The Citizen, 1997-02-26, Page 1Sports Sports News
Brussels Juveniles win
WOAA championship
Enter OMHA playoffs
Blyth Bantams in playoff
series.
Gear up for WOAA
2 Central Huron students
among top regional
debaters
See page 8 See page 9 See page 17
Budget a good news one
for Canadians, says MP
The North Huron
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
"I think we can be proud of our
accomplishments thus far. Co-oper
ation between small town Canada,
the private sector and different lev
els of government is clearly being
developed"
Responding to what will proba
bly be the last budget from the fed
eral Liberal government before the
next election, Huron-Bruce MPP
Paul Steckle said he believed,
"Canadians will be relatively happy
with the budget."
"This year's deficit is the lowest
in 15 years," said Steckle. "This
means, that by 1998-99, the gov
ernment will no longer need to bor
row new money from financial
markets, and at the same time,
boast of having the lowest deficit in
theG-7."
On the local front, Steckle point
ed out a few budget inclusions
which would assist small and farm
businesses.
The Farm Credit Corporation has
been provided with $50 million in
capital to expand its capacity to
support growth and diversity.
In an effort to encourage success
of rural development through
accessibility to the latest technolo
gy, the government has created the
Community Access Program. The
program is designed, to keep rural
Canadians on a level playing field
with urban Canadians.
With appreciation for the major
role which small business plays in
the existence of small town Cana
da, the government announced a
Hullett PS parents
plan 30th reunion
It will be back-to-school time in
Hullett as students of the central
school return May 10 to celebrate
the 30th anniversary.
Hosted by the Student Advisory
Council, the event will be in the
form of a one-day fair, rather than a
large reunion, to promote a family
atmosphere, said committee mem
ber Kittie MacGregor.
MacGregor said they are hoping
to have a ball game between the
first and present Grade 8 classes.
The ball games will begin at 1:15
with opening ceremonies to follow.
People are invited to form volley
McGuinty comes to Huron
Ontario Liberal leader Dalton
McGuinty will be in Seaforth Mon
day evening, March 3, to meet with
Huron Liberals.
Joe Hogan, president of the
Huron Provincial Liberal Associa
tion, said McGuinty will be speak
ing on "problems associated with
relief from some paper work. For
those businesses which have good
records of compliance, the filing of
payroll deduction may be done on a
quarterly basis instead of monthly.
Steckle expressed pride in the
governments accomplishments with
regards to rural Canada.
In keeping with the government's
commitment to improving assis
tance to children in low income
families, a new, across-Canada
child benefit system has been
developed "In partnership with
provincial governments,with the
foundation being die Canada Child
Tax Benefit (CCTB)," he said.
The CCTB will go to all families
whether working or on welfare and
will allow provinces to redirect
resources to childrens' services and
income support for families.
Funding will also be increased
for the Community Action Pro
gram (CAPC) and the Canada Pre
natal Nutrition Program.
The government's fund of such
programs as CAPC is "very posi
tive," said Tom Knight executive
director of the Children's Aid Soci
ety of Huron County. As seen
through the Rural Response pro
gram, Knight said the "benefits
have been definable" in terms of
community awareness and involve
ment. "The program has become
more effective as more partners
have gotten involved, taking a
smaller piece from each agency's
budget. There is cost sharing and
better use of staff resources."
"With talk before the budget of
cuts to CAPC land other such pro-
Continued on page 6
ball teams, which they will register
by name. These will be called at
random throughout the day.
For little children there will be
face painting and races to name a
few activities.
"We would like to see everyone
from every grade throughout the
years here that day," said MacGre
gor. "There is no charge for any
thing. It is an opportunity to give
back and not ask a thing of the
community."
Anyone with graduation pictures
is asked to contact Hullett Central
School.
many of the revolutionary changes
that the Harris government is insti
gating in Ontario".
The new Liberal leader, McGuin
ty said, is interested in hearing the
concerns of the people of Huron,
with regard to such topics as Health
care, education, municipal govern
ment and the economy.
Vol. 13 No. 8 Wednesday, Feb. 26,1997 70$+gst750
Recalling the past century
Wl's from across the county, province and country held celebrations, Wednesday, Feb. 19
to mark the 100th anniversary of the inception of the Women’s Institute. Members and
friends of the Majestic Women’s Institute gathered at Brussels Library, Wednesday
afternoon to remember the past and look to the future. Before a rendition of the Institute's
history by 12 members, Alice Brothers of Brussels, led the group in a rousing chorus of the
Wl's Centennial Song.
Group looks for new blood
There was no brave soul coming
forward to take over the adminis
tration of the BMG Catering
Group, despite the unanimous con
sensus at a meeting Feb. 17 that the
group be kept going.
Some 50 people were present at
the meeting, chaired by Alvin
McLellan of the Rec. Board.
A Catering Group member out
lined the group's history, which
originated with the International
Plowing Match in 1978 to raise
money for the BMG Community
Centre. These funds came to
approximately $20,000.
Audrey Cardiff, along with 15
others began forming the organiza
tion with nine groups of helpers.
Since then, the Group annually
caters to an average of 20 banquets.
There were 12 bookings in 1996
with five already set for this year.
One of the biggest events the
Group caters to is for Gay Lea,
with 400 people being served.
The volunteers set the tables, pre
pare the food, serve, gather the
dishes and clean up, in addition to
calling others to assist with prepa
ration and serving.
Since 1984, $137,500 has been
donated to the arena board and it is
estimated that since its inception
they have donated $200,000. These
funds have assisted with the paving
of the parking lot, the purchase of
several refrigerators, coolers and
the refurbishment of kitchen sup
plies. The Group's intention has
been to pay the insurance for the
year, which has increased to
approximately $12,000 annually.
McLellan advised that if a grant
was not received from the Group
this year, a total of $5,160 would
be added to the village's share of
the deficit with $4,080 and $2,760
being added to Grey and Morris
respectively.
One person in attendance pointed
out that life is different than in
1978 and with many women now
having full-time jobs, along with
the responsibility of family and
home, time to volunteer is scarce.
Some people felt that perhpas
"community spirit" was not as alive
as it was in earlier decades.
It was noted that some members
of the Group were getting to the
age where the work was too much
for them. It was agreed that an
effort to recruit younger members
should be made.
Other suggestions included:
•Making the Group more like an
regular municipal board with an
executive appointed for a term of
not more than two years.
•Having letters sent to the parents
enrolling their children in minor
sports programs, advising of the
need for help
•Sending a notice to the local
public schools to be sent home with
students noting that help was need
ed if the Group is to survive.
•Having a goal for the Group to
work towards rather than just pay-
Continued on page 2