The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-06-04, Page 44 Times—Advocate Wednesday, June 4, 2008 OC =CNA T. 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 Deb Lord — Manager Scott Nixon — Editor t The Times -Advocate is owned by 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 Face the music The controversy continues over the resig- nation of former Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier amid news he left secret cabinet documents at his ex -girlfriend's apart- ment. And our prime minister needs to answer some questions. Liberal public safety critic Ujjal Dosanjh is cor- rect in demanding to know what security breaches occurred during Bernier's relationship with Julie Couillard, a woman with past ties to the Hells Angels and who has been deemed a security risk by opposition parties. Dosanjh also wants to know when Prime Minister Stephen Harper learned about the security breaches and exactly what he knew. This latter concern is important because Harper is on record in the past as being dismis- sive about the risk of Bernier's relationship with Couillard. There's also speculation that when a Commons committee calls in Bernier and Couillard to answer questions about the situa- tion, Harper will turn down a similar invitation. What's he afraid of? That his previous noncha- lant attitude about the Bernier-Couillard rela- tionship turned out to be dead wrong? That he should have been concerned and his previous statements are foolish? That giving "Mad Max" Bernier the job in the first place was a terrible mistake? Canada is already seen around the globe, par- ticularly by our neighbours to the south, as a nation with weak security. The fact that a for- mer top diplomat was careless with secret doc- uments and left them lying around his ex -girl- friend's apartment hasn't exactly helped our reputation. And although we tend to be ignored by the U.S., gaffes like these are reported on the major American networks, as anyone who watched television last week would agree. Harper needs to face the music and answer the tough questions instead of running and hid- ing. Isn't he the guy who likes to act like a bully? Seems he doesn't like it when the shoe is on the other foot. "A dog gone good time" Another Exeter event, another success and another community pat on the back. As everyone probably knows by now, I am an absolute animal lover, with several furballs running around my home. Last Friday I was given the opportunity to repre- sent the Times -Advocate at the fourth annual Animal House Dinner Auction, and I couldn't believe the community response. Altogether almost $80,000 was raised for the Ontario SPCA Huron County Branch, with 604 tickets sold. We should be proud, and anyone who was a part of the evening, who bought tickets to the raffles or continues to sup- port the SPCA should give themselves a pat on the back. Last year alone the Huron County SPCA branch Huronia found loving forever homes for over 450 dogs and cats, two bunnies and several hamsters. I was, however, disappointed to hear that they also investigated 160 cruelty complaints. That's way too many! But, on the bright side of things, at least we have an organization to check into these complaints, and this must also mean that people are taking the time to contact the SPCA when they feel something isn't right. No animal deserves to be neglected, abused or abandoned. Also talked about at the dinner was spaying and neutering your animals, whether it be a dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig or other smaller rodent. I never knew that, according to the SPCA, in six years one female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs and in seven years one cat and her off- spring can produce 420,000 cats. They also say that in Ontario, pet population is at its crisis level. The SPCA suggested we be a part of the solution by spaying or neuter- ing our pets. In Canada every year, according to the SPCA, tens of thousands of animals are eutha- nized each year because there aren't enough adoptive homes available. That statistic alone should motivate anyone to spay or neuter their animal. There are also many benefits to spaying or neutering, including lengthing the life of female pets and improving the safety of male pets. Hopefully people will take the time to spay or neuter their animals. It's an easy process which should be done as soon as possible. Next year, for the fifth annual Animal House Dinner Auction, hopefully we can break this year's $80,000 total. I definitely recommend getting involved, whether by volunteering, donating or attending the dinner. For more information on the Ontario SPCA Huron County Branch, Huronia, visit www.huronspca.ca NINA VAN LIESHOUT KICK THIS AROUND 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 519-235-0766 Fax number for accounting dept. 519-235-2449 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: $13 for 20 words, 20t for each additional word+ GST. Notices (births, announcements, coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks): $16 + 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. Web site: www.southhuron.com E-mail Us TA e-mail addresses consist of the person's first initial and last name followed by @southhuron.com. For example, Deb Lord's e-mail address is dlord@southhuron.com Our general e-mail address is ads@southhuron.com. The Times -Advocate Team MANAGER Deb Lord ext. 103 COMPOSITION Nikki Cyr ...ext. 101 Kelly Gackstetter ext. 101 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 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Marg Pertschy ext. 108 Heather Clarke ext. 111