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The Citizen, 2003-06-18, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2003. Editorials & Opinions Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Alan Young, Patty Van der Meer 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 The Citizen 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 E-mail norhuron@scslntemet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Jkpcna Member of the Ontario Press Council Insurance economics muddy New Brunswick premier Bernard Lord got a lesson recently in how angry people are about rising car insurance costs when his expected electoral landslide turned into a one-seat majority squeaker. Canadians are mad about insurance and want answers. The insurance industry says the problem is too much money being paid out for claims, noting that in Ontario rehabilitation costs paid out have jumped from $640 million to $1.5 billion in just five years. While the number of accidents has declined 12 per cent in the past decade, the number of injury claims has gone up 41 per cent. But others point out part of the problem has nothing to do with claims or accident costs and a whole lot to do with the fact insurance companies have lost a bundle in the stock market in recent years. Why should they pay for bad investments, people wonder. The sad reality of course, is that whether you should have to or not, you will have to, or the companies may go broke. If they do, we don’t have insurance when we need it. As well, insurance companies are correct in their concern that people seem to think the insurance company should pay for everything that goes wrong in their lives. Like parents or government, people think insurance companies have an infinite supply of rtioney. They don’t realize that just as governments can only get money when they tax it from people, insurance companies only have money they get from clients (except when they make money on the stock market, which they aren’t these days). That said, the industry’s plea for help from government in capping payments for claims might seem stronger if executives for the companies weren’t so well compensated. Policy holders have a right to wonder why they should pay more so executives can make exorbitant salaries no matter how badly they invest in the stock market. Everybody wants more from insurance. Somebody is going to have to pay the price and no matter who that is, they won’t be happy. — KR Money for bullets, not bread World aid agencies are worried about a growing hunger situation in sub- Saharan Africa and have called on the leading nations of the world to help. So far only $800 million has been pledged when $1.8 billion is needed. That’s a lot of money until you compare that to the invasion of Iraq which is estimated to have cost $80 billion. Now that no weapons of mass destruction, the reason Britain and the United States said made invasion necessary, have been found, the justification for that war has become that the Iraqi people needed to be freed from the clutches of a despotic dictator who endangered their lives and well being. But isn’t hunger a dictator in an even worse way? Individuals in Iraq and other dictatorships are subject to the cruel whims of tyrants, but there’s no whimsy in lands where there isn’t food: everyone without food suffers every day. Spread among all the nations of the Group of 8 most wealthy countries, $1.8 billion isn’t a lot of money but we have become so focused on cutting costs so we can spend money on things we want to (like armies in some countries or balanced budgets with tax cuts in others) that we have slashed foreign aid to the point we are unable to help people dying from hunger. People who die are just as dead from hunger as if they were tortured or shot. Yes $1.8 billion is a lot of money but it’s a lot cheaper for us to save lives by sending food than to invade countries. — KR Letters to the Editor Looking Back Through the Years THE EDITOR, The Ontario government supports a proposal by the western premiers to create a Canada Slaughter Cattle Disaster Assistance Program. The program would aid all sectors of the cattle industry threatened by the discovery of BSE in a single Alberta cow and the subsequent closing of export markets for Canadian cattle and other ruminant products. It was unveiled by the western premiers at their recent conference. Premier Ernie Eves has sent a letter to Prime Minister Jean Chretien committing the Ontario government to the principle of support for the western plan. As seen by the western premiers, the program would have industry absorb 10 per cent of its losses on all fed cattle going to slaughter. Remaining compensation costs would be shared 90 per cent federal and 10 per cent provincial. The program would be temporary in nature until the reopening of the U.S. border. In his letter Eves offered flexibility in the approach to the program. “The federal government may have other suggestions and Ontario is open to discussing them provided that they are along the lines of existing Disaster Financial Assistance funding arrangements,” Eves wrote. The Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangement allows the federal government to respond to large- scale disasters that cause extraordinary hardship to provincial and municipal governments, business operators and individuals. The federal government is currently studying the western premiers proposal, together with some of its own proposals, prior to the introduction of a rescue package to the federal cabinet next week. Helen Johns, MPP June 18,1958 Rev. F. E. Jewell announced that he would be leaving the St. John’s Anglican church. Bill Turnbull captured seven firsts in the swine class at Clinton’s annual spring fair. His first-prize-winning boar was sold to a buyer in New Brunswick. Morning Star Lodge marked its 25th anniversary. The Regent Theatre in Seaforth was showing the Walt Disney animal fantasty Perri, while Listowel’s Capitol Theatre had Marlon Brando and Glenn Ford starring in Teahouse of the August Moon. At the Llashmar Drive-in in Listowel, the Saturday double bill was Randolph Scott in Shoot-out at Medicine Bend and Deep Adventure. The Walton Women’s Institute was hosting a garden party at the Hall. Music was provided by Ian Wilbee’s Melody Makers. Admission was 50 cents. Specials at the Rutledge Grocery included two 28-oz tins of tomatoes for 47 cents, three tins of cohoe salmon for 95 cents and two tubs of Parkay margarine for 57 cents. A Brownie flash camera was selling at Smith’s Rexall Drug Store for $5.90. June 20,1968 A Squirt softball league was formed for Brussels and area. Participating teams were from Belgrave, Bluevale, Brussels, Newry, Ethel and Atwood. In the first game against Bluevale, Brussels won by a whopping 32-10. Randy Cousins hit four homeruns and Hughie Nichol was the winning pitcher. Dr. K. Zyluk who came to Brussels from England to the new Medical Dental Centre in November concluded his practice and went to Wingham. H. Stretton, chairman of the Centre said he had not received any official notice that the doctor was leaving. Dr. Zyluk had been encouraged to come to Brussels with the understanding that he would be given occupancy in the building rent free up to one year on condition that he signed a long-term lease or bought the building. Neither was done. Some of his patients were disappointed to arrive at his office and find he was gone. Three candidates were running for the position of Huron Member of Parliament. They were Mait Edgar, Liberal; Bob McKinley, PC and Shirley M. Weary, NDP. There was a closing-out sale at D.M. McTavish’s. Some items reduced were wool sweaters from $7 to $5.50, summer shirts from $4.50 to $2.65, and pants from $6.25 to $5. The Wingham District High School would be renamed. The board approved changing of the name to F.E. Madill Secondary School after the school’s principal. Mr. Madill had been on the staff since 1934 and was principal for nine years. Playing at Brownie’s Drive-in, Clinton, was Hawaii with Julie Andresw, Max Von Sydon and Richard Harris on Thursday and Friday, while the weekend double feature was The Scalp Hunter with Burt Lancaster and Shelly Winters and The Billion Dollar Brain starring Michael Caine and Karl Malden. Thompson and Stephenson Meat Market was selling Trudeau steaks for 89 cents a pound. June 20,1973 There was good news for Blyth taxpayers when council came up with new rates that meant a cut in taxes of six mills in residential and eight for commercial. Based on the 1972 assessment one mill would raise about $701.80 in revenue for the village. June 22,1988 Five Blyth Guides were awarded their all-round cords. They were: Karin Lee, Crystal Cucksey, Heidi Scrimgeour, Nikki Snell, Kerry Bakker. Winona McDougall was presented with her plaque as. Blyth and area’s Citizen of the Year. The Cookie War opened the Blyth Festival season. Among the cast members were Donna Farron, Laurel Paetz and Judith Orban. June 16,1993 The Farm Radio Forum came to Blyth’s Lions Park. Receiving their all-round cord were Belgrave Guides Julie Snow, Donna Pattison, Alicia Potter and Kendra Moffat. Belgrave Brownies moving up to Guides were Lisa Black, Jacquie McIntosh, Pamela Campbell, Krista Hewitt, Candice Procter, Amanda Palmer, Laura Meier, Heather Black and Amy Barnes. Volunteers with Blyth Festival were honoured for their years of service at a provincial ceremony. They were: Carol McDonnell, Don McCaffrey, Sheron Stadelmann, Marg Webster, Carol Irwin, Joan Perrie, Sheila Richards and Bill Famell. June 17,1998 For her mark on theatre in southern Ontario, former Blyth Festival Artistic Director Janet Amos was granted an honorary degrees from the University of Western Ontario. Mama Root’s opened in Blyth and G&M Auto Parts opened in Brussels. Soccer coaches from Brussels and Elma took part in a clinic in Brussels hosted by professional player, coach, referee and administrator Charles Scott-Field. Mary Humphries was Grey’s Senior of the Year.