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The Citizen, 2018-03-15, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2018. Editorials Opinions Hard work reaps rewards President: Keith Roulston • Publisher: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld • Heather Fraser The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $38.00/year ($36.19 + $1.81 G.S.T.) in Canada; $160.00/year in U.S.A. and $205/year in other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Mon. 2 p.m. - Brussels; Mon. 4 p.m. - Blyth. Canada MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1H0 email: info@northhuron.on.ca While the Walton and Brussels areas received the main financial benefit of hosting the 2017 International Plowing Match (IPM) last September, the financial rewards are now being sprinkled on good causes across Huron County. With each of the IPM committees being given $2,000 to donate to local charities, dozens of groups — from the Huron 4-H Leaders Association to the Huron Residential Hospice — have benefited from more than $100,000 distributed across the county. Another $42,000 was paid to groups which had provided volunteer assistance at the match. Those who threw themselves into years of planning won't want to see another IPM in Huron for quite a few years, but the rewards of hosting the event are impressive. Not only did the match generate an estimated $4.5 million in impact throughout the region, but it united county residents in a common cause. And now many charities are benefiting. The 2017 IPM is a memory but its benefits live on. — KR Choose your disaster So the main choice for Ontario voters come the provincial election June 7, will be between the disastrous government we know under the Liberals of Premier Kathleen Wynne and the disaster -in -waiting government of newly -chosen Progressive Conservative (PC) Leader Doug Ford. Some choice. Despite the fact that the vast majority of PC caucus members and nominated candidates supported Ford's leadership rivals Christine Elliott or Caroline Mulroney, rank and file party members chose the outspoken, highly -divisive Ford as their leader. Party hardliners see an opportunity, given the unpopularity of Wynne, to catapult a cost-cutting, red tape burning fiscal conservative directly into the Premier's office without having to make the usual compromises needed to draw middle-of-the- road voters. The problem is that Ford is much more than just a cost -cutter — and those who voted for him have no excuse for not knowing the full package they chose when they picked him over more moderate alternatives. Doug Ford was right there with his brother when Toronto endured four chaotic years of Rob Ford's term as Mayor. Long before the drug scandal that made Rob Ford (and his city) an international laughing stock, the government he ran was already a disaster. Despite the fact he called himself "the best mayor ever" and claimed he had halted the gravy train at city hall, the city was paralysed by his constant squabbling with just about everybody in sight. Doug? He was the guy with the ludicrous scheme to build a monorail and a huge ferris wheel on prime development land. He was the one who attacked police for doing their duty by investigating his brother's illegal drug activities. He was the one, after world-renowned author Margaret Atwood opposed proposals to close library branches, who claimed she was so unimportant he wouldn't recognize her if she walked by him. He was the one who, when he didn't get his way, blamed everyone else. This is the man PC party members think should be our Premier for at least the next four years. People with the imagination to recognize what those four years would most likely look like may be desperate enough to avoid it that they actually reconsider the NDP as an alternative. — KR How do you deal with this guy? Our current federal government probably faces the most difficult task of any government since World War II in trying to deal with the tempestuous regime of U.S. President Donald Trump over trade. Canadians heaved a huge sigh of relief last week when Trump magnanimously agreed Canada and Mexico would not — for now — be included in his decision to slap 25 per cent tariffs on steel imports and 10 per cent on aluminum — but why? Trump used the bogus argument that it was in the interest of U.S. national security to punish imports and claimed Canada is badly hurting his country, then said he won't include us, but only pending resolution of the North American Free Trade talks in a way that's favourable to the U.S. So he falsely created a big club which he now holds over the heads of Canadian and Mexican negotiators to get what he wants. Then there's the reality that Trump doesn't live in reality. While the U.S. government figures show that Canada has a small trade surplus in goods but the U.S. has a large surplus when goods and services are combined, Trump continues to say we have a large trade surplus. Last week he claimed that Canada was "brutal" to the U.S. on trade. Much as you'd like him to take a flying leap, there's also the reality that Trump punishes those he dislikes so it's important to remain as friendly as possible. But then you can't trust him even if he claims he's your friend because tomorrow he may contradict what he said today. Given all this, one has to question the sanity of any politician who wants to be part of a Canadian government during Trump's term. — KR We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. The Citizen P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG 1 HO Ph. 519-523-4792 Phone Fax 519-523-9140 519-887-9114 E-mail info@northhuron.on.ca Website www.northhuron.on.ca �ocna M Member CMC AUDITED CCNA Member of the Ontario Press Council We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Looking Back Through the Years March 12, 1958 Brussels Town Hall was the setting for a meeting of a number of enthusiastic Liberal Party supporters as William Cochrane, the Huron Liberal candidate for the upcoming federal election, spoke to those in attendance. Cochrane wasn't the only one who spoke at the meeting that night. Robert McCubbin, the former parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, was the evening's guest speaker. The ladies division of the East Huron Agricultural Society was set to hold a special bake sale for St. Patrick's Day at the Brussels Library in an effort to raise money for the organization. Meanwhile, the Walton Women's Institute was busy sponsoring a special euchre party at the Walton Community Hall on March 14. The party was set to begin at 8:30 p.m. sharp and admission for members was 50 cents. March 15, 1978 After operating a business for 18 years on Blyth's main street, Bill and Doris Hicks decided to retire and sell the Five -cents -to -a -dollar store. Don Ross, a liquidator from London, bought the store. The Huron -Perth Roman Catholic School Board approved its 1978 budget with an increase of 3.9 per cent. The biggest area of growth in the budget was transportation, which rose just under eight per cent over figures from the previous year. Hullett Township Council approved a grant of $1,000 to the township's Federation of Agriculture. Councillors said the federation would need as much money as it could get its hands on in the coming year, especially with an International Plowing Match in Huron County to look forward to. Guided by project leader Tony McQuail, the work of a new conservation centre was beginning in Goderich as a number of area farmers listened to what centre representatives had to say and potentially looked towards implementing energy-saving measures at their farms. March 20, 1991 After years of waiting, it appeared that Huron County would be getting a new Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) office at long last. Huron MPP Paul Klopp announced that $1.6 million would be spent on construction of the new facility. He said the new building, which would be constructed in Clinton, would come next spring. A special murder -mystery dinner entitled "Night of Murder" was held at the Brussels Hotel and those attending were left to figure out who was to blame during the fun night out. The Blyth PeeWee Bulldogs won the consolation title at the annual Young Canada Tournament in Goderich. The team suffered a 2-1 loss to a team from Guelph before winning three straight games on their way to the consolation title. The Brussels Curling Club held its annual March Break Jitney on March 11 and it was the team of Brad Speiran, Dona Knight, Brett Bauer and Brian Alexander that took the title with 47.75 points. The Brussels Mennonite Fellowship was in the planning stages of a special concert set to take place at the church on March 23. Edward Klassen from Winnipeg was set to come and perform on the harp. He would be accompanied by his brother Gustav on the guitar. March 20, 2008 Talks continued surrounding a new library in Brussels. Over 60 residents attended a special public meeting and Huron East Council was armed with a new design for the building and a "definite" location. Mayor Joe Seili and Deputy - Mayor Bernie MacLellan both told those assembled that keeping the Brussels Library on the village's main street was a priority for them, just as it was for many who had signed a petition circulated by resident Kathy Nichol. It was a special afternoon at Brussels United Church as those who attended were able to rub shoulders with royalty as part of a special "Tea with Queen Victoria" event. Joan Jacobs took her turn as the queen. She was supported by the lady-in-waiting, played by Betty Graber -Watson and the page, taken on by John Lowe. The Brussels Community Bible Chapel was having growth problems (a good problem to have for a church) and so the congregation had begun meeting at the gymnasium of Brussels Public School. The church was born when Gorrie Bible Fellowship was growing and a number of families decided to break off and form the Brussels Community Bible Chapel. Steve Klumpenhower said that he and the others who left were craving smaller gatherings and a more intimate worshipping environment. Renowned country musician George Canyon was set to perform at the North Huron Wescast Community Complex on June 7 and tickets were already on sale. The concert was being presented to the community by the Wingham Ironmen.