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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-04-29, Page 4Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Jamie Peters and Alicia deBoer 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 $30.00/year ($28.04 + $1.96 G.S.T.) in Canada: $80.00/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. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 PUBLICATIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM REGISTRATION NO. 09244 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG I HO email: norhuron4scsinternet.com The Citizen P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG 1H0 Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 . . FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com , Website www.northhuron.on.ca ocna C 4frcrA ,G; Member of the Ontario Press Council mIld111INI We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscrlpts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen ore C Copyright We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Looking Back Through the Years PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2004. Editorials Opinions A troubled marriage While the shotgun marriage of rural and urban municipalities under amalgamations has worked relatively well so far, Bruce County's Mun- icipality of Brockt9n shows the potential for conflict in these matches. Many residents and political leaders of rural townships feared amalgamation with larger towns would mean their issues got overlooked while urban issues dominated the municipal agenda. To allay those fears, provisions were made such as adoption of a ward system, to give a strong voice for rural residents. Brockton was one of the first municipalities where a vocal group of urban voters argued that representation by population meant the larger urban area wasn't properly represented and that the old town of Walkerton should carry more weight. Now some Walkerton residents are unhappy that the municipality's proposed budget puts more of the cost of policing on the urban area. They feel policing costs should he shared equally by all ratepayers. From an urban prospective this request obviously seems fair. If everyone benefits then everyone should help pay the costs. But people in towns don't see the same picture as people in the country. Downtown areas may see police officers on foot patrols two or three times a day where people on rural concessions likely won't see a patrol car two or three times a year, and then only when investigating an accident or crime. When the provincial government several years ago said rural areas must start paying for the "free" police services they had been getting all along, it was essentially a tax grab to get ratepayers to pay part of the cost of OPP services. Rural areas use much less policing than urban areas. Lumping rural and urban people into the same municipality has created a difficult situation. The principle that everyone should be treated the same is pitted against the principle that people shouldn't have to pay for services they don't receive which in turn comes up against the principle of representation by population. The situation In Brockton is one that politicians in other amalgamated municipalities should watch as they struggle to make these rural/urban marriages work. — KR THE EDITOR, I am about to sit down and drag out my file on income tax related, receipts. invoices. T4s, T5s, charitable donations and all that , great pile of paperwork that accumulates over the year awaiting this moment of last minute necessity. Usually, I do not look forward to this battle with the papers and the forms. But this year I'm planning to learn a lesson in easy bookkeeping straight from the horse's mouth (I think that is the end of the horse it came from). I'm going to figure out what I want my final results to look like and then I'm going to write in the numbers for income, expenses and charitable donations that will .produce the desired results. If I get audited I know just what to say. All those expenses 1 claimed? Not to worry Revenue Canada - No receipts - heck "I got value for my money". Who needs receipts? My farm income - who needs to keep track of deposits and all that work - my customers all "got value for the money" - and it is exactly the amount I put on my form. No more - no less - no paper trail - no mess. (and a lot less work for my wife who diligently kept track of every penny in the pre-sponsorship scandal era). Alas, I don't expect Revenue Canada will cut me the same slack Martin and the Liberals want from us, the electorate. So I guess I'll have a few late nights pulling it all together. But it was an interesting daydream to imagine how it might be if ordinary folk got to play the recordkeeping game the way the high and mighty did in Ottawa. Yours sincerely, Tony McQuail. April 30, 1952 An analysis of the census in Huron County showed a population increase of 12.6 per cent representing a total of 49,280 people living in the county. An interesting demonstration of the Inglis automatic washing machine was given at C. and G. Krauter Co. Plans were completed for the Belgrave Musical Festival sponsored by the "Belgrave school fair. More than 60 members of the Huronic Rebekah Lodge attended a meeting in the lodge rooms in Clinton for an official visit from District Deputy President, Mrs. Ada Armstrong. The Ontario fishing season for speckled trout opened May I. May 1, 1969 Organizations had things in place for the beginning of area softball games. The old Central Hotel in Brussels was in the process of being demolished by its new owner William Stephenson, who purchased the building the previous year. He was undecided what to do with the property after the building was down. Two Belgrave residents were admitted to Wingham and District Hospital after a two-car crash. May 3, 1972 A large attendance gathered at the Brussels United Church for the Girl ' Guide honour awards. Stephanie Watts received her Gold Cord, the last to be presented in Canada. Carol Wheeler won three medals at the Western Ontario Highland Dancing Competition held at Fanshawe College. Brussels council agreed to a proposal to further the steps towards a village-wide sanitary sewer system. Ski-divers were to the be highlight of- the Brussels Centennial in the summer. The Belgrave Women's Institute, canvassing for the Canadian Cancer Society under the Wingham unit, raised $391.85. April 30, 1989 Members of the Brussels Lions Club celebrated 40 years of fun and service to the community at an anniversary banquet. Hugh Hanly of Goderich became the new clerk-treasurer for the Brussels municipal office. Members of the Blyth gymnastic club wrapped up the season with a public demonstration. Cul Krauter, a reeve of Brussels and past warden of Huron County, was chosen as Citizen of the year for -the Brussels area. Robert Brak of Blyth received first prize in the trout category with a 12.25 pound rainbow at the Maitland Valley Anglers annual fishing derby in Goderich. Blyth Lions Club assisted the Salvation Army in its fundraisng campaign during May. The first Brussels Cubs travelled to Vanastra for their annual swimming night. The Bluevale Mixed Bowling League held its season-ending- banquet in Brussels. Raffi Armenian of the Kitchener- Waterloo Symphony Orchestra and the Canadian Chamber Ensemble brought the music of Mozart, Haydn and Salieri to Blyth Memorial Hall in the final presentation of the spring season of the Blyth Festival. April 27, 1994 The unseasonably warm temperatures brought children in shirt sleeves out to play on the greening lawns. Members of the Wingham Canadettes Baton Twirling Corps presented its annual show. The Blyth Legion Ladies' Auxiliary held a Community Supper dinner for guests at Memorial Hall. Dianne and Doug Doerr opened Pizza Plus on Queen Street in Blyth. Members of the Blyth and Auburn Lions Club decided that two Blyth hockey teams deserve Hall of Fame recognition. The clubs sent pictures of the 1971-72 PeeWees and the 1992-93 Bantams, the only two Blyth teams to ever take the All-Ontario championship title. John Gibson of TREEmendous in Clinton donated an early leaf lindon to Blyth PS for planting during Earth Week. May 5, 1999 Overgrown trees and tinder-dry conditions led to a blaze on a farm in Londesborough. There was a good turnout of diners at Grey Central Public School for the Ethel United Church's annual ham and turkey supper. It was a beautiful afternoon for outdoor activities when Grey Central Public School students took part in a variety of Earth Day activities. The Brussels Legion was a busy spot with its silent and live auc- tion. Judy Mathers' Grade I class' at East Wawanosh Public School participated in the story of Rainbow CroW when Shakespeare on Wheels came to the school. Flutist Kim Veenstra of Grade 8 and teacher Elizabeth Stennet accompanied the senior choir as they performed Flying Free during the spring concert at Hullett Central Public School. Stop playing games Prime Minister Paul Martin claims he wants to fix the "democratic deficit" and make people less cynical about government. If so, the first thing he should do is get on with governing instead of constantly angling to call an election, but only if he thinks he can win. Mr. Martin is not fooling anyone with his claims he needs a new mandate and so he needs to hold an election. These plans were dreamed up when it looked like he'd sweep to a huge majority and he's finding it hard to let go of that dream. If he has ideas that are worth us re-electing him, then let him start putting them in place right now. We know little about what his government hopes to do and it's silly to say we have to wait for an election campaign to find out. Get on with governing and let us see what you're capable of, Mr. Martin. Waiting a year for an election would also help us learn more about what the new Conservative Party stands for. Former Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark is absolutely right when he says some people would be voting against the Liberals in this election without knowing what policies the Conservative's Steven Harper stands for. It's scary to think policies Mr. Harper previously espoused which sounded like the U.S. Republican party might win acceptance just because the comfortable "Conservative" name is now attached to the party he leads now.— KR Letter to the editor