Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2006-04-06, Page 4Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp • Advertising, Ken Warwick & Kelly Quesenberry The Citizen 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; $90.00/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. - Blylh. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 09244 RETURN UNDEUVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com F.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG 1H0 Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com WebsIre www.northhuron.on.ca Aocna +CNA i Member of the Ontario Press Council IiI16.11 We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscrlpfs or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are 0 Copyright Canadg We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Advice to Rulers: "Even on the loftiest throne in the world, we are still seated on our own 4--." Looking Back Through the Years PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2006. Editorials Opinions Somebody's on our side The little known role of the Ontario Ombudsman was never so valuable as last week when the current ombudsman, Andre Marin blasted the Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (MPAC) as "badly broken." "We have a system that is not serving the citizens of Ontario the way it should," Marin said in making 22 recommendations to make the Crown agency, which assesses the value of every property in Ontario for municipal taxation purposes, function better. The key problem with MPAC, which was set up by the Mike Harris government in 1998, is that it uses computer models to decide the value of your property and every other property. So last year, for instance, the computer increased the value of properties by an average 14.35 per cent. The original concept for a new property assessment system was established in the early 1990s with "market-value assessment". This made sense because the original system had fallen far behind the real value of properties with some people in newer houses paying much more for a house of the same value than someone with an older home. But under MPAC, market value was replaced with something called "current value", which is determined by computer models. So, for instance, imagine the surprise of Ottawa home owner Manuel Costa who bought a home for $255,000 but found MPAC then assessed it as being worth $346,000. He appealed and did get the assessment reduced to $280,000 but with every assessment since, MPAC has jacked the value back up. The latest assessment is $328,000. The second problem is that under MPAC's rules, if you appeal your assessment the onus is on you to prove MPAC was wrong. MPAC does not have to say why it thinks your property should be assessed at the value it has given. Beyond that, Mr. Marin says, is the attitude of the agency which has "a superiority complex" and an "attitudinal and bureaucratic malaise". He accuses MPAC of "cutthroat manoeuvring around property owners." All this isn't news to people who own property and have seen values placed on them that seem far beyond what they could get in the market. It's even less newsworthy to those who have been frustrated in trying to appeal those ridiculous valuations only to be met by a bureaucratic wall. Now, finally, someone is on your side, as the ombudsman is supposed to be. His five-month investigation has focused light on the problems, leading Premier Dalton McGuinty to promise reform and MPAC itself to accept 17 of the 22 recommendations. Thank you Mr. Marin! — KR The many sides of leadership Leadership is a complex mix of skills and requirements that make it hard to make judgements on single issues. Saturday morning, for instance, Premier Dalton McGuinty addressed the annual convention of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association. In the audience were editors and publishers from newspapers in many communities across Ontario that will be badly injured if the premier doesn't take action soon to give farmers the same kind of support their American competitors get. Many, no doubt, were in no mood to be receptive to the speech. But speaking to an audience that included the Ontario Junior Citizens who had been honoured by the newspaper association the previous evening, Premier McGuinty gave an inspiring, off-the-cuff speech on the value of the leadership these young people were showing and the importance of serving the public. It was the kind of wise, non-partisan address that may help these young people remain leaders. And yet when the speech was over, the fact remains that McGuinty's failure to recognize the crisis in rural Ontario may cost thousands of people their livelihoods — perhaps including the premier himself, come next year's election. This too is leadership. — KR Letter to the editor THE EDITOR, More than $500,000 raised to feed the hungry. Over the past 12 years, six churches and some dedicated tarmers from the Blyth and Londesborough areas have given donations and grown grains to help the Canadian Foodgrains Bank feed hungry people around the world. A lot of the seeds, fertilizers and sprays were donated by local businesses, chemical companies and suppliers while labour and machinery were donated by local people. The annual value of the crops and donations raised ranges between $10,000 and $20.000. When these proceeds are used to help feed the hungry in countries that the Canadian government is trying to support, the government agency Canadian International Develop- ment Agency matches the donations four to one. Wow!! What a multiplication. One buck becomes five. It is neat- to see what happens when people put their differences aside and work together. We are proud of the churches and people from Londesborough and Blyth who have donated and/or worked over the years to make this growing project such a success. Many thanks to all who contri- bute. A Grateful Foodgrains Volunteer April 6, 1960 A controversial new form .af teaching was having a test run by a number of the students at Blyth Public School. Televised lessons were being shown for 30 minutes every Wednesday for Grades 2 to 6, while the more senior grades were given 10 minutes of current events and 20 minutes of Canadian history every week. On the day of the last lesson of the series, Mr. R.D. Ferguson of the School Broadcast Department at the CBC in Toronto was in attendance as was the local inspector, Mr. J. H. Kinkhead, and Mr. Ross Hamilton of CKNX in Wingham. A woman working in a post office in Twelve Mile, Indiana was the proud creator of what was th?tight to be the largest ball of string in the world. Sylvia Swanson said that she started the gigantic ball of string when in 1927, a federal detective told her post office to start saving string. A young girl named Darsey Green was escorted to her home in Washington, D.C. by an FBI agent after being found in a very dangerous situation. The five-year- old was supposedly kidnapped by a man named Elmer Pollard and his wife, Lola. She was now returning home to her incredibly relieved parents who reported the kidnapping. April 9, 1969 There was a very large crowd who turned out to see the Regal Chapter OES fashion show. The event showcased 28 of the latest in leather fashions that were making up the spring collection at Bainton's Old Mill in Blyth. The models were all members of the Regal Chapter. They were as follows: Mrs. John Elliot, Mrs. Dwight Campbell, Mrs. Harold Campbell, Miss Lloy Shaddick, Miss Edythe Beacom, Mrs. Roy McVittie, and Mrs. Moody Holland. There were also 10 fashions being shown from the Needlecraft Shoppe,- which included children's, teenage, and women's garments. These items were modeled by Miss Kim Gowing, Master Grant Campbell, Miss Cathy Madill, Miss Bonnie McVittie, and Mrs. Warner Collings. A four-year-old girl injured her hand and was sent to hospital to have it looked at. The girl was a patient at the Wingham and District Hospital after her hand was caught in the wringer of a washing machine at her home. Her hand was so badly mangled that is was thought that only surgery could correct the damage. There was to be a dance held at the Blyth Memorial Hall, with all proceeds going to the Squirt hockey team so that they could purchase hockey jerseys. Music was being supplied by The Five String Sawdusters. April 4, 1973 Confirmation was received by Blyth officials that an exciting large new business would by setting up shop in Blyth. There were plans being finalized to build a Huron Tractor outlet on the outskirts of Blyth. The _land was then occupied by Sparlings Propane, but Grant Sparling said that he was moving his business to a property on Hwy. 4, just south of Blyth. He said the business would have been forced to move anyway because of the increasing need for more propane tank storage. April 1, 1987 The Brussels Bulls Player of the Week was #10 Dave Harding, right wing position. Harding, who was also the assistant coach, was named the player of the week because of his aggressive style of play, and excellent skating ability. ' Londesborough United Church held its seventh annual Scing- fest, featuring many talented performers. April 4, 1990 Hullett Central Public School held their annual science fair, and there were many interesting entries. The overall winners were as follows: Erin Jamieson, Grade 7; Kevin Losereit, Grade 7; Christy Scott, Grade 8; Cheryl Kryzanowski, Grade 8; Kent Shillinglaw, Grade 7; Laurel Campbell, Grade 7; Greg McClinchey, Grade 8, and Chris Van Loo, Grade 8. Continuing on to the county science fair in Clinton would be Chris, Kevin, Laurel, and Greg. A special medieval-themed performance-was put on at the Blyth Festival , for its Medieval Feast. Among the peiformers were Carrie Salsbury as Princess Pristine, Duncan McGregor as Prince Duncan, Steve Oliver as Prince Oswald, and Floyd Herman as Prince Zippo. Ontario Cattleman of the Year, Ross Procter did a very admirable thing when he presented his $500 winnings to the local branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. The donation was gratefully accepted by Jane Grasby of Belgrave, and Marlene Leedham of Wingham, both members of the Cancer Society. This donation gave the annual Cancer Society Blitz a great start to season of fundraising. Playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich was the comedy, Earnest Goes To Jail. Playing at the Lyceum Theatre was Joe Versus The Volcano, back for its second week.