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The Citizen, 1991-04-03, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1991. A job well done . Trustees on the Huron County Board of Education deserve a big pat on the back these days for bringing in their 1991 budget with an increase of only 4.3 per cent to county taxpayers. Next to the current Prime Minister, probably no politicians around take so much abuse as trustees of the Board of Education. Partly this comes because there seems so little connection between the reality of the everyday lives of ordinary citizens of the county and the world of the school board. Usually taxpayers have seen big increases for education even if the county and municipal increases have been held low. But this year trustees sent a signal early that they didn’t want large increases in education spending at a time when the local economy was in such bad shape. Trustees have held a whole series of meetings to try to pare the budget down. They have succeeded in keeping the increase below the rate of inflation, despite salary settlements that were greater than the cost of inflation. In doing so they have undoubtedly cut some things they would rather have kept "in the budget. They may have made some tough decisions they may regret later. So this year the trustees can afford to be a little smug as they compare their increase to the 8.3 per cent increase for Huron County Council and they throw down a challenge to local municipalities to hold the line on increases. They deserve their chance to enjoy the praise. Can we really compete? Both Canadian pork producers and supporters of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) were disappointed last week when the United States decided to make one last-ditch attempt to keep a tariff on Canadian pork imports. U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills announced she was calling for the establishment of an “extraordinary challenge committee" in an attempt to overturn a ruling by the bilateral dispute settlement panel that said Canadian pork imports were not unfairly hurting American producers. Canadian farmers had hoped that ruling had finally brought an end to the eight-cent a kilogram countervail duty in effect since September 1989. Canadian Trade Minister John Crosbie and Agriculture Minister Don Mazankowski said “The decision is a setback not only to the Canadian industry but to the (FTA) which depends on mutual respect for the objective decision-making process contained in the agreement.” The decision may hint at differences between the Canadian and American mindsets that will spell more problems for Canada down the line. At the time of the FTA negotiations our politicians kept reiterating they wanted “fair trade” as much as free trade. There was much talk about a “level playing field”. One would think we were talking about a friendly game of croquet on a church lawn. We talk now about being “competitive” in world markets but one wonders if Canadians have the mental toughness to compete with the Americans. We may be playing the same game as the Americans but it may be like a church league hockey team playing the original Broad Street Bullies. Americans have high ideals on many levels but when it comes to business there’s a bottom-line mentality that means winning is the only thing that matters. The rules are there to be stretched as far as possible. And so each time Canadian pork producers would disprove an allegation by the U.S. National Pork Council that Canadian pork was unfairly subsidized, the U.S. producers would level a new charge and the investigation process would start all over again. Now even when the Free Trade panel has ruled in Canada’s favour, the Americans have upped the ante again. If they lose this last battle, as our trade negotiators are confident they will, one wonders how long it will be before the Americans find a new excuse to challenge Canadian imports and start the whole drawn-out procedure again. The Americans never seem to lose, only delay their victory. Ms. Hills, for instance, has been complaining again recently about the protection for cultural industries Canada fought for and retained under the FTA. There was a time when Canada was just an extension of the U.S. for large publishers like Time magazine but long years of nursing our cultural agencies has seen a boom in Canadian magazines and recording companies and theatre art galleries and even movie companies. American companies would like to recapture that market for themselves, even if it means destroying Canada’s sense of identity. They’ve been pushing their government to win concessions for them. Quite frankly. Canadians are going to have to learn to be a lot tougher than we've shown if we want to hold our own. First blooms Looking Backward ONE YEAR AGO APRIL 4, 1990 The lengthy dispute over the completion of the renovation of the George Radford Memorial Ball Diamond in Blyth was settled. Council and the Industrial Slow- Pitch Tournament Committee reached an agreement to cover expenses that have already been paid by the village and costs necessary to put the diamond back into playing condition. The Huronview North project at the south edge of Brussels and a new Huronview committee resi­ dence took one giant step closer to reality when Huron Council gave final approval to the detailed program proposal and functional program study for the $21 million project. The two studies will be forward­ ed to the Ministry of Communica­ tions and Social Services and if all goes well tenders could be called in August. The Crusaders Intermediate hockey team brought home the “A” championship. Cattleman of the Year Ross Procter of Belgrave donated his $500 award money to the Canadian Cancer Society. Jane Grasby of Belgrave and Marlene Leedham of Wingham accepted the cheque from Mr. Procter. A capacity crowd attended the 10th Annual Songfest in Londes- boro. THREE YEARS AGO MARCH 30, 1988 Councillors and .clerks from Grey, Morris and McKillop towo- ships, along with members of the Walton and Brussels Majestic Women’s Institute met at the Grey Township municipal office to hear a presentation from a Stratford waste removal company and to discuss the mechanics of installing the system at the township landfill site. A fashion show was held at Blyth Public School to assist the Grade 8 class in its effort to get to Ottawa. Over $400 was raised, despite the fact that ticket price was only $2. Carl Hiebert, the first person to fly across Canada in an ultra-light plane was the guest speaker at the Blyth Lions Ladies’ Night. The Century House Rest Home opened in Ethel. On hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony were MP Murray Cardiff and Grey township Reeve Leona Armstrong. It was the first time in his political career that Mr. Cardiff had officiated at the opening of a new business in his own home town. New owners of Century House are Cindy and Cliff Robertson. FIVE YEARS AGO APRIL 2, 1986 Huron Council voted that Ball’s Bridge south of Auburn, remain as a county structure open to traffic at the existing standard for a maxi­ mum period of 10 years. A little bit of the Brussels Queen’s Hotel will live on in the new Huron County Museum, thanks to the interest of John Rutledge, a Brussels-born archi­ tect. With the hotel coming down, Mr. Rutledge remembered that under the boarded up front was a store front of what used to be a pool hall and hamburger stand operated by his aunt Maggie Rutledge. He took a picture and was so impressed he contacted Claus Breeze, curator, who then bought the store front. Allan Martin received the award for highest herd average at the Huron County Milk Recording Committee annual banquet and meeting in Brussels. The top 12 herds in the county belonged to: Mr. Martin, Joe Winkel, John Oldfield, Lloyd and Betty Dale, Lyle Martin, Siebolt Siertsema, Bob McNeil, Tony Van Dorp, John Brancershorst, Wayne Lichti and Jack Armstrong. Q. Ontario’s share of Canada’s farm cash receipt is: 15.7 per cent; 25.6 per cent; 20.3 per cent or 31.5 per cent? A. The correct answer is 25.6 per cent. Translated into dollars, this percentage equals $5,625,686.00. Canada’s total farm cash receipts is $21.9 million. Second to Ontario are Saskatchewan, Alberta and Quebec. The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $20.50/year [$19.16 plus $1.34 G.S.T. j for local; $41.73/year [$39.00 plus $2.73 G.S.T.) for local letter carrier in Goderich, Hanover, Listowel, etc. and out-of-area [40 miles from Brussels); $60.00/year for U.S.A, and Foreign. 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: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. Editor & Publisher, Keith Roulston Advertising Manager, Dave Williams Production Manager, Jill Roulston Second Class Mail Registration No. 6968