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The Citizen, 2004-07-08, 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 1H0 email: norhuromascsinternet.com We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. We ore not responsible for unsolicited newsscripftor photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Canada. Aocna *CNA ; r-Wa. Member of the Ontario Press Council goiglifill The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsInternet.com Website veww.northhuron.on.ca WOW, A 5UPEi2MAGNETIC STAR SO POWERFUL IT COULD PULL LOONIES OUT OF YOUR POCKETS FROM A5 FAR AWAY AS THE MOON, OALD! OH, Seueve ME,50N, THERE ARE EVEN MORE POWERFUL FORCES AT WORK RIGHT HEQE ON EARTH... Looking Back Through the Years PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2004. Editorials Opinions Money makes the difference Recent actions by the provincial government point to efforts to limit urban sprawl and preserve farmland, but the key issue is being overlooked: a decent income from growing the food we all need to eat. Some months ago Statistics Canada released information that Canada's farmers actually had a negative income from their farrh operations last year. In other words, all the corn and soybeans and wheat and pigs and milk and eggs were essentially given away. So how did farmers survive not making money from farming? Well for one thing farmers subsidized our food by taking off-farm jobs. Most farms now depend on the income from off-farm jobs for one or both of the husband and wife family partners. For another, farm debt jumped an alarming seven per cent across Canada last year, reaching $47.7 billion. Canadian farm debt has doubled in the past decade to produce cheap food. Problems with continually increasing input prices and low farmgate prices for most farm commodities were exacerbated last year by the BSE crisis but farm incomes have been heading in the wrong direction for half a century. As in the BSE situation, governments claim they're trying their best to help but there's only so much to do. Yet provincially, successive governments have cut funding for agri- culture, closing Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food offices, prov- iding less local advice and substituting impersonal call centres. That hasn't stopped government from expecting more from farmers though, imposing new nutrient management regulations while so far, not, coming up with any help with the expense they will impose on hard-hit farmers. The govern- ment wants to keep farmland for farming, whether in the new greenbelt area around Toronto or throughout the province through a new provincial policy statement on how to interpret the planning act, but it's doing little to make sure farmers can earn a living on the land it wants preserved. Imagine if producing food returned the income that doctors and dentists derive from their professions — professions whose efforts to keep people healthy would be for naught without wholesome food provided by farmers. There would be no problem preserving farmland if farmers could earn incomes that rival urbanites. Instead, we have virtually driven people from the land who would gladly have spent their lives growing our food. So Premier Dalton McGuinty, if you want to preserve farmland, first of all find a way to preserve farm families. — KR A recipe for perpetual chaos Expect to hear a lot about proportional representation in the next year or so as the minority government situation gives bargaining flower to smaller parties unlikely to form a government themselves. After a few months of the constant bickering and acrimony that minority governments bring, however. Canadians may want to think twice about adopting a system that would mean perpetual minority governments. Proportional representation sounds good on the surface. If a party gets five per cent of the votes across the country, it's argued, it deserves five per cent of the representation in parliament instead of none, as it gets now. This is particularly attractive to supporters of parties like the NDP and the Green Party who feel they never get proper representation in the first-past-the-post system where each riding elected the candidate with the most votes. In a country where no party gets 50 per cent of the vote, however, it would mean minority government forever and gives disproportionate power to small parties that can't win enough support to form a government but can drive hard bargains for propping up a minority government. This system can even encourage more small parties that can get seats by pooling their nation-wide vote. Want to see the Marijuana Party with a seat or two in parliament? The argument also is that women and minorities would get more representation through a proportional representation system. One wonders, however, what representation there would be for the minority that is rural Canada and particularly farmers, in a system where the party apparatus would pick MPs rather than the people in each riding. The push for this change comes mostly from urban areas that tend to think all voters are pretty much the same. They fail to understand that geography is part of the equation to representation. In effect, proportional representation would be one more top-down, centralized solution that stands to hurt rural Canada.— KR Letter to the editor THE EDITOR, Our 82-year-old uncle was visiting us last week from Northern Ontario and experienced pain radiating down his left. arm in the early morning Tuesday, June 22. We called 911 and an ambulance was dispatched to our home in Tuckersmith Twp. They arrived promptly and the three paramedics who cared for Uncle Jacques displayed professionalism and provided excellent care. We would like to express our thanks to them for their quick and knowledgeable response to a possible life-threatening situation. We are so fortunate to have such a competent emergency medical system in Huron County. Thank you again. Sincerely, Jos& and Hubert Cayer. July 9, 1959 Many Brussels and area residents travelled to Stratford to see Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip who took a trip to visit Canadian citizens. Verda Watson graduated as an airline stewardess and was stationed in Toronto. July 10, 1969 A farmer billed Brussels council for $600 for smoke damage to his cattle supposedly caused from burning garbage at the dump. The matter was thoroughly discussed by councillors. Brussels blasted Bluevale 19-0 in a men's Tri-County softball tournament. Area Ontario Scholars for 1968- 69 were Jane Campbell of Wingham, Douglas Garniss of Wingham and Anne Oldfield of Brussels. Four cattle died as a result of a collision with a car driven by a Walton man, on Hwy 86, near Molesworth. Two of the animals were killed instantly and the other two were later put down. The cows belonged to a Listowel man. July 12, 1972 Marjorie Procter of Belgrave was chosen as Miss Brussels Fair and was to compete with 55 other rural fair queens from across Ontario. The competition was held on opening day of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE.) The winner got to fly to the Calgary Stampede and received $1,000 from the co-sponsor of the contest.. Athol Bruce of Belgrave was named best fifer and his daughter Reta Bruce of Bluevale was named best drummer in the 12th of July parade in Goderich. Brussels council expressed a lot of concern during a public meeting, in regards to the way courts were dealing with rowdyism and vandalism. The Huron Department of Highways crew was busy seating cracks that developed in the paving on County Rd 12 between Walton and Brussels. The "cornerstone from the former Brussels Public School was featured in a Brussels centennial ceremony with an unveiling followed by a short program. The memorial centre included a plaque remembering a former principal, Ken L. Ashton. The Royal Canadian Legion in Brussels, sponsored a track and field event. Wayne Lowe captured first prize in the Brussels Centennial beard contest. Runners up were Cal Krauter and William King. July 9, 1986 It was Hawaiian days at the Blyth recreation program and winning a limbo contest was Kim Medd. Tragedy almost struck an area family when their daughter nearly droWned on a family outing near Newry. The little girl stepped into a hole in the water and after five minutes of searching by her parents and other volunteers, she was recovered. She was administered resuscitation then taken to Listowel Hospital were she was kept overnight then released. The children's theatre workshop program in Blytn began by introducing the youths to acting, directing, playwriting, puppetry and prop work. The annual vacation Bible School got underway at the Londesborough United Church. Mark Hoba, formerly of Blyth, was one of seven Central Huron Secondary School students recommended for an Ontario Scholarship. He topped the school in marks with an 87.2 per cent average. David Fox was hailed by critics and audiences for his performance in Another Season's Promise at the Blyth Festival. July 6, 1994 Moxy Fruvous, a Toronto-based group, was back in Blyth for a matinee and evening performance at Memorial Hall. It was their third visit to Blyth. Brussels businesses prepared themselves for the upcoming Big Bargain Bash throughout the village. Brussels council gave their blessing to removal and restoration of the diesel engine which once powered Logan's Mill. Council also agreed to call tenders for a new firehall to save time while waiting for the approval of a grant of the project. Roslyn Cook opened a stained glass shop on Queen Street in Blyth. Rev. Adrian Van Geest delivered his first service as minister at the Blyth Christian Reformed Church. The Blyth Atom soccer players were the recipients of new sweaters thanks to the Blyth Legion. July 4, 1999 The Bluewater Kennel Club had perfect weather conditions for the annual dog show and obedience trials in Blyth. In a record vote, Huron County council turned down an effort to reopen the study of a one-tier system of government. James Roy, founder of the Blyth Festival and director during the 25th anniversary season, was awarded the Gold World medal for Best Director, Radio Drama as well as the Finalist Certificate for Best Radio Drama Special in The New York Festival's 1999 International Competition for Radio Media. Jesse Hakkers and David Kelly of 1st Blyth Scouts, received one of the highest awards in the Scouting movement at the District-wide ceremonies.