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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-12-10, Page 66 Times -Advocate Wednesday, December 102008 OPINION&FORUM&NEWS In support of local businesses Recently our local Traditional Rug Hooking group held a retreat at Brentwood on the Beach at St. Joseph Shores. I would really encourage anyone to vacation locally. With- out the stress of driving to a city to enjoy a wonderful weekend, you should consider staying eaters . closer to home. r tot This was our first ex - he perience with a retreat Edi tOr and we could not have been treated more royally. One woman in the group was on a very restricted diet and her needs were met with no problem at all. Several of our group and another group stay- ing there were from other areas of the province and spent time shopping in local towns. This certainly does help the economy of Huron County, which we need at this time of financial insecurity. From the time we arrived until we left, we were pampered. We have done a lot of travelling across Canada and like many other people, enjoy staying at bed and breakfasts as you get to know more about the area talking to the lo- cal people. What a shame it would be if the municipality of Bluewater causes the bed and breakfasts in the area to close. It would be a loss of income to the local area plus deny many people the chance to experience Huron County hospitality. MARJORIE DuIZER, Londesborough Honesty commended My son took part in an elementary school volleyball tour- nament at South Huron District High School Dec. 2. He dis- covered on his way back to his own school that his winter jacket was missing. After school we searched everywhere looking for it to no avail. Thanks to an honest student (who mistakenly took it home) and his mother it was returned to SHDHS the following day. I just wanted to say thank you to them for their hones- ty. Sometimes we hear only the bad stories, not the good ones. CAROLYN GOWER, Exeter Letter to MP Ben Lobb Hello Ben, Like many other Canadian and Ontario workers, I will be losing my job (date TBA) in the near future due to the dos- ing of the Volvo plant in Goderich. Therefore, I am appalled by the childish and irresponsible behaviour of all our elected Leaders and MPs of all political parties during this time of global economic crisis and for wasting precious time and taxpayer dollars plotting and fighting over who gets to govern the country. I believe the Canadian voters have already made this de- cision very clear in the last election by returning PM Harper and the Conservative Party to power, but only in a minority governance position. How many more elections do we need before you guys figure it out that we really don t trust or like any one of the four main political parties to totally govern the coun- try! So now that Parliament is shut down until the New Year, how about getting down to business now and coming up with a plan for how you will solve this grave economic problem facing our country and effectively come up with a co-operative solution involving all political parties to deal with the recession and the massive loss of Canadian Jobs. In my opinion, PM Harper really missed a golden oppor- tunity to be the hero in this situation, to work out an ar- rangement with the other leaders to bring all four parties into a co-operative coalition to govern the country. This is how we (the people of Canada) voted; minority rule in co-operation with the other political parties now figure it out, get along with each other, and for God s sake get back to work! The recent actions taken by the Liberals, NDP and Bloc to plot against the elected minority government and take power in a non -elected three -party coalition is walking a very thin grey line of democracy, just short of what would be considered a political coup if it occurred in some Third World country. If this form of government is allowed to take power then what is next, a hostile military take over? Think about it. In summary this is my message to PM Harper and all elected members of the Government of Canada: I don t want your EI unemployment insurance payments, or to uproot my family and move to the USA where my job is going. I have good job skills and I want to work and keep my job right where it is here in Ontario, Canada. DAvID LONG, Hensall mouth. However most often, they made no attempt to get their mic anywhere near where the voice was aimed. If it was even on. It was no wonder that the only people who sit in the gal- lery are those who have business with council. And they leave as soon as its completed. ROBERT DRUMMOND, Exeter Put the country first Just in case you are keeping score about those who are angry with all our politicians on the subject of the power grab going on, please add my name to the list. They need to grow up and be men, not angry school kids trying to settle an argument in the schoolyard. We need people who put the country and its citizens first and calm down. We didn t vote in a majority for good reason. LucY SAGE, Exeter Opposition tactics Machiavellian I have never been as frustrated with our Canadian federal government and parliamentary system as I am right now. Therefore, I must add my voice to the chorus of Canadi- ans who object to the Opposition s attempts to usurp con- trol of the government without taking it to the people. If such a thing happened in any other country it would be called what it is: a bloodless coup. I may not agree with everything the current government has to say, but that is irrelevant. By the laws of our electoral system the Conservative Party of Canada had the support of enough Canadians to again form a minority government with a stronger mandate than they were given in 2006. Now the opposition parties are behaving like bullies in a schoolyard who can not get their way. They claim to represent Canadians. Let me say it loud and clear: They do not represent me, nor the people that voted for them based on their ideologies being mixed into one giant hodgepodge of political sludge. I do not believe anyone has the right to force upon me a prime minister that did not have to face the people of Can- ada in a general election. This coalition should not be allowed to hold the reins in Ottawa without allowing the people of Canada a say in it. The rag -tag coalition is now willing to judge the book with- out even looking at the cover, by promising to vote against the budget before it is even made. If they do defeat the gov- ernment, the governor-general should dissolve Parliament, send us to the polls and let us decide who we want to lead our nation. I would rather have my tax dollars paying for another election and have to go to my local polling station in the middle of a good old fashioned Canadian winter than be governed by men and women who seized power from a duly elected government by means nothing short of Machiavellian. While it may be permitted in our political system, it does not make it right. CHAD SWANCE, Elimville South Huron councillors urged to speak up In approximately six months since council unveiled its proposed new water rate bylaw, I have attended most council meetings. During that time I have become rather peeved with the council and staff, and not for just its posi- tion and handling of the bylaw. I was a member of the first council to hold a meeting in what is now the council chambers. At its conclusion I said, This room has lousy acoustics. There is going to have to be a good PA system installed. During my tenure on council there were three or more systems put in, and I could not count the number of times that each was tweaked. When I went to the first meeting after the bylaw was introduced, I did not recognize the equipment, so it has to have been changed again. However, in spite of the recent purchase of a $1,500 hear- ing aid, I heard diddly squat of what was being said by council and staff. This has been echoed by others in the gal- lery. The Dec. 1 meeting was the worst for hearing what was said on the floor. But it is not just the equipment. The main problem is that most staff and councillors do not know how to use a mic and the rest cannot be bothered. During these meetings I often saw a councillor swing his mic in front of his face only to turn 90 degrees to speak at the mayor. Others would get their mic in front of them, then shove their chair back five feet before speaking. For most meetings another s mic was a foot in front and a foot below their desk. On several occasions one held their hands between the mic and their Thanks for participating We would like to take this opportunity to extend to you our sincerest gratitude for your participation in the an- nual Huron County Christmas Bureau paper bag drive. Hundreds of these bags are filled by the community and consequently, over 1,000 disadvantaged children and their families are assisted. Your willingness to join with others to support this vital project indicates your commitment to making Christmas brighter for many others in our communities. Thank you and may you enjoy the upcoming season. SHARON KIRKEY, Christmas Bureau Co -Chair Walk for Memories Do it for the person who went that extra mile for you. Each year, Alzheimer s disease and related disorders claim the memories and lives of thousands of Canadians. This January you can help the Alzheimer Society of Huron County get a step closer to better care in your community. Step up to the challenge and join the Alzheimer Society of Huron County on Jan. 24 for the 2009 Manulife Walk for Memories. Pledge sheets are now available for the 14th annual In- door Manulife Walk for Memories. Walks will be held in Exeter, Wingham, Clinton, Seaforth and Goderich. For more information or to register for an event near you, please visit www.walkformemories.ca or call Theresa at 482-1482 or 1-800-561-5012. THERESA WILSON, Events Co-ordinator Alzheimer Society of Huron County Panther Profile EXETER We are now in our second last week of school before holidays and we have about eight school days left, mi- nus snow days, of course (I liken snow days to when you put on a jacket you haven t worn in a while and you re surprised to find $5 in the pocket). Last week, we had the Christmas con- cert on Wednesday, which I thought went well. Thursday was a comfortable day, as students could wear their pyjamas to school. Also on Thursday, the Student Players production of A Midsummer Night s Dream was performed after JACE school in the drama room and receivedDOUGALL good reviews. Student council is busy getting ready for next week, where we will hopefully have some sort of activity everyday. This includes a hot chocolate day BYOM (bring your own mug), a sharpie day (cheap T-shirts and sharpies) and more; plus Friday will of course be our Christmas assembly, as well as hat day. Other groups are busy as well, like Video club, which is get- ting its annual Christmas video ready for the assembly. Also, classes are likely trying to get projects and things done before holidays and it s just generally a busy time of year. Now to skip back to this week, tomorrow (Thursday) is our semi -formal, the theme of which is meet me at the North Pole. That s all for this week, only one more to go. Pool scores Mens John Hayter 593, Craig Hebert 561, Bob Jones 558, Ken Kadey 546, John Burdon 534, Gary Deichert 531, Lee Seymour 520, Tyler Scott 503, Bill Crump 479, Ben Hoogenboom 438, Yvon Lauren 429, Phil Turner 420, Derek Tiller 362, Howard Jones 336, Jim Hayter 333, Matt Muller 322, Jerry Elmquist 301, Tom Triebner 251, Jason Tower 198 Ladies Vicki Scott 623, Audrey Haugh 585, Helen Kadey 266, Helen Vincent 177 Junior Jordan Hill, Adam Foran Costain, Zach Kadey, Adam Windsor, Jeffery McNutt Carpet bowling Dec. 1 Marion Maguire 3w - 52; Gloria McFalls 3w - 52; Mary DeBoer 2w - 26; June Hodgson 2w -26; Marg Deichert 2w - 25; Marion Dearing 2w - 19; Peter McFalls 2w -16 Dec. 5 Marshall Dearing 2w - 24; Lucy Sage 2w - 24; Jean Estey 2w - 24; Marion Dearing 2w - 21; Don Overholt 2w -19