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The Citizen, 1991-11-13, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13 1991. Editorial Getting in shape Competitiveness is the buzz-word of the nineties and while most of the attention is going to the national picture, we need to take a look at the competitiveness right in our own back yard. The recent, expensive study of competitiveness commissioned by the federal government says Canada has a long way to go if it's going to compete in the global economy that is reshaping the world. The study looks at the big picture, but we must also look at the picture right in our own back yards. One of the areas where Canada must pull up its socks is in the realm of education, which begins at the local level. Jut how strong is our education system? Local schools have tried to co-operate with business through co-op programs but these are often rather shallow for many students. Meanwhile the number of students involved in technical programs has mysteriously dropped, resulting in the closure of some shop facilities. While there are more jobs locally for students with technical training than academic training, we still have few programs that put students into meaningful training programs in industry. The lack of proper apprenticeship programs is a local reflection of a nation-wide problem that means we keep importing craftsmen from other parts of the world to fill jobs that might be filled by our own students if we had proper training programs. Our provincial school curriculum virtually ignores the role of entrepreneurs, the very kind of people we need locally if we are to grow. Our school system is training a nation of employees with never a thought of who they are going to work for if there isn't somebody to train to be the employer. On another level, we must look at the competitive position of our towns and villages and be prepared to take action to remedy potential problems, not sit back and accept whatever happens. We have lost the railways. Our agricultural base is in deep trouble and there is little likelihood in these days when industry is leaving Canada, that we are likely to attract significant new industries. Perhaps it's time to bring the best minds of the community together, have them look at what we have in the community today and look at the trends for the future and see what is likely to happen. No company worth its salt will just react to the future without laying down solid plans and no community should either. The North Huron and Central Huron Community Development Areas are a good start, but each of our communities must also take a serious look at where it is going and look at ways to spur growth. We need to find ways to encourage people to start new businesses and to help people who have businesses to expand. We must take action. We simply can't afford to be complacent about our tiny comer of a world that is changing. Our way of life is at stake if we don't fight for what be believe in. Move carefully With the Huron county farm economy in deep trouble, the call has been coming from more and more farmers for a relaxation of Huron county's tough land division policies to allow more severences. While it's understandable for farmers to want any money they can get in order to stay on their farms, county officials should move cautiously before throwing the gates open to severences in rural areas. Huron now has one of the toughest controls on severences in Ontario, thanks mostly to the demands of farmers 20 years ago that their way of life be protected. They were worried about urbanites coming into rural townships and building houses, only to turn around and complain about the noise and the dust and the smell of nearby farming operations. Many of the same farmers who backed those measures then, want them lifted now. Economic times have changed and farmers want to hang on to their farms any way possible. If a suitable way can be found to allow some severences and still protect farmers who remain, then perhaps it should be adopted. But in looking at new policies, politicians and officials should remember that just as farmers' circumstances have changed radically in the past 20 years, so they could change back in the next 20 years. Plopping a few hundred homes in the midst of active farming communities, however, is an irreversible change. Those urbanites may have something to say about how the farmers do their business. We are in a crisis. Something must be done to help the farmers we've got. Let's just be careful that in helping today's farmers, we don't hand-cuff tomorrow's farmers. Fruit- out of season Looking Back Through the Years ONE YEAR AGO NOVEMBER 14,1990 The first winter storm contribut­ ed to two area accidents. The Huronview North project was given verbal approval. Two LDSS students from the Ethel area were the recipients of monetary awards at commence­ ment. Brian Alexander received the Ideal Supply Co. Lt. award of $100 and Leanne Maracle, the LDSS staff $100 award. Members of East Wawanosh Public School's student council pre­ sented principal Ken Scott with a new video camera and tripod. The money was raised through a Walk- a-thon organized by the council. THREE YEARS AGO NOVEMBER 16,1988 A new wave swept through Brus­ sels council as ratepayers elected three new faces to council leaving only one incumbent sitting on the four-person council. Elected was Dave Hastings, Greg Wilson, Mary Stretton and Incum­ bent Bruce Hahn. Rhea Hamilton-Seeger squeezed out a narrow victory over fellow councillor Katherine Todd to take the deputy-reeve position on West Wawanosh township council. Graeme MacDonald nipped Fred Uhler by just five votes in the battle of the veteran councillors for the position of deputy-reeve on Grey township council. Tony McQuail managed to retain his Board of Education seat by two votes. Four new councillors were elect­ ed to Blyth council. They were Ken Brown, Dave Medd, Dave Lee and Shirley Fyfe. Stephen Betts of Orangeville and Toronto bought Watts Funeral Homes of Brussels and Gorrie. Residents of Brussels were given ID cards to be used at the landfill site. FIVE YEARS AGO NOVEMBER 12,1986 Fire destroyed the Walton-area home of Murray and Maxine Hous­ ton, and family. Huron County honoured its first lady warden, Leona Armstrong, at the annual banquet in Brussels. CitizenTheNorthHuron 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.) for local; $19.16 + $1.66 for each month after March 31/92 * 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 © CopywrlghL- Editor & Publisher, Keith Roulston Advertising Manager, Dave Williams Assistant Editor, Bonnie Gropp Second Class Mail Registration No. 6968 Serving Blyth, Brussels, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and the surrounding townships.