The Times Advocate, 2004-11-17, Page 44
Exeter Times—Advocate
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
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EDITORIALS
Protecting
water is vital
Iis been said that fresh, clean water will
serve an even more important role in the
future. Some have been so bold as to say
water's value will increase so much it will
become the oil of the future.
In that spirit, it's important this country
does everything it can to protect its fresh
water.
The province made a strong move earlier this
week when it announced it won't sign an inter-
national agreement placing strict restrictions
on how much water can be diverted from the
Great Lakes unless changes are made to better
protect the water.
The deal, signed in draft agreement form by
Ontario, Quebec and eight Great Lakes states in
July, places restrictions on how much water
can be diverted from the Great Lakes to other
regions. Natural Resources Minister David
Ramsay said the agreements aren't as strong
as Ontario's current laws, which prohibit water
transfers out of the province's three major
water basins.
More negotiations will take place in January,
but it's hoped Ontario sticks to its guns and
ensures everything is done to protect Great
Lakes water.
The deal states any major water diversions
from the Great Lakes would require unanimous
agreement from all 10 jurisdictions — a good
thing, since Ontario and Quebec don't want to
be strong-armed by the U.S. on the future of
our fresh water, particularly with President
George W. Bush's unfriendly attitude towards
the environment.
Under the proposed agreement, new or
increased water withdrawals from any of the
five Great Lakes would only be allowed if the
water was immediately cleaned and
returned to the system. The other stipulation
is the condition of the lakes must be
improved.
These are important since, in the wake of
Walkerton, Ontarians know all too well the
importance of having an abundance of clean,
fresh water.
Editorial Opinion
Congratulations to Alice Munro
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my
congratulations to Huron County writer Alice Munro
for taking home the Giller Prize for her latest short
story collection, `Runaway.'
Munro, who grew up in Wingham and now lives in
Clinton, took home the $25,000 literary prize after
being announced as the winner at a black -
tie gala Thursday evening.
Not being invited to the event myself, I
heard about it, along with many other
Canadians, the next morning on CBC
radio.
Waking up to the news was kind of like
hearing an old friend had been recog-
nized.
Even though I have only briefly met the
woman on two occasions — once at the
opening for the Alice Munro Literary
Gardens in our hometown of Wingham and
again at a play at the Blyth Festival Theatre
— I feel as if I know her after having spent
two weeks of my life putting together an
exhibit honouring the author at the
Wingham museum.
I was especially heartened to hear a clip from the
author saying she would probably donate the prize
money to charity.
A cynical person may claim she was likely just say-
ing that to make herself look good, but I would like
to take her generosity at face value until I have good
reason to believe otherwise. After all, a woman who
returns to her Huron County roots and chooses to
live with her husband in Clinton has to be pretty
down to earth, don't you think?
There are many recognizable references to Huron
County in her short stories, especially those which
appeared in her earlier collections.
She has not always been looked upon
favourably for her bluntly honest portrayal of
her rural upbringing in Wingham, but I think
it takes guts to write about what you know
even if it won't win you any popularity con-
tests with the people who think you're writing
about them.
I was glad to be working at the Wingham
museum when the hostilities were set aside
and the town honoured Munro for her part in
putting it in the literary spotlight. Munro was
able to come home on her 71st birthday and
receive accolades from the same town that
had shunned her in the past.
Munro previously won the Giller Prize in
1998 for 'The Love of a Good Woman.'
`Runaway' is also in the running for the
Governor General's Literary Award, which were
handed out Nov. 16 after the T -A had already gone
to press. Needless to say, I hope she won.
Munro is no stranger to the Governor General's
Literary Award. She has received it for `Dance of
the Happy Shades' in 1968, 'Who Do You Think
You Are?' in 1978 and 'The Progress of Love' in
1986.
MARY
SIMMO
PENNY FO
THOUGHT
NS
R MY
s
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