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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-01-15, Page 6Winners This group of students from Grey Central Public School in Ethel were among the winners of the 2003 Brussels Legion Remembrance Day poster and literary contest. From left with Comrade Lisa Glanville are, Tanya Bechard, Taylor Runstedler, Anna Glenn, Justin Blakney, Robin Rosentreter. Students from .Brussels Public School also competed. (Photo submitted) New Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefit If you must be absent from work to care for a dying family member, maybe we can help. The Government of Canada is introducing Compassionate Care, a new special Benefit available to Employment Insurance eligible workers who must be absent from work to provide support to a family member who is gravely ill with a serious risk of death. Important facts: o Beginning January 4", 2004, six weeks of Compassionate Care Benefits will be available to those who are eligible and provide the required medical certificate. o The Benefit can be used by one individual or shared with eligible family members to care for a child, parent, spouse or common-law partner who is gravely ill with a serious risk of death. For more information about the Compassionate Care Benefit, call I 800 0-Canada (I 800 622-6232), I 800 465-7735 (TTY) or visit www.canada.gc.ca. 1.1 Government Gouvernement of Canada du Canada Canada. PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2004. DNA findings don't change risk status By Elyse DeBruyn Citizen staff Although the DNA results prove that the cow with BSE in Washington state came from Canada, it doesn't change the country's minimal risk status of BSE. The Canadian Cattlemen's Association stated in a press release on Jan. 6, that DNA test results proved the BSE case in Washington state came from Canada. The announcement is disappointing after everything that Canadian farmers were faced with last time this happened, but "it does not change Canada's status as a country at minimal risk for BSE according to international guidelines," the release stated. Cindy McCreath, communications manager for the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, said one of the most important international guidelines is if a country has one case of BSE in every million cattle; it can claim minimal risk status. Since Canada has 15 million cattle, it is classified under the minimal risk sta- tus. The release also stated the epidemiological investigation completed in June indicated it would not be unexpected to diagnose a few additional animals with BSE. Neil Vincent, president of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture, said there is a lot of uncertainty with Huron County farmers. "It shouldn't change anything, it was a very isolated incident." He said he believes that part of the problem is political. "The pressure is put on the politicians. In some ways. we have too many rules that get in the way of common sense," said Vincent. He said the price in beef has, flucuated since the announcement, but there is no reason for it to drop any further. McCreath said the price of live cattle has decreased. She said finished cattle went down 20 cents a pound, but as of Jan. 9, it was back up to 10 cents a pound, which is 10 cents off what it was in early December. Vincent doesn't think there is a great risk of BSE coming to Huron County. "I feel that we are thousands of miles away from it and there is a very small possible chance of contamination," he said. McCreath said the newest case "probably won't" have the same effect on farmers as it did with the case in Alberta. "Losing the export market overnight was a big blow and we are slowly coming back. I jlon't know if the second case will prolong the border closure. It shouldn't because Canada is considered minimal risk. So it's not good news (for farmers), but it's not the worst either," she said. McCreath said the borders are opened for some products including live cattle and beef products coming into Canada from the United States. "We are working to expand the exports with the U.S. beef cattle and get back into the market of live cattle," she said. McCreath said all proper precautions are in place to ensure the safety of the food supply in Canada. "The central nervous system is the only part (of the cow) that carries the BSE. It is removed during slaughter and BSE is not typically found in cattle under 30 months of age," said McCreath. Letter to the editor CHSS Global Village Club seeks support THE EDITOR, I am writing on behalf of the Global Village Club at Central Huron Secondary School. Currently we are starting an African Aid campaign geared towards raising funds to pay for the schooling of an orphaned family in Uganda. OFA states needs . Continued from page 1 amount — and more importantly should not be expected to pay for high- priced electricity when they use low-cost power. We also need Finance Minister Sorbara to recognize a number of implications for agriculture from the finance ministry's tax regulations. Some of the requested changes won't cost the government anything, but will save farmers thousands of dollars. OMAF Minister Steve Peters has been asked to get the province's share of bridge funding in the mail to farmers immediately. Farmers have the federal government's 60 per cent share, but are still waiting for the other 40 per cent from the province. We need Premier McGuinty to clearly understand how policies can positively or negatively impact Ontario's farm families. It is not acceptable for one ministry to implement a policy direction that will financially cripple farms while we work hard to provide income support. We need the premier to adopt a holistic and comprehensive approach for the benefit of all Ontario farm families. Ron Bonnett President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Last summer, I received a letter from Richard Odoki from Uganda (he had gotten my address through a pen pal program). We started corresponding, and got to know each other. He wrote me about the problems they have in Uganda. The "Lord's Resistance Army" (often referred to as the rebels) want to lead/rule the country based on the 10 commandments. But since they do not have enough people to fight for them, they abduct young men and brutally force them to fight. - And teenaged girls are also abducted to become their "wives"... This civil war has been going for 17 years in northern Uganda. And there is not much international attraction to it. Richard's family has been deeply affected by this conflict: the rebels killed his father and wounded his mother during an attack on their village. He and hiS three younger siblings have no source of income and will not be able to go to school (which is not funded by the government...). So this is the current goal of the CHSS Global Village Club, to raise enough money so these children can get an education. During the next few weeks, members of this club will go visit Huron County businesses and ask them for donations. CHSS will then host a "Stuff-A-Locker" fundraiser where a locker will be filled with donated goods and gift certificates. Students will pay to guess the right combination, and the person who gets the right or closest combination will win everything in the locker. But this fundraiser will probably not bring enough money, so if anyone would be willing do a donations for this, it would be immensely appreciated. For more information, feel free to contact me at 519-527- 1406. Nadine Ringgenberg.