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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2006-10-26, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2006. Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Ken Warwick & Kelly Quesenberry The Citizen Editorials Opinions The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Orussels. 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 UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Canad 34cna • CNA :& Member of the Ontario Press Council N.:171111N11. We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscrlpts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are C Copyright 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 Afraid to trust democracy Farmers in attendance at the annual meeting of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture last Thursday in Seaforth who erupted in anger at the leadership of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture are victims of the same phenomenon affecting other parts of society: leaders who don't trust democracy. OFA vice-president Paul Mistele was the brunt of anger over lack of action on a resolution approved by the federation's directors last spring. It called for farmers to withhold permission to the use of their land for snowmobiles unless snowmobile clubs supported their need for a risk management plan for grain and oilseed farmers. !It's quite legitimate to question whether closing snowmobile trails will do anything to help farmers (it's a little like kicking the dog when you're mad at your spotise) but the fact remains.that the OFA is supposed to be a grassroots organization and when a resolution is approved by the directors, the leadership is supposed to put it into action. Listening to Mistele it was obvious that the OFA's leadership didn't agree with the resolution so conveniently "lost" it. It's at least the second time this has happened. A couple of years ago a resolution from the Huron Federation of Agriculture that was approved by the OFA directors, called for farmers to withhold their property taxes unless the provincial government provided more financial assistance to farmers in their time of financial crisis. The OFA leadership ignored that too, saying it was more important to talk to politicians than try to force them into action. It's a common attitude in leaders today. All political parties are guilty of turning members of parliament into servants of the leader, not the leader into servants of members. Last week rebellious Conservative MP Garth Turner was expelled from the party caucus, partially because he was supposedly breaking caucus confidentiality but no doubt also because he spoke against his leader's environmental policies. Dissident Liberals have also paid a similar price in the past. The bedrock principle behind democracy is that the collective wisdom of the group will, in the long run, be wiser than the wisdom of the monarch or dictator. We fight wars to defend this belief. We felt it gave us superiority over dictatorships like communist Soviet Union. Yet leaders don't really believe it. In office, they quickly come to distrust democracy. Perhaps it is because they have so often manipulated public opinion in order to gain power that they have no faith in the wisdom of the people they claim to serve. If we believe in democracy, however, we live with its results, not just support it only when the majority agrees with us. — KR Letter to the editor Looking Back Through the Years Why not l? The Arctic is melting, and the Liberals b abbed on about it and did nothing for the last four years. Now the Conservatives are gonna "consult' and do nothing about it for FORTY years ! THE EDITOR, There are many ways to respond to a recent letter in the local media of Oct. 4, 'Cottage association concerned with water quality'. It's been suggested it might be best to ignore the comments by Brie and Barb Holmes and others with the Sunset .Beach Cottage Association: to answer their letter might make a sad situation worse. However, there comes a time when it's best to clarify an issue instead of allowing it to become clouded by emotions and perceptions. Ontario's agri-food industry can ill afford to become embroiled in a war of words with non-farming landowners. Commodity prices are poor, costs are higher, yet so much has been done to improve nutrient management since the mid-1990s, it's hard to believe the tone taken by the Cottage Association. As Paul Nairn, Huron-Perth member service representative with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture said, "I would have expected something like this 10 years ago, but not now since there has been cooperation between the county, the conservation authorities, the agricultural community and the lakeshore cottage community to make improvements." Emotions often creep into debates, especially when property and lifestyle are key issues. Unfortunately, the assertion that "the farming industry has perceived political clout (and) has well organized lobbyists" is neither correct, nor helpful. The reality is that farmers represent a dwindling percentage of the population which makes them an easier target for special interest groups. Quoting livestock numbers marketed only confuses everyone. It would be the same as suggesting that a 30 room motel created waste from 21,900 people, which is the potential total that could stay there over a year - 365 days times 30 rooms times two people. The Association refers to water quality studies preformed by the province and local conservation authorities in 'their letter. These studies can be disputed by the fact that the study methods have been found to be scientifically lacking. For example, one was conducted in one day at five sites in the middle of September after the peak tourism and Cottage season. Another test using DNA analysis to differentiate human and animal contaminants was not tested or verified under Ontario conditions. Two studies from the U.S. in the 1990s identified the impact of birds. Specifically, that their feces are extremely concentrated and can be applied directly to lake waters. Continued on page 6 Oct. 26, 1960 A strange-looking head apparel had been created, nicknamed the HangoVer Hat. The contraption was made of transparent plastic, filled with temperature-retaining fluid. The hat would be kept in the. freezer until its use was needed, then it would be placed on the head to serve in the place of. ice packs or cold wet cloths. Another invention, although this one perhaps slightly more sophisticated, was the Aerocar. With a ground speed of 67 miles per hour, the Aerocar could be converted into a plane within five minutes, and could be in the air at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. The Aerocar was able to carry two passengers and 100 pounds Of luggage. One of the latest devices being used by police forces and secret service forces was called the telephone Scrambler. A large black device in about the same shape as the phone receiver would be attached on to the receiver itself. The device would convert a person's speaking Voice into incoherent jargon unless another Scrambler was being used on the receiving telephone. This device was currently being used to confuse possible wire tappers, and prevent eavesdropping. Oct. 24, 1973 The Blyth Public School cross country team was the gold medal winner of the senior girls' division of the meet held for all Huron County schools. Members of the team participating in the meet, which took place in Kinburn, were: Charlene Campbell, Karen Richmond, Jean Siertsema, Christina Battye, Christine Chalmers, and Mary Ann Cook. Among the automobile accidents being investigated by the Wingham '-Detachment Ontario Provincial Police was a single-car crash involving a Brussels man. The man was driving on Hwy. 4, south of the Maitland River Bridge when he lost control and struck a hydro pole. The man was not injured, but damages were estimated at $800. Oct. 28, 1987 The town of Ethel was outraged to hear that there was a likely possibility the town would.be out of a post office in the near future. Canada Post's plan to privatize all of Canada's 52 rural post offices put Ethel's small office on the chopping block, leaving postmaster Doreen Suter out of a job. The town would not give up so easily, howeVer, and soon a meeting was organized and a retaliation planned in order to save the post office, and save the job of a beloved resident. Viola Higgs of Ilderton seemed to put Ethel's frustration into words best: "If the post offices go, the villages go--it's as simple as that." Donations had already begun to come in as Brussels Public School began raising funds for a new music program to be put into place at the school. Two cheques were presented to Grade 7-8 teacher Doreen Raymond, the first for $100 from the Brussels Majestic Women's Institute and the second for $275 from the Legion Ladies' Auxiliary. All funds would be going towards the cost of the necessary instruments for the program. Oct. 24, 1990 A large fire in Ethel left a local family homeless. A neighbour of the area saw the flames at the home of Howard Stratton, but the blaze was well underway before the call was made or the firefighters arrived. The log house on the property was completely destroyed, with nothing worth salvaging from the rubble. With the aid of the community, the Sratton family was supplied with clothes, food and even furniture, and luckily, the new house being built at the front of the property was - untouched by the wild flames. The cause of the fire was yet undefined, but suspicions were of an overheated wood stove or chimney. A Brussels man and his passenger were seriously injured when the truck they were driving overturned on Region Road 7 east of Wellesley. The men were both listed in fair condition at the Stratford General Hospital, recovering from injuries sustained in the accident. They were travelling in a truck containing a total of 215 pigs being transported to Stratford. Of that number, 39 pigs were lost in the incident. The estimated cost of damages and loss of livestock totalled over $150,000. Playing at the Rark Theatre in Goderich was Postcards From the Edge, a Mike Nichols film starring Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine and Dennis Quaid. Oct. 28, 1992 The Wingham OPP were investigating an automobile theft which took place in Auburn. In the early hours of the morning a 1985 Chevrolet van was taken from a home in Auburn, and later found on Mill Street in Blyth. The keys had been left in the ignition, but there was no damage to the van. Police had no suspects, and were asking the public for any information they might have on the incident. As part of a special Blyth Mini Fest workshop, music teacher Ken Fleet was able to conduct his choir of 75 singers into perfect harmony. The day long workshop ended in a special evening performance of the carefully rehearsed piece.