HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-01-25, Page 24
Exeter Times—Advocate
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
zkxna
=CNA
Editorial Opinion
n =
*OLP<O
MIEM
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
Deb Lord — Production Manager
Scott Nixon — Editor
tirt
Published by roland Printing,
Publishing Distributing& Ltd.
424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850
Metroland Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331
EDITORIAL
Choosing a change
Canadians finally took the plunge and voted for
change on the federal scene Monday, choosing
a minority Conservative government.
That didn't stop Liberal Paul Steckle of Huron -
Bruce, of course, who bucked the trend of Tory blue
in the region and defeated Conservative Ben Lobb by
the narrowest of margins. In other area ridings,
Conservatives Bev Shipley of Lambton-Kent-
Middlesex and incumbent Gary Schellenberger of
Perth -Wellington had little difficulty burying their
competition.
While the Conservative victory Monday night was
smaller than many had predicted and nowhere near
the majority some wished for, it sent a message to the
Liberal party — Canadians don't forgive the Grits for
Adscam and the party needs to be rebuilt from the
top down. Paul Martin didn't waste any time Monday
night announcing he will step down as party leader.
The old arrogant guard of the Liberal party needs to
be cleaned out and the party's belief that it is
"Canada's party" needs to be re -thought. Expect a
leadership race soon as the Liberals try to re -invent
themselves.
Impressive Monday night was the strong showing
by the New Democratic Party and the strong inroads
the Conservatives made in Quebec, largely at the
expense of the Liberals, but partly at the expense of
the Bloc, who saw their seat numbers and popular
vote drop from the 2004 election. This is good news
for Canadian federalism — giving Quebecers a third
choice beyond the Bloc and the Liberals will hopefully
help quell the separatist threat.
Lobb's showing in Huron -Bruce is admirable, given
the fact he pushed the popular Steckle to the brink
and nearly defeated him. For a young first time can-
didate, that's no small feat, especially since Steckle's
conservative position on several social issues and his
willingness to go against the Liberal party line makes
him attractive to Conservative as well as Liberal vot-
ers.
What will be interesting to see is how Canada's new
minority Parliament will work with the Conservatives
in power. What deals will the Conservatives have to
make with the NDP and the Bloc? Will this
Conservative minority last longer than the Liberal
minority? Surely Canadians don't have the appetite
for another election in eight or nine months. There
will be a lot of pressure on the parties to co-operate
and get some work done.
Stephen Harper, the Conservatives and their sup-
porters finally got what they wanted — now let's see
what they can do with it.
Harry believes one
has to earn the
right to blame the
government for
everything...
2006 Distributed by Canadian Artists Syndicate Inc.
I've had enough
It's been a fun ride, but after 39 years I've finally
decided to take the plunge. I don't mean the little cere-
mony coming up this spring that shouldn't impact my
life that much. The annual motorcycle trip to Daytona
Beach is still on, as are poker night, hockey night and
rib night, right honey?
What I mean is that it is time to admit reality. The
Toronto Maple Leafs, the blue and white, the
team of heart and grit will never again win a
Stanley Cup in my lifetime, or anyone else's
lifetime. And they are pretty much ok with that.
Because game in and game out, season after
season and decade after decade fans have said
"this is the year," and plunked down their
money and more painfully, their loyalty.
My first TV memory was standing at the
bar(s) of my crib April 6, 1967, watching
George 'The Chief' Armstrong drive a spear
into the heart of the Montreal Canadiens with
an empty net goal that sealed a 3-1 win and
clinched the Stanley Cup.
But it's been downhill ever since, what with
the ascent to the throne of Pierre Elliott Trudeau and
the decline and fall of the once proud and mighty
Maple Leafs.
The '70's weren't a good time in Leaf land or for that
matter anywhere in the country, living under the reign
of Pierre. The Broadstreet Bullies tap danced all over
Borje Salming and company under the calm and
steady hand of Harold, while the Flying Frenchmen
cruised to four straight cups, although the last one did-
n't count, (the goal was offside and Gilbert should have
stopped it).
Politics took a turn for the better in the '80's when
Pierre ascended (or descended) back to where he
came from, while Ronnie Raygun with his junior part-
ner Brian arrived to set things right.
But for Leaf fans, it was just getting started as the
team strung together stellar seasons of 28 wins in
1980/81, followed by 20, 28, 26 and 20. Through it all
the faithful (and the stupid) hung in, waiting patiently
for the fat hand at the helm to fall off.
The '80's were a series of highlights from captain
Darryl Sittler cutting the 'C' from his sweater before
the Leafs were ground under in the playoffs
by the coming dynasty team, the New York
Islanders in three straight games by a com-
bined score of 20-4.
The bad trades and worse coaches (John
Brophy anybody?) continued through the
decade while dynasties came and went. But
one thing remained the same as the suckers
lined up on Carlton Street and timed in every
Saturday night to watch another beating.
Hope flickered briefly in the early '90's
under the hand of Cliff Fletcher only to be
snatched away in the 1993 playoffs as a
Kerry Fraser non -call handed yet another ill
gotten cup to the Canadiens.
And it has been a steady diet of defeats and disap-
pointments in the seasons since, as the Leafs found
new and creative ways to rip off their fans, from ticket
price increases after dismal seasons, non -signings and
bad signings all the while knowing the sheep would
continue to show up for shearing.
But no more.
After 39 years of bleeding blue and white, the real-
ization has dawned life is too short to be a Leafs fan so
I declare my allegiance dead. And in the brave new
world of the new born hockey fan, be they first place
or last place teams the possibilities are endless, from
Ottawa to Carolina, Calgary to New York and even off
in the distance, Mont...some things are just too much
to say.
PAT B
BACK 4
VIEW
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.
Contact Us By Phone or Fax
Classified ad & subscription sales ....(519) 235-1331
24-hour automated attendant (519) 235-1336
Fax number for all departments (519) 235-0766
Subscription Rates
One year rate for addresses in Canada: $40+GST
Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $72+GST
One year rate for addresses outside Canada:
$140 Call (519) 235-1331 to order a subscription.
OLEN
0
Classified Rates
Word ads: $11 for 20 words, 20(t for each additional
word+ GST. Notices (births, deaths, announcements,
coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks): $15 +
GST for up to 50 words, All ads must be pre -paid. The
classified ad deadline is Monday at 10 a.m.
Display Advertising
To place a display ad, (519) 235-1331 weekdays 8:30
to 4:30 p.m. or evenings (519) 235-1336 (leave mes-
sage) or toll-free at 1-888-270-1602. Deadline: Fri. 2
p m.
E-mail Us
Web site: www.southhuron.com
TA e-mail addresses consist of the person's first initial
and last name followed by @southhuron.com.
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 Jim Beckett ext. 109
ADVERTISING
Deborah Schillemore ext. 112
EDITOR Scott Nixon ext. 105
REPORTERS
Pat Bolen ext. 113
Nina Van Lieshout ext. 107
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Sue Rollings ext. 101
Kim Hern ext. 102
COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT
Manager Deb Lord ext. 103/114
Heather Bilcke ext. 103
Kelly Gackstetter ext. 103
ACCOUNTING STAFF
Anita McDonald ext. 104
Ruth Slaght ext. 106
Christina Scott ext. 108
MargPertschy ext. 111
Heather Clarke