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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-04-19, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2000. C itizenTheNorthHuron Aocna P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O Box 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 S27.00/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 E ditorial -EZZLTZZZZZZZZZAZZZA Money for health, not ads Stung by Ontario government ads claiming the province is rescuing health care endangered by federal funding cuts, the Chretien government fired back this week, launching a $2 million ad campaign of its own in Ontario. What Ontarians would prefer is that the money spent on advertising by both sides would be spent on healthcare. Both the provincial Tories and the federal Liberals are spending millions in an effort to win the hearts and minds of Ontario voters, but they’re missing the point sent loud and clear by those voters: we want health care fixed and it’s a high priority, more important than tax cuts. Yet both governments have put tax cuts ahead of health care. The province, which claims to be riding to the rescue of health care after the feds cut transfer payments in the struggle to cut the deficit, could have done more to help the current problems with the system if it hadn't been so adamant about cutting taxes for the well to do. The federal government, meanwhile, promised restoring programs like health care would be a priority once the deficit was conquered yet this past budget was more about tax cuts than about health care. So while they spend our dollars to try to convince us they’re the good guys, both governments seem to be sending us the message they really don’t believe in the system. There’s the sense these two governments are undermining the system so that private health care will be welcomed as the only solution to an ailing system. Canadians still show strong support for our system of free health care but increasingly they are indicating they might be willing to accept the unpleasant alternative of privatized health care if there really isn’t enough money to provide the kind of service we’ve been accustomed to in the past. But while there’s no money for public health care, there’s apparently money to brainwash us about health care. Granted, the advertising money is a pittance in the overall price of health care in Ontario but it would help. We need governments that don’t put our money where their mouths are, but where we want it, in health care. — KR No room for contentment Guelph lawyer T. Sher Singh, writing in The Toronto Star about being in Havana to see the other side of the cold war being fought in the streets of Miami these days over young Elian Gonzalez, made an interesting observation about what is happiness. While American media has compared the “rich” American life with life in Cuba where the average labourer makes $12 a month (but gets free health care and education) Singh noted Cubans seem happy. “If I’ve learned anything in Havana, it is that the key to happiness is satisfaction,” Singh writes. “And the key to satisfaction is knowing how to limit your needs, not to multiply your options.” Are we happier, he wonders, because we have 100 TV channels than we were when we had just a few. Will 500 channels make us happier? It’s a good thing Singh is coming home to Canada instead of the U.S. or he might be accused of being brainwashed. Satisfaction is perhaps the most dangerous emotion in our western way of life. Our entire economy is based on a lack of satisfaction. Fed a constant stream of television and movie images of people living lives filled with nicer homes than we have, more expensive cars and more fashionable clothes, we are constantly striving to keep up with what we think will make us happy. That means we spend more, we borrow more, we buy lottery tickets and we invest in the stock market in the hope we’ll strike it rich and finally find the good life. In the process we work more and we have less time for our children. We run faster and faster and never seem to get anywhere because the goal is always out there just beyond our reach. This is what keeps our economy going. Imagine what would happen if we ever turned off our TVs and came to realize that happiness is not having a bigger house or a fancier car, but in having more time to spend with each other, walk in nature or read a book. Imagine if instead of constantly wanting more, we learned that satisfaction and happiness comes from adjusting our wants to our real needs. We couldn’t have that, could we? We’ll just have to continue to be unhappy and dissatisfied, always wanting more, because without disatisfaction we’ll have a huge recession.— KR Looking Back Through the Years From the files of the Blyth Standard, Brussels Post and North Huron Citizen April 17, 1974 A twister hit the Dublin-Seaforth area causing a three-hour blackout in much of Huron and Perth Counties. The tornado uprooted trees and destroyed several barns in the Hibbert Twp. area. A house trailer where a family was celebrat­ ing Easter was flipped over and crushed, however there were no serious injuries. MPP Jack Riddell expressed strong concern over rumours that Ontario Hydro was considering building a nuclear power plant south of Goderich. The concern was the waste of good agricultural land and negative effects on crop production in the area. Blyth bowlers took two of the top prizes in league action. Winners were: Mary Davey, Blyth, high average; Trudy Hill, Varna, high single, Theresa Machan, Blyth, high triple. April 18, 1990 A pedestrian was struck while crossing Queen Street in Blyth. Plans were shaping up for Brussels FunFest. Included in the events were a parade, outdoor church service, Bessie Bingo, bath­ tub races, dances, pork chop supper and a pyjama parade. Philip Street designed the award winning Blyth Rutabaga Festival logo. Dave Overboe and Clare Vincent from Blyth Legion #420 received their past officers medals and bars. Huron County’s municipal offi­ cers met for their annual meeting in Brussels. Ellen Workman, a Grade 3 stu­ dent at Walton won third prize for her Huron County Farm and Home Safety Association poster contest entry. The Brussels Crusaders won the WOAA championship. Members of the Brussels Bulls received awards at the annual ban­ quet. Recipients included: Steve Fritz, top rookie; Bevin Flett, top defenseman; Jamie Gibbings, most improved; Bob McMillan, the Mike Vincent Award for most dedicated and Marty Rutledge, scoring leader for the team and the league. Three members received most valuable player awards, Murray Foxton, J.C. Hewitt and Jeff Roy. Patricia Keffer was the new Ethel WI president. Sherri Robinson and Nicole Foxton were the winners of The Citizen’s Easter colouring contest. April 19,1995 A long-time East Wawanosh Twp. resident was honoured by the Essex County Soybean Growers for his contribution to the seed indus­ try. Robert Peck, RR3, Blyth was inducted into the Essex County Hall of Fame. With help from some Blyth Public School students Jayne Marquis of Blyth told the story of Light the Way to an audience at a fundraiser in Blyth. Marquis chore­ ographed a story which featured students Kristy Blair, Jackie Brak, Elisha Courtney, Leanne Haggitt, Ashley Howson, Shanda Loder, Michelle McNichol, Julie Ritchie and Karin Schroeker. Proceeds went to help Light the Way Children’s Fund International. The Blyth Midget Bulldogs cap­ tured Lake Placid gold in a tourna­ ment. Provincial Liberal candidate John Jewitt officially opened his cam­ paign headquarters in Clinton. Mr. and Mrs. Ross Procter returned from a trip to South Africa where the Shorthorn World Conference was held. Students at Brussels took part in a peer mediation workshop designed to help students from Grades 5-7 resolve conflicts. The first lead acting role for an F.E. Madill student brought a regional honour when he won the Sears Drama Festival Award for acting excellence. Dale Wemham, of RR2, Blue vale portrayed The Author in the performance of The Play's the Thing, Tra-la. He beat out nine other entrants.