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The Times Advocate, 2007-08-22, Page 4L , 7. 4 Times—Advocate Wednesday, August 22, 2007 zkocna C 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. Canada Jim Beckett — Publisher Deb Lord — Production Manager Scott Nixon — Editor CN 2007 BLUE RIBBON The Times -Advocate is owned by \ t,, Metroland Media Group Ltd. Metroland 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Media Group Ltd. Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • 519-235-1331 Doug Rowe -General Manager, Southwestern Ontario Division EDITORIAL Leaders meet There they were on the front pages of newspapers earlier this week — the "Three Amigos," Prime Minister Stephen Harper, U.S. President George W. Bush and Mexican Felipe Calderon as they met at the North American Leaders' Summit in Montebellow, Que. There were people on both sides of the politi- cal spectrum upset about this week's meeting for a variety of reasons, including accusations the meeting was undemocratic and that Bush was here merely to push Canada around. Bush, of course, is no stranger to protests — that's just the type of divisive politician he is. And with Harper always trying to come off look- ing like Bush's "little buddy," it's no surprise the North American Leaders' Summit was protest- ed, although, in typical Harper arrogance, he brushed off the protestors, suggesting there were only about 100 of them. "It's sad," he said. So he wanted more protes- tors? Actually, what's sad is the arrogance of some politicians who ignore those with complaints about the government — there were about 1,500 protestors Monday, which means Harper was either lying, misinformed or has problem with mathematics. As of the writing of this editorial, no major announcements had come out of the summit, although it has been reported that Harper has informed Bush Canadian troops will be pulled out of Afghanistan in 2009 unless Harper can get Parliament to agree to extend the mission. This is an interesting development in that it shows Harper is feeling the political pressure to end or lessen Canada's role in Afghanistan. He knows his chances of re-election may hinge on whether or not he softens his stance on Afghanistan as this country, particularly in Quebec, is growing increasingly weary of the war. With the Quebec -based Van Doos now in Afghanistan and suffering their first soldier killed there last week, opposition in Quebec is probably only going to increase. Harper, desperate to win a majority election, knows he needs Quebec to reach his goal and the only way to do that is to pull out of Afghanistan. We wonder what Harper's buddy George W. Bush thinks about that? Parties in full election mode With summer creeping away to an inevitable death, there are two upcoming events on my mind these days. One is that kids will soon be packing their bags and pulling them back to school for another year (I say "pulling" their bags because knapsacks now come with wheels, a ridiculous state of affairs about which the less I say the better. I will say this, though: When I was a kid, we thought it was important to look cool on your way to school. Kids, it's impossible to look cool pulling a knapsack on wheels. Just a thought.). At any rate, the whole "back to school" scene is quite depressing, even though it's been eons since I actually went to school. But besides the kids heading back to school, the other big day facing Ontarians is Oct. 10, otherwise known as the day when Premier Dalton McGuinty tries to keep his job. Yes, election day is quickly sneaking up on us. And while we won't know until the evening of Oct. 10 who will win, we're proba- bly in for a close race in Huron -Bruce, with current Liberal MPP Carol Mitchell looking to retain her seat, challenged by former South Huron Mayor Rob Morley of the Progressive Conservative party and former Huron MPP and Bluewater Deputy Mayor Paul Klopp of the New Democratic Party. In Huron at least, all three candidates are well known; Mitchell will have the more "famous" name in the Bruce por- tion of the riding. But even if you didn't know there was an election coming up, the plethora of announcements made recently by the Liberal party would tell you some- thing is up. Minister of Health and Long -Term Care George Smitherman was all over the place Monday, making announcements in Mildmay and Goderich before visiting the Blue Water Rest Home in Zurich. He's been in the riding before, most notably in February, when he announced $1 million in funding for South Huron Hospital's emergency department. McGuinty and PC leader John Tory have also been in the area within the last couple of months, as has Liberal candidate Bob Rae. And while the Liberals have been racking up the mileage expenses making announce- ments across the province, newspapers like the Times -Advocate regularly receive press releases from the PC party criticizing nearly every move the Grits make. They're looking for your votes, people, and the provincial election is fewer than two months away. As for the federal scene, nobody seems to know when that election will happen. Stephen Harper and his Conservatives can't seem to increase their lead in the polls to get into "majority" territory, while Stephane Dion and the Liberals aren't exactly convincing Canadians the Grits should be allowed to return to power. But our immediate concern is the provincial scene. Does McGuinty deserve a second term? We'll have to wait until Oct. 10 to see what voters think. SCOTT NIXO AND AN THING N OTHER 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: $42+GST Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $75+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada:$160+GST Call 519-235-1331 to order a subscription. Classified Rates Word ads: $12 for 20 words, 20(t for each additional word+ GST. Notices (births, 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 message) 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 Jennifer Skonieczny ext. 102 PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord Nikki Cyr .ext. 103 Kelly Gackstetter ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 MargPertschy ext. 108 Heather Clarke ext. 111 ext 103/114 JOIN NY APFLESEED • • t a , , a . 0 n A • CI o 4 , it. i t , • At 4111% i- a PALTON AmpLE TREES eft .., � . -` 1 y b., fi `. w 00444, ri � �'� .40.550 i i oG N6 1 % t ,iL•—------ Parties in full election mode With summer creeping away to an inevitable death, there are two upcoming events on my mind these days. One is that kids will soon be packing their bags and pulling them back to school for another year (I say "pulling" their bags because knapsacks now come with wheels, a ridiculous state of affairs about which the less I say the better. I will say this, though: When I was a kid, we thought it was important to look cool on your way to school. Kids, it's impossible to look cool pulling a knapsack on wheels. Just a thought.). At any rate, the whole "back to school" scene is quite depressing, even though it's been eons since I actually went to school. But besides the kids heading back to school, the other big day facing Ontarians is Oct. 10, otherwise known as the day when Premier Dalton McGuinty tries to keep his job. Yes, election day is quickly sneaking up on us. And while we won't know until the evening of Oct. 10 who will win, we're proba- bly in for a close race in Huron -Bruce, with current Liberal MPP Carol Mitchell looking to retain her seat, challenged by former South Huron Mayor Rob Morley of the Progressive Conservative party and former Huron MPP and Bluewater Deputy Mayor Paul Klopp of the New Democratic Party. In Huron at least, all three candidates are well known; Mitchell will have the more "famous" name in the Bruce por- tion of the riding. But even if you didn't know there was an election coming up, the plethora of announcements made recently by the Liberal party would tell you some- thing is up. Minister of Health and Long -Term Care George Smitherman was all over the place Monday, making announcements in Mildmay and Goderich before visiting the Blue Water Rest Home in Zurich. He's been in the riding before, most notably in February, when he announced $1 million in funding for South Huron Hospital's emergency department. McGuinty and PC leader John Tory have also been in the area within the last couple of months, as has Liberal candidate Bob Rae. And while the Liberals have been racking up the mileage expenses making announce- ments across the province, newspapers like the Times -Advocate regularly receive press releases from the PC party criticizing nearly every move the Grits make. They're looking for your votes, people, and the provincial election is fewer than two months away. As for the federal scene, nobody seems to know when that election will happen. Stephen Harper and his Conservatives can't seem to increase their lead in the polls to get into "majority" territory, while Stephane Dion and the Liberals aren't exactly convincing Canadians the Grits should be allowed to return to power. But our immediate concern is the provincial scene. Does McGuinty deserve a second term? We'll have to wait until Oct. 10 to see what voters think. SCOTT NIXO AND AN THING N OTHER 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: $42+GST Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $75+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada:$160+GST Call 519-235-1331 to order a subscription. Classified Rates Word ads: $12 for 20 words, 20(t for each additional word+ GST. Notices (births, 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 message) 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 Jennifer Skonieczny ext. 102 PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord Nikki Cyr .ext. 103 Kelly Gackstetter ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 MargPertschy ext. 108 Heather Clarke ext. 111 ext 103/114