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The Citizen, 2003-11-12, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2003. Editorials & Opinions Publisher, 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 + $ l .96 G.S.T.) in Canada; $80.00/year in U.S.A, and $l00/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. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Publications Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 40050141 The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1 HO Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca z?ocna<tA' < Member of the Ontario Press Council ^■ZlEWi Real competition needed The agriculture committee of the House of Commons, led by Huron- Bruce MP Paul Steckle, has called on the Competition Bureau to investigate the situation this past summer when finished cattle prices dropped to as low as 20 per cent of the regular price but the price of beef in stores declined only modestly. If only Steckle’s colleagues would get the rigorous investigation they seek. Unfortunately the Competition Bureau had become something of a gigantic make-work project, with endless investigations that generally let companies get away with the most predatory of policies. On the rare occasions they do crack down the punishment produces all the pain of lashings with a wet noodle. The BSE situation certainly calls for examination. Following the discovery of a single case of BSE in one Alberta herd, farmers initially panicked but as they withheld animals from the market, prices remained remarkably firm. Then the federal and provincial governments announced a program to encourage farmers to sell their cattle and prices plummeted. The media will report that farmers got subsidies to help with the BSE fallout but in reality the subsidies were passed right through to the packers. The George Morris Centre, a food industry think tank reports that packers suffered in the early days of the crisis because they couldn’t export meat they already had in storage, had higher costs for disposing of wastes because there was no market for rendered products and were still paying decent prices for the relatively few cattle farmers were willing to sell. But the federal-provincial program brought plenty of cattle to market and the packers lowered their bids. “Since early July the packing industry margins have been extraordinarily high”, said the centre’s lead researcher Kevin Grier. The National Farmers Union claims that kind of situation is recurring in western Canada where a federal compensation program for cull cows has seen prices to the farmer drop from 20 cents to two cents a pound. The NFU blames a lack of competition. Two large multi-national packing companies control 74 per cent of beef slaughter and packing capacity. (That kind of corporate concentration would once have disturbed Canadian leaders but in this free-trading world the emphasis has switched from concern that companies have too much clout domestically to worry they have too little globally. The five huge chartered banks in Canada, for instance, claim they must amalgamate in the-name of being large enough to compete internationally. We need a regulatory system that helps protect the ordinary person, small businesses and farmers from the excesses of these huge monolithic companies. It’s the fair trade-off for allowing companies to become so large. Ironically the free enterprisers to the south in the U.S. have much better protection than we do in “over-regulated” Canada. — KR Fighting terrorism complicated The sickening story of the torture of Canadian citizen Maher Arar in Syrian prisons shows how complicated fighting terrorism can be. Word is leaking out that Canadian secret intelligence authorities tipped off U.S. officials that Arar could have links to terrorism so they pulled him off a plane when he stopped in the U.S. on his way home to Canada. The Americans then turned him over to his native land, Syria because they knew the Syrians wouldn’t play by civilized rules as Americans and Canadians are forced to and would use torture to elicit any secrets he held. Ordinary Canadians want our officials to protect us from real terrorists. We do not want innocent people treated badly. The problem is it’s not always easy to tell who is innocent and who is not.— KR Letters to the Editor Looking Back Through the Years THE EDITOR, Huron Perth Connects has been invited by Industry Canada to re­ submit its application for funding for high speed internet coverage in all parts of Huron and Perth without that service. We need your help. Industry Canada says that the technical plan for wireless service we have put together is excellent, but we need to provide more evidence that the people and businesses in this area really need broadband service. They have specifically asked us to obtain correspondence from the people of Huron and Perth. I would really appreciate receiving from your readers a brief e-mail to support our cause. We need these replies immediately. If you do not have access to high speed, please indicate the following: your name, community where you are located, and why you and others in your household and/or business need high speed service, and how certain you are to subscribe to such a service if made available. If you have high speed service, please indicate this in your reply, but tell us why it is important to you, your family and/or business. Please forward this request to any Huron and Perth residents you know who might like to participate in this campaign. Brock Vodden Project Manager Huron Perth Connects (519) 523-9313 Fax: 519-523-9871 brock, vodden @ tcc.on.ca Nov. 12, 1958 Mr. and Mrs. Charles Guy of Elliot Lake, welcomed the birth of their son, Douglas Earl. Allan Stiles of Brussels, was._ awarded the Queen’s commendation for heroism after he rescued his eight-year-old nephew from a tent that caught fire. Nov. 14, 1968 Reeve Calvin Krauter of Brussels retired as warden of Huron County and celebrated with 290 guests including friends, family and members of Brussels council. It was safe-driving week and cities with more than 40,000 people, that passed through the week without a traffic fatality were presented with awards from Governor General Michener. Morris Twp. Federation of Agriculture held its annual turkey banquet. Tickets were $1.75 each. Oct. 14, 1973 The Blyth Lions Club authorized the beginning of a fundraising project to install a swimming pool at the Lions Park. The cost was estimated at $44,000. Blyth Memorial Hall was filled to capacity for the Remembrance Day service. Morris Twp. council accepted the tender of Maloney Bros, for the installation of a storm sewer in Belgrave. The tender was for $29,000. The Blyth Lions Club held its annual rummage sale at Memorial Hall. The Knox United Church’s Sunday school celebrated its anniversary with a special guest speaker Rev. Charles Lewis. A large crowd attended the benefit dance for Mr. and Mrs. Ross Youngblut, whose barn burned down in the summer. Mrs. Wm. Logan was honoured by friends and family at her 90th birthday party al Blyth United Church. The Maitland Valley Conservation Authority acquired about 400 acres of property in East Wawanosh Twp. It was decided to hold a naming contest to be entered by students from Grades 5, 6, 7 and 8. Neighbours held a surprise party to honour Mr. and Mrs. Mason Robinson at their new home in Wingham. Nov. 9, 1988 A woman and her six children escaped with just the clothes on their backs after a raging fire engulfed their Morris Twp. home. After two weeks of turmoil, the Brussels sales barns were back to business under new licenses issued to McCall Livestock. Eight former Brussels Public School students received the Menzies Award at commencement night at F.E. Madill Secondary School, Donna Johnston, Clint Garniss, Bruce Johnston, Cindy Stute, Charlene Stephenson, Karla King, Marc Barbour and Kelly Bauer. A fundraising auction was held to raise money for the theatre expansion. More than $20,000 was raised. A second cutback in staff at Huronlea retirement home in Brussels, sparked a debate about the quality of care being provided at the home when county council met. Gilbert Beecroft celebrated his 80th birthday. Neil Gowing, vice-chairman of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Recreation Committee accepted a cheque for $2,500 from Brussels Lions Club president Greg Ducharme on behalf of the club and a cheque for $5,000 from Lois McArter, treasurer of the BMG Catering Group. Of that money. $3,700 went towards the purchase of the new Champion tractor­ mounted ice re-surfacer, while the remainder was used for other projects. Nov. 10, 1993 Huron County council confirmed a motion to have the clerk­ administrator investigate the funding proposal from the Children’s Aid Society of Huron County for a grant of $200,000 for construction of the society’s new headquarters building. The Huron Community Service Network held a special Coming Out event to celebrate the publication of their first Huron Information Directory. Huron and Perth Counties’ .officials met to begin the first discussions to see if a joint district health council could be formed. Emerson and Phyllis Rodger celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Members of the Belgrave Community Club presented a cheque for $1,500:. to Belgrave and District Kinsmen president Steve Nixon, which went towards the building fund. Nov. 11, 1998 Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers were investigating a high incident of unexplained mortality with Canada Geese. There was a discovery of over 20 dead geese at Sparling’s pond. A break-in was discovered at Blyth Veterinary Services. The owner arrived at work in the morning and found that the rear door had been pried open and the safe inside was also pried open with a small amount of cash stolen. Peggy Cudmore celebrated her 90th birthday with friends and family at the Blyth United Church.