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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-04-12, Page 44 `tg,nu 41)an t-zi c$z Published each Wednesday at: Box 390, 5 Diagonal Road, W ingharn. Ontario NOG 2W0 Phone (519) 357-2320 Fax: (519) 357-2900 J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Second Class Mail Registration No. 0821 We are: Jim Beckett -Publisher Audrey Currie -Manager Cameron J. Wood - Editor Norma Golley - Ad. Rep. Jim Brown - Reporter Stephen Pritchard - Comp, Eve Buchanan - Office Louise Welwood- Office ••`�;.`';fit"&'; ">"; . z Memberof: OCNA CCNA The W inghamAdvance-Times is a member of a family of community newspapers pro- viding news, advertising and information leadership. Letters t0' the Editor All letters to the editor must bear the writer's name, telephone num- ber and address. The Advance -Times wel- comes letters. We re- serve the right to edit, but will endeavor to preserve the author's intent. Deadline for letters is Monday before 10:00 a.m.. Some exceptions may apply. Fax: (519) 357-2900 or mail to: P.O. Box 390, Wingham, Ontario, NOG 2WO A 55 Edit°Hiai Viewpoint Steckle dropped like a hot pistol Huron-Bruce Member of Parliament Paul Steckle's stand on gun control should come as no surprise. He followed through last week with what he a<, has been saying he would do when it was time to vote on the government's new gun control legislation. He stood by his convictions, standing up for what he and what he believes the majority of his constituents think, the new federal gun control legislation is not prac- tical, particularly in, a rural area. However, it wasn't long before' the tradition of Cana- dian politics was graphically demonstrated. Steckle was dropped like a "hot pistol" from any committees he was serving on. His so-called political masters were dis- pleased and they didn't waste any time in showing the member from Huron -Bruce how the game is played in Ottawa. Play by party rules, don't make waves and we'll let you participate in a few extra activities that could be re- warding both to your career and your pocketbook. It'sa message that nobody actually comes out and says, but nevertheless, it's a message that's understood by every- body in politics. Thankfully, for the rest of us back here in good old Huron, Steckle apparently is one of those politicians who has no masters except the people who voted him into of- fice. He could have taken the politically correct route many of his fellow Liberals did by being regrettably -ab- sent from the House of Commons when the voting actu- ally took place. These are the members who tell the peo- ple back home they are not in favor of the new rules on gun control but weren't the "calibre" of people who would actually stand up in parliament and express their real opinions. Can you imagine where they would be if they actually had to make any tough decisions? Whether it's his Huron County background, or wheth- er he's just a straight up, tell it like it is person, Steckle "stuck to his guns" and actually voted the same way he. has been talking, a totally refreshing idea for Ottawa. Way. to go Paul. Even if not everybody agrees with your stand, you performed like the rest of us hoped their member of parliament would. We can only hope the party "triggermen" were shoot- ing to wound because we all know wounds heal and it won't be long before Steckle will be back in the good "red" books. Consider the party action "a shot in the butt" instead df a slap on the wrist. — JB/Exeter Times -Advocate =r:`i� .`a.•s:,ya��. ea�.s,.�,::o�.x."•<;. �i•+�"`�v: Q'��,�:'i:t�;v �,.a�r;:eny na.:, ¢� ' w.. .•"" , t, . ri ti•Y:..:.g < <..,;;.%: 4:#>: >::.:`a<,::t.,.,.,,'§;.• e ;`•'!'aCx';ri:a, ,��t�...,.:,��• `zaci.s':ti �i"w.�vU........a \s>,..,,:,w X„?...a.,,\.,.,.°o..x.:.SY':,a:rk�'„�'c.:,; �>:ac�'k�:`'✓o'��`.�;:m�':b .�d 51 reason to smile ` ingffanz Janet Lisle and Sjaan Gerth. These two science wizards will represent our area when they travel to Whitehorse for the Canada wide science fair. Good luck in the North: with Margaret Stapleton APRIL 1948 Wingham's King Department Store is celebrating its 60th anni- versary this year. Founded in 1888 by the late George E. King, present employees of the store have many years of service with the public. Staff members include A. O. "Gary" Garrett, Alex Coutts and Alice Reading. Plans this year include the addition of a modern storefront. The Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation is asking for tenders for the construction of 50 houses in the Town of Wingham. George Procter of Stone School was successful in carrying off the trophy in the oratorical contest last Friday evening, sponsored by the Men's Club of Bluevale. Nor- ma Moffatt of Bluevale was sec- ond and Norma Felker, Turnber- ry, was third. The CPR bridge, lost in this spring's flood, is repaired and ser- vice has resumed. The bridge erected is only temporary and will be replaced with a steel structure a.to/allow heavy engines to run on the line. APRIL 1961 Wingham's newest business, a coin-operated laundry, will open its doors this week. The Wingham Fire Brigade presented the Golden Circle School with two new tricycles this week. Fire Chief Jim Carr and his assistant, Dave Crothers, made the presentation to the school's teacher, Mrs. T. G. Hus- ser. The local firm of C. Lloyd & Son has announced some changes in the executive officers of the company. R. H. Lloyd becomes chairman of the board, W. H. French now is president and C. i. W. Lloyd is vice president. D. C. Nasmith is now general manager of the firm and James Hamilton is secretary -treasurer. Mrs. G. W. Tiffin of Wingham has been returned as Huron presi- dent of the presbyterial of the United Church Women. APRIL 1971 Mr. and Mrs. Don Delmage of London have purchased the River- view Drive -In at the north end of Josephine Street. The former owner was Donald Rae of Wing - ham. G. A. Williams, OD, Wingham optometrist, became president of the Optometrical Association of Ontario at its annual general meeting held in Toronto. Linda Reavie of Wingham has been hired to teach at Goderich DCI this fall and Art Clark will join the staff at the F. E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham. Dr. Dick Bray presented a tro- phy to the winning team in the Scout broomball league. Mem- bers of the victorious squad are Barry Bushell, David Bennett, Kevin Turbitt, Allan Foxton, Ter- ry Netterfield, Jim Ritter and Rick Jacklin. APRIL 1981 The Lyceum Theatre in Wing' ham has new owners. Ward and Patti Robertson purchased the theatre last week from the previ- ous owners, Nelson Frank and John Schedler. A housing study recently con- ducted for the Town of Wingham has confirmed a need for more senior citizens' apartments. At its regular monthly meeting Monday, Huron County Board of Education trustees voted to keep the strap as an option in county schools. The Teeswater Creamery, one of the oldest in Canada, has been sold to the Gay -Lea Foods Co - Operative of Toronto. Fred Meier, a dairy farmer from the Belgrave area, has been selected to fill the vacancy on East Wawanosh council. WATCH FOR FLYING MUD From where I'm sittin' it's pathetic There's definitely something pa- thetic about the amount of peo- ple who bothered to show up at the recent Community Forum. Or is that apathetic? From where I'm sitting, it's a wonder this event has lasted six years. Last year, there were more presenters than attendees. This year, . the numbers were only slightly bet- ter. So minuscule was the turnout that the.;anizers were handing out box- es.gfIlr`ftatvet` donuts to the few that stuck around after the presentations. There wasn't even a' single ques- tion from the public during the ques- tion and answer period. Never mind the former CN railway bridge issue hot on the books; or that Zehrs had decided we weren't important to them, or that the municipal budget is soon expected. - Did anyone else notice our MPP' Paul KJopp scoot out the door soon after :delivering his greetings from the province? Obviously our votes aren't important to him. I wonder if he used the new elevator to escape? So what has me so ticked? I'm ticked that only a handful of our elected representatives bothered to put in an appearance. Granted, some had other meetings, some had an "illness". I'm ticked that the presenters had only a handful of people to make their presentation to - maybe 30, if The Outer Edge Cameron J. WOOD even that many. And I'm ticked that despite the honest efforts of a few, that apathetic \mood of "It can't be done in Wing- Aiam" has returned. Two weeks ago I wrote of the Zehrs decision. The final confirma-, tion came after weeks of the compa- ny ignoring the local press and busi- ness community's questions. Yet with the exception of a very small majority,' no one seems t� care that we're losing this business. No one seems to care that a major food re- tailer thinks that communities such as Listowel and Goderich will be more profitable. And no one seems to care that their philosophy is to raid our com- munity of its' money to prosper in an- other. Why aren't our business leaders and elected representatives doing something? Why should they, the de- cision has been made and nothing will change that. The onus is on us, the community to prevent issues like this from oc- curring. We must accept the fact that we have this monkey on our back that says Wingham is anti - development. And that sentiment isn't lost on potential investors. In fact there's one business within our service area that was considering an expansion. That business, unique to the region, needed more space to keep up with contract demands. Wingham was a good choice; near- by, lots of serviced industrial land. Yet, they didn't move here. Why? Because the owner'st Staff 'told hiin that Wingham -'was.' too unfriendly and too anti -development. Makes you wonder. We have an economic develop- ment committee. Yet, few know its mandate and even fewer bother to at- tend its annual presentation to find out what is afoot in the area. It takes a volleyball court in Riv- erside Park to get people talking. The best response we've had in years came over the PUC's decision to install water meters. Yet, a company pulls out and we say little. A rail bridge creates a bit of controversy between council and a leading industry, and only a hand- ful express opinions. ' Yet, down the road, south of Blyth, a group of people are fighting a huge battle with Huron County Council over a clump of trees on county land. Wingham isn't anti -development, it's just pro -apathy. All a ullgettingy dizzy TORONTO - Ontario's political par- ties have started a war over who has flip-flopped most in which they will never run out of ammunition. New Democrat Premier Bob Rae fired the first shot when he accused Liberal leader Lyn McLeod of changing her position on the federal Liberal budget, which will reduce transfer payments to Ontario. Rae had said the budget was un- fair to Ontario and will make it diffi- cult to maintain its social programs and he will fight -it every way he can. McLeod of first insisted that the federal Liberals were unfair but had to make tough decisions and Rae should 'stop whining' and start mak- ing tough decisions of his own. The Liberal leader that she would prepared to work with the federal government and look at ways of re- forming social programs and main- taining services. Rae protested that McLeod lacked the backbone to stand up against her federal party and a dispassionate fi- nancial, rating agency later gave him some credibility by agreeing that the budget gave less than Ontario's pop- ulation warrants. McLeod has had second thoughts and declared 'that as premier she would "go to the federal government and say that Onta' should get a fairer share on social transfers. I am prepared to stand up for what is fair for Ontario, absolutely." with Eric Dowd Rae said he almost fell off his chair at McLeod's new belligerency and others shared his surprise. The premier, never one to miss an oppor- tunity, claimed that McLeod com- monly says one thing one day and another the next and is incapable of speaking decisively. He recalled the time McLeod urged the NDP to extend family ben- efits to same-sex couples, but re- fused to support legislation to pro- vide this even after it was watered down to remove some of her ex- pre's'sed concerns. McLeod's latest volley is that R'ad' is the last person who can lecture on inconsistency and "the biggest flip- flopper in Ontario's political histo- ry." The NDP premier has changed policies as casually as changing his socks. In opposition he promised that the province would operate its own auto insurance scheme, but has allowed the insurance companies to continue. He has brought in wide-open Sun- day shopping and casino gambling, which he once opposed, and broken union contracts he said were sacro- sanct to cut public sector wages. The premier has done so many flip-flops he could be a star turn to Ringling Brothers circus. The Progressive Conservatives under Mike Harris also have accused McLeod of flip flopping and they clearly have reversed themselves the least. Harris has announced mostly de- tailed policies and on the whole stuck to them even when they have not been rapturously received. The Tory leader has gone as far as to say that he would resign as pre- mier rather than back away from any of his policies, but at this point there is no way he can prove it. But even Harris is not a complete model of consistency. he has talked of charging user fees in medicare, but now avoids the issue like the plague. He used to make a point of saying he would get rid of rent controls un- til apartment dwellers closed their doors on him in a byelection. McLeod is not the only leader to have second thoughts - she just for- got she always has to be seen stand- ing up for Ontario.