Huron Expositor, 2004-03-03, Page 54
Opinion
Excluding women from moving talk
concerning 9/11 a shame in year Zoog.
From Page 1
Now, don't get the wrong. I think it's perfectly acceptable
and desirable for members of the same gender to get together
to discuss issues of mutual concern.
Take Back the Night marches, for instance, routinely
exclude men from participating and for what I think is a very
good reason. Since these marches are held by women to make
the point that females should be able to walk the streets at
night by themselves without fearing for their safety, it would
be illogical to have men along as chaperones.
I'm pretty sure, however, that a male reporter or
photographer was never prevented from covering the story
about the march for his newspaper, television or radio station.
As far as 1 understand it, Brotherhood Night is not held to
make a similar political point. It's a 35 -year tradition held for
fun and camaraderie and excludes women because it always
has.
Despite encouragement from this newspaper, as far back as
23 years ago, to open up the night to anyone who could
benefit from the tolerance and understanding the event was
created to engender, Brotherhood Night has continued to
exclude women.
Even after two women in 1981, an NDP candidate and her
campaign manager, were ejected from the meeting after being
invited along with the other two political candidates (male) of
the day, (who did not attend), the event continues to be a
"brothers -only" affair. ,
"Last year, an Expositor editorial called for a Brotherhood
Night that included women. We said then that the goodwill
engendered will be all the better once it includes the other half
of the population. In our opinion, unless it includes women, it
should be quietly put to rest, as most things are when time
passes them by," said an Expositor editorial in March, 1981.
So much for progess in Seaforth.
And, that's a shame, especially when a speaker of universal
appeal is featured.
The whole planet was rocked two years ago by the terrorist
attacks on the United States and I'm certain women would
have been just as interested, moved and enlightened by the
talk as the male listeners were.
As a female reporter, 1 was not allowed to listen to the
speech and slide show but I was allowed to interview the
speaker after he completed his talk.
And, that was also a shame. After completing what had
obviously been an emotionally draining talk where he relived
two weeks that changed his life forever, Bert Gauthier very
graciously tried to recount his experience a second time for
-.me, minus the slide show.
But, after a short interview, he apologized that he had no
words left. Quite understandably, he was spent.
"I wish you'd been here for my talk," he said.
So do I, Bert. So do I.
Letter
Steckle clears up confusion created
by Conservative mailing campaign
To the Editor
I am writing to ask for your help in clearing up a matter
that has recently been brought to my attention. Early last
week I began receiving constituent complaints regarding a
mailing being sent to residents of Huron -Bruce by
Conservative -Alliance MPs Stephen Harper, Carol Skelton,
David Chatters, James Moore and Chuck Cadman. The said
mailing read, in part, as follows...
"Your Member of Parliament, Paul Steckle likes to boast
that he voted against the Liberal gun registry in 1995. If Paul
Steckle is so opposed to the registry, why didn't he vote
against wasting another $59 million on it in 2003? Now,
instead of scrapping the costly gun registry, Paul. Martin has
put Paul Steckle in charge of "improving" this billion -dollar
sinkhole."
Furthermore, on the back of the postcard -like mailing,
printed under the words "Office of the Leader of the
Opposition" was the official logo of the Conservative Party
of Canada. It should also be noted I have also been told of a
similar mailing advising my constituents that Rose -Marie Ur
is their Member of Parliament.
While I am not asking you to help forward partisan
asformation to your readership, I am asking for your
sistance in clarifying the blatant misinformation that is
being circulated by the Conservative -Alliances in this
taxpayer funded partisan mailing.
Firstly, I am the Member of Parliament for Huron -Bruce. I
know that some residents of Huron -Bruce have been told by,
the Conservative -Alliance that Rose -Marie Ur is their M�
however, this is simply not true.
Secondly, 1 voted against Bill C-68 (the gun bill) in 1995
because the majority of my constituents told me to do so.
Perhaps Stephen Harper (the soon-to-be leader of the
Conservative -Alliance) could explain why he voted in
favour of the firearm registry in 1995?
Thirdly, the Prime Minister has not placed me "in charge"
of the firearms registry. If I were in charge of it - it would be
gone! I would be interested in knowing why Mr. Harper and
his fellow Conservative -Alliance MPs are using tax dollars
to misrepresent the facts surrounding the issue?
In closing, your readership should be aware that I have
brought this matter to the attention of the Speaker of the
House of Commons. It is my hope that he will instruct the
MPs involved that this is an inappropriate use of public
resources.
In the meantime, all constituents should know that I am
your MP and that I will continue to work to put an end to the
excessive waste of the firearms registry.
Paul Steckle, M.P.
Huron -Bruce
News
Local political parties gearing up
for upcoming federal election
The Huron -Bruce
Conservatives will be asked
to choose between two
candidates during a
nomination meeting
Saturday, March 6 in
Wingham.
Barb Fisher, of Kincardine
and David Yates, of
Goderich are seeking the
nomination in preparation for
the upcoming federal
election.
"These are two strong
individuals with solid
records of long-standing
community leadership," said
riding association president
Brian Treble in a press
release.
"They have been selling
memberships and building
momentum for the new
Conservative Party. We arc
going to shake things up in
the next election," he said.
Fisher was MPP for the
former riding of Bruce and
most recently chief of staff to
the Ontario Minister of
Citizenship with
Responsibility for Seniors.
Yates is in his third term as
town councillor in Godcrich
and a teacher at Central
Huron Secondary School in
Clinton.
Meanwhile, the Huron -
Bruce Liberals unanimously
selected current MP Paul
Steckle to continue to
represent the local Liberals
in the next federal election.
"For the past 10 years,
Paul Steckle has without fail
provided the people of
Huron -Bruce with solid
representation in Ottawa,"
said local Liberal
Association president Nick
Whyte in a press release.
"His voice has been ours
and simply put, 1 can think of
no one that is better suited to
help resolve the many
complex issues facing us
locally and nationally.
Liberals in Huron -Bruce
have, with one voice,
confidently decided to stick
with Stecklc in the next
federal election," said
Whyte.
Steckle, in the same press
release, said he is humbled
and reinvigorated by the
trust of the Huron -Bruce
Liberals.
"There is much more work
to be done and cooperatively
with the new Paul Martin
team and the people of
Huron -Bruce, I commit that I
will do all that I can to prove
worthy of this immense
confidence," he said.
The Huron -Bruce NDPs
will be holding their
nomination meeting on
Saturday, March 27 in
Goderich at the Lawn
Bowling Club. At this time,
no candidates have been
announced.
Police investigating false alarm at arena
Huron OPP are
investigating five youths
after the fire alarm at the
Seaforth arena was pulled,
causing a false alarm that
will cost taxpayers $1,000.
The false alarm occurred
on Feb. 21 at 11:15 p.m.
when the fire alarm was
pulled in the hallway next to
the dressing rooms in the
west end of the building.
Snowmobile stolen
near Seaforth bar
A snowmobile was stolen
from the parking lot close to
a Goderich Street bar in
Seaforth between midnight
and 2 a.m. on Feb. 27,
reports the Huron OPP.
A red 1994 Polaris Model
340, registration number
738449, was taken from a
group of eight snowmobiles
parked outside the bar.
Police followed tracks for
a short distance but lost the
trail near one of the schools
CLINTON AND DISTRICT
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
will be held on Friday, March 5 from 9 until noon
Students must be five years of age
on or before Dec. 31, 2004
Bring your child, visit the K room
and meet the teacher
For more information contact the principal,
Mr. Clarence Bos 482-7851
in town.
Anyone with related
information is asked to call
the Huron OPP or Crime
Stoppers.
Window broken
at Hurley's Celtic Inn
A glass was thrown
through a front window of
Hurley's Celtic Inn in
Seaforth on Feb. 28 at 1:30
a.m.
Police were told that an
employee had to stop three
men from leaving the bar
with glasses of beer. The
vandalism occurred shortly
after the men left the bar.
Anyone with related
information is asked to call
the Huron OPP or Crime
Stoppers.
TMs HURON
I[XPOSIROII, MAMOMI a, 20041-11
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Take charge of your future@@:j)
with Summer Company,
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It provides hands-on
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INFORMATION SESSION
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Thur. March 11t, 7-9
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To register, contact:
Alison Lobb, (519) 517-0305
Deadline for applicadons is April
Church
Services
BEREAN COVENANT
CHURCH
A CHURCH PLANT OF
GRACE TRINITY COMMIMltTY CHURCH
527-0029
Fellowship at 7:00 pm
Pastoral Team:
Pastor Bob Penhearow
Pastor Ron Matthews
Pastor Royal Hamel
you are invited
to attend these
area churches
St. Thomas
Anglican Church
A Congregation of the Parish of
The Holy Spirit
Jarvis St. Seaforth
Fr. Michael Atkins Parish Office 482.7861
The Second Sunday of Lent
Worship at 9:30 a.m.
Prayer Group - Monday at 7:00 p.m.
Handers Messiah • Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Catholic Church
St. James RC Church
14 Victoria Street, Seaforth
527-0142
Weekend Masses: Sat 5:15 pm
Sun. 11:00 am
St. Columban RC Church
Saturday Mass at 7:30 pm
Father Lance Magdziak
Bethel Bible Church
An Associated Gospel Church
126 Main St. Seaforth
527-0982
Sunday School 9:45 am
Sunday Worship Hour 11 am
Jim Wyllie) - Pastor
B & G Club Wed. 7 p.m.
Youth Group Wed. 7 p.m.
Egmondville
United Church
Sunday School 10:00 am
Worship Service 11:00 am
Sunday March 7
stew Hildebrand Lay Pastoral
Minister In training
Come for lunch on Sunday and
support the Food Grains!
Prepared by the Sunday School.
NORTHSIDE - CAVAN
UNITED CHURCHES
Cavan 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a m. Northside
Winthrop 54 Goderich St. W.
Sunday March 7, 2004
Guest Speaker: Melissa Snyders
First Presbyterian
• Church
Goderich St. W. Seaforth
Rev. Ted Nelson
Interim Minister
Sunday, March 7
11:15 a.m. -
as NO I t,, E MO M ani — r. — to — M M ssa — sr
MI are — — OM — a1 all r MI a1 — r EMI M ass
FREE METER WITH PURCHASE
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Customer: Present this coupon to
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Sow KEATING'S
PHARMACY
67 Main St., Seaforth 527-1990
Purchase 100 Precision Xtra test strips and
receive the Precision Xtra Monitor
FREE!
Call 527-1990 For Details.
No cash value. Expire Date: November 31, 2004.
Limit 1 per customer.
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