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The Citizen, 2003-07-30, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2003. Editorials & Opinions Ignorance works both ways Canada’s beef, dairy and sheep farmers are caught in a terrible catch-22 type of situation. Some may possibly losing their farms because the loss of the U.S. market due to the BSE cure. Yet, though the Americans accept our beef is safe but are afraid to lose their markets in Japan because the Japanese threaten to close their borders unless guaranteed no Canadian beef will get mixed in with American shipments. Frustration is understandable when the Japanese refuse to accept the safety of Canadian beef despite scientific opinion that the one case in Alberta was an isolated incident. Such anger is likely to create the kind of reaction such as Alberta Premier Ralph Klein’s recalling of Alberta’s trade representative from Tokyo. But while it’s comforting to strike back, it may be more productive to try to understand the reasons behind someone else’s action. As Japan Foundation Fellow Wenran Jiang wrote in The Globe and Mail recently, insulting the Japanese by belittling their concerns is not likely to make them hurry to change their minds. We say our beef is safe, but after the first outbreak of BSE in Japan the government assured consumers their beef was safe too. Months later more cases broke out and eventually seven cases were found. Taken from their perspective it’s more understandable that they worry that we really haven’t fund the cause of that Alberta mad cow and eliminated it. We argue that our system worked but we need to prove it to them. According to Jiang, Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials twice rebuffed Japanese requests to be allowed to send an expert team to Canada to investigate our BSE case and the way we handled it. Anger and frustration and the urge to retaliate are primit'-'e reactions to those who hurt us. In a modern world of international trade, ignorance is a dangerous fault. We must try to get past such urges and deal with our own ignorance, so we can then deal with other peoples. — KR Laws taken too far The problem with writing a law is that you can never imagine how some people will take that law to an extreme that becomes as bad as the problem the law was created to solve. A humorous example of a law taken to the ridiculous extreme occurred recently when a Seaforth man was stopped crossing the U.S. border recently and had his Hamburger Helper lunch thrown out because the customs officer wouldn’t allow Canadian beef into the U.S. Much more serious, however, are some of the abuses of power perpetrated in the name of national security since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Currently there are people being held in Canadian jails under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. They’re accused of being a security threat but aren’t allowed to hear the evidence that led to the charges. They can’t even have the benefit of a lawyer in their hearings. Protecting freedom by abolishing civil rights is false security.— KR Letters to the Editor THE EDITOR, The identification of a single, isolated case of BSE in Alberta, and the resulting closure of markets to Canadian beef has had a profound and devastating impact on the beef industry, but also to the agricultural sector and the Canadian economy. The beef industry is one of the engines of the Canadian economy, and many families rely upon it for their livelihood. The Government of Canada is committed to doing everything in its power to return this industry to a state of normalcy however, it will require the co­ operation of other nations to make this happen. Recently, the Government of Canada has made two separate announcements pertaining to the beef industry. Early in the afternoon of July 18, it was announced that all applications received by the government after July 9 for importing non-NAFTA beef and veal over and above the amounts previously agreed to under the World Trade Organization rules will be refused. The refusal of these ‘supplemental imports’ is being undertaken to increase the opportunities for Canadian beef and veal suppliers. At the same time, it was announced that a government­ industry committee is being charged with examining certain aspects of the current policy on supplemental beef imports. The committee will be comprised of cattlemen, packers, importers, processors and government officials, and will report back to the Minister of Trade and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri­ food by Aug. 8. This is the second change implemented to the supplemental imports policy in the last two months. On June 4 the government announced that firms wishing to apply for beef and veal supplemental imports of non- NAFTA beef were required to first offer the opportunity to supply their needs to at least five Canadian suppliers. It was also announced that these imports would not be allowed if a Canadian supplier were able to meet the applicant’s needs at prices competitive with a similar product imported into the United States. Several constituents have contacted my office inquiring as to why Canada allows any imports of beef at all into Canada, given the difficulty that the domestic industry is currently facing. This is a very good question. Continued on page 6 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 Website www.northhuron.on.ca Jocna@<* > Member of the Ontario Press Council BETCHA CAN'T GUESS WHAT YOUR PRECIOUS CHISELS WON'T CUT. Looking Back Through the Years July 30,1958 A good representation of residents witnessed the ceremony marking the official opening of the Baker Convalescent Home in Brussels. Reeve George McCutcheon, John Hanna, MLA for Huron-Bruce and Rev. H. L. Jennings of St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Lucknow, participated in the cermoney. Twenty-two pound pails of red cherries were selling at Cousins for $4.25. Black cherries were $5.25, while 28-pounds of raspberries were selling for $8.50. Jean Patrick received the silver medal from the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music for obtaining the highest marks for the year in her Grade 2 piano examination. A tin of cohoe salmon was on sale at Rutledge’s for 37 cents. Held over at Brownie’s Drive-in, Clinton was “the greatest event in motion picture history. An absolute must. Share it with your whole family. Will not play within 100 miles this year.” The show was Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments. Thursday and Friday night at Listowel’s Liashmar Drive-in was St. Louis Blues with Nat King Cole, Eartha Kitt, Cab Calloway and Pearl Bailey. At the Capitol Theatre it was Danny Kaye in Merry Andrew. Aug. 1, 1973 Roy V. Pattison, warden of Huron County and reeve of East Wawanosh Twp. was honoured at a dance by the township. Rev. Ron Curl became the new minister at Westfield Fellowship Hour and the Huron Men’s Chapel at Auburn. The minister, his wife and twin daughters came to the area from Mattawa, east of North Bay. A few insights into future plans for an East Wawanosh wildlife park were revealed during a tour of Maitland Valley Conservation Authority projects. The 400-acre site purchased by MVCA would'be a wildlife and forestry management area. The farm would be planted with trees with walking paths left between. Also, The Huron County Board of Education had expressed interest in using the property as an outdoor edcuation centre and was considering taking over the bam on one of the farms as a resource centre. Aug. 5,1987 Ken Anderson became the new councillor for Hullett Twp. replacing Harvey Stewart who resigned. A valuable addition to the history of Brussels was made with the presentation of the Ainlay Genealogy and Ainlay Family History into the joint stewardship of the Brussels Public Library and the Majestic Women’s Institute. The Ontario minister of citizenship and culture Lily Munro attended a performance of Girls in the Gang at Blyth Festival. Post-production work was completed and the first screenings of Blue City Slammers, which was shot in Blyth, were conducted in Toronto. Frank Stretton was named manager of the Brussels Bulls Jr. D. hockey team. Aug. 3, 1988 You could have sworn there was a federal election in the air when Prime minister Brian Mulroney visited Goderich to officially open the new port facility. To the surprise of nearly everyone from farmers to elevator operators both yield and quality of the county’s winter wheat crop was above average. The crop came through the dry weather in top shape. Charlene Renee Stepheson of Brussels won a Centennial award scholarship to Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, based on her 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@scsinternet.com 91.3 per cent average at F.E. Madill Secondary School. July 28,1993 Joyce Honsberger’s art exhibit Space Clearings opened that the Bainton Art Gallery in Blyth Memorial Hall. The second phase of the rejuvenation project for Blyth Brook, initiated by the Maitland Valley Anglers, had begun. The Brussels Tigers finished the regular season of the Huron County fastball league with 10 wins, six losses and two ties. Morris Secon entertained at the Glen Farms open house to help raise funds for the Maitland Conservation Foundation. The West Wawanosh history book was nearing completion. Popular country crooner Larry Mercer was set to appear in Blyth. July 29,1998 The unusually hot, dry summer continued to affect agriculture. Blyth firefighters responded to a peat bog fire, which chief Paul Josling suspected had been smoldering underground for a considerable length of time. Blyth Festival’s Artistic Director Anne Chislett christened the revitalized Garage Theatre. A tot table was purchased for the BMG pool. Owners of multi-unit, new or large homes would be hit the hardest as Blyth council set its tax rates. With the assessment rolls finally received from the province council was able to determine rates which would accumulate less revenues than last year, yet cover downloaded expenses. Those with four-plus multi-unit dwellings would be hardest hit as the assessed value increased as did the tax ratio in comparison to residential property. Morris bag tags for garbage were delayed, but inevitable.