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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-07-14, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2005. Editorials Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Heather Armstrong & Dianne Nonkes 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 + $l 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 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 09244 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com Canada We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1 HO Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Aocna®<« > Member of the Ontario Press Council We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Bigger must be better Huron County councillors continue to worry over the amount of attention local health needs will get now that district health councils have been replaced by Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs). Councillors’ concern is centred on the reality that there’s nothing local about a LHIN. It stretches from Windsor to Tobermory. The LHIN will control spending on health care over that vast region, leading to worries scarce resources are more likely to be allocated to big centres like London, Windsor and Sarnia than smaller rural areas. Concern is furthered by the fact it seems likely these boards will be controlled by appointed officials with no requirement to answer to the public. The emergence of these networks is a lesson in the perseverance of government bureaucracy. It was nearly 30 years ago, just as the backlash over regional government was growing, that a news conference was held in London to unveil the idea for a distric* health council to stretch from Lake Erie to Tobermory, just as the LHIN does today. The huge health council didn’t fly at the time because backlash against things big was spreading. In Huron, fear of regional government help elect Liberal Jack Riddell to a long-held Tory riding. The district health council model was scaled down. Huron rejected one for years before finally agreeing to create one. Very quickly succeeding provincial governments forced amalgamation with Perth, then melded Huron-Perth with Grey-Bruce, then disbanded that altogether and created the LHIN, which, surprise, surprise, covers the same territory proposed 30 years earlier. It’s much the same with regional government where, despite opposition, we eventually got enforced municipal amalgamations, though few people wanted them. In the end, bureaucrats know that if they wait long enough they’ll find a government that gives them what they want. What the people want? Who cares about them?— KR It’s a matter of time Shock waves from the terrorist bombings of the London, England subway system have shaken the world and brought the reality home to Canadians: it is virtually inevitable that it’s only a matter of time before we too suffer this kind of crime. Canadians have taken comfort in the fact terrorists either struck in the high-profile U.S. or in out-of-the-way places we hardly noticed. Canada is on the al-Qaeda list of targets, however, and our time will come.—KR Looking Back Through the Years Commentary By Harry Brander Ontario Federation of Agriculture Executive Committee Now that agriculture has been granted a chaii at the provincial government’s Priorities and Planning Board of Cabinet, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture will be presenting agriculture’s priorities to the Hon. Leona Dombrowsky, our industry's new minister. OFA was pleased to learn it will be working with Minister Dombrowsky on agriculture and food issues. When she was environment minister, OFA and its partners in the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition, found a minister with a keen interest in agricultural and rural issues. She was aware of rural issues because her riding is rural, and agricultural issues were important to her because of the farming population she represents in Hastings. Frontenac and Lennox and Addington. When Premier McGuinty announced his cabinet changes, he also announced that Minister Dombrowsky would be part of the ‘inner cabinet' as the Priorities and Planning Board of Cabinet is called in government circles. The premier has described this as a very ‘powerful’ board, and that government has now kept its promise to make OMAFRA ‘a lead' ministry. Income problems continue to plague many Ontario farmers. Grains, oilseeds and horticulture producers have developed programs they believe will protect them from depressed market prices. The livestock sector is working on a plan for its producers. Government’s commitment to work with farmers on these plans is essential. Getting a solid commitment from Premier McGuinty for financial support for Ontario agriculture will also be an issue to promote at the Priorities and Planning Board of Cabinet. Without that commitment, farmers fear budget allocations for 2005 to OMAFRA will not meet the sector's needs if current low commodity price forecasts hold true. We also need Minister Dombrowsky’s support in dealing with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. OFA is anxious to meet with Minister John Gerretson to discuss current issues around the Greenbelt Act and the recent announcements of the Greenbelt Council and the Greenbelt Foundation. We’re concerned that there has been no consultation with farmers on greenbelt implementation. OFA and its commodity partners want Minister Dombrowsky to resolve the outstanding issue communicated to Minister Peters that producers must pa^ back funds received from income support payments for 2003. In our opinion, the government has no authority to recover the 2003 CAIS advances from other income support pay­ ments. We look forward to Minister Dombrowsky’s assistance with these issues. July 14, 1948 Among the changes in agricultural representatives announced by the Hon. T.L. Kennedy, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, was one affecting the county of Huron. R. Gordon Bennett. who . had transferred from Glengarry County to Huron, replaced G. Leroy Brown who was transferred to Victoria County. The London Free Press had carried a photo which included Shirley Brewer. She was receiving a $25 scholarship award for graduating with top honours in Grade 8 at the school in connection with the Mount St. Joseph’s Orphanage, London. Shirley would be remembered by Blyth people as she made her home with Mrs J.C. Heffron for a time. Ray Dobbyn accepted a position with the Canada Bread Co. in London. Deanna Durbin and Leopold Stokowski starred in 100 Men and a Girl, which was playing at the Roxy Theatre in Clinton. At the Capital in Goderich it was Lauritz Melchior, Jimmy Durante and Xavier Cugat with his orchestra in This Time for Keeps. Showing at the Regent in Seaforth was the double feature, The Tender Years with Joe E. Brown, Noreen Nash and Charles Drake, and The Adventures of Don Coyote with Richard Martin, Frances Rafferty and Ernest Crowe. Rory Calhoun and Rhonda Fleming starred in Adventure Island which was playing at the Lyceum Theatre in Wingham. July 12,1972 Stewart Pierce, drilled and blaster was driven from his mining claim where he was prospecting in the hills in the Wells, B.C. district. In a letter to his father Thomas Pierce, he said he had been driven from the cabin where he’d been staying for three months, by bears. There' -were so many and they were so vicious that he could not. go anywhere without his rife. He shot seven of them, and therb were about 20 more around every night. Stewart, who had been alone that year because of the illness of his partner, left the claim when the bears tore the corner out of the cabin. July 11, 1973 Marjorie Procter, Belgrave, Miss Brussels Fair, would compete with 55 other rural fair queens from across Ontario at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. A Belgrave man and his daughter took top honours in the 12th of July parade at Goderich. Athol Bruce, joined the Orange Lodge in Brussels in 1912 and hadn’t missed a parade since. He was judged best Fifer. His daughter, Reta Bruce of Bluevale was named best drummer. Brussels council was joining with others in the county expressing concern with the way courts deal with those charged with mischief and vandalism. At their meeting councillors discussed complaints regarding speeding and squealing of tires throughout night hours. Damage was also being done in the parks and recreation areas. Winners of the centennial celebration’s soap box derby were: Karen McLean, Carol Wheeler, Kevin Wheeler, Jay Rann, Terry McCutcheon, Chuck Lynn, Kevin Pennington, Tim Prior, Keith McLean, Steven Guest, John Adams, Mary Ellen Knight, Colleen Gibbs, Glen McLean. Brad Knight, Ken Tervitt, Nancy Knight, Earl Pennington, Shirley Pipe, Cherrill McCutcheon, Bruce Knight, Shirley Shoebottom, Mrs. Betty Knight and Mrs. Bob Richmond. July 11, 1973 Ephraim Gray, who was principal of Blyth Public School for many years retired as a superintendent with the Wellington Board of Education. Melda McElroy, after 42 years of high school teaching, 29 of which were spent in two collegiates in Guelph where she taught physical education, English and business communication, dlso retired. July 9, 1986 Ratepayers in Listowel would soon be receiving a letter sent out by the Huron Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board concerning the board’s plan to construct a new Catholic school in town. A survey conducted the previous year recommended that an attempt be made to establish a kindergarten to Grade 8 school in Listowel. MP Murray Cardiff was present for the official opening of the Farm Information Centre in Wingham. At the local theatres it was Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Kurt Russell in Big Trouble in Little China, Alan Alda in Sweet Liberty and the animated move He-Man and She- Ra, the Secret of the Sword. New steps were installed at the Brussels Library. July 15, 1988 NDP, MPP Marion Boyd visited at the West Wawanosh farm of Tony and Fran McQuail. Three Grey Twp. brothers were in fair condition following a car crash outside Brussels. The eight, seven, and four-year-old were in Sick Children’s Hospital, London. A Port Franks man was charged with first-degree murder in connection with a shooting death during a hunting trip at the Hullett Conservation Area. Molesworth Women’s Institute celebrated its 50th anniversary. Blyth Optimists received a grant of $92,000 for environmental projects.