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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-09-15, Page 44 Exeter Times—Advocate Wednesday , September 15, 2004 zkxna =CNA Editorial Opinion TIMES ADVOCATE PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs. Jim Beckett Publisher and Editor Deb Lord Production Manager &Published by Metroland Printing, rt Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Metroland 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIALS Back at it With September in full swing, many Canadians have had to shake the sum- mer cobwebs out of their brains and turn their attention back to work and school. Counted among those are federal and provincial politicians, who generally get a nice chunk of the summer off, in addition to lots of time off during the rest of the year. And while September just started, it didn't take long for the whining to start. Canada's premiers are meeting with the feds for a health care sum- mit this week. Things got off to a shaky start when premiers expressed their displeasure over Prime Minister Paul Martin's offer of an addition- al $12.2 billion for health care over the next six years. The feds, of course, view the offer as gen- erous and sufficient, while the premiers say it's not nearly enough. While the politicians fight among themselves, many Canadians live in med- ically underserviced areas (including those living here), and Canada's health care system needs much improving. But simply throwing money at health care isn't a solution — what's needed are innovative ideas to decrease waiting lists, attract more doctors to rural areas and increase the con- fidence Canadians have in their health system. In addition to federal and provincial politicians, local municipal councillors will find themselves busier, as well. While Bluewater and Lucan Biddulph councils made the unusual move of not cutting back on meetings during the summer, South Huron council scaled back summer meet- ings drastically, holding regular council meetings only once each in July and August. Now comes word that starting in October and continuing until the end of December, South Huron will only hold its council meetings on the first and third Mondays of each month instead of the first three Mondays of the month. Council also holds "communication sessions" with staff on the fourth Mondays of each month, during which no agendas or motions are made. These meetings have been so successful that council has found it unnecessary to hold as many regular meetings as it used to. This is a positive move. In the previous council term, as this space complained, council was meeting basically every Monday night, either in regular council meetings or in so-called "commit- tee of the whole" meetings — way too often for a municipality of South Huron's size. Now that things are settling down nearly four years after amalgamation, fewer meetings are needed. For several months, council meetings have been shorter, more focused and the agendas not as cluttered. 1 NEED MORE *pF TIME! [uuv ustrinutea ny uanaman Arrests .5ynmcate lnc, Seeing the results of food aid One of the most frequent questions people ask when looking into making charitable donations is: how do I know my contribution is going to the people who really need it? On Sunday evening local contributors to the Canadian Food Grains Bank (CFGB) through the South Huron Growing Project were able to hear firsthand their involvement is making a difference to the Masai people of Kenya. Rev. Stephen Mparinkoi was at the Exeter United Church to tell the results of the food security program of the CFGB in his region of Kenya. I found it interesting to hear Mparinkoi describe how the program is not simply a handout of food to the nomadic people of the Masai tribe — one of 42 tribes in Kenya which each have their own language — but a training program. He said in the past 11 years he has seen a real change in the peo- ple, who have seen the positive effects of set- tling and farming pieces of land instead of moving according to weather conditions. Instead of simply giving the people food, they are being trained in how to grow it. According to Mparinkoi, the impact of the program is shown by the fact there were five farmers in the first year and there are now 800. It was also interesting to hear Mparinkoi discuss the differences between Kenya and Canada. We often take all that we have for granted and don't see what our society looks like through another person's eyes. The reverend pointed out that we have plenty of food and water, which we use for the benefit of all us. He also said he observed we have discipline and respect for one another through our exceptional driving skills, which also affects the way we pass each other when walking on the street. "No one has to push," he said, adding that drivers stop for stop lights and signs and generally obey the rules of the road. "I wish I had a video camera to take back to my country." Now how's that for a surprise? We often com- plain about the lack of respect on the roads and how bad other drivers can be, but here is a man who visits our country and says he can tell we care for each other by the way we drive. He also was impressed by the Canadian gov- ernment's commitment to eradicate hunger, referring to its partnership with the CFGB. Through the Canadian International Development Agency, $4 is given for every $1 raised by the CFGB. Getting a glimpse into another culture is just one of the benefits of becoming involved with aid organizations such as the CFGB, which has 13 member organizations such as the United Church of Canada and helps many countries around the world fight hunger. Being able to hear a firsthand account of how the CFGB program is being used to help people get through a time of drought and famine was encourag- ing. Although I am not directly involved with the pro- gram myself, I think it is probably safe to say the other people who went to the church to hear Rev. Mparinkoi speak were reassured their involvement is not in vain. MARY SIM MO PENNY FO THOUGHT NS R MY s About the Times -Advocate Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Holidays. 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For example, Jim Beckett's e-mail address is <jbeck- ett@southhuron.com> Our general e-mail address is ads@southhuron.com. The Times -Advocate Team Publisher/Editor Jim Beckett ext. 109 ADVERTISING Michelle Sereda ext. 110 Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 REPORTERS Scott Nixon ext. 105 Pat Bolen ext. 113 Mary Simmons ext. 107 CUSTOMER SERVICE Sue Rollings ext. 101 Carol Powe ext 102 COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord ext. 114/103 Sharlene Young, Diana Hardy ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Patty Case ext. 111 Christina Scott ext. 108 Marg Pertschy ext. 208