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The Citizen, 2005-02-17, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2005. Editorials Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Heather Armstrong & Capucine Onn 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; $85.00/year in U.S.A, and $l00/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. 4005014? PUBLICATIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM REGISTRATION NO. 09244 v|*| RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO I Q TT JI ClCIRCULATION DEPT. LUVLU PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM I HO Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. J^ocna @a Member of the Ontario Press Council We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright The magic word So now those who fear Wal-Mart know the secret for how to keep the retail giant from devastating their community. Like garlic with vampires all you have to do to ward off Wal-Mart is whisper “union”. Wal-Mart last week announced the closure of one Quebec store that had successfully unionized and threatened the closure of the only other unionized store in the company’s world-wide chain — also in Quebec. It argues the closed store wasn’t profitable. It might be amazing how many unprofitable stores the world’s most successful company might suddenly find it has if this union movement spreads. Not that it likely will, of course. Wal-Mart hasn’t remained union-free by accident. Already workers in other Canadian Wal-Mart stores have made the connection that voting in a union might mean voting out their jobs. The company that has reshaped the way business is done around the world, that has ruthlessly driven out competitors and devastated the economies of small towns across North America, is not likely to give in to a few union organizers in one small province of one small country, thus setting a precedent. Of course the union movement isn’t giving up easily. Quebec unions have threatened a boycott of Wal-Mart, but it’s unlikely this will ever become more than a threat. Union organizers must be well aware that their own members are hooked on Wal-Mart and are short-sighted enough not to be able to see that the movement of North American union jobs to China and India is a direct result of the actions of the Wal-Mart and the efforts of other retail giants to compete with Wal-Mart. Henry Ford once said he wanted to pay his workers enough so they could afford to buy the cars they produced. Wal-Mart has reversed that thinking, figuring if the wage level is lowered enough people will only shop in Wal-Mart because that’s all they can afford. — KR History, almost unnoticed One of the most important days in the maturing of Canada slipped by almost unnoticed on Tuesday. Forty years earlier, on Feb. 15, 1965, the maple leaf flag had flown for the first time across the country and Canada at last had its own flag. The flag is everywhere now and for a large part of today’s population it’s hard to imagine there ever was a Canada without it. The stylized maple leaf that adorns the flag (the leaf never looked like this before the flag was unveiled) shows up everywhere. People take maple leaf pins with them when they travel and sew the flag on luggage and backpacks to proudly declare their homeland. It’s hard to remember now that for all but two years of its first century, Canada borrowed a flag: first the Union Jack and later, as Canada’s sense of identity grew, the British red ensign, made more Canadian by putting the coat of arms on it. When Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson decided it was time for Canada to have a distinctive flag it’s hard to imagine now the opposition he faced. It's perhaps symbolic of the acceptance of his flag today that last Remembrance Day, the Royal Canadian Legion was outraged when a Bloc Quebecois MP refused to distribute maple leaf flags to Legions in Quebec. The Legion had been the most vehement opponent of Pearson’s drive for a new flag. How far we’ve come. — KR ft Letter to the editor Looking Back Through the Years THE EDITOR, The recent commentary by Dr. Suzuki on mad cows that has been circulating in the media needs some perspective from Ontario’s farmers to make it real and accurate for your readers. Suzuki himself said in the article, “We’ve distanced ourselves so much from the source of our food that we no longer consider its biological origins. And when you get that far away from something, you lose perspective.” All the allegations of factory farms are fashionable these days, but not factual. The last census shows that 98 per cent of Canada’s farms are family owned and operated. Yes, farms, like most businesses, are larger and more specialized today than in the past. That’s a reality that goes with the fact that two per cent of our population feeds the rest of us. It does not mean that as farmers we care less about our animals or the environment; if we didn’t care, we wouldn’t be farming. If anything, we will leave our farms in better shape for the next generation than ever be­ fore. We actually agree with Suzuki that we need farming and our food system to be safe and sustainable. As farmers, that’s our main priority. Our livelihoods and land depends on it. We also agree that your readers should try to support local farmers whenever possible. We’re the ones investing in our communities and improving the local environment. At a time when animal health, trade and economic pressures are hitting Canadian farmers harder than ever before, we need your support. We don’t mind questions, just hold off on the unfounded criticisms. John Maaskant, Chicken Farmer and Chair, Ontario Farm Animal Council (OFAC) A coalition of Ontario’s livestock and poultry farmers www.ofac.org Feb.18,1948 The Blyth Standard was informed by Mr. William Thuell that power cutoff for Blyth were being seriou-s- considered and may become a reality immediately. Thomas Pryde of Exeter, Progressive Conservative candidate was the choice of the Huron by­ election for the .provincial legislature. A meeting of representatives of various local organizations met to discuss the prospect of turning the agricultural park into a community park. The discussion also brought up the idea of a rink to serve the winter sports needs of the community. The 9th Line Willing Workers Club met for their “jolly quilting.” Two pounds of mincemeat was selling for 39 cents at Stewart’s General Store. A six-pound bag of apples was 25 cents. Randolph Scott and Barbara Britton starred in The Gunfighter which was showing at the Lyceum Theatre in Wingham. Feb.15,1950 Publicity about old coins in Blyth started residents of Brussels looking up the date on old pieces in their possession. Mr. W.R. Little brought an 1881 US penny, an 1852 Upper Canada half penny, an 1841 penny with a picture and inscription of Major General H. Harrison and an 1897 Queen Victoria shilling to the office of The Brussels Post. The Huron County agricultural representative Gordon Bennett was the guest speaker at the Brussels Lions’ meeting. His topic was on agriculture in relation to urban people. The annual fireman’s ball was being held at the town hall with music by Ken Wilbee and his orchestra. Admission was 50 cents. Wilbee’s orchestra would be the entertainment at a euchre and dance in Walton, as well- .as for the Farmers’ Night card party and dance,- sponsored by the East Huron Agricultural Society. * Smallpox immunization clinics were being held in the schools. The Girl from Jones Beach starring Ronald Reagan and Virginia Mayo was playing at the Regent Theatre in Seaforth. Gregory Peck, Anne Baxter and Richard Widmark starred in Yellow Sky playing at the Capitol Theatre in Listowel. Specials at Grewar’s Groceteria included a one-pound tin of pink salmon for 33 cents and a half a pound of Salada orange pekoe tea for 51 cents. Feb. 16,1972 The first major event in the Brussels Centennial celebration took place with the dispatching of a personally delivered and hand­ written invitation to John Ainlay of Evanston, Ill, great-grandson of the founder of Ainleyville, now Brussels, to attend as honorary parade marshall. The three young couples carrying the invitation were Harold and Karen Bridge, Murray and Ruth Lowe and Dave and Karen Hastings. Murray Gaunt, MPP Huron, was among those suggested as a possible leader of the Ontario Liberals following the announcement of the retirement of Robert Nixon. Walter C. Ken received a 50-year jewel at a meeting of St. John’s Lodge A.F.&A.M. Brussels. Susan Langlois, daughter of George and Pat, won the junior division in the Royal Canadian Legion speaking competition in Goderich. Femie Elliott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Elliott of Brussels placed second in the senior division. T-bone steaks were selling for $1.19 a pound at Thompson and Stephenson Meat Market. Outbreaks in south-western Ontario, of Newcastle disease in poultry flocks caused a good deal of concern among producers. The Ethel Community Centre board was Bruce Speiran, Carl McDonald, Ross Stephenson, Mrs. William Dobson, Mrs. George Hiemstra, Donald Martin and Charles Thomas. The officers for the Cranbrook 40H were: president, Janet Veitch; vice-president, Sharon Ducharme; treasurer, Nancy Knight. Feb. 14,1973 Stephen Lewis, leader of the Ontario New Democrats discussed strategy with Huron candidate Paul Carroll at the riding nomination meeting. Rev. Joseph Keith Stokes of Blyth was to be rector of the Leamington parish. Despite worries about the need for a complete rewiring of Blyth Memorial Hall theatre, the improvement would only amount to a couple of hundred dollars. OPP were worried about the growing number of snowmobile deaths. Ron Plunkett of Auburn and Glenna Ellis, RR2, Clinton, both students at Hullett Central Public School in Londesborough were named prince and princess of the Clinton Winter Carnival. They competed against other students from surrounding schools. Feb. 12. 1986 Blyth Legion honoured four members; Russ Wilson, the only surviving World War I vet; Tom Thompson, Clare Vincent and Bill Riehl. Blyth Lions received perfect attendance pins: John Stewart, 10 years; Gord Jenkins, 15 years; Harold Cook, 20 years. An unaudited expenditure sheet showed that many school board departments were under budget.