Gamiss, of Blyth, retired from his rural mail carrier.route. March 15, 1995 There was to be no increase to Brussels taxpayers to pay for oper­ ations of the village that year. Wingham OPP were investiga­ tion a break-in which occurred at the Brussels Municipal Office. Months of dispute ended relative­ ly calmly in Hullett council cham­ bers with an agreement reached for the construction of a new municipal building.