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The Citizen, 2003-01-29, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2003. Editorials & Opinions Good ideas get smothered The hottest topic on rural concessions these days is the provincial government and its Nutrient Management Act regulations. For farmers, the regulations seem to be an example of the old expression: “Be careful what you ask for because you might get it”. Faced with a hodgepodge of municipal restrictions on building new livestock barns, Ontario’s farm groups had been, for five years, promoting the idea of provincial nutrient management regulations that would supercede local bylaws. But between the time when they convinced the province to step in and the introduction of the Nutrient Management Act came the tragedy of E-coli contaminated water that killed seven people in Walkerton and the act became something else entirely: a key component in the government’s efforts to convince the public they really do care about the environment and public health. The resulting regulations, now being debated, have grown into a monster 200-page-plus document, bewildering in its complexity. Some farm leaders claim it will be so difficult to comply that most farmers will be in breach one time or another. Even beneficial activities like composting of manure will be discouraged by regulations that limit the amount of time manure can be piled in fields without being covered, at great expense. By tying the live­ stock population to the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous used by crops, the act encourages producers to. year after year, grow a crop like corn, which has high nutrient requirements, rather than use healthy crop rotations. Farm groups credit Helen Johns, minister of agriculture and food, with wanting to make the regulations work but the genie may be out of the bottle in giving ministry of environment officials more control over farm operations. Certainly farmers owe it to society to carefully nurture the land they are privileged to hold and not abuse the environment, but society also owes it to farmers to give them rules they can live with. It would be a tragedy if an act that was supposed to guide farmers to better environmental practices became an anchor that sinks well-meaning family farmers and promotes a further decline in the number of family farms, and thus the decline of rural communities. — KR Going out with a bang If Prime Minister Jean Chretien is seeking a political legacy before he retires next year, he couldn’t do much better than his plan to prohibit large scale donations to political campaigns from companies and unions. If we believe in democracy, we should be concerned at the strings that come with large donations to politicians and their parties whether they come from corporations or unions. At Saturday’s New Democratic Party leadership convention, for instance, large blocks of votes were retained for major unions. Politics in North America, at least, has become all about which candidate can amass the most money for a campaign, not about who will do the best job. Though a new act might put more of the burden of campaigns on the taxpayer, it will be worth it if we have a more open democracy.— KR Letters to the Editor THE EDITOR The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and its partner organizations in the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition (OFEC) have always supported Nutrient Management legislation for Ontario agriculture, but draft regulations have created questions and confusion for many farmers. Farmers who have seen or heard about the draft regulations for the province’s legislation are expressing concerns about expected impacts on their farming operations. The fact these regulations are in the draft stage gives OFA the opportunity to work with government officials to make them more practical and acceptable to farmers. We believe province-wide application of such legislation is much better for our industry than individual municipalities passing their own bylaws to cover issues as they develop, but the regulations have to be realistic and not a threat to the farming sector. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) continues to host consultation sessions with farmers and their organizations, and OFA is in attendance at all of these meetings. From the input provided, by farmers, OFA will work with government officials to ensure the final regulations reflect reality in agriculture. We won’t be satisfied with regulations that take control of farm management out of the hands of farmers. It is no surprise that farmers have concerns with the draft regulations that prescribe how farmers will farm. The OFA is taking the concerns farmers have expressed to government - everything from funding of upgrades to meet standards to the micro-managing of agriculture by government officials. The regulations must be work­ able. Some opposed to the draft regulations have been going public with their thoughts on how to avoid the system. We don’t endorse any of this rhetoric but recognize it is indicative of farmers’ frustration. We urge all farmers to work with OFA, OFEC and OMAF to ensure Ontario’s Nutrient Management Act and its regulations will work to safeguard the environment and allow agriculture to prosper and grow. Ron Bonnett, OFA President. Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Alan Young The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $28.00/year ($26.17 + $1.83 G.S.T.) in Canada; $80.00/year in U.S.A and $100/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 newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. Publications Mail Reg. No. 09244 Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 40050141 jpcna ^cna Member of the Ontario Press Council Looking Back Through the Years Jan. 25, 1968 The Brussels Agricultural Society elected its executive: president, Donald McDonald; first vice- president, Jan van Vliet; second vice-president, Wilfred Strickler; secretary-treasurer, Edwin Martin; directors, Lawrie Black, Douglas Hemingway, Lloyd Wheeler, Stanley Hopper, Alfred Knight, Glenn Coultes, Harold Bolger, Harry Goll, Murray Hoover. A half-page ad reminded subscribers to renew their Brussels Post for only $2 a year. Cameo Hairstylists in Brussels had a special on perms for $7.99. A story told of the Ten Most Unwanted Drivers. Following are some of the drivers listed as causing traffic hazards for motorists and themselves: The Free Wheeling Lane Changer, The Bumper Chaser, The Driver You See In Your Rear Vision Mirror Who is Driving Too Fast, The Twilight Zone Driver, The Driver Who Rides His Brakes, The Signal Jumper, The Highbeam Headlight Driver, The Oncoming High Speed Driver and The Stop Sign Jumper. Hot water bottles were selling at Smith Rexall Store for $1.49. One pound of Nestle Quick was "on sale at McCutcheon Grocery for 51 cents. A tin of Premium sockeye salmon as selling for 53 cents, while a 15-oz package of Muffets was on sale for 33 cents. At Stephenson’s Bakery and Grocery jars of jam and marmalade were selling for 39 cents, while five 19-oz tins of peas and corn cost $1. A 12-oz tin of Kam canned meat was 45 cents. Jan. 31, 1973 A by-election was to be held in March in Huron to fill the seat in the provincial legislature left vacant with the retirement of Charles MacNaughton. Three men had indicated at this point that they seek the Conservative nomination: Bill Dale, Don Southcott and Bert Such. Paul Carroll said he would go for the NDP candidacy while the only Liberal candidate at this point was John Lyndon. By a vote of more than 2-1, the directors of the Blyth Agricultural Society decided to not continue the Blyth Fall Fair. Mark Battye of Blyth won top honours at the Zone and District levels of the Legion contest for his poem Remembrance Day Thoughts. Sale items at Corrie’s Foodmaster included: pot pies, four for $1; two pounds of wieners, 98 cents; five- pounds of carrots, 59 cents; four bar pack of Ivory soap, 39 cents; seven pounds of all-purpose flour, 79 cents. Glenna Ellis and Ron Plunkett were chosen prince and princess candidates from Hullett Central Public School for the Clinton Winter Carnival contest. Public speaking winners at Hullett CPS were Ann Snell, Glenna Ellis and Jackie Nesbitt. Jan. 27, 1988 Canada Post officials were poised to pay another visit to Ethel. It was expected that when they did they would hear from acting postmaster Doreen Suter as to whether she wanted to keep the job when her pay could be cut as much as 75 per cent without any reduction in her duties. Canada Post’s plan was to turn salaried postmasters in rural communities across the nation into franchised operators working on a commission paid on the basis of the volume of stamps and other services which they sold, using attrition as much as possible to eliminate jobs. All of the Saturday events for the Brussels Polar Daize had to be cancelled because Mother Nature was just too kind. The Citizen RO. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0.M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1 HO Phone 887-9114 FAX 837-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Two Walton people were elected to the executive of the Huron-Bruce Liberal Association. Graeme Craig was named vice-president, while Margaret Shortreed was named secretary. Warren Wray of Brussels was the recipient of the Huron County Junior Farmers President’s Award given to the club’s most outstanding first- year member. Brussels Agricultural Society presented awards to the top 4-H members who exhibited livestock at the annual fall fair. Receiving awards were Marie Salter, Donna Johnston, Paul Dolmage, Conrad Bos and Kelly Workman. Joel Harris was named the new general manager for Blyth Festival. Jan. 28, 1998 With the support of the Ministry of Health, Wingham and District Hospital was given the green light on construction of an adjoining medical clinic. Two Blyth Public School students earned top awards at the Royal Canadian Legion Remembrance Day zone competition. Heather Elliott earned a first for her poster and Jamie Lewis took first for her poem. It was a thankful community in Crysler, ON, that welcomed a truckload of items donated by the residents of Brussels and neighbouring communities. Contributions came in the aftermath of a devastating ice storm in eastern Ontario. Three area figure skaters proved their mettle by coming home with gold medals from the Great Lakes Winter Skating Festival: Michelle Cook, Michelle Smith and Jamie Lewis. All of the girls were students of Michelle Blake. Students in the Grade 4/5 class at Grey created posters for the Alzheimer Society.