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The Citizen, 2006-06-22, 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. - Blyth. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 09244 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1HO email: norhuron@scsintemet corn P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1HO Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1HO Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Canada We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Aocria ENA Member of the Ontario Press Council INEEZEMI We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen ore C Copyright Nespolon HECK, ONCE WE FINISH CLEARING THAT MESS, WE'LL BE READY TO CALL AN ELECTION Looking Back Through the Years Too bad the money's gone Stephen Harper's Conservative government moved this week to dismantle the bloated registry of long guns. Too bad there's not a way to recover the billion dollars wasted on this boondoggle. As little as a month ago, Auditor-General Sheila Fraser said that while the Canada Firearms Centre, which operated the registry, had improved its financial performance from the days when a million dollar program turned into a billion dollar mess, it is still behind schedule in getting its computer system running with its cost approaching $200 million. If the registry really helped make the country safer, the cost might be worth it. Headline-grabbing gun crimes in cities like Toronto will be little affected by the demise of the registry since nearly all these crimes are perpetrated with handguns which are still controlled. Most of the crimes are also committed with guns illegally sit-niggled in from the U.S. The gun registry, instead, has focussed on law-abiding -farmers and hunters who are not a danger to society, despite the fact they are seen as uncivilized by many anti-gun proponents of the registry. While there was some safety to be gained by requirements that made gun owners focus more diligently on safe storage and handling of their weapons, the bureaucracy and headaches went far beyond the benefits. The crimes s ere being committed by one set of gun owners. The ramifications were being felt by another group altogether. It's like blaming grandmothers driving to church- for the problems of street racing. No doubt there will be some who will once again see shadows of the American right wing in the Conservatives decision to scrap the registry. In Canada, hauling out the spectre of the U.S. National Rifle Association is much like using the word "Communist" in the 1950s: it's the ultimate weapon. But it would be hard to find an issue that divides Canadians lion) Anierican more clearly than guns. Most Americans who are against eons would be delighted if they had the regulations we have even without the long-gun registry. Nobody here is talking about the right to carry a pistol or a semi-automatic weapon.. The long-gun registry was an example of an inappropriate,response to a problem. It never was going to be the answer to street crime in cities. That it cost so much money to do so little is an even bigger scandal than the sponsorship fiasco. — KR Don't tell me Toronto s Ryerson University found itself embroiled in controversy this week when it gave an honorary degree to medical ethicist Margaret Somerville. While Somerville has an unquestioned record on many issues, supporters of gay rights objected to her opposition to gay marriage and said the university was honouring a person with homophobic beliefs. Their protests took on extra significance since • the degree was being conferred on the first day of Gay Pride Week in Toronto and Ryerson is ery near the centre of the gay community in the city. But despite the protests, the McGill University professor says she is not against gay rights or the civil union of gays. She says she's against ass being officially married because it erodes the role of marriage in child-rearing and can increase the risk of children never knowing their tznilogicul parents. That's the kind of thing people don't want to hear today. We are in a odd where anyone has the "right" to have a child. Advanced reproductive techniques have allowed post-menopausal women to be impregnated. You can hire a womb to bear a child. Donor sperm can be used to impregnate women without partners. And gay couples of both sexes can adopt or, the case of women, use donor sperm to have children. But few people are asking it' this is best for the children — because we don't want to know. We want to hear the comforting words that children ‘‘ ill adapt, that a family is a family no matter what it looks like. Many children no doubt do adapt to any circumstance, but some may not. • People like Somerville ask inconvenient questions about the rights of children. Right off the hat her job title "ethicist" waves a red flag for people who don't want to he questioned on the ethics of what they do. lint that's what universities are for, and why Ryerson shouldn't apologize for honouring someone who questions conventional wisdom. — KR Letter to the editor PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2006. Editorials Opinions IIIE EDITOR, We'd like to let the residents of Brussels know that the Brussels kids Corner planning Committee is in need of billeting (bed and Medklast -,t), lei tor three girls who \.\ill he ,:onung to Brussels with the I wipe to lead the program at Ink 14 Accommodations are needed in Brussels as the VBS Troupe this year is without a vehicle. Contact Alice Martin 519-887- 6705 it you are willing to billet one or two girls. On behalf of Brussels Kids' Corner Planning Committee, Alice Martin,lill Sholdice. June 25, 1941 The first ever Canadian-made tank was presented to the Canadian Army. The Canadian Pacific Railway was responsible for the designing and building of the vehicle. and it was presented to the Army as the public watched in Montreal. The railway was hoping to produce thousands more of these tanks to help aid the Canadiamforces participating in the War. A tragedy took place on the Gorrie dam. A young boy and his friend from school were playing on the dam when the first boy fell into seven feet of water below. The boy's friend ran to a nearby house and the woman called for help immediately before going to the scene and trying to rescue the boy. While the neighbour was in the water, the victim's friend jumped in after her to try and help her. However, he could not swim either and so the neighbour was forced to help him instead. Another neighbour jumped in to retrieve the body of the first boy, and brought him on to the shore. Unfortunately, even after over an hour of resuscitation attempts, the boy died. June 18, 1969 The Blyth Lions hockey teams were treated to a special guest speaker at an annual banquet. Paul Henderson, star left-winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs, made a speech to the guests, and answered several questions from young and old alike. An unusual storm hit the residents of Goderich in a freak bout of weather. Hail rained down on. the town, and not just any sized hailstones either. Several residents' cars were damaged, paint was chipped on the sides, and windshields literally smashed. Another resident salvaged one of the rabid hailstones which was the size of a baseball. Other surrounding areas were also hit with the storm, but none-seemed as extreme. A former London man, living in Bfussels, was the winner of a large carpentry contest. Leo Sanders was the recipient of the 1969 Toronto Construction Association Award, which is presented annually to the Advanced Carpentry Apprentices who had attended college in the past school year. June 24, 1981 (The Blyth Standard) A Blyth team made up of several local men participated in a slo-pitch tournament held in Lucknow. The tournament consisted of 32 teams, and in the end, the team made a good run and placed as the runners-up. As a reward for their performance, the team received 150 and Molson's mugs. Players were: Lori Whitfield, Cord Haggitt, Scott Wilson, Gary Ritchie, Dale Whitfield, Wayne McDougall, Bob Hillis, Wayne Coultes, Barney Stewart, Kevin Carter, John Watsm, Steve Howson, Gary Courtney (caotain), Dave Cook (assistant coach), and Ken Stewart (coach). Playing at Brownie's Drive-In in Clinton were a number of films. Sally Fields and Tommy Lee Jones starred in Back Roads, and also playing was Altered States, The Awakening, and Caddyshack. Playing at the Mustang Drive-In in Goderich was The Cannonball Run, starring Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, and Dom DeLuise. Also playing was My Bodyguard, and Scavenger Hunt. Finally, playing at the Park Theatre also in Goderich was James Bond 007 in For Your Eyes Only, as well as Robert Hays in Take This Job and Shove It. June 24, 1981 (The Brussels Post) The Brussels Lions Club celebrated its 35th anniversary. Several of the members had been With the Lions from the beginning. Members honoured with the long- time membership were: William Tumbull, John M. McDonald, and Roy Cousins (35 years); Ross McCall (15 years); Henry Exel (15 years); James Knight (15 years); Gord Workmam (20 years); George McCutcheon (30 years); and Hank Ten Pas (20 years). The president baton was passed from former president Neil McDonald to incoming president Bruce Hahn. The Brussels Post newspaper was awarded with a Blue Ribbon award for excellence from the Canadian Community Newspaper Association competition. Other newspapers which also, earned recognition were: The Huron Expositor, The Goderich Signal-Star, The Blyth Standard, Exeter Times-Advocate, and The Clinton News-Record. June 19, 1996 Vice-president of Blyth Public School's student council Jamie Lewis gratefully accepted a donation of $500 from the Blyth Optimists Club. The cheque, which was presented to Jamie by Blyth Optimist Alan Young, was to go towards new playground equipment. The Radford Group was to hold its annual children's Fishing Derby, being held, at the Radford fishing pond just outside of Blyth on Hwy 4. McNeil's Autobody and Repair Shop had a big job ahead of them when Dr. Mark Woldnick brought in a special car to be refurnished. Al McLellan, foreman of the repair shop, and his crew successfully repaired and revamped a rare six cylinder 1929 Whippet. The car was one of a few such vehicles which were in Ontario.