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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2007-06-27, Page 4Page 4 June 27, 2007 • The Huron Expositor Opinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK 1WO Political cheques and balances One can't blame the average Joe or Jane Public for wondering why it is politicians with cheques seem to crawl out of the woodwork, like whisky on prom night, every time a provincial or federal elec- tion is nigh. And such things, in some quarters, are viewed as so scurrilous that many media outlets — particu- larly in the urban centres where the local politi- cian's office is not located just down the road — turn up their Nikon lenses at such things and sniff noisily about the gaucheness of such transparent attempts to get a free promotional ad. As always, there are exceptions. If the govern- ment of the day decides to rescue a cause close to a locale's heart — for instance, provincial funding for the Ball's Bridge — a community -minded reporter would be best serving his/her readership by scoot- ing out there for the appropriate photo op. But, if the cheque pass is a non-event — like say, for instance, a traditionally government -funded agency receiving its yearly budget — such does not a photo op make It is with this reality in mind that one must ques- tion what exactly transpired in Seaforth on Monday, when the Huron Business Development Corporation called the local metria to attend a cheque -passing presentation for what amounted to receiving its budget. Only the cheque- passer, as it were, was not Huron -Bruce's MP, Paul Steckle. Rather, it was Conservative member Gary Schellenberger who is Perth County's MR On the surfacesuch an obvious attempt to edge out the sitting MP and promote the supposedly good works of the Conservatives (HBDC has exist- ed for 14 years while the CPC has only been in power for about 16 months) may seem somewhat harmless, if not more than a little vacuous. And yet, given that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is so loathe to talk to reporters and since Canada's presence in Afghanistan is becoming an increasingly huge question mark floating overtop of Canadians' heads, it seems like a move that is more than a little circumspect. It reflects on a government that is more con- cerned with its image than it is with the real issues such as a Risk Management Program for farmers, economic development and why Conservatives are so unwillin to address the Afghanistan question when the U.S. is calling for a withdrawal of troops in Lir 2008. Ma the le of Huron -Bruce are expected to ask r. rger. — The Clinton Noweaecord Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 E-mail us at seaforth@bowesnet.com Visit our home page at www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com OUE1ECOR MEDIA Canada SUN IND "We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs." Maybe I'm just a bit more patriotic than 1 imagine Like most Canadians, I'm guessing, I'm not rabidly patriotic. I don't fly the Maple Leaf from a flagpole on my front lawn - but it does irritate me a bit when I see torn and ragged versions flap- ping in the breeze. I don't decorate the house in red and white or wear a t -shirt, hat or other paraphernalia announc- ing my citizenship on Canada Day or any other day of the year. But, I do feel a warm and quiet pride that I live in one of the most beautiful, peaceful and let's face it, best -mannered countries in the world. I love CBC Radio and Canadian television - especially comedy like This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Corner Gas and Little Mosque on the Prairie. (Can you tell I don't have cable?) I love Canadian musicians like Bruce Cockburn, Joni Mitchell, The Bare Naked Ladies, David Wilcox and Jann Arden and except for Burton Cummings - who in my opinion has always received far too much air play - I've never minded the Canadian con- tent ruling by the CRTC on radio. And, I love the long list of Canadian actors like Jim Carrey, John Candy, Mike Meyers and Martin Short who are so good at making me laugh. It never really bothers me when things go crazy at the border - orange alerts or the need by Susan Hundertmark favourite Gables. And, my friend Kim in Vancouver probably doesn't even believe me anymore that I plan to go see her too since I've been promising for so long. I am patriotic enough to think that Ottawa on Canada Day is an event worth sharing with my family - and that's where we'll be this year. We'll be jostling with the crowds under a huge sky of exploding lights raining down on the Parliament buildings, oohing and aahing with Canadians from all over. And, thanks to my daughter's infectious enthusiasm and honestly -inherited shopping gene, we'll likely be wearing a bit of red and white. In fact, that red and white will be in the form of patriotically -coloured plastic leis, crazy top hats and Maple Leaf -adorned court jester hats complete with tinkling bells. A few Maple Leaf tattoos may also be involved in the complete ensemble. Maybe I'm a bit more patriotic than I let on. for passports don't bug me much because I'm in no big hurry to leave the country. There's enough of Canada I haven't had the time or money to see yet - I'm still planning a camp- ing trip to the east coast someday so I can see the setting of one of my childhood books - Anne of Green Ron & Dave Heh..heh..� Look at those kids bickering. 40 tip tff. 1741 Yeah...It reminds me of all the fighting we did when we were kids 1 Yeah, me too. Thank goodness we've grown out of all that nonsense. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 36.18 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIORS; - 34.17 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. Foreign: 36.18 a year in advance, plus S181.48 postage, G.S.T. exempt U.S.A.: 36.18 a year in advance, plus $92.56 postage, G.S.T. exempt Published weekly by Sun Media at 11 Main St., Seaforth. 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Box 69, Seaforth, ON., NOK 1 WO Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association & the Ontario Community Newspapers Association r Well...I did anyway...you can still be pretty stu� by David Lacey Susan Hundertmark Editor Aaron Jacklin Reporter Bernie Pugh Maxwell Bickford Advertising / Office Composing Dianne McGrath Front office Editorial and Business Offices - 11 Main Street.,Seaforth Telephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK 1W0