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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2006-10-19, Page 4Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Ken Warwick & Kelly Quesenberry 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 ($28.30 + $1.70 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 UNDEUVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1HO email: norhuronescsinternet.com The Citizen P.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 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. .A9cna ENA ts, Member of of the Ontario Press Council I- We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright RUmoURED TO EXIST, BUT IMPOSSIBLE TO DISCOVER... - POLITICAL CANDIDATE wi-lo WILL BE AN F TO FULFILL ALL 1-115/i-IER CAMPAIGN PROMISES Looking Back Through the Years PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2006. Editorials Opinions Lessons in cynicism When a party is seeking to unseat a government, especially an unpopular government, their promise is 'always "we will do things differently". When they gain office, it's amazing how quickly they can forget that promise. Few parties have promised to change government as much as the one that evolved into the Conservative Party from its Reform/Alliance roots and few have'abandoned so many beliefs once gaining power. Alienated by what they saw as a distant eastern government, Reformers, who make up the core of the Conservative government today, promised the voice of democracy would be heard. It shouldn't be up to politicians to make decisions that affected people, without consulting them, they argued. Chuck Strahl, federal minister of agriculture and agrifood, was a Reformer, and supposedly believed in this philosophy of listening to the people beyond the election campaign but now in office has gone in the extreme opposite direction. Strahl supports those western farmers— who knows how many — who want to see the Canadian Wheat Board lose its monopoly to sell wheat on behalf of farmers. Wheat board supporters say this can't happen without a plebiscite of all wheat farmers because it's a farmer-owned body, but Strahl says that won't happen. But more than just refuse to allow farmers to vote and the majority to rule, Strahl wants to stack the odds. First of all, he appointed an opponent of the monopoly to the farmer-elected board. Then last week Strahl issued an order forbidding the wheat board from acting to defend itself, the equivalent of making your opponent tie his hands behind his back and calling it a fair fight. This move came after his assistant, fiercely anti- wheat-board MP David Anderson, accused the board of orchestrating opposition to the government. He suggested the board passed along an intercepted e-mail from a Regina communications company which called for a letter-writing campaign to support the government's position to counter the "propaganda" from the "other side". The company has not revealed on whose behalf it is operating. It would seem the solution to all the controversy is simple: let the wheat growers vote on whether the wheat board should retain its monopoly and let the majority decide. But the Conservatives promised some farmers, who obviously must be a minority, that the wheat board would lose its monopoly. They are, say Anderson and Strahl, just following through on their election platform. Forgotten is the earlier pledge to renew democracy by keeping people involved in the decision making even after the election, Now that they're in power, they're determined to do what they really want to do, whether the majority of farmers agree or not. — KR Letter to the editor THE EDITOR, From conversations with constituents in Huron and Bruce I know that the proposed changes to mandatory retirement have been followed closely. In some cases, retirement is planned for and anticipated. However, for many Ontarians, the desire, will and potential for work is one they actively seek and enjoy and because someone turns 65, that doesn't always change. It is no secret that people are healthier and living longer, so why should they stop working if -their health is good, they desire activity and they are filling productive roles in Ontario's workforce? Our government believes it is unfair to insist that they stop working simply because they turn 65. That is why, as of Dec. 12, 2006, Ontarians will have a choice about when to retire. By ending mandatory retirement, we .are allowing workers to decide when to retire based on lifestyle, circumstance and priorities — their own. With that in mind, the government provided a one-year transition period to ensure everyone is ready for the new law to take effect. The Ending Mandatory Retirement Statute Law Amendment Act was approved by the legislative assembly in art overwhelming 60-5 vote in December 2005. When the legislation takes effect, it will amend the Ontario Human Rights Code to protect people aged 65 anedver from age discrimination for most employment purposes. The legislation also amends a variety of other statutes that have provisions connected to mandatory retirement. With the effective date only two months away, employers should take certain steps to prepare for this new legislation: • Familiarize themselves with the requirements of the act and its possible effect on their workplace policies and practices • Consider what changes may be necessary to existing policies to comply with the end of mandatory retirement • Discuss with their unions any changes that might be required to their collective agreements. Workers and their unions should also understand the provisions of the act and how they apply and then talk to their employers about how the new law will be implemented in their workplace. I would encourage employers, unions and workers to actively prepare for the end of mandatory retirement. For more information, please visit www.labour.gov.on.ca A toll-free telephone line is also available for public inquiries at 1-866-400-8355. Carol Mitchell, MPP Huron-Bruce. Oct. 22, 1959 Residents of Denver, Colorado were hit hard and unexpectedly with a whopping nine inches of snow, a freak amount in the area's climate history. Men and machines immediately went to work to clean off tree limbs from the streets, in hopes residents would have a chance to prepare before the next surprise snowfall might descend. Louis Richards, a graduate design student from Illinois Technology made a leap forward in recreational transportation, making some big adjustments to the regular, foot propelled scooter. Harnessing the energy of a 1.32 horsepower aircraft engine to now effortlessly propel what he called his 'Skeeter'. The top speed for this ground- breaking invention? This little scooter could reach up to a heart- stopping 12 miles an hour. That might have seemed a little slow, but considering that it was three times the speed of a man-propelled scooter, it was a speed demon. Canadian prime minister Harold MacMillan tried on a traditional hat of the culture that, judging by his name, may very well be his homeland. Mr. MacMillan took a pleasant trip to Stewarton, Scotland, just one of the many stops on his re- election campaign trail. Oct, 19, 1960 An unexpected fire destroyed a Benmiller resident's barn, causing a large amount of damage. The farmer lost the season's crop, a baler and hammermill as well as nearly 100 pigs which perished in the blaze. Also sadly lost was the beloved family dog. Goderich Fire Department arrived promptly at the scene, but it was unfortunately already too late. Only a spare shed behind the barn was saved, with the help and efforts of not only the firefighters, but also the caring neighbours. It is these same neighbours who have offered continued help in rebuilding the barn. King Baudouin of Belgium_ took the hand of his fiancée, Dona Fabiola de Mara y Aragon of Spain as they rode away in a fairy tale carriage after a special reception which took place in Brussels, Belgium. A new legislation put in place by President Eisenhower prohibits the act of having a pet piranha fish in one's home. The vicious South American fish was known to eat not only other animals much larger than itself, but humans. The possession of such a fish would only be allowed in the conquest of science, and not for recreational ownership. Other animals specifically prohibited were the mongoose, fruit bat, as well as any other foreign animal deemed unsafe by the authorities. Worries were raised by the uncertain state of relations between the United Stat,n and Cuba. Specifically, the world spotlight has landed on the two American naval base, particularly Guantanamo Bay. These bases are located not only in Cuba, but also in Puerto Rico, and Trinidad, making them key bases for guarding the Panama Canal. Guantanamo Bay was particularly valuable during the Second World War, serving as an excellent gathering point and anti-submarine base. The U.S. is only holding ownership of the base by a 1903 treaty, and if relations continue to get worse, America could be losing one of its most valued naval bases. Oct. 17, 1973 The major uprising of the public against the press caused by the infamous Watergate incident has drawn attention to many more important issues at hand. One of those more pressing issues was that of the new war in the Middle East. Communist Russia was quick to tell the country that the escalating Middle East War was the fault of Israel, even if more and more evidence came out that put most of the blame on early attacks by Egypt and Syria. This had shed a slightly warmer light on the press- makers of North America, who frequently presented both sides of the story, allowing the reader to make their own personal decision, be it wrong, right, or neither. Although the war in the Middle East, and also the Communism in Russia, though horrible situations that deserved a quick solution, also, in a way, served the North American news reporters some much needed good press. Oct. 21, 1987 Owners of a brand new business blooming in Bfyth held a joyous open house. Don (Barney) Stewart and John Battye were the new owners of Lawrie Decoration Centre on Blyth's main stree, which was formerly owned by Robbie and Carole Lawrie. The new owners had also expanded their store adding a new large retail outlet in addition to their decoration business. Oct. 17, 1990 A memorial was dedicated by the Brussels Bulls hockey team to four young players killed in a car crash. Friends and family all attended. Playing at the Park Theatre in Goderich was the third film in the ongoing Steven Speilberg saga, Back To The Future: Part 3, the cast including Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Mary Steenberger. Also playing was another sequel, Die Hard 2 : Die Harder, starring Bruce Willis.