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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-09-02, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2004. 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 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: norhuron@scsinterneLcom Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Jamie Peters and Alicia deBoer We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Canada We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripfs or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are m Copyright OCna C • ANA Member of the Ontario Press Council I 17 M Be P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM I HO NOG 1H0 Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca The Citizen They want it all Toronto politicians are in a huff these days because they feel they've been betrayed by federal and provincial officials who are talking about the need to help all municipalities, not just big cities. Toronto leaders feel big cities (particularly Toronto but for the sake of magnanimity they'll dane to let other cities like Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver in) have problems no one else experiences. They also feel they drive the economy of the entire country. And so, you as residents of northern Huron County should be happy to see your gas tax dollars go to help Toronto cope with the need for more mass transit. You're being small minded if you think it's unfair that you have to pay twice for roads: once through your gas tax dollars that go to the province for provincial highways it doesn't build in your region, and once through your municipal taxes. You should realize you get an unfair share of provincial services. After all, it's the rest of the province that benefits from provincial spending. Toronto doesn't get a thing from the thousands of jobs in government ministries clustered around Queen's Park — the money all goes to farmers who everybody knows are rich. If it weren't sad, it would be funny. Toronto has become so big it can see only its own problems. It can see issues it must deal with from extreme growth but can't see the problems much of the rest of the province faces with declining growth. It can see the poor within its own city who use food banks but can't see the problems of the farmer who often makes less for growing food than a cashier at Loblaws. As the centre of the nation's media, Toronto doesn't get a true picture of the rest of the country. Torontonians see their problems magnified and the rest of our problems diminished in comparison. Toronto is to Canada what the U.S. is to the world: a short-sighted giant for whom the outside world doesn't exist unless it does something to affect the giant's life. — KR (PSST... AQEN'T we SUPPOSED TO WAIT TILL THE END OF THE ROUTINE geFoae POSTING OUQ MAQICS 2! Reaching for the top With Canada's disappointing show at the Athens Olympics there are new cries for more funding for the country's top athletes. How can a government give money to athletes instead of more money for the homeless, foreign aid or schools? The one argument that works is if winning at the Olympics promotes pride and a drive for excellence in the whole culture of the country. Prime Minister Paul Martin has expressed a vision of inspiring excellence in business, science and education in Canada. Perhaps, when the 2010 Olympics are held in Vancouver, if we had the kind of results Australia had at these Olympics, the culture of excellence might be reinforced. — KR Letter to the editor Looking Back Through the Years THE EDITOR, Many of you will have probably heard about bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) or Mad Cow Disease in the news over the last 14/15 months. You will also have heard of the partial opening of the Canadian/U.S.A. border to Canadian beef (which in effect has been like a raindrop in the ocean). What many outside the industry will be unaware of, is the devastating effect all of this has had on our farmers. Many have had to take on other jobs off the farm in order to try to pay their bills, while their spouses and children try to cope with the farm. Many others have been forced to sell their farms, many of which have been in their families for generations. Others have had their cattle butchered and sold directly from the farm, not because they make any profit by doing so, but so they will not have to pay to feed them any more. In this situation the consumer buys meat at wholesale prices and the farmer, if he/she is lucky just 'breaks even'. All of this, because one cattle beast in Alberta tested positive for BSE and no other cattle beasts have tested positive ever since. This compares extremely well against other countries who have had far worse statistics by comparison. (Between 1987 and 1995 - 146,316 confirmed cases were reported in the United Kingdom). Our farmers are the people who put the food on all of our tables. Without them we would all be in trouble. and we need to make all of the public sector aware of the crisis the farmers are facing at the present time. The farmers are amongst the hardest-working members of our society who desperately need our support. We have all faced stressful situations at one time or another throughout our lives, and usually after a short while the problem has been resolved. Can you imagine a problem which doesn't go away, but continues to worsen day by day — with no light at the end of the tunnel? That is the farmers' situation right now. I asked myself what can I do to help? So, I try to let the farmers know that I really care; I buy my meat directly from the farm, I'm trying to arrange a free venue where farmers can have a coffee and cookie and either get rid ot their frustrations by chatting together, or to just forget about the farm for a few hours and probably, most importantly, I'm trying to inform the general population, whom I hope will in turn, approach their MPs and MPPs to see if they can try to implement strategies to deal with the situation. If you can help in any of these ways, I'm sure many farmers will love you for it. With my thanks in anticipation of your support Kay Roberts. Editor's note: A meeting for concerned beef producers will be held in the Belgrave Wl Hall at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9. Sept. 3, 1959 The Brussels Lions Boys and Girls Band were the third prize winners at the CNE. The band also lead the parade at the Zurich Lions Club Frolic in a downpour of rain. Elston Cardiff, active PC member in the House of Commons for 12 years, wanted to stand for, re- election in the new district. Six people were sent to the hospital after a two-car collision on the former Hwy. 86, about one mile east of Molesworth. Sept. 4, 1969 Dr. George Alexander, who purchased the veterinary practice and residence of Dr. William Stiles, came to Brussels from Swan River, Man. The one-day anti-rabies clinic in Brussels, conducted by Dr. M. K. Clugston of Seaforth, drew a gratifying response with 130 inoculations. The Ladies Aid of Melville Church opened the Autumn term with a pot luck supper. The Ladies division of the Brussels Agricultural Society finalized plans for the Brussels Fall Fair. Sept. 6, 1972 It was a tense moment as contestants waited on Huron Plowman's Association president, Ken Stewart, to announce the Queen of the Furrow winner, Marilyn Robertson of East Wawanosh Twp. William Beaucom assumed his duties as manager of the Brussels branch of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. He came from Sault Ste. Marie. Mr. and Mrs. George Hart of Brussels celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Lavis Construction Ltd. in Clinton were busy rebuilding storm sewers, curbs and pavement on Hwy. 4 through Belgrave. A record attendance was expected when the Huron Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society met for the annual meeting with guest speaker Bill Brady, one of Canada's best known radio and television personalities. The Ontario Wheat Producer's Marketing board released figures indicating it purchased nearly five million bushels of 1972 crop wheat. The federal government offered a $400 cash grant to about 22,500 farmers in wet-damaged areas in Ontario and Quebec. Agriculture Minister H. A. (Bud) Olson announced that about 11,000 wheat producers in eastern Canada were to receive cheques within a few days to cover their benefits under the federal government's two- price wheat payment policy. Sept. 3, 1986 Showing real leadership at the Blyth Festival's car rally was a team called The Dire Straits Racing Team consisting of David Sparling, Kevin Scrimgeour and John Liebold. The car rally was a special fundraising event for the Festival and took participants on a tour of northern Huron including Brussels. Teacher's aides and school secretaries across Huron County were in a legal strike position since Aug. 31 and were expected to walk out on Sept. 5. Thanks to excellent weather, Huron County farmers were able to start pulling white beans in most areas of the county, with a few fields reported combined at that point. Some Thing Special, a new store in Brussels opened by proud owners Wilma Rathwell and Nella Blake. Activity was gearing up at the Blyth Fairground in preparation for the 25th annual Thresher Reunion. Eleven girls were nominated for the Brussels Fair Queen, which included Connie Alcock, Cynthia Purvis, Leanne Armstrong, Ruth Ann Watts, Cindy June Stute, Charlene Stephenson, Carol Axtmann, Joyanne Van Vliet, Tara Parker, Susan Marks and Linda Ten Pas. The Hillcrest Restaurant and Gas Bar in Londesborough re-opened Aug. 28 with the new owners, Marg and Paul Brunkard. Sept. 7, 1994 Walton Public School had one of the biggest changes as it was no longer considered a primary school because the Grade 3 students will remain for another year for Grade 4 instead of travelling to Seaforth P.S. June Johns, Walton school secretary said the school's population rose to about 105 students. With the 33rd Annual Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion and Hobby Show fast approaching, the reassembling of the steam-powered sawmill began. Clarence Poortinga had his hands full hanging on to the triplet calves born at his Brussels farm. Kim Baan took on the challenges of educating young children about the dairy industry in her new role as the Huron County Dairy Educator. Sept. 1, 1999 Kirk Stewart won the gold at the Wingham Gold and Curling Club's annual Junior Invitational Golf Tournament. For the fifth time, the Brussels Tigers captured the Huron County Mens Fastball League champion- ship at a tournament in Brussels. Belgrave Pathfinders, Vicky Black and Sandra Dorsch, were in charge of eggs for the many hungry diners who turned out to the Pathfinder and Guides fundraising breakfast. Brad Knight presented the MVP award to Brussels Tiger Tim Fritz.i