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The Citizen, 2018-05-03, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018. Editorials Opinions Co-operating, saving 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 If they can make it work, the agreement between Huron East and North Huron to share the services of a fire chief and fire prevention officer seems like a wise move in both co-operation and saving money. Under the agreement, approved by both councils, Huron East's Fire Chief Marty Bedard will also fill the position with North Huron that has been vacant for some time. Meanwhile, North Huron's Fire Prevention Officer Michael Roess will fill the same duty for Huron East. The proof will be in making this arrangement work, of course. While the fire chief and the fire prevention officer do much of the administrative work, the actual fighting of fires and providing of medical first response is carried out mostly by the volunteers at each of the two municipalities' five fire stations. As demonstrated by the revolt of North Huron's firefighters under a previous chief, what councils think is a good solution can sometimes not seem so to the people on the ground. Still, any idea that can bring co-operation between neighbouring municipalities and save money is an idea that should be explored. — KR It's not justfarmers'fields' While Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford's pledge to open up much of the Greenbelt around Toronto for development will make developers happy, rural residents and farmers must fight against his attitude that the land is "just farmers' fields". The unfortunate phrase was spoken in a video made by Ford back in February, when he promised to "open a big chunk" of the Greenbelt, the area set aside by the government of former Premier Dalton McGuinty as prohibited from urban development in order to reign in urban sprawl and save farmland and natural environment. Ford's promise may be popular even with some of the farmers who own land in the Greenbelt. The idea of cashing in by selling their farms for housing will be attractive to many. But his attitude that farming is just something you do with land until you're ready to put houses and shopping centres on it is a throwback to the days when the value of land wasn't properly recognized as a source of the food we eat. Ford's terminology should also disappoint rural residents who hoped that if, as expected, he forms the government after the June 7 provincial election, he might show more respect and interest than the Liberals in the rural parts of the province where his party currently holds nearly all of the seats. If farmland is only valued for its worth for development, the born -and -bred Toronto resident is not likely to show an enlightened appreciation of farmers and their issues. Speaking this week Ford pledged to replace any land he takes from the Greenbelt for housing. The problem is that if he replaces Greenbelt land close to the city by expanding it farther from the city, it imposes restrictions on farmers newly included in the reserve, and it teaches developers that sooner or later the new Greenbelt also will be developed. Farms are not just subdivisions in waiting. Human survival requires growing food. There may be short-term financial gain in paving farmers' fields but, in the long term, land has no greater value than in growing food. — KR Who'll pay the price? Vancouver residents were furious this week when gasoline prices hit nearly $1.61 per litre. Funny, if they're the environmentalists they claim to be when they oppose expansion of the Kinder Morgan pipeline, they should be happy to pay the higher prices. Nothing spurs efficiency faster than paying a financial penalty for being inefficient. High gas prices give drivers an incentive to buy electric cars, or at least more fuel-efficient cars. At the very least, it makes them think twice before getting into the car and driving somewhere. The higher the cost of gasoline, the less will be burned, the cleaner the air will be and the fewer pipelines are needed. What's not to like? But no matter how environmentally conscious they claim to be, most people still want things cheap. We have the same phenomenon in Ontario where the leading reason (among many) that people have turned decisively against the provincial Liberal government is the rising cost of electricity, due to a large extent to expensive and necessary upgrades to the province's electrical grid. Again, the higher cost is the best possible way to make Ontarians more efficient in their electrical use but nobody wants to spend more. While there are people who are being severely disadvantaged by the electricity price increases, and a minority who will suffer in Vancouver, the majority simply doesn't want to pay more because they want to use that money for other things. Those other things may include vacations in various far-off places in the world, to which they will fly in jets, burning fuel and adding the carbon in the air. Most people want a better environment, as long as getting it isn't inconvenient. — KR We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. THE LAST 'GOSBY SWEATER' WITH MATCHINGI HAT! / 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 M Member CMC AUDITED CCNA Member of the Ontario Press Council We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright N r$ 1'iedtStCf. ,S ,torn Looking Back Through the Years May 7, 1958 A crowd of 500 people were in Brussels for the opening day of the Brussels Livestock sales yard. That day, nearly 200 cattle and 300 pigs were on the sales block. Carruther's Orchestra was set to provide the music for a special dance at the Wroxeter Community Hall on May 9. Proceeds from the night would go towards minor sports within the Wroxeter community. The Cranbrook Women's Institute was hosting its annual spring bake sale at the Brussels Library on May 17 with all welcome to come. May 10, 1978 Hullett Township Council set its budget for 1978 and it included a 6.7 mill increase to the taxes over the previous year. Plans for a future subdivision in Auburn were discussed at the May 1 meeting of Hullett Township Council. The two major points discussed were the money required in lieu of land and the condition of the roads where the development was suggested to take place. More than 45 selected crafts dealers had been chosen to take part in the Blyth Summer Festival theatre program's craft exhibition, which was set for May 20 at the Blyth Arena. Fire destroyed the engine of a Volkswagen on Queen Street in Blyth when four travellers from Owen Sound were making their way through the village. The foursome were having car troubles and attempted to pull the car over when the whole end of the car erupted in flames. No one was injured as a result of the incident, thanks to the quick response of firefighters Doug Scrimgeour and Norm Gowing, who were on the scene within minutes. May 8, 1991 The new Brussels Farmers' Market was all set to open on May 25. The market would be hosted at Brussels Livestock, which had just recently been taken over by Len Gamble. Gamble said that as part of the Brussels community now, he wanted to help promote and build the rural aspect of Huron County and felt that hosting the farmers' market was a step towards that goal. Brussels ratepayers were facing a tax hike of just under five per cent with the passing of the village council's most recent budget. The increase, which was described as being modest, came despite ambitious plans to improve the village's sidewalks and streets. In addition, there were also necessary upgrades that needed to happen in order for the village to host the Huronview North project in the south end of the village. While the Huron County Board of Education was willing and some young people wanted to see it there, Brussels Village Council was not in favour of relocating the tennis courts to the Brussels Public School property. Councillors discussed the issue at their regular meeting, insisting that the new courts be built at the home of the Brussels, Moms and Grey Community Centre. The decision came after council heard from a delegation of Brussels Leo Club members who wanted to see the tennis courts at the school rather than at the community centre. May 8, 2008 After an absence of almost 15 years, Blyth once again had a presence in the Huron County Fastball League with the formation of the Barons. Mike McDonald, who was a member of the last Blyth team, was at the head of bringing baseball back to Blyth. He said there weren't enough young people in the village coming up through the ranks who were interested in playing baseball, which made fielding a team year after year frustrating. While a full team roster had yet to be finalized, players like Pat Cronin, Shawn Bromley and Cole Stewart were already signed on and ready to lend their talents to the reinvigorated Blyth effort. Over a dozen local members of the Serious FUN! Theatre Company returned from the Kiwanis Festival of the Performing Arts with medals around their necks after impressive performances. The theatre company returned with 73 awards in total, which included 25 first -place finishes, 18 second prizes and 30 third prizes. In addition to all the accolades, two of the "Going Pro" members of the group, Kathryn Peach and Samantha Edwards, were set to continue on in the competition, representing Stratford at the upcoming provincial competition in the musical theatre and speech and drama categories. Not only did Peach place first in her musical theatre classes, but she was also chosen to compete in the classical vocal finals while also receiving the Centennial Trophy and a $50 cash prize for her performance in the finals. A Morris-Turnberry family found themselves homeless after an early - morning fire destroyed their Cranbrook Road home. The OPP were awaiting the results of forensic testing on the fire before proceeding with an investigation.