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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-06-21, Page 4PAGE 4, THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2000 Editorials & Opinions The blame starts here Back in the days of government largesse, critics kept warning that there was no free lunch, that someday people would have to pay. In battling the deficit, of course, we did pay. Yet people still think, in various ways, there should be a free lunch, and just as certainly as before, we’ll pay one way or another. Two targets of blame have been singled out by people frightened and angry over the hundreds of people who became ill and the smaller number of people who died as a result of E. coli contamination of the water supply in Walkerton. Yet if either of these two groups are guilty, complicity is shared by the majority of the population. The provincial government has taken a beating because government cuts to the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) undermined a system of checks that used to be in place to try to catch problems in municipal water systems. It has yet to be proven that, if there were more inspectors in the MOE, the tragedy would have been averted. Even if it turns out that way, however, the people of Ontario twice voted for the Mike Harris government and its plans to slash spending. Did people really believe there could be so much waste in a ministry that 40 per cent of the staff could be laid off without affecting programs? Are Ontario voters still putting teeth under their pillows expecting to find money in the morning? How many of the people now condemning the provincial government for not safeguarding our drinking water voted for the government? How many were quite happy to take the money from government tax cuts? The other segment of society under the gun as a result of the tragedy is agriculture, in particular “factory farms”. There’s no proof any factory farm caused pollution of the Walkerton water but people are upset with the idea of large scale agriculture. But Ontario consumers have been voting with their wallets for “factory farms”. Large scale modern pork facilities, for instance, are the farmers’ answer to the demand from packing companies to have a uniform meat product. The packers are answering the demand from consumers for a uniform product just like the uniform toothpaste or uniform toaster that are the product of factories. People are so used to the idea of everything being manufactured these days, that they don’t want want any variation, even in a natural process like growing food. And the size of those farms? They are getting larger in answer to consumers continually driving food prices down. The only way to get mass-produced pricing is to have mass-produced food. Consumers may like the idea of Old MacDonald’s Farm but they want the prices of McDonald’s restaurants. So it’s easy to point fingers but if the government’s commission into the Walkerton tragedy were to come up with the real truth, it would be reflected back, uncomfortably, on the vast majority of Ontarions who want to have low taxes and cheap food without the consequences. — KR More pay for cutting others? So, an Ontario government commission says Ontario MPPs deserve a 33 per cent pay increase. Don’t we all? Ironically, the commission is probably right. Given the salaries many professionals earn these days, given their responsibilities, given what they could earn outside of the Legislature, the $78,000 the MPPs earn is probably underpayment. Probably the $103,458 suggested is realistic. But a huge increase at a time when the government has been chopping welfare and low income housing is like those business leaders who seem to get a larger reward the more employees they can lay off. If everyone else can suffer, the MPPs can hurt a little. — KR Letters to the Editor THE EDITOR, Lower fees for registering firearms will accomplish little. Those opposing registration on principal will not be converted, administration costs lowered, misuse of law enforcement officers time reduced or armed robberies deterred. Millions spent on administration and advertising have these results stated June 13 in the House of Commons “750 license applications have been refused and 970 licences have been revoked”. The Minister ended by saying “That is about public safety.” (COMMONS DEBATES, ORAL QUESTION PERIOD). Meaningful sentences are what many believe public safety is about. Mandatory sentences of up to 14 years are on the books for misusing a firearm under Section 85 of the Criminal Code. Most charges, however, are stayed or withdrawn (1996-1997 1,210 of 2,065) and sentences upon conviction have an overall median of 365 days.* Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Adult Criminal Court Survey. While taxes spent on more jail time may not be an effective deterrent to those intent on criminal acts, they’d undoubtedly contribute more to public safety than paying millions to refuse a licence criminals don’t get in any case. Yours truly, Joe Hueglin 5838 Mouland Avenue Niagara Falls, Ontario. Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil 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 + $l 76 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/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. 1374990 RO. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com A°cna <gNA Member of the Ontario Press Council ■■ZEMB Looking Back Through the Years June 19, 1975 Two Blyth residents made news in an unusual way. Robbie Burkholder and Les Cook became minor celebrities when they undertook to push a wheelbarrow from Blyth to London. The trip took two days and raised $900 for the repairs to Blyth arena. Local municipal councils came to the rescue of tne Blyth Union Cemetery board which found itself in serious financial problems. Funds from the sale of lots and income from the perpetual care fund had not been sufficient in recent years to pay the cost of maintenance at the cemetery. The councils of Blyth, Moms, East Wawanosh and Hullett had been receptive to a plea for financial assistance. Pastor and Mrs. Alfred Fry left the Auburn charge of the United Church. Rev. Garnet Potter of Porcupine was inducted as the new minister in Auburn and Donnybrook. One of Blyth’s most successful sports teams was honoured at a banquet. The Blyth Baintoneers were tournament champions at Elora, Keady and Harriston tournaments and finished second in the Western Ontario Broomball Association. Team members were: Bonnie Snell, Annette Carter, Joyce Carter, Sue Kolkman, June Lieshman, Dianne Cook, coach Glen McLachlin, Dianne Payne, Barb Empey, Frances McClure, Dianne McDougall, Joan DeGroot, Kathy Street, Mary Lou Vincent, Sandra McLachlin, Marie Empey. The Blyth Standard gained a pretty edition to the staff as Dianne Cook, a graduate of Central Huron Secondary School was hired as Gal Friday doing everything from running Myrtle, the computerized typesetter to looking after the office. June 20,1990 An OPP identification crew was called in to Humphries Store in Walton following a break-in. A total of $1,200, plus cigarettes was taken, McKillop taxes went up 9.2 per cent, while Blyth’s jumped 8.66 per cent. The taxes in West Wawanosh went up 9.77 per cent. Hullett taxpayers also saw an increase with the mill rate going up 8.9 per cent. Dianne Prescott of Brussels was one of a group of mechanical engineering students from Conestoga College who won a technician-technology award. The Blyth Festival officially opened its new addition. Finance Minister Michael Wilson did a taped interview at CKNX during a visit to the Huron riding. CBC’s Ontario Morning crew broadcast life from the front lawn of Blyth Memorial Hall for the Rutabaga Festival. June 21, 1995 Lieutenant Governor Hal Jackman attended the opening of the 21st Blyth Festival season. A heatwave hit Huron soaring to 30°C, at the same time that Myrtle Beach, Florida boasted a moderate 24°C. Mark Nesbitt and Jennifer Stadelmann were given $1,000 each from the Blyth Lions and Blyth Legion for their participation in the youth Exchange Program. Nesbitt went to North Dakota, while Stadelmann crossed the ocean to Finland. The sun shone on Blyth’s first The Citizen RO. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Country Fest. Highlights included a performance for children by Dickie Bird. Director of Education Paul Carroll made two special presentations to Walton Public School. Two portraits, one of Shirley Lyon of Londesboro, who taught at the school from 1977 until her death in 1994 and the other of Barb Elston, a Grade 1 teacher at Walton from 1980 until her death in 1989 were given to the families as a tribute to the dedication and service of these two women. Both were donated back to the school. Rosemary Terpstra of the Ethel area opened a shop in her home, Country Patchworks, to display the many quilts and hand-crafted items she and daughter Amy created The Londesboro and District Lions Club took over operational duties of the Londesboro Hall. Wayne Bos, an Auburn-area dairy farmer earned the opportunity to travel to Madison, Wisconsin for the World Dairy Expo. Bos, one of four 1995 Ontario Dairy Youth Award winners represented the province at North America’s largest cattle show. Once again dairy farmers in northern Huron took top honours in test results determining BCA and general milk quality. Bruce Schmidt of the Walton area and John and Judy Brand of Clinton faced first and second in final calculations. Viktor Haag of Brussels got a fourth, Gerry and Theat Rijkoff of Walton were sixth. Others in the top 26 were Werner Hammel, Monkton; Lyle Martin, Ethel; Keith Van Camp, Brussels; Ernest Gubelmann, Wal­ ton; Fred Meier, Brussels; Albert Rechsteiner, Listowel; Dan and Dianne Van Veen,Brussels.