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The Citizen, 1998-03-04, Page 4C itizen The North Huron P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, Publisher, Keith Roulston BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. Editor, Bonnie Gropp NOM 1H0 NOG IHO Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 Advertising Manager, FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 Jeannette McNeil E-mail norhuron@huron.not -PAO 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 newscripts or photographs, Contents of The Citizen are Copyright Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 CCNA CIPCI,^1.0A1 A look back to March 4, 1947 PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1998. Taking credit from others As Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Finance Minister Paul Martin last week celebrated Canada's first balanced budget in 30 years, Ontario Premier Mike Harris was fuming. He had good reason to be. The federal government was taking credit for defeating the deficit that was, to a large extent, eliminated by passing on the problem to the provincial governments. When Martin began to attack the deficit he did so by chopping his biggest expenditures, which happened to be transfer payments to the provinces to pay for things like health care and education. It's only reasonable, from Harris's point of view, to expect that once the deficit was paid for, the feds should put money back into these sectors that have been suffering. Instead, the federal government is looking at creating projects that will be visible as federal programs. If it's going to spend new money in education, for instance, it wants it to be through the Millennium Scholarship Fund which will give money to students for post secondary education but will be recognized by them as a federal program. This may not be fair but it is politics — and in making the federal government relevant again in the lives of ordinary Canadians, it may even help national unity. The problem is Canada has had an imbalance of power — the federal government had taxing power but the provinces had jurisdiction over many of the programs that most affect our lives: health care, education, highways, etc. For several decades we've solved the problem by having the federal government transfer its tax money to the provinces. With the provinces spending the money, they got to take credit for providing the services, yet could blame the federal government when there wasn't enough money to satisfy everyone. As a result we've had growing power in provincial governments and a handy target in the federal government — a recipe for national disunity. Whenever a provincial premier got desperate to be re-elected, he campaigned against the feds. Thirty years of constitutional negotiations had also seen the federal government turn over jurisdiction in more and more fields to the provinces. This was particularly evident in Quebec where increasing demands were met with giving the province greater and greater power. Quebec administers its own pension plan, job training and even controls immigration. With so few places where Quebecers come in contact with their federal government, is it any wonder so many think they should complete the separation? And so Premier Harris has every right to be angry watching the celebrations of the Liberals in Ottawa. Martin and Chretien are being hypocritical in taking credit for an inflation victory that was, in large part, won by the provinces. Still, in targeting programs that will make the federal government more visible in the lives of ordinary Canadians, the government may be investing in the future of national unity. — KR E ditorial Submitted by Verne Dakin Looking Back Through the Years March 5,1997 As hydro commissions across the province moved towards amalga- mating into larger units, Blyth PUC agreed to join with all other utilities in the county to form a sin- gle provider. With the amalgamation of school boards less than a year away, the Huron County Board of Education began discussing new ridings for trustees. Provincial Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty attended the Huron County Liberal Association meet- ing in Seaforth. Blyth Atom Reps moved into championship play against Stephen Twp. Central Huron Secondary School students, Zoey and Cappy Onn, received recognition for their work at the annual Sears Drama Festival. From the files of the Blyth Standard, Brussels Post March 7, 1973 The four candidates who ran in the Huron County by-election were Paul Carroll for the New Demo- cratic Party, Don Southcott for the Progressive Conservatives, Jack Riddell for the Liberals and Social- ist Ed Bain. Blyth Little Theatre announced its first production for the season, 'Mystery at Green Fingers. myth Reeve Rob Lawrie was authorized to hire a Goderich ani- mal control officer after stray dogs got into garbage, spreading it on the streets. Blyth Councillor Mac Brooks told council the arena looked like a barn and if the town could not spend the money and make it bet- ter, it should be closed. Artificial ice was put in the Blyth arena in 1967. and North Huron Citizen March 7,1968 Dorothy Elliott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Orrie Elliott of Brussels placed first in the Lions Region 3 public speaking contest. Linda Wilson, a junior high stu- dent at Wingham District High School, and Joan Elliott, a Grade 8 student at Brussels Central School, earned top marks in the Brussels Legion speaking contest. Calvin Krauter purchased the building formerly used by Huether Produce, where he will run his plumbing business. Lorne Allen and The Huron County Boys entertained at the New American Hotel. The Huron County jail adver- tised for a correctional officer. Applicants had to have a Grade 10 education, stand at least 5'8" and be in good health. Letters to the Editor Writer recalls reunion memories Wanted: one white knight There's new hope in the ranks of people hoping to keep Canada together this week after Daniel Johnson resigned as head of the Quebec Liberal party. Now all that's needed is a white knight to rescue the country from the separatist threat. Some people are ready to nominate Jean Charest as the white knight designate. The leader of the federal Progressive Conservatives is seen as the one man popular enough in Quebec to defeat Lucien Bouchard and his Parti Quebecois, which is expected to hold an election this year. It's a nice thought, but let's not be too sure. Charest's popularity in Quebec is partially because he's an alternative to Jean Chretien who has been painted as a traitor to Quebec's interests by the separatists and a good-sized portion of the media. But if he were to become leader of the Liberals, the focus would turn on him as it did on Johnson. He will suddenly become the object of criticism from the separatists and ridicule from pro-separatist media. And if he should by some chance become premier, Canadians outside Quebec would probably be disappointed because he would not have a vision of Quebec's place in Canada they would share. Like Liberal premiers before him, he would likely be demanding powers for his province that others feel is wrong — he'd have to make the demands in order to earn respect at home. Charest is probably the best hope Canada has. We just shouldn't be fooled thinking he can make problems go away. — KR THE EDITOR, I have been meaning to write for some time to say how much I enjoyed the Blyth School reunion, nearly two years ago now. The whole affair was very well organized. The committee deserves a great deal of credit. Personally, I was able to meet and reminisce with quite a number of old schoolmates and neighbours, the Craigs, Hawkins girls, Logans, Scrimgeours, Wilma Watson, Elliotts, Taylors, Cowans, relatives Mark Lockhart, sister Eileen and cousins Pauline, Doris and Ernie Robinson, and of course Sammie and other Thuells, some of the McNalls, Rhea Shaw, Alma Munro, my nephew Gerald and his wife Maxine, Cenetta and Glenyce Bainton and Layton and Marg Bray. Ones I had also hoped to see but missed included Jamie Sims, Helen Grasby, Cloyd and Margaret Johnston, the Richmond girls and Tillie Mains to name a few. As recently as last fall, here on Vancouver Island we had the pleasure of a visit with Layton Bray, Marg and Ernie Robinson, my cousin. The Brays more or less commute between Australia and Saturna Island and Layton had finally gotten his autobiography published. He calls it the Lap of the Gods and it is a great book. The first few chapters deal with his childhood years, and growing up in Blyth and surely captures the Blyth spirit. The latter part tells of his charmed and adventuresome life as a pilot in WWII and then finding his way back to civilian life - never a dull moment. I was pleased to get an autographed copy. Incidentally, I have subscribed to The Citizen (or The Standard, previously), for over half a century and would hate to miss a copy. When I first came out here so far from home its arrival and the five times a week "Happy Gang" radio show kept me from being homesick! Congratulations to the young folks who do "For Teens, By Teens". They do a great job. Sincerely Lois Robinson Tassle P.S. Anyone for another reunion?