Loading...
The Citizen, 2004-06-17, Page 4Looking Back Through the Years PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2004. Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Jamie Peters and Alicia deBoer The Citizen Editorials Opinions The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels. Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at. rate of $30.00/year (S28.04 + $1.96 G.S.T.) in Canada; $80.03/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 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. CanadW qua zkOala ENA c:ru Member of the Ontario Press Council IMIZZEIM We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1 HO Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Webslte www.northhuron.on.ca P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 /f a tree falls in a forest . . . Huron County councillors were furious recently over a story in The National Post that a report of a government committee had called rural Ontario "unsustainable" and recommended it be "taken off life support". The newspaper's report by Lawrence Solomon has been, circulating via email to shocked rural politicians and development advocates since it appeared in late April. Many of those who read the column took it for granted that a government committee actually did make these statements and were shocked that people would be so ill informed. Those who actually check out the original government report on a government website, however, will be reassured that the report's authors are not as myopic as they seem in Solomon's article. In fact there are only a couple of innocuous comments in the couple of paragraphs in the more than 60-page report about the need to look carefully to make sure that rural development funding is being effective and that rural children may need to be encouraged to seek jobs elsewhere if they can't find work at home. For some people, however, Solomon's name may ring a bell. He has been a consistent critic of farming and rural live in general often claiming farming receives huge subsidies (he includes supply management as a sub- sidy because Canadian farmers receive more than the international prices which amount to clearance prices at which countries dump surpluses). Solomon's warped view managed to turn a couple of paragraphs into a nearly 1,000-word diatribe against what he sees as an outmoded, propped- up rural way of life. The most disturbing thing about this erroneous report is not just that it is misinforming both urbanites and rural residents about what the report actually said, but that no one at The National Post, a supposedly national newspaper, even questioned Solomon's report. While alarm bells were sent off for people in rural areas who couldn't believe a government report would actually make a recommendation to write-off rural Ontario, no editor at The National Post thought it unusual enough to check the original document on which Solomon based his fiction. The ramifications go much further than just one instance of the distorted ramblings of a deluded mind. If editors of a national newspaper can accept without question the supposition that rural Ontario should be written off, how much even-handed treatment can rural people expect in urban papers? And since government decision makers get their information from urban media, how might this shape decisions that affect rural life. There's a philosophical question about whether, if there's no one there to hear it, a tree falling in the forest really makes a noise. There should perhaps be added a corollary: if nobody in urban areas where decisions get made know that rural Ontario exists, does it? — KR There's great angst in this federal election campaign about politicians keeping their promises but voters need to ask themselves if they're forcing politicians into promises they can't keep. The Conservative Party's platform, for instance, not only contains the kind of promises the supporters of leader Stephen Harper have traditionally supported like tax cuts and more money for the military, but promises for more money for health care and other goodies designed to tempt disaffected Liberal suppotters to vote Conservative. Ironically one of the biggest factors in booming Conservative support in Ontario is anger at the broken promise of no new taxes by the provincial Liberals of Dalton McGuinty. Mr. McGuinty stupidly signed an agreement that he would not raise taxes during last fall's provincial election when he should have known he might have to restore services cut by the Conservatives but he was combatting charges he'd be a spendthrift. But the federal Conservatives are now running on a platform many observers feel they can't deliver as they try to please voters. So we've got a party benefitting from anger at one government that couldn't deliver its promises probably setting itself up for the same charge if it wins over enough voters to be elected. — KR Letter to the editor THE EDITOR, It's very upsetting and discouraging to think you cannot decorate your family's gravestones. On Mother's Day 1 took planters to my parents' graves at Blyth Union Cemetery. 1 recently returned to see that they would be fine for Father's Day and was appalled to discover them missing. The two terracotta pots contained mixed flowers of spikes, geraniums and petunias. Another woman, after hearing that my flowers had been removed, said the same thing had happened to her. She originally thought they may have been placed somewhere to protect them from frost, but after checking with the caretaker, she was told that was not the case. There was no other sign of damage or vandalism in the area, which makes me think that there are people with so little respect for the anyone or anything that they have taken the planters for their own use. I am guessing that they are now on someone else's patio. 1 hope they are enjoying them, because those planters had been placed where they were for a reason. Because I cared about someone. Ann Stewart Hulzebos June 18, 1952 About 700 Brussels residents took advantage of a free chest X-ray when a mobile clinic visited the village. Audrey Anderson received a $50 reward for having the highest average in her class at Hamilton General Hospital when she graduated in the nursing program. The East Huron Agricultural Society decided to put on a special commercial feature for the Brussels Fall Fair, adding on Hay or Forage Crop as the 1952 exhibit. June 26, 1969 Brussels began extending water service in the section of the village where several new homes ware being built. Larry Bray was rushed to Victoria Hospital in London after he tripped and fell, accidently setting off a gun he was carrying. The bullet hit his neck and he was in intensive care. Huron Liberals crowded the Seaforth Legion Hall to hear Donald S. MacDonald, president of the Queen's Privy Council and government leader in the House of Commons. Ontario farmers said "no" in no uncertain terms to the proposed province-wide General Farm Organization (GFO). The voting for the GFO was only 43.8 per cent in favour when the required majority was 60 per cent. June 21, 1972 The population of Brussels showed a gain of 29 residents over the previous year according to statistical information supplied with the annual auditors report which also stated that Brussels had 911 residents. The Seaforth District High School Girls Band was scheduled to perform in Brussels for the Centennial Parade. A hot mix paving contract on Highway 4 from Blyth northerly to Highway 86 went to Lavis Contracting Co. Ltd. of Clinton for $171,592. Arnold Mathers, former principal of Huron Centennial School in Brucefield, graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master of Education degree. Elected members of the Seaforth District High School for the students' council were Bob Carnochan, Dianne Phillips, Bruce McDonald and Vicki Miller. June 18, 1986 Approximately 200 people were on hand to watch the celebrations for the opening of the new Brussels pool. Bonnie Ann Lamble was ordained a minister at the Hamilton Conference of the United Church of Canada. Formerly a high school teacher, Ms Lamble graduated with a Master of Divinity from Emmanuel College, Victoria University, Toronto in 1985. She was serving the Walton-Bluevale pastoral charge. The Belgrave arena roof needed repairs in the amount of $31,000. June 15, 1994 "Either get with the program or be volunteers." This was the sentiment expressed by Blyth councillor Steven Sparling at a discussion regarding remuneration. After comparisons to other municipalities councillors voted themselves a raise. OPP officers raided a Hullett Twp. home and seized more than $100,000 worth of marijuana. The Blyth Legion Ladies Auxiliary executive was: Betty Bowes, Deb Stryker, Connie Shiell, Lillian Riehl, Erma Brighton, Val Pethick, Erlene Caldwell, Janice Henry, Kay Hesselwood, Mildred Ament, Brenda Finlayson and Edythe Glousher. The new Londesborough Lions Club members were Tom Codyre, Sam Dougherty, Don Allen and Scott Overboe. Jack Fischer of Bluevale was honoured in Toronto for his commitment and contribution to the village and to the Twps. of Morris and Turnberry. Former W5 host Jim Reed was the guest speaker at Duff's United Church. Rita MacNeil performed at a concert in Blyth. June 23, 1999 Fast words and a classic style helped a Belgrave man take top honours at the Canadian Livestock Auctioneer championship in Ottawa. A 1992 graduate of the Southwestern School of Auctioneer in Woodstock, Tony Chaffe placed first over 21 others auctioneers from across the country. The Blyth Festival opened its 25th season with That Summer by David French. Huron Bruce MPP Helen Johns was sworn in as Ontario's new Minister of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation, Seniors' Issues and Women's Issues. Brussels firefighters hosted a Father's Day brunch. Blyth PS and Hullett Central PS. each received a donation of $300 from the Legion towards the track and field team. The new staff at the BMG Pool were: Amy Ross, Lisa Blake, Amy Crawford, Mandy VanLoo, Leslie Baillie, Heather Douma and Heather Blake. Jay Sanders. of East Wawanosh returned from eight months in the Katimavik program. Dr. Shawn Marshall began his practice in Wingham. His wife, Dr. Bonnie Marshall planned to return to work part-time. We ask for it