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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2016-03-02, Page 44 News Record • Wednesday, March 2, 2016 Ifig:.11fil 1 www.clintonnewsrecord.com NewsCl Record PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 53 Albert St. P.O. Box 39 Clinton ON NOM 1L0 (519) 482-3443 www.clintonnewsrecord.com pn POSTMEDIA MARIE DAVID Group Advertising Director - Grey Bruce Huron Division 519 376-2250 ext 514301 or 510 364-2001 ext 531024 NEIL CLIFFORD Advertising Director NClifford@postmedia.com VALERIE BILLIES Journalist clinton.reporter@sunmedia.ca VGillies@postmedia.com 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) 2 YEAR $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) 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 Ad- vertising is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. 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. z0 Canada Member of the Canadian Community t Newspaper Association and the Ontario Community Newspapers Association Feast or famine The old saying that things come in cycles, known as the feast or famine effect, mani- fests itself in different ways in dif- ferent areas of our lives. This winter, Mother Nature seems to be having fun with weather patterns. It has been a difficult season to predict all along. Many businesses have been affected by the atypical weather. Some are seeing more traffic when the travel is good, while others that rely on snow for their activities are struggling after two very cold and snowy winters. This edition of the Clinton News Record also shows signs of the feast or famine effect. At the beginning of the winter there was not a lot happening and the tra- ditional drop of stories and events has carried from Christ- mas through much of January. In comparison, February has been very busy, with lots of submis- sions and events and milestones to publicize. I am aware that some of the rise in submissions has been due to me becoming more familiar with the commu- nities served by the newspaper as well as the readership becoming Val's Views Valerie Gillies accustomed to corresponding with a new journalist covering the area. This edition of the Clinton News Record is very much a catch-up issue to make sure to include articles and photos that did not fit in earlier February editions. As we begin another month, nobody knows what the future will bring. All we do know is that there will be more cycles of feast and famine in many aspects of our lives. To share your news and views, make your submissions to clin- ton.reporter@sunmedia.ca. Please send any photos in .jpg format. Handwritten or typed copy can also be dropped off at the office. Caution appropriate in assisted death Postmedia Network Federal Justice Minister JodyWil- son-Raybould was right to be cau- tious over this week's report from the parliamentary committee studying physician -assisted suicide: The group has done her no favours. Instead, its report offers the broad- est possible interpretation of when assisted dying should be legally per- mitted, while offering scant guidance on how to confront some of the tougher dilemmas its conclusions imply. Granted, the committee faced a challenge. In a landmark case last June, the Supreme Court declared void two sections of the Criminal Code thatpmhibit physician -assisted death "for a competent adult person" who consents to it and who suffers a "grievous and irremediable medical condition" that causes ongoing and "intolerable" suffering. Parliament must hastily craft a new law. Not surprisingly on one of the deepest moral questions of our time, the committee of MPs and senators did not reach unanimity. But that didn't stop the majority from provid- ing 21 recommendations. As hoped, it laid out safeguards to ensure assisted death is clearly con- sented to by the suffering person who requests it. This will work for mentally competent adults. But then there is the question of people younger than age 18. The committee heard that "suffering is suffering regardless of age," so it mused on whether a "mature minor" could make a life -ending decision. It recommended a two-stage legis- lative process in which only adults could consent to their own deaths, but in which there would be more study of the "moral, medical and legal issues" around minors. By also including the mentally ill among those who may request an assisted death, the committee stum- bles further into murky moral terrain. Many who suffer mental illness are fully capable of making life -alter- ing decisions. The problem is the committee provides onlyvague guid- ance on who will determine compe- tence, and how. "The committee has faith in the expertise of Canadian health-care professions to develop and apply appropriate guidelines in such cases," its report says. "The com- mittee has confidence that health- care professionals will proceed cautiously in such cases." Over to you, Doc. The committee would not force a doctor to assist anyone in dying, but it would force these conscien- tious objectors "at a minimum" to refer the patient to someone who would assist. This goes too far. On assisted death, the minister must proceed cautiously. FROM THE ARCHIVES 15 years ago... • A coalition representing manufacturers in Huron County has sent a letter to the Huron - Perth Catholic District School Board express- ing concern about the implementation of the new four-year high school curriculum. "It is apparent to us that the changes in education do not direct students into technological stud- ies," states the letter, signed by John Grace, chair of the 174 -member Manufacturers Group of Huron County. "This change in edu- cation will have lasting implications on our manufacturer's ability to acquire the neces- sary people to compete locally and globally." Specifically, the letter points to a provincially - mandated increase from 16 to 18 compulsory courses required for high school graduation, with most students predicted to complete those credits in four years. "These two facets reduce the importance of Technological Edu- cation simply because of the emphasis placed on other subject areas and the length of stay students will have to take options courses." The letter goes on to cite "reports from our district secondary schools," showing enrollment in technological courses "dropped by as much as 50 per cent among students currently in Grade 10, who will be the first to graduate under the new curriculum. • Bayfield native Richard Fitoussi is working on a plan to help establish a new land mine museum in Cambodia, with the goal of help- ing to provide a half -way house and educa- tion centre for land mine victims. There is a real need for a program to help those injured by land mines. In Cambodia, every 22 min- utes, a person is maimed or killed by a mine somewhere in the world. And those fortunate enough to be only injured by a mine blast are social outcasts. There is no support system for those without arms and legs and it is these people he would like to assist through a new land mine museum. 25 years ago... • Over 50 people were present at a Citizen's Forum on Canada's Future held at the Trinity Anglican Church Parish Hall. The Bayfield His- torical Society had arranged to obtain a dis- cussion kit from the Spicer Commission. Those in attendance were broken down into nine groups. After an hour of discussion, vari- ous group spokespersons read their group's collective opinions on the various questions they answered. Several topics were to con- cern to Bayfield residents. Some of these included recession, bilingualism, government bureaucracy, native relations, the effects of an independent Quebec, lack of free trade among the provinces, multiculturalism and ethnic diversity and access to information. "There is a lack of confidence in the govern- ment, no matter who is in," said group four spokesperson Jack Pounder. • Working as an important part of the medical team for home care service patients, Profes- sional Respiratory Home Care Service recently celebrated its first anniversary at its Clinton office. "I had serviced the Huron and Perth area from London for nine years. Since there was a significant client base, it was necessary to open an office here," said Pro- fessional Respiratory Clinton Manager and Registered Respiratory Therapist Clayton Hef- ley. "The office makes it more convenient for our customers to obtain supplies. It also pro- vides greater comfort to our customers when they know we are only 10 minutes away." 35 years ago... • Water levels on the Great Lakes have con- tinued to decline despite the mild weather. Environment Canada said last week, relatively dry and cold weather throughout most of the winter has been largely responsible for the decline in lake levels, although wet conditions during the next two months could alter the process. Lake Huron is expected to be eight centimeters (three inches) and Lake Erie 23 centimetres (nine inches) lower this summer than a year ago, although still above their long-term average water levels. Only Lake Superior and Lake Ontario are expected to be below normal. The U.S. Army Corps of Engi- neers says normal precipitation should pro- duce summer levels on lakes Huron and Erie 46 centimetres (18 inches) below record highs set in 1973. • The 1981 version of the spring ice jam in the Bayfield River caused momentary panic last weekend among the boat -owners who parked their craft for the winter months in the near proximity of the water. After jam- ming Thursday night east of the bridge, the tons of ice moved to a spot in front of the Dry Dock Marina on Friday and by evening, the stationary floes cause some flooding problems around the boat storage area. The entire "Mill Pond" area east of the bridge was completely covered with huge floes and the extent of the damage will not be known until later in the spring. As most of the shrubbery and trees in this area were cut away by human hands last fall it is unlikely that the flood waters and the ice cakes which followed left any topsoil. 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