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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-11-15, Page 4PAGE 4, THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2000 Editorials & Opinions The hard part begins The municipal election is over and we’re only six weeks from the end of the municipalities we know and the birth of new, larger, amalgamated municipalities. Our politicians and public servants have worked hard to be ready for this change, but are ordinary people ready? Come Jan. 1 when the new municipalities are in place, most day-to-day things will probably carry on as in the past. The roads will be plowed and sanded. The arenas will still run. The fire department will rush to answer an alarm. It will be easy for citizens to just go along with the changed situation just as they have dozed through the whole amalgamation discussion and the transition period. For small communities like Brussels and Blyth, however, things will not be the sar.e and pretending they are will endanger some of the things people hold dear about their communities. There will no longer be a legal entity called Blyth or Brussels. There will no longer be a local council to get excited when local people bring them ideas. In Blyth, for instance, the highly successful Communities in Bloom program got initial support from village council to help get the committee off the ground. In Brussels, there’s a history book telling the community’s past because village council spearheaded the effort. That leadership role is lost now, and unless some other groups step up, the two communities face a rudderless future as an after-thought in a large council. Even with local councils neither community was exactly booming. Both need a strategy for dealing with the realities of rural economics in the new millennium with fewer farms and shoppers travelling farther to get products they used to buy at home. We’ve sat back and waited for some knight in golden armour to come along and rescue the village from slow decline but nobody has. Things don’t have to get worse. If people choose to get involved in their community instead of sitting back and feeling powerless, the situation can be better instead of worse. Inaction, however, is not an option. If we want Brussels and Blyth to remain interesting, lively communities, we’ve go to get serious.— KR It goes both ways . As Ontario farmers marched on Ottawa last week to try to get attention from federal party leaders as they prepared for a televised debate, they pointed out that more than just farmers were being hurt by the current crisis in farm prices. It’s true, as Canadian Federation of Agriculture President Bob Freisen pointed out, that the whole community benefits when farmers are doing well and suffers when farmers suffer. The Huron County Federation of Agriculture’s economic impact study proved that agriculture plays a dominant role in providing jobs both directly and beyond the farm gate. But while Freisen is right, and everybody should stand up in support of our farmers, farmers need to remember this goes both ways. As farms get bigger there’s a temptation for farmers to seek the best deal they can, going farther afield for their farm supplies. On a consumer level, farm families are just as apt as town residents to decide the little local store no longer offers enough variety or cost saving and go off to shop at bigger, chain-owned stores. The small, independent business, like the small independent farm, is in danger of extinction. Yes, we’re all in this together but farmers too need to remember who their friends are.— KR Letters to the Editor THE EDITOR, As I read the editorial entitled “On giving a mandate”, I was appalled at how factually incorrect it was. Uninformed media is the reason why voters are becoming confused as to what the different parties’ policies actually are. Contrary to what was stated in the editorial neither Jason Kenney nor Vai Meredith actually stated that they support “two-tier medicine” let alone that it was one of their policies. They support the use of private care providers within a publicly funded system. This is far from something new. Canadian doctors are, and always have been, private entrepreneurs who are serving Canadians within the publicly funded system. Right now, under the federal Liberals, there are also private clinics that provide both services that are, and are not, also provided publicly. The reason why Canadians are seeking the services of private clinics in Canada as well as in the United States is because the Liberal government cut $25 billion from the Canadian health and social transfers to the provinces. A Canadian Alliance government would not only restore cut funding but they would also add a sixth principle to the Canada Health Act which guarantees that the federal government will always provide stable, sufficient funding for health care. Unlike Jean Chretien, Vai Meredith and Jason Kenney are willing to discuss the truth regarding the state that the current health care system is in. As well they will promote an open discussion on what can be done to solve the plethora of problems that are currently being experienced. In the future I hope the writer will research the reality of the situation at hand rather than submitting to political rhetoric. Sincerely, Sarah Varsava, Port Elgin. 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 + $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 Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Publications Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 1374990 P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Jpcna^cNA Member of the Ontario Press Council MZIM Dressed for fall Looking Back Through the Years Nov. 17, 1960 Miss Shirley Wilson of Fergus, who was a member of the teaching staff at Guelph, was the speaker at a meeting of the Majestic Women’s Institute. Other guests were members of the local 4-H Homemaking Clubs, North Huron Junior Farmers, Seaforth Junior Farmers and Junior Institute, and husbands and families of the of the members. Miss Wilson was the winner of a 4-H award of a trip to Great Britain during the summer, and told of her trip, illustrating it with colour slides. Mrs. J. C. Hemingway introduced her and Mrs. R. W. Stephens thanked her and resented her with a gift. The president Mrs. James Smith, was in charge of the meeting and conducted business. Mrs. Robert Campbell, a representative to the fall rally at Auburn, gave a report of the meeting. The Sacrament of Holy Baptism was held in St. John’s Anglican Church. Those baptized were: Margaret Louise Alcock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Alcock, and Kenneth John Coleman, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Alexander Coleman. Nov. 19, 1975 Cathy Madill, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Madill of Blyth was chosen one of two runners-up to the title of Ontario Pork Hostess at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. Eight contestants from across the province took part in the competition. Rev. Edward Baker of Walton tried to help those hurt by the postal strike by delivering letters and parcels for them free of charge. Over 300 students at F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham were awarded their diplomas during commencement ceremonies. Plans for the new senior citizen apartment to be constructed in Blyth were revealed by the Ontario Housing Corporation. The Blyth Midgets played Milverton and ended with a 5-5 tie. Goals for Blyth were scored by Dale Whitfield, assisted by Brian Bromley; Brian Bromley, assisted by Brad Bromley; Brian Bromley assisted by Steve Howson; Garry Manning assisted by Terry Pierce; Larry Howatt, assisted by Dale Whitfield and Steve Howson. Sandy and Terry Powell played well in goal for Blyth. Nov. 14, 1990 A lively debate seemed to be shaping up at Huron County council over a plan that would see speed limits increased on some county roads to 90 km per hour from 80. A total of 16 new Brownies were enrolled in Brussels. They were: Nicole Mastnak, Terry Tilly, Angela Stratton, Cheryl Armstrong, Heather Armstrong, Nicole Bernard, Courtney Stephenson, Tamara Diehl, Katie Clark, Amy Demaray, Lindsay Therrien, Andrea Bernard, Kendall The Citizen RO. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Jutzi, Megan Bragg, Amanda Van Beek, and Laura Rice. It was a close call for the driver of a tractor trailer after he slid on the slick roads. The New Hamburg man had just finished a delivery at Scrimgeour’s in Blyth and was heading north on Hwy 4 when his truck jack-knifed, ending up in the west ditch, facing south. Life Memberships were presented to five past presidents of the Auburn Lions Club at a meeting of the club. Receiving the memberships were: David Cartwright, Marinus Bakker, Russell Zurbrigg, Jim Schneider, and Bill Robinson. Two LDSS students from the Ethel area were the recipients of monetary awards at the graduation night. Brian Alexander received the Ideal Supply Co. Ltd. award of $100 and Leanne Maracle, the LDSS staff award. Steve Howson, president of the Blyth Lions Club presented a cheque for $1,000 to Murray Black, .president of the Blyth Minor Sports. Nov. 15,1995 Brussels firefighters were called out after a back porch caught on fire. Fire Chief Murray McArter said the owner of the Alexander Street home had set a steel pail of ashes on the back step, which ignited a nearby wood pile, as well as the steps and the ceiling of the porch.. The blaze was caught early and firefighters were able to put it out before it spread beyond the stairs.