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The Citizen, 1996-05-15, Page 2C The North Huron itizen Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil The Citizen Is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/year In U.S.A. and $75.00/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: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripls or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Publications Mall Registration No. 6968 BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1995 P.O. Box 429, . BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523.4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, OM. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1996 Ideologically-driven governments tend to make decisions, not on whether or not they make practical sense, but on whether they fit the system of beliefs of those in power. The Ontario government seems to have used that criteria in killing off the Community Investment Share Corporations(CISC). Huron was within days of having its having its CISC in place when the government changed last June. Last week the government notified CISC officials that the program will not go ahead. The Community Investment Share Corporation was one of the more common sense ideas of the previous NDP government. It was downright capitalist. The idea was to raise a venture capital fund in the community. Local people would buy shares in the corporation which would in turn invest in new or expanding local businesses that showed good promise of creating jobs and turning a profit. The shareholders in the CISC would be rewarded both through the profits of the companies and through the increase in the value of their investment. Though the government made the CISC's possible through enabling legislation, it had to spend no money to help create jobs. It's only risk was that it guaranteed the investors they would not lose their money. As long as the investor-appointed board overseeing the CISC did its job, the government could only gain from the CISCs. After months of waiting to find out what was going on with their plans for a CISC, county Officials last week received the death notice from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, which managed the program. "The government is committed to local economic development., job creation and to promoting a positive business climate, but believes these goals will best be achieved without government provision of financial assistance to businesses," said Brian Riddell, Assistant Deputy Minister. What "assistance", people investing in their own community? This government, sadly, despite its "common sense" promise is stuck on one track. There is only one way for things to happen, through entrepreneurial investment. If you don't have money and you can't borrow it, forget your dreams. The problem is that so many of today's investment mechanisms don't work for small, rural businesses. The Toronto Stock Exchange is hardly an option. Major banks are hesitant about lending to small businesses without a track record. Entrepreneurs who could have been helped by the CISCs won't get that help now. Jobs that won't have been created, won't be. But the government's philosophical integrity will be intact. Government has one-track mind Stacking the odds If anything makes Canadians despair at the future of Quebec in Canada it is the sense of helplessness at ever getting a message through to ordinary Quebecers. This week saw examples of how, right or wrong, the Quebec nationalists arc always right. First was the hullabaloo about the federal government supporting a court challenge that said the Canadian constitution must be taken into account in any decision by Quebec to separate. The Quebec government was arguing in court that Canada had no rights in any attempt to separate but it was incensed, as were nationalists, that the federal government should get involved. Next came the report of Pierre Cote, the Chief Electoral Officer for last October's referendum. He announced he was going to charge companies for violations of Quebec's election act because they offered cheap fares to Canadians from outside Quebec to attend a giant rally before the referendum. He will also charge "Yes" side scrutineers who rejected "no" votes with election fraud but this, he said, was isolated incidents and not nearly as important as the election spending violations. Denying people their vote through election fraud is less serious than helping people attend a referendum rally? But the really frustrating thing is that the Quebec media never seems to see the stupidity and pettiness of the nationalist side. It can spot an insult half a continent away if someone in Saskatoon says something Quebecers don't like, but whatever a sovcrcignist says is gospel. As long as the nationalist elements in the media won't give both sides of the issues, there is little hope Canadians can turn public opinion around in Quebec. — KR E ditorial Letters THE EDITOR, The following letter which analyzes the recent dismissal of Huron County Executive Director, Joanne Jasper struck me as particularly relevant and I would like to share it with the citizens of Huron, as it was shared with me. WHAT SENSE CAN WE MAKE OF THE JASPER DISMISSAL? In this era of economic constraint, many face unemploy- ment as organizations downsize. Huron County Home Care Program employees have not been exempt from this experience, however, in the case of Joanne Jasper, executive director of six years of commitment to providing excellent care and leadership have been disregarded when other alternatives existed. Nothing has been gained, for Huron County continues to employ someone to manage the Home Care Program. So what sense can we make of all this? Organizational theorists have an explanation for such happenings. They call it "witch- finding". When things go wrong in any organization, whether it be the pressures of economic constraint, poor labour relations, or whatever, those who are in charge may be unable or unwilling to do something about it. Yet it is unacceptable for senior officials to sit paralyzed, for after all, they get very well paid to do something about problems. And so they do something. - They "adopt" situations which they might use to appear to address the problems, and the process of "witch hunting" begins. Witches are generally those who do not conform to the mold of the senior decision-makers. They may be female, they may hold different cultural values and beliefs, they may simply be naturally inclined to be change agents or leaders who buck the direction of senior officials by raising new or opposing thoughts and issues. Sometimes, they may fit more than one of these categories! Whatever their nature, they are normally outstanding performers, and, in that sense, are somewhat threatening to any of us who see ourselves as quite ordinary. This last feature makes them particularly easy targets, because human nature means that we tend to have, at least subconsciously, some feeling of relief when these very capable people no longer exist as competition. This is particularly and quite understandably so when jobs are scarce and positions are being cut. What makes it even easier, is the fact that we all know that these "witches" don't really need our sympathy. They are generally people of strength, will, and courage, as well as of great competence. They quickly forgive and forget the pettiness of the world they leave behind, and go on to make important contributions elsewhere. We readily assure ourselves that those who have made the decisions knew what they are doing. Our conscience is therefore eased. While we do have some sense that something is wrong with this approach, we're usually too busy or too relieved that it didn't happen to us, to do anything about such things. Besides, if we did stop to Photo by Les Cook think about it, our conclusions might overwhelm us. This is particularly so in the case of Ms Jasper's dismissal. First, we have lost as taxpayers. We get to continue spending the same health care dollars, while our community loses the expert services of a caring professional. Secondly, we have lost as individuals who might need the forfeited services. We could perhaps have had access to Ms Jasper's special expertise through some other agency, but senseless dismissal limits those possibilities. No potential employer wants to cast aspirations on the judgement of our senior county officials, however questionable their judgement might be. It simply is not worth the hassle. Thirdly, and most importantly, each and everyone of us, individually, as a community, and as part of a much larger society has lost what is perhaps our most valuable asset: that is, self respect. We have failed to stand up and be counted as valuing and supporting the expertise and commitment of another whom we know has much to contribute to our individual and collective well being. Facing this reality undermines our self-esteem, which in turn, just motivates us to identify more closely with the powerbrokers, be they the political establishment of our community or whomever. All of this just adds further to our own feelings of powerlessness. It gets us nowhere. There is some sense in thinking further about all of this. Ifuron County is a community of solid citizens. We could take charge of our own destiny. We have a sense of what is right and what is wrong. Many outstanding citizens already have provided u- •• • Continued on page 9