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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2006-12-14, 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 $32.00/year ($30.19 + $1.81 G.S.T.) in Canada; $92.00/year In U.S.A. and $175.00/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: norhuronascsinternet.com P.O. Soi 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 Aocna +1►CNA It'7 Member of the Ontario Press Council MNITIEM We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are Copyright Canada We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Looking Back Through the Years Brains before fashion With two of the least charismatic federal leaders in recent memory leading the nation's two largest political parties, it seems there's going to be more attention paid to how Stephen Harper and Stephane Dion dress than what they stand for. Ever since he was elected prime minister, and therefore had to be taken seriously, there have been periodic sarcastic eruptions over the way Harper dresses, the most recent being over the ill-fitting outfit he was forced to wear in a ceremonial closing to an international event in southeast Asia. Well, if misery loves company, Harper is about to get some. With the Liberal Party choosing Dion, a man who seems uncomfortable in whatever he's wearing, as its leader, now the spotlight of disparagement has been turned on h s geeky glasses, the backpack he uses instead of a briefcase and all kinds of other deficiencies that make the cool people feel superior. They say we get the politics we deserve and we're perhaps about to get another lesson in that reality. We criticize politicians for being superficial, then pick on superficialities like the way they dress when what really matters is the way they think.. The "gotcha" brand of journalism waits to twist anything a politician says so that even an honest statement can be made to look bad, meaning politicians carefully polish and craft every utterance to protect themselves. In doing so they become like all the politicians we've complained about in the past. If we want real, intelligent leadership, we need to focus on what political leaders stand for, not what they wear. When it's the quality of their minds we admire, not their fashion sense, we'll get a better brand of government. — KR Paying for bad behaviour So the provincial auditor criticizes Tom Parkinson, president of Hydro One, for improperly charging $45,000 in travel expenses and other charges to his secretary's credit card. So faced with growing criticism Parkinson resigns from his $1.6 million a year job (plus a $125,000 a year mortgage subsidy on his $1.3 million Oakville home). So Hydro One then pays him a $3 million severance package. To all ordinary people this seems like madness. Only those who have been in the position of terminating an employee for improper or incom- petent behaviour will understand that probably the government was advised by its lawyers it was better to just pay the money than to risk that much on legal expenses trying to prove it had just cause to fire Parkinson. This is what our legal system has become: no matter how incompetent, even dishonest, an employee, it makes more economic sense, on a case-by-case basis, to just pay the money. But unless some companies are willing to bite the bullet and actually fight some of these cases, bad behaviour is going to continue to be rewarded. And if the cases are fought, and lost, then clearly the law needs to be changed to punish wrong-doers, not reward them. So in this case Hydro One customers are on the hook for $3 million in severance because of a $45,000 indiscretion. Did we at least get the $45,000 back? — KR • Letter to the editor PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2006. Editorials Opinions THE EDITOR, Your newspaper carried an article and an editorial on Bill 102. 1 wish to introduce some facts that might clarify some of the points in the newspaper. The Ontario government's Bill 102 was blamed for the closing of the Blyth Apothecary. Bill 102 is attempting to slow the growth of drug costs by moving towards greater access to generic drugs. The Minister has been meeting with members of the Ontario Pharmacy Association on an on-going basis. I have met many times with pharmacists from Huron and Bruce. I have met with Dan Taylor and recently he declined to attend a meeting I had arranged with him. I have taken the concerns of local pharmacies to the Minister. Before 1 entered municipal politics 1 had two retail stores. 1 know the challenges facing small retailers in rural Ontario. Change is constant and retailers must be able to adjust. Two initiatives of the McGuinty government have already benefited our downtown. The refurbishment of Bruce Power Units 1 & 2 means jobs which represents 1,500 construction and 1000 workers and will keep more young people in ou rarea. The Greenfield ethanol plant in Hensall will mean more than 300 construction jobs and a full time compliment of fifty workers. The editorial continues the mantra that rural Ontario has been neglected. I suggest that you look at the figures. This government has invested heavily in Huron and Bruce. Our healthcare dollars are going to hospitals, longer- term care, and family health teams. The figures speak for themselves. Our healthcare facilities such as our community hospitals and other organizations have received $20,406,580. Education has received more than $402.7 million from the McGuinty government. Finally, farmers have received over $ 910 million over the last three years from Ontario for Income Stabilization. This government has invested more in rural Ontario than any other government. Sincerely, Carol Mitchell, MPP, Huron Bruce . Dec. 17, 1959 The talented music students from Brussels Public School performed at a well-attended and enjoyed concert at the Town Hall in Wingham. Under the direction of music supervisor Mrs. Wm. H. King, assisted by teaching staff, and accompanied by Mr. -L. D. Thompson, the show included several operettas, cantatas, and other songs as well as skilful instrument performances. Such a performance was given that a group of senior students was invited as guests on the popular show "Mi'lady", on CKNX Television, Wingham, and had the chance to sing a few portions of their best songs. Russian Deputy-Premier Anastas Mikoyan made a tour of Mexico, visiting several of the country's successful steel mills, oil fields and industrial installations. Mrs. Betty De Noon Hayden was battling her ex-husband in a Los Angeles courtroom for full custody of her three children. The children's father, famous actor Sterling Hayden, had just returned with the children in tow, from a 10 ,000-mile trip which was taken in defiance to a court order not to take the children outside the borders. A Los Angeles woman took a rather rash step to make a point to her husband. Mrs. Annie Jenkins, 24-years-old, had to be rescued by a power company crew and a mobile elevator after climbing a utility pole in downtown Los Angeles. When asked why she had climbed the pole, she said that she had climbed up during a heated argument with her husband. After reaching the ground, rescue workers sent Mrs. Jenkins to the hospital for a mental examination. A strange photo was featured of what seemed to be large, black splotches in a light, lava-like _ background. The photo was actually one of the clearest and closest photos to date ever taken of the sun. The picture was taken from a balloon 80,000 feet over Minnesota, using a remote-controlled radio- camera. The black splotches were sunspots, with the largest spots measuring nearly 30,000 miles across. Dec. 14, 1960 Chester Weger was pictured emerging from a cave in handcuffs and accompanied by several police officers. Weger was showing the officers and detectives around a cave in Starved Rock State Park in Illinois, and explaining to them how he supposedly murdered three Chicago women in the cave in the past winter. Actress Debbie Reynolds was married to shoe magnate Harry Karl in a surprise ceremony. The couple wed in Beverley Hills, California. Also being married was Norwegian Princess Astrid. The 28- year-old announced that she was engaged to marry commoner Johan Martin Ferner, 33. The pair was planning to be wed in a church in Asker, Norway. Astrid would be sacrificing her title as Norway's first lady when she weds Mr. Femer,'a junior partner in an Oslo haberdashery. A racially-charged protest was held in New Orleans, this time in front of the home of Rev. Andrew Foreman, who was sending his daughter to attend one of the newly integrated schools in the city. Federal Courts in New Orleans were quick to disband the remaining legislatures that were strongly supported by segregationists. A total of 17 state laws and five resolutions were proclaimed unconstitutional, a ruling which segregationist leaders called "a sad moment", but the groups indicated that they would ignore the rulings regardless. Dec. 12, 1973 Blyth native Ralph Scott was presented with the Honourable John S. Martin Scholarship. The scholarship was offered for extra- curricular activities and academic performance in poultry science courses during the fifth and sixth semesters. In efforts to raise enough funds to finally install a pool in Blyth, the Lions Club donated a hefty $10,000 to start the fundraiser on a good foot. Dec. 16, 1987 The area of north Huron was to be extremely well represented at the Canadian National Figure Skating Championships to be held in Victoria, British Columbia. Two gold medals, two silvers and one bronze were all gained by local skaters in Divisional Finals held in London. Kerrie Shepard of Blyth and Peter MacDonald of Brussels were the first to gain the gold in their Novice Dance division, making the the tops of the Central Canadian Division and serious contenders for championships. Kevin Wheeler of Brussels and partner Michelle Menzies of Preston, placed second in their Senior Pairs division, coming in right underneath reigning champions. Mark Moore and partner Tracey Robertson of the Moore Figure Skating Club won another gold medal in the Novice Pairs Division, while Mark's younger brother Curtis and partner Kim Weekes of Calgary took silver in their division. Along with an additional gold and bronze medals in solo divisions, north Huron had several reasons to be very proud of their talented local athletes.