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The Citizen, 2004-09-23, Page 4The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1HO Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 PO. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 11-10 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Qocna 4PCNA We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Member of the Ontario Press Council We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are C Copyright KALAN PORTER MIKE HARRIS SHAM BASAYEV THE YOUNG IDOL WHO MADE US ALL PROUD TO BE CANADIAN THE TERRORIST WHO ORDERED THE KILLING OF ti SCHOOLCHILDREN THQ EX-PREMIER WHO YELLED AND swoin AT POLLING STATION VOLUNTEERS NESPOWN Looking Back Through the Years PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2004. Editorials Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, 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 + $196 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 Canada CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com Earning respect Anyone who has watched American movies over the years should have seen the common theme that people need to stand up and fight for their rights to gain respect of their opponents. A group of Canadian cattlemen seems to have learned that lesson, even if the Canadian government hasn't. Rick Pascal of Canadian Cattlemen for Fair Trade was in Brussels Monday night to explain his group's lawsuit against the U.S. government under Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement for compensation for losses due to the closure of the border to Canadian cattle exports after a single case of BSE in May 2003. "By fighting back we have gained instant respect (of the U.S. government)," said Michael Woods, the Montreal trade lawyer hired by CCFT. "The cost of (their) losing is too big to ignore." Since the whole mythology of the United States is that you have to stand up for yourself, Canada is always at a disadvantage in any negotiations. Not only do the American always deal from a position of power, both in sheer size and in our dependence on their market more than they depend on ours, we just don't think the same way. Canadian's natural position seems to be to seek compromise. Americans seek victory. And so in cases like the soft-wood lumber issue the U.S. loses in decisions of international trade panels over and over again, yet Just keeps fighting. Canadian trade officials, even while they're winning such cases, are seeking a compromise solution, hoping it will bring peace. Even when we're right, we're willing to give up what is rightly ours to try to please our opponent, yet this is an opponent who only respects strength. Our situation seems similar to that of an abused spouse who takes a beating and blames herself for having provoked it. It's only when that woman has the courage to leave the relationship that things will improve, yet because she depends on the partnership financially, she stays. The cattle producers have taken another tack. They're suing the U.S. government for $400,000 million in losses because of the closure of the U.S. border. They're putting pressure on the U.S. government to solve the problem because every day that goes by that $400 million in damages will grow. CCFT may not win its case — there are lots of skeptics who doubt there is justice in trade — but it is trying to find a way to deal from strength. The Canadian government seems perpetually to be dealing from weakness, even when it has a winning case in trade tribunals. Always we have to be prepared to risk retaliation to enforce a trade victory. So here's to CCFT. At the very least they'll command respect. — KR Letter to the editor THE EDITOR, I'm writing to update your readers on the latest developments in the on- going BSE crisis. which is now into its 16th month. On Sept. 10 the federal government announced a strategy to reposition Canada's livestock industry which refocuses our recovery efforts. The federal government strategy is based on a plan developed by the Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA). While both the CCA and the federal government will continue lobbying to re-open the U.S. border to live cattle, this new direction focuses on recovery through adding value by slaughtering cattle in Canada rather than exporting live animals. This will not only help us through the current crisis, but will make our industry less vulnerable to trade disruptions in the future. In 2002, prior to BSE, Canada exported 1,686,452 head of live cattle at a value of $1.8 billion. (3.46 million were slaughtered in Canada). Most of these exported cattle were destined for slaughter in the U.S. The practice of exporting live cattle tor slaughter developed in response to economic forces. Just over a year ago the U.S. and Mexico markets re-opened to Canadian beef from cattle under 31) months of age. That left the cattle that were previously slaughtered in the U.S. competing for spots in Canadian plants with the cattle normally slaughtered in Canada. The greater supply of cattle than capacity to process them is what has been driving down cattle prices in Canada. The processing sector is responding with plans to increase capacity. The federal government has committed $66 million to help with these efforts. However it takes time for plants to be built or to expand their facilities. Until this extra capacity comes online we have to better match the number of cattle coming to market with the processing capacity available. That's why the CCA advocated for, and the federal government included in its strategy, set-aside programs for market-ready cattle and for younger animals. These set-aside programs will benefit all cattle producers, not just those who voluntarily sign up for the programs. All producers will benefit from the stability brought to the live cattle market when numbers of cattle coming to slaughter are matched to the slaughter capacity available. To meet that goal we will need to have adequate numbers of cattle entered into the programs. Program details are still being developed. I Continued on page 6 Sept. 17, 1952 The Brussels Lions Club Boys and Girls Band performed its last concert of the summer at Victoria Park. The Huron Juveniles won their second game against Chatham 5 - 2. Sept. 18, 1969 Two barns in Morris Twp. were completely destroyed by fire from an electrical storm. Robert Wheeler lost a large amount of hay. straw and some crop, but the grain was saved. Ronald Gordon lost that season's crop of hay and straw as well as a combine and other machinery. Fortunately the cattle were in the field at that time. The Brussels Fall Fair was on the verge of non-existence with talk of all grants towards the fair being discontinued. Sept. 20, 1972 East Wawanosh Public School students participated in the annual Belgrave school fair. The Huron - Perth TB and Respiratory Disease Association held an educational display during the International Plowing Match in Sebringvi Ile. Confirmed cases of rabies in animals had increased markedly in Huron County during the first eight months of 1972. The total confirmed cases involving both domestic and wild animals was 52, presenting an approximate increase of 50 per cent over 1971. The Heritage Foundation presented the Van Egmond committee with a cheque for $7,000. A further donation of the same amount was to follow if the committee raised $7,000 through public donations. Residents in McKillop Twp. were to vote on the sale of liquor in the township. Ray Geiger Philom, the editor of The Farmers' Almanac visited Ontario to help the distribution of the 1,973 Canadian edition of the book Sept. 17, 1986 Charlene Stephenson was the runner-up for the Brussels Queen of the Fair title, Leanne Armstrong was the winner of the congeniality award while Linda Ten Pas was crowned Queen. A total of 10 girls were entered in the competition. The show went on despite the worst rainfall in the 66-year history of the Belgrave, Blyth and Brussels School Fair. An Auburn-area man was listed in serious condition in University Hospital in London, after being stabbed eight times with a knife in a fight outside the Bedford Hotel in Goderich. He was stabbed once in the arm, four times in the stomach area and three times in the back with a five-inch "fishing-type" knife, after he and another man got into an argument inside the hotel and were ejected onto the street. Record rainfall of six to seven inches over much of Huron County, left the white bean harvest "really hurting". Henry Van Keulen was the centre of attention when he arrived at the Brussels Flying Club's Fly-in in an armed forces jet helicopter. He is a CP air pilot and served in the armed forces reserve. Both Jack Riddell and Murray Elston announced their intention to seek the Liberal nomination in the two new ridings created in a shift in riding boundaries. Riddell, the Minister of Agriculture for Ontario and MPP for Huron-Middlesex was seeking the nomination for the new riding of Huron. Elston, the Minister of Health, and MPP for Huron would run in the new riding of Bruce. The new Blyth Lions Club executive was Ernie Phillips, John Stewart, Don Stewart, Stewart Ament, Murray Musty, Charlie Shaw, Paul Kerr, Frank Hallahan, Ken Cucksey and Gerald Kerr. Sept. 21, 1994 The smile on her face was as sunny as the day as Terry Team Member Joanne King led off the 14th annual Terry Fox Run in Brussels. There were 159 people registered for the event and $4,236 was raised. The white bean harvest was well underway in the southern region of the county. Loose cattle caused an accident in East Wawanosh Twp. Three bikes were stolen in Blyth. Mark and Jayne Marquis delighted the audience at the Light the Way Cafe in Blyth with their ballroom dancing. Verna and Lewis Cook of Belgrave celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Bainton's celebrated 100 years in the leather industry with an open house. Laurel Campbell returned from Australia after spending six weeks there as a representative for the Auburn Lions in the youth exchange program. Sept. 15, 1999 Four people were taken to hospital after a two-car collision on London Rd. by Westfield Rd. in East Wawanosh Twp. The slowpitch team, A Few Good Men, hosted a fundraising ball tournament with proceeds totalling $3,200 going to Jesse's Jour- ney. Katie Harrison was crowned 1999 Brussels Fall Fair Ambassador. Jack McCutcheon of Brussels was to lead the way when participants departed for the annual Terry Fox Run.