The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutClinton News Record, 2016-04-27, Page 44 News Record • Wednesday, April 27, 2016 www.clintonnewsrecord.com Clinton News Record PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 53 Albert St. P.O. Box 39 Clinton ON NOM 1L0 (519) 482-3443 www.clintonnewsrecord.com E POSTMEDIA CURTIS ARMSTRONG Group Director of Media Sales 519-376-2250 ext 514301 or 510364-2001 ext531024 NEIL CLIFFORD Advertising Director NClifford@postmedia.com JUSTINE ALKEMA Journalist clinton.reporter@sunmedia.ca DAWN JOHNSTON Sales Representative DJohnston@postmedia.com TERESA SMITH Front Office TSmiTh@postmedia.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES 1 YEAR $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 2YEAR $95.00 (90.48+4.52GST) SENIORS 60 WEEKS $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 120 WEEKS $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged but that balance of advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographic error advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Ad- vertising is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at anytime. The Clinton News -Record is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproducing purposes. Publications Mail Agreement No.40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES: CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 53 Albert St., Clinton ON NOM 1L0 (519)482-3443 Clinton News Record is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For more information or to file a complaint go to www.mediacouncil.ca or call toll free 1-844-877-1163. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. AO Canada Member of the Canadian Community cnaNewspaper Association and the Ontario Community Newspapers Association Aboriginal youth deserve better future An outcry of sorts greeted former prime minister Jean Chretien's recent suggestion inhabitants of the remote, poverty-stricken community of Atta- wapiskat might have to move to improve their lives. Many urban Cana- dians wondered why First Nations people would insist on remaining in such dreadful conditions. But many First Nations people found Chretien's remarks outrageous and insulting. Is one side right? After all, thou- sands of Canadians have moved from their birthplaces to find work or create a better environment for their families. Canada's Aboriginal People, however, have suffered a history of being forci- bly relocated, or having their children taken from them and placed in abuse -laden schools. They take a dim view of advice about leaving the land. The Chretien kerfuffle points to a deep gap in understanding between many aboriginal and non -aboriginal Canadians. There are encouraging signs. The federal budget pumped $8.4 billion over the next five years into aboriginal affairs. The government will hold an inquiry on murdered and missing aboriginal women. It has pledged to build the long -sought, all-weather road for the Shoal Lake 40 First Nation in Manitoba. Last Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that Canada's 665,000 Metis and non -status Indians have consti- tutional status to turn to the federal government for health care and other benefits. The ruling has broad financial implications. Prime Minis- ter Justin Trudeau has promised "the path forward will be together." Meanwhile, indigenous communi- ties expect more of a say -- and have been told they'll get it -- on key development projects, such as pipelines. And the government must deal concretely with the 94 recommenda- tions made last year by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to heal the scars of the Indian Residential Schools. Finally, the demographic bulge of young aboriginals in Canada will make itself felt -- constructively, if we tackle education properly; in more dif- ficultways if we do not Which brings us back to Attawap- iskat, temporarily awash in attention and assistance from do-gooder south- erners. The community is used to this cycle of love and loss from Canadians: It has been in crisis for years. The chal- lenge is to find a sustainable way to offer a future to its youth. It is a quintessentially Canadian challenge, and applies to all indige- nous communities. Itis a national project, which should mean not just governments, but indi- viduals, rallying to find solutions. It's 2016. It's time to get this relationship right. Postmedia Network Prudent decisions can be unpopular As prime minister, Stephen Harper could never be accused of being warm and charismatic, and perhaps that made it easier to make difficult decisions. Conversely, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is warm and charismatic, and he's gone out of hiswayto imprint his style on his government. He has made few difficult decisions, and his government's popularity -- which appears to be important to him -- has remained strong. Yet, the impulse to do the popular thing isn't always the right thing, and Old Age Security is an example. The Harper govemment announced in its 2012 budget it would be pushing back OAS and Guaranteed Income Justine Alkema joined the Clinton News Record team this week. Supplement eligibility to 67 from 65, beginning in 2023. The transition would be gradual but the impact on Canadians dependent on that pen- sion would nevertheless be significant. To great public applause, the Trudeau government reversed the plan, but there is a cost attached. An independent analysis from parlia- mentary budget officer Jean -Denis Frechette says restoring the OAS will cost the feds an additional $11.2 bil- lion in the fiscal year 2029-30. To be sure, the spending watchdog says the government can afford the expense, and federal finances are expected to remain healthy during the long term. But unlike the Canadian Pension Plan, which is paid by payroll contributions from workers and employers, OAS payments are the responsibility of the federal govern- ment and paid from general revenue. With his government facing a mas- sive budget deficit, Trudeau could have allowed the Harper plan to con- tinue. It wouldn't have hurt him politi- cally, and the initial $11.2 -billion sav- ings, initiated by the unpopular Harper, would have helped the popu- lar Trudeau and his government meet their substantial financial responsibilities. The rush by Trudeau to undo an unpopular plan that would have reduced the government's financial obligation by over $11 billion a year is troubling. It reveals an inclination to seek the public's applause while ignor- ing the pragmatic reality of goveming. Not every decision will be greeted by hosannas. Harper was roundly criticized for his OAS decision, but he gave Canadi- ans 11 years' notice. He gave them time to plan for that two-year delay in the start of their OAS benefits. Finan- cial restraint in the future might force Trudeau to walls the same unpopular path, but without as much notice. And as easy as it was for him to reverse the Harper decision, Trudeau would now find it exceedingly difficult to revisit that plan. Postmedia Network, Peter Epp Justine Alkema joined the Clinton News Record team this week as the new full-time reporter. Raised in Waterdown, Ontario, she loved to read about local happenings in her home- town newspaper, the Flambor- ough Review. She has enjoyed writing from a young age and has wanted to become a journalist for a long time. With this dream in mind, she attended the University of Waterloo and attained a degree in English Rhetoric and Profes- sional Writing. Her other writing experience Record includes freelancing for the Flamborough Review, the New Hamburg Independent, the Orangeville Citizen, and Imprint, which is the University of Waterloo's newspaper; she has also done some political speech writing for a political MP and blog writing for a small business. Some of her other hobbies are painting, being out- doors and spending time with her dog Skeeter. She is excited to get to know Clinton and provide local news for the community. CLINTON NEWS RECORD - HOURS OF OPERATION MONDAY: 9:00-5:00 • TUESDAY: CLOSED • WEDNESDAY: 9:00-5:00 • THURSDAY: 9:00-5:00 • FRIDAY: 9:00-5:00 • SATURDAY & SUNDAY: CLOSED ADVERTISING DEADLINE: FRIDAY 2:00 P.M. ADVERTISING BOOKING DEADLINE: FRIDAY 1:30 R.M. www.clintonnewsrecord.com