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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-03-03, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2005. Editorials Opinions Biting the hands that feed you Politicians love to support agriculture — until they get elected. Running for office the Mike Harris Tories promised to restore the funding cuts to the Ministry of Agriculture made by the New Democratic government. Once elected, not only did they not restore the cuts, but they slashed the budget even more, closing down most of the ministry’s county offices. In the fall of 2002, Liberal agriculture critic Steve Peters was speaking to the annual meeting of the Bruce County Federation of Agriculture. He criticized Toronto-centred thinking in government that leads to policies that work in cities like Toronto but don’t work when imposed in rural area. He noted the Conservative government was imposing nutrient management on farmers but hadn’t come up with funding to help out. In the succeeding election the I iberals won and Peters became agriculture minister. You’d be hard-pressed to find many farmers who think he has done a good job. Issues beyond his control like the BSE crisis and the plummeting crops prices have triggered much of the anger that brought thousands of farmers to Queen’s Park yesterday in protest, but it’s the sense that the government doesn’t even seem to recognize these problems that really infuriates farmers and their leadership. Nutrient management planning is being pushed ahead. The government is offering some funding but farmers desperate about how they can just keep paying their bills and feeding their families are wondering how they are supposed to find their share to make the changes required. On the horizon is source water protection, another provincial program that will benefit urbanites in villages, towns and cities but will put the biggest burden on large landowners — for the most part, farmers. If ever there was a program designed in Toronto to meet Toronto needs it’s the greenbelt — a 1.8 million-acre area running from the Niagara Peninsula to Peterborough to be protected from development. The government trumpets this as protecting agricultural land but Elbert van Donkersgoed, strategic policy advisor of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, points out most of the protected land is not particularly good farmland while thousands of acres of more productive farmland closer to the city will still be developed. Politicians of all stripes just don’t seem to get agriculture. Maybe it’s because they’re too well fed at all those free lunches on the rubber­ chicken circuit that makes them think farmers will always produce food. But if other countries and other provinces give financial support to farmers that Canada and Ontario do not, maybe all that food will be imported in future. Then they can pave the whole province. — KR Letter to the editor THE EDITOR, Some Ontario farmers are spending large amounts of money because they aren't sufficiently familiar with Canada's firearms laws to avoid conviction. Like the Highway Traffic Act and other regulations Canadians live with, ignorance is not accepted as a legitimate defence in court. Claiming the law caught them off guard is unlikely to work either, given all the debate that has taken place in the years since the legislation was Iirst introduced. People need to seek out the law and ensure they meet die requirements set out in the legislation before the law seeks them out and they are faced with significant fines. Farmers may be inclined to forget the law when faced with wildlife killing their animals and birds. Regardless of the circumstances, they are required to comply with the law in all respects. Everyone over the age of 18 years must have a possession and acquisition licence before they can own a firearm. Anyone under 18 is not allowed to own a firearm, even if n was a gift. All firearms must be registered, and those that aren’t should be disposed of legally to minimize the risk of penalties for illegal possession of an unregistered li rearm. Anyone taking possession of a firearm that has already been registered is required to have the registration transferred, something requiring the participation of the former and new owners. With all the necessary paperwork in place, the law sets out a number of requirements for the safe storage of both the firearms and all ammunition. The law requires that firearms being placed in storage must be unloaded and either made inoperable or locked in a case container or a room that cannot easily be broken into. Rendering a firearm inoperable can be done by means of a secure locking device such as a cable lock or trigger lock, or by removing the bolt or bolt carrier. There is an exception to the storage requirements for farmers living in areas where it is legal to discharge a firearm - an unloaded shotgun or rifle can temporarily be kept handy, with no locks, when needed for predator control. The Canadian Firearms Centre has fact sheets and brochures available. The toll-free telephone number for the centre is 1-800-731- 4000. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture wants to help all farmers operate their farms effectively and within the limits of the law. Anyone with questions is encouraged to call the Canadian Firearms Centre at 1-800-731- 4000 or OFA at 1-800-ONT- FARM. Geri Kamenz, Vice-President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Heather Armstrong & Capucine Onn 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 $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 P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 PUBLICATIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM REGISTRATION NO. 09244 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT.Canada PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca jpcna Member of the Ontario Press Council We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright 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 March 3, 1948 Robert Newcombe, well-known Blyth resident, celebrated his birthday on Feb. 29. Speaking of the event, Mr. Newcombe reportedly-- stated, "Most people think I’m getting old, but I’m only 21.” Actually it took Mr. Newcombe 84 years to reach his 21st birthday. The new home for the Blyth Public Library, which ..was in connection with the rest room addition at Memorial Hall was expected to be ready by May. 1. A new product, manufactured in Blyth, appeared on local grocery stores. Creamery butter was being manufactured by the Blyth Farmers’ Co-operative Association. The Village of Blyth council received several letters of acknowledgement from residents of Blyth, England for parcels of food sent. A report was received from The Canadian Underwriters Association on the fire marshall’s inspection of Blyth. Several deficiencies were pointed out regarding water mains and water pressure. A 16-oz. jar of peanut butter was on sale at Superior for 36 cents. March 1, 1950 St. John’s Anglican Church was hosting the annual World Day of Prayer. Mr. A. C. Robinson, leader of the local Boys and Girls Lions Band travelled with the girls band from London to Toronto for the annual Kiwanis festival. They were awarded first prize. Miss Elizabeth Baeker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cleve Baeker of Brussels was a member of the band. A subject brought up at a Lions Club meeting caused a flurry of discussion around Brussels. The question argued was, “How far is it by river from Brussels to Wingham?” Lions Tail Twister Jim Armstrong was out on a limb, having based the statement-on an old story of some Brussels men who w'ent by. boat from there to Wingham, that the distance is 41 miles. One businessman wagered $5 that it was not nearly that far, so Mr. Armstrong was urged to prove his statement. A one-pound tin of sockeye salmon was on sale at Grewer’s for 90 cents. Playing at the Regent Theatre in Seaforth was Big Jack starring Marjorie Main and Wallace Beery as the “terror of the badlands”. At the Capitol Theatre in Listowel it was Wayne Morris and Janice Paige in The Younger Brothers. March 1,1972 The combined efforts of the Brussels and Blyth fire brigades were not enough to save a Grey Twp. fire house. Joan McArter received the Girl Guide of the Year trophy at the mother and daughter banquet. Louise Proctor received her gold core, the highest honour of Guiding. Proceeds of the canvass on behalf of the ability fund amounted to $287.30. The canvass completed under the auspices of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Guides and Brownies was carried out by the girls of these groups. Donations were to assist disabled person in living a “fuller, more satisfying life”. Eddy Peters received first prize for his farm safety poster. A Grade 8 pupil of Mrs. Aubrey Toll at Walton Public School when he made the poster, Peters was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arie Peters of RR2, Brussels. Apple pies at Lowe’s were on sale for 39 cents. March 7, 1973 The three candidates of the major parties. Liberal Jack Riddell, PC Don Southcott and New Democrat Paul Carroll attended a meet-the- The Citizen P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1 HO Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 candidates night, sponsored by the Huron County Federation of Agriculture. Blyth council decided to do an inspection of the village-owned Memorial Hall, library and arena to see what upkeep and repairs were needed. A pack of dogs spread the reeve’s garbage all over the street when it was left out for collection. Most of the cast for Mystery at Green Fingers, the first play to be presented by Blyth Little Theatre was chosen when readings for parts were held at Blyth Public Shcool. Kerri Medd, a Hullett school student, won the public speaking contest at the Clinton Legion. The Needlecraft Shoppe was selling dresses from $19.95 up and coats and toppers beginning at $19.95. Feb. 26,1986 A Hullett Twp. farmer lost four purebred sheep to marauding dogs. Brussels carnival raised $1,300 for skating club activities. Members of Blyth’s Horticultural Scoeity executive were Vera Hesselwood, Alma Madill, Mary Walden, Harvey McDowell, Sheron Stadelmann, Marjory East, John Hesselwood, John Blake, Ray Madill, George Harrower, Dan Mclnnes, Lewis and Valerie Pittman and Harvey McCallum. March 4, 1998 It had been a February like no other with springlike temperatures drawing local sports enthusiasts to the street for a fast-paced game of road hockey at the tennis court. The average temperature through the previous month had been 5.5° C warmer than other years with only trace amounts of snow recorded on six occasions. The audit for Brussels showed an overspending of the budget in the amount of $ 18,000.