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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-11-01, Page 4PAGE 4, THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2000 Editorials & Opinions 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.OO/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. - Bly th. 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 The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BIYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 RO. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Jfocna CsNA Member of the Ontario Press Council Hidden items drive up costs When taxpayers see large raises for public employees they get upset about rising costs but less visible budget items, some even to originating in the private sector, can also drive up public expenses. The Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board, for instance, just learned the cost of the medical plan for its employees will go up 17.7 per cent this year and trustees were told to expect similar high increases in the future. Part of the problem, trustees were told, is that employees are using the benefit plan more. But part of the increase in public costs are due to increases in private sector firms, both in the costs of drugs and the profit expectations of the private health insurance companies. Public expense or private? Sometimes it’s hard to know who is the culprit.— KR On giving a ‘mandate’ The problem with federal elections is that there are so many issues, but you have only one vote. You may vote for a candidate or a party for one reason but they will take your approval as acceptance of all their policies and claim you have given them a mandate to put those policies in place. The current election is a case in point. Prime Minister Jean Chretien deserves to be punished, not rewarded, for his arrogance in calling this election early and for ignoring his own back-benchers. Giving him another mandate seems like approving his growing aloofness. And yet voting just on that issue, turning out this government in favour of another, may bring policies we don’t really want. Stockwell Day, for instance, has been going around the country looking young and fresh and new, a nice break from the old guy in office. He has tried to be non-threatening and just an all-round nice guy. But those tempted to support him should know that the Alliance Party campaign co-chair Jason Kenney and party health critic Vai Meredith have said that two-tier medical coverage is one of their policies. Conservative Leader Joe Clark last week announced a farm policy that at least pays attention to the current troubles of Canadian farmers, instead of ignoring it and hoping it will go away as the Chretien government has done. In these rural ridings that platform deserves to be rewarded. Yet a Clark government means more than just a good agricultural policy. Clark has long seen Canada as a community of communities, a policy most Canadians have rejected. The NDP’s leader Alexa McDonough also unveiled an agriculture policy that would support farmers in their troubles. She has also argued the present surplus should be used to help people in need, not just be frittered away in tax cuts to those who are already doing well financially. On Monday she announced a visionary program to improve healthcare, and provide greater support for seniors, students and the poor. McDonough claims her government can do all this at a cost of $30.3 billion per year plus pay down the national debt because the federal surplus is much larger than the government is admitting. Maybe she’s right. Maybe the surplus is that big this year in a time of strong economic growth, but do Canadians want to commit to expensive programs in good times they won’t be able to pay for in bad times? The decisions are complicated. They require thought many people just don’t want to give. Just remember, when you support, or punish, that politician on one point, you buy the entire package. — KR Photo by Janice BeckerSeason’s bounty Looking Back Through the Years Nov. 3, 1960 The annual Lions Club Halloween Party held in the Brussels Town Hail was attended by a good number of costumed children as well as adults. Lion Rev. L. Brown was in charge of the program. Each person received an apple at the conclusion of the program and all pre-school children were given a nickel. Prize winners were: Brian Workman, Judy and Barbara Marlet, Anne Shaw, Bruce Workman, Ronnie Myers, Murray Workman, Cathy Work, Vonne McCutcheon, Bob Smith, Larry Duncan, Murray Raymond, Don Rutledge, John Wayne McDonald, Danny Arnold. Donald Workman, Robert Pipe, Jimmy Duncan, Greg Wilson, Donald Pletch, Lillian Myers, Susan Coleman, Lynne Workman, Joan Stephenson, Brian Stratychuck, Kathleen Krauter, Mary Gibson, Linda Lowe, Dorothy Elliott, Murray McDonald, Keith Raymond, Paul McDonald, Blaine McCutcheon, Judy Marks, Judy Work, Pauline McCutcheon, Archie McDonald, Gregory Huether, Karen Pletch. Kenny Work, Nancy Baker, Andy Adams, Bonnie Pietch, Ann Lowe, Michael Kemaghan, Murray Bradshaw, Anne Oldfield, Dorthy Elliott. Judges were: Mrs. Jack McDonald, Mrs. Max Oldfield, Mrs. W. H. Bell, Mrs. Chas. Arnold Nov. 5, 1975. Two local men were named to the executive of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture. Adrian Vos of Bly th was named president of the organization while Maurice Bean. RR1, Auburn was named second vice-president. Alan Walper of RR3, Parkhill was ejected vice- president at the annual meeting held in Clinton. The newspaper club was formed at Hullett Central Public School. Members were as follows: editor, Dianne Bromley; assistant editor, Deanna Finch; reporters, Joan Dale, Betty Buchanan, Marie Vandelie, Susan Jamieson, Linda Cunning­ ham, Sharon Ellis, Karen Dumin, Karen Overholt and Brenda Miller. Prize winners at Walton’s euchre party were: high lady, Mrs. Sadie McDonald, low lady, Mrs. R. Marks, high man, Lloyd Walker, low man, Jim McDonald, novelty prizes went to Stanley Hillen, Dave Watson, Torrence Dundas, Mrs. R. Marks, Pearl Thamer, Ernie Stevens, John Simpson, Shirley Johnston, Mrs. E. Stevens, Mrs. K. Rock, Mrs. Jean Miller, and Mrs. Cliff Ritchie. Hostesses were: Mrs. Jim Axtman, Mrs. Ken McDonald, Mrs. Jan Van Vliet Jr., and Mrs. Emerson Mitchell. Oct. 30, 1985. Mr. and Mrs. Dan Mclnnes were growers of a 135-pound pumpkin. Huron County Warden Paul Steckle presented a copy of the Huron County Historical Atlas to Agriculture Minister Jack Riddell on behalf of Premier David Peterson at a ceremony unveiling the Atlas Oct. 23 in Goderich. Nov. 1,1995. Brussels Guides held a fly-up ceremony. Betty Bodfield flew up to Pathfinders while the new Guides were Angela Nichol, Ashley Keffer, Mandy Mitchell, and Catrina Josling. The Reesor family of Grey Twp. had taken on a new and unusual venture. They began raising hedgehogs to sell as pets. Fair Ambassadors from Huron- Perth who represented the region at the Royal Winter Fair gathered at the annual meeting of the Agricultural Society on Oct. 24. Attendees were: Renee Sweeney, Zurich; Susan McLachlan, Seaforth; Robin Longfield, St. Mary’s; Mellissa Timmermans, Hensall; Stacy Hahn, Brussels; Marianne Stolz, Listowel; Ritchie Ople, Howick; Carrie Morris, Stratford; Jennifer McNeilly, Exeter; and Leanne Nicholson, Mitchell. Jessica, Esther, Peter, and Sarah Vander Steere from Morris Twp., Cone 6-7, were excited to discover a balloon sent from Coleman- Wesleyan Church in Coleman, Michigan. The ghouls were out in full force when The Ark hosted a family fun Halloween night. The haunted house attracted a huge crowd. , Members of Londesboro and community will be closely watching the fundraising thermometer rise at Londesboro Hall as they hope to raise $38, 000 for renovations to the facility.