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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-08-23, Page 4PAGE 4, THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2000 Editorials & Opinions Two economies in one country Figures released by Statistics Canada last week that show the nation's economy is growing even taster than expected, prove once again that there are two Canadas: the main stream big city economy dependent on industry and big business, and those of us who live in rural areas. While the growth just seems to go on and on in the big city economy, rural areas are struggling just to keep what they have. More and more fields are paved over to build factories and housing developments around the grow th centres while jobs and young people continue to leave smaller towns town. Even the communications revolution, which could have seen jobs relocated to small towns, has instead centralized more work in cities at the expense of small town jobs. There are fewer people working in government offices in small towns in the past, fewer people working in banks as those jobs move to city offices. While here in western Ontario we've still been able to maintain the population of our small towns, in some parts of Canada even houses sit empty, while there are housing shortages in the growing cities. What's more our economy, based on agriculture, is vulnerable to everything from world price pressures to this year's unusual weather conditions. Even when prices and weather are good for farmers, their returns never seem to be as good as the salaries any urbanites earn year in, year out. It's an unhealthy situation, one (hat people and governments would have been concerned with at one time but in today's laissez-faire society people just take for granted. The only remedy is for small town people to try to change the situation themselves, but that involves a degree of co­ operation few people seem willing to give in these days of ultra­ individualism. — KR No simple solution Anger and hatred are the order of the day in eastern New Brunswick these days as native fishermen clash with Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) officers trying to regulate the amount of lobster they catch. The clash results from a Supreme Court decision that natives had the treaty right to fish for a living. Since then there has been constant friction between native and non-native fishers, with DFO officials trying to find an acceptable compromise but sometimes causing more problems than they solve. It's an issue with no easy solution? Natives see this as an opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty and dependence they have suffered since the Europeans arrived three centuries ago. Many non-natives have complained about natives not having to work like they do, so they should want to see them fishing. But in a region with few jobs, non-natives don't want to see fishing jobs lost. What’s more, the Supreme Court decision also gave natives rights in logging, the only other major job-producing segment of the economy in the region. Non-natives, some of whose, families go back centuries themselves, see their futures thrown in doubt if they're forced to give up their fishing and logging jobs. And somebody has to give something up. In the wake of the collapse of the cod fishery, we’re knowledgeable enough to know that everybody can't just take as much as they want from nature. There has to be some regulation. Natives, who have always blamed non-natives for not living with nature, must realize themselves that they have to show some self­ restraint. On the other hand, all the lobster traps set by natives, even those the DFO insists must be removed, account for a tiny fraction of the traps being set off New Brunswick this summer. It's a complicated conflict but co-operation must prevail in the long run or the livelihood on this fagile part of Canada will be destroyed. —KR Letters to the Editor THE EDITOR, The Communities in Bloom committee would sincerely like to thank all of the homeowners and businesses for doing a tremendous )ob of lawns, flowers and necessary maintenance before the national judges arrived in our village on July 30. 'Die judges were impressed with our village despite the weather. Along with our morning and afternoon lour, the judges were also given the opportunity to have tours through the Blyth Festival theatre, llowson Howson Ltd., G. L. I lubbard I id.. and Atlas Fur fanning and Dyeing I td 1 liese three companies have become known throughout North America for their export of semolina, rutabagas and tanning of sheepskins respectively. They enjoyed the tour in the fire truck even though it was cut short due to rain and the tour in the afternoon with Buster and Bingo (Norwegian Fjord team). Norma Daer, Lois van Vliet, Laurie VanWyk. Nan Gore, Janice Vodden and Glenyce Snell allowed the judges to tour their properties. The winners ol the storefront contest are: first. Inn Shoppes and Blyth Inn. Peter and Carol Irwin, second. Gore's Home Hardware. Nan Gore; third. Blyth Apothecary. Dan Continued on page 5 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario t>7 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 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 Conoda through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs Publications Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 1374990 PO. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 Looking Back Through the Years Aug. 25, 1950 A roll of Save All Wax Paper cost 29 cents at McCutcheon Grocery, while one pound of Maxwell House Coffee cost 71 cents. At Cousin’s Dairy of Brussels, a pail of red cherries cost $5.25, 28 pounds of raspberries cost $8.95, and 30 pounds of strawberries were $11.25. At Willis’s, Campbell’s Tomato Soup was on special for 47 cents for four cans. Aug. 20, 1975 The Huron County Board of Education voted to discontinue school safety patrols at public schools in Goderich and Exeter. The board was in a position that it might have been sued if an accident occurred at a board sanctioned crosswalk, despite the fact that legislation defined the limits of a board's jurisdiction over pupils as only while on school property or while travelling on a school bus. The Huron-Perth County Roman Cathlic Separate School Board decided not to join the courier service carried on by the Huron and the Perth County Boards of Education. A new attempt to enlarge the area served by the Maitland Valley Conservation Auithority was given approval by East Wawanosh township council at its August meeting. The enlarged boundaries would see the MVCA take in the area from where the northern boundary of the authority meets the Lake Huron Shoreline to the boundary of the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority. West Wawanosh Twp. council at its August meeting agreed to apply for funds for the township under the Ontario Home Renewal Program. The entrances to Blyth were getting a makeover when Auburn area artist Jim Marlatt painted signs for the Blyth Board of Trade. When finishd they were to feature a steam engine, to symbolize the annual Blyth Thresher Reunion. Shampoo, starring Warren Beatty and Goldie Hawn was one of several movies playing at Brownie's Drive- in Theatre in Clinton. Two of the movies playing at the Mustang Drive-in Theatre in Goderich were Walt Disney’s Cinderella and Ohl Yeller. Playing at the Park Theatre were Tommy, starring Roger Daltrey and Elton John, and Walt Disney’s Bambi. Aug. 20, 1986 Blyth village council adopted a millrate that was to see a tax increase of 6.7 per cent to the average public school supporter. Blyth council also voted to purchase a new town public works truck, but not before a little controversey held up the meeting for several minutes. The controversey arose when a member of the public gave council information he had collected on prices from various dealers. The Citizen PO. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Xocna^sNA Member of the Ontario Press Council Canada Dry soft drinks were 49 cents each for 750 ml bottles at the Brussels EMA. Playing at the Lyceum Theatre in Wingham was The Karate Kid, Part II. Aug.22, 1990 The Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation (OSSTF), District 45 (Huron) was to be sponsering an all candidates meeting for the upcoming provincial election. Rick Findlay, a director of the Ontario Round Table on the Environment and Economy was the guest speaker at the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority general meeting. Part of the solution to the mounting piles of garbage across North America might have been sitting in a Walton backyard. The mechanical composter completed by L.H. Resources of Walton may have been one of the answers to turning part of previously troublesome garbage into compost to re-enrich the soil. Steve Fritz, a Brussels area youth was part of the winning team at the National Midget Boys Softball Champoinships in Milverton. He. along with the rest of the Milverton Midgets in Cinderella style, won the champoinship title, the culmination of a week-long event. Fritz, had been invited to try-out at the beginning of the season after Milverton coach Marty Scott had seen him play.