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The Citizen, 2018-03-29, Page 4PAGE 4.THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018. Editorials Opinions President: Keith Roulston • Publisher: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld • Heather Fraser 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 $38.00/year ($36.19 + $1.81 G.S.T.) in Canada; $160.00/year in U.S.A. and $205/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: Mon. 2 p.m. - Brussels; Mon. 4 p.m. - Blyth. Canada MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1HO email: info@northhuron.on.ca The easy way is not the best With both provincial and municipal elections approaching this year, taking the easy route of making decisions based on information sent to you on social media may be a big mistake, as illustrated lately in both international and local news. On the local level, North Huron Councillor Bill Knott recently told his fellow councillors that he has been the victim of a blog that purports to be written by him but states things he would never say. Meanwhile, on a broader scale, there has been an international scandal after companies that obtained the personal data of 50 million Facebook users, tried to influence the outcome of both the 2016 U.S. Presidential election and the Brexit vote in Britain. Using this information, the companies sent out "news", sometimes false, designed to persuade voters to support the side that hired the companies. Whether it be at the municipal, provincial or federal level, we're in danger of undermining the greatest gift of living in Canada – democracy. The ability to distort reality through fake news is a new threat to voters making an informed choice. At a time when more and more people take the easy way out in being informed by what's sent to them on social media, it's also easier than ever before to misinform people. Nobody should ever make up their mind on how to vote by listening to one source. It may take a little extra work, but honour the privilege of living in a democracy by being well informed before you vote. Read responsible newspapers, listen to professional radio and television, go to political meetings. We're in danger of losing true democracy. Make sure you're part of the solution, not part of the problem. – KR Choose your fairy godmother A recent Nanos Research poll, at the federal level, showed that Canadians like the promises of the federal government such as coverage for prescription drugs, but they also don't want any new taxes to pay for it and they want the deficit reduced. Voters seem to want a fairy godmother as their leader – and the leaders of the three main parties in June's provincial election seem to be campaigning for that role – only each has a different idea of what the fairy godmother should do. That Nanos poll showed 75 per cent of people wanted new services, but 60 per cent said they were opposed or somewhat opposed to new taxes and 90 per cent said it was important or somewhat important to reduce the deficit. You can't have it both ways so which do you choose? For the June 7 provincial election the NDP and Liberals are competing to convince us we can have lots more good things. The NDP so far has promised free dental care, universal pharmacare, a 30 per cent cut in hydro bills and more. How will this be paid for? The NDP has an ever -handy solution – increase corporate taxes. Meanwhile Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne's throne speech promised to reduce hospital wait times, increase access for home care and mental health care, as well as expanding the OHIP+ program beyond children and youth. She's not going to make big business pay, just your grandchildren, by running an $8 billion deficit. The fairy godmother dream of the Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford would lower hospital wait times, cut hydro rates, reduce the size and cost of government — but nobody will lose his or her job as he magically finds almost $6 billion in "efficiencies". None of the leaders is offering a realistic platform – whether it's those offering more goodies at no cost, or those offering to save us taxes and electricity costs without the pain of job losses. No matter who wins we're looking at a sad reckoning when the real cost must be paid. But then if we're unrealistic enough to buy these pie -in -the -sky promises, we deserve what we get. – KR Louder than a gun shot For U.S. politicians who continue to support nearly unlimited access to semi-automatic weapons – taking their lead from the National Rifle Association (NRA) – there was a sound at Saturday's March for Our Lives in Washington that was more frightening than a gunshot. It was the sound of young voters and future voters shouting "Vote them out!" Up to 800,000 people, depending on the estimate you choose to believe, led by student survivors of the February shooting massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, called for changes to gun laws to end school shootings that have made many young Americans afraid to go to school. They condemned politicians who have accepted donations from the NRA while stubbornly refusing to restrict the sale of the sort of assault rifles that have been used in these killings. With an estimated 1.2 million people attending marches all across the U.S., here's betting politicians are doing a lot of polling to see just how deep the anger is among young people. The prospect of having tomorrow's voters turn against them might be the one thing that would convince politicians to ignore the NRA and do what is right. – KR We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. Vote for ME, Vote for ME, and lI give goo and I II fix all the candyour teeth you want. yPor free! The Citizen P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. NOM 1H0 NOG 1 H0 Ph. 519-523-4792 Phone Fax 519-523-9140 519-887-9114 E-mail info@northhuron.on.ca Website www.northhuron.on.ca �ocna tom• CCNA Member of the Ontario Press Council CMCA AUDITED We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Looking Back Through the Years March 26, 1958 The Huron County Beef Producers were set to host their annual meeting in Clinton on April 2. The guest speaker for the evening would be Fred Campbell, manager of the Ontario Stock Yards in Toronto. Robert Wagner and Joan Collins were on the big screen at the Capitol Theatre in Listowel in Stopover Tokyo. The movie was said to have been "filmed in Japan where the passions of the east meet the sins of the west." The Brussels Majestic Women's Institute held its monthly meeting in Brussels and consideration was given regarding participation at various Women's Institute competitions to be held at the Western Fair in August. March 29, 1978 Huron County's secondary school students returned to classes on March 28, but they were not joined by their teachers in the classrooms. A group of teachers' representatives opted not to return when the Huron County Board of Education ended the lockout that had been ongoing for over a month. The Blyth PeeWee Bulldogs had a great showing at the Goderich Young Canada Week tournament, coming up just short in the D final, losing to their cross-town rivals, Brussels, by a score of 2-1 in the D final. Auburn residents were already working towards raising funds for the community's 125th anniversary, which was scheduled to take place the following summer. The Blyth Standard reported that nearly $750 had already been raised for the big event. The Belgrave PeeWee team won the Tri -County Championship after winning a close game with Clifford. The game, which was held in Blyth, proved to be quite an attraction for the locals, who came out to support the team. April 3, 1991 Blyth Public School held its annual science fair at the school, ahead of the Huron County Science Fair, which was scheduled to be held in Brussels on April 12. While county restructuring had been shelved by the provincial government, Huron County had proceeded with its own detailed study on the initiative, which was presented to Huron County Council in late March. The 200 -page document was created by a research team comprised of Nigel Bellchamber, Dr. Gary Davidson and the Huron County Planning Department. With the county's governmental structure set to change as a result of the restructuring, the process encouraged public participation in deciding the most appropriate form of governance for the county. As part of that process, four information meetings had been scheduled throughout the county, one of which was at Turnberry Central Public School, just east of Wingham While everything sounded good, Blyth Village Council was waiting on more information before a decision could be made on a new phone system for the municipal office at a cost of $3,000. Clerk Helen Grubb said that due to ongoing renovations at the office, she felt that now would be the time to install the new system, which would have three lines and eight telephones. She added that, in the future, the third line could be hooked into a computer or a new facsimile machine. Brussels Village Council voted not to accept an offer from Canadian National to sell one block of Cyprus Street to the village for $3,000. Young pianist and composer, Rob Greidanus, a Londesborough native, was set to perform a benefit concert at Blyth's Memorial Hall on April 27. Tickets would cost $5 each and proceeds from the show would go towards the Blyth Festival's capital campaign. April 3, 2008 Blyth Fire Chief Paul Josling spoke to Central Huron Council in order to help set the record straight and perhaps change some minds regarding the first response program. Josling proved to make a convincing argument, as Central Huron Council opted to sign a new first response agreement at its March 27 committee of the whole meeting. Jacob McGavin of Brussels Public School was presented with several honours at the Regional Science and Inventor's Fair in Seaforth. However, the biggest honour he earned at the event was the right to represent the province at the Canada -wide Science Fair, which was set to be held in Ottawa in May. Huron Feeding Systems in Brussels celebrated its 30th anniversary with a special open house that featured food and drink and product showcases. Huron County released a special CD called "Noted" which featured local female musicians. In addition, a notable female artist was brought in to design the album's cover. Natalie Hussey from the Belgrave area created a "vibrant and colorful" image for the cover.