The Citizen - May 26, 2022

3 4 15 22

The

THIS WEEK • Election • Editorials • Agriculture • Throwback

Citizen

Huron County’s most trusted independent news source Volume 38 No. 21

Thursday, May 26, 2022

$1.50 GST included

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, ON N0M 1H0

HE votes down FD shake-up

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

One for the books The Clinton Raceway was open and bustling on Sunday, opening its season in May for the first time in three years after cancellations and schedule shifts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For many, it was worth the

wait, as Sunday marked a record-breaking day at the local track. Nearly $84,000 was wagered on Sunday in Clinton, a new opening day record, while over $3,000 was raised for Central Huron Secondary School. (John Stephenson photo)

Candidates tackle issues ahead of election

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Six of the eight people vying to be the next MP of Huron-Bruce took part in an all-candidates meeting hosted by the Huron County Federation of Agriculture last week, debating the issues and heralding their platforms.

Incumbent Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, who is also the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Shelley Blackmore of the Liberal Party, Laurie Hazzard of the NDP, Matt Kennedy of the New Blue Party, Gerrie Huenemoerder of the Ontario Party and independent Ron Stephens were in attendance.

Matthew Van Ankum of the Green Party and Bruce Eisen of the

Ontario Alliance were unable to attend.

In his opening remarks, Stephens spoke first, addressing the “Globalist agenda” that seeks to privatize all farms and increase the population, which he said Canadians shouldn’t want.

Huenemoerder said she grew up in Ontario and doesn’t like what she’s seeing in the province’s government, saying that things have changed and Ontario has turned into a “have-not” province and that has to change.

She said she could simply “stay at home and bitch about it” or do something, which is why she decided to represent Derek Sloan’s party in Huron-Bruce.

Thompson told those in attendance that the world of

agriculture is near and dear to her heart, growing up from a Huron County 4-H member into the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

In that cabinet position, Thompson said she has worked to ensure that agriculture has the representation that it deserves, adding that farming remains her passion.

Blackmore said that it’s important that agricultural issues get the attention they deserve at the provincial level. As a principal and a teacher in the Avon Maitland District School Board for 38 years, Blackmore said she had always served in rural schools.

Hazzard said she has worked in both the education and healthcare fields and she said that farmers

need to be given the credit they deserve for the work being done to combat climate change, sequestering carbon and other work.

Kennedy said he chose to get involved when he was “persecuted”, “oppressed” and “demonized” for his choice to not get vaccinated against COVID-19.

His work with the New Blue Party is an attempt to bring about freedom to Ontarians and reduce government interference in their lives.

The first question spoke to energy and Huenemoerder said that life has been made difficult by the federal carbon tax and the provincial government’s own version of a carbon tax and how the challenges Continued on page 12

Huron East Council has unanimously voted down a motion that would have phased out all three of its fire districts, instead creating north and south divisions, and amalgamating the Brussels and Grey divisions of the department.

In a recorded vote, Mayor Bernie MacLellan, Deputy-Mayor Bob Fisher and all nine councillors voted against the motion, which had become a lightning rod for controversy over the weekend. The recommendation and accompanying report, penned by Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts sparked an online petition to “Save the Grey Fire Department”, signed by over 700 people, and an emergency meeting of the Grey firefighters ahead of council’s May 17 meeting.

In light of the opposition to the recommendation, MacLellan and council directed staff to split McRoberts’ original motion for consideration.

The original motion included nine recommendations. At the meeting, council passed a motion that included the first five points with little discussion. The motion directs all of the Huron East fire departments to: establish standardized equipment use; establish standardized training protocols; establish standard operating procedures; undergo workplace harassment training and to undertake a comprehensive review of the department’s fire vehicle apparatus and, lastly, develop non-biased justification reports for each apparatus.

Several councillors said they were surprised to learn that things like training and equipment were not standardized from department to department within the municipality.

However, the final four points comprised the motion that council would unanimously vote down. The recommendations included phasing out the Brussels and Grey departments and amalgamating Continued on page 6

$ ' " ' & ' !#!' % '

( "% , , )

, , ! ", , , & +,

*#, , *,

$% ' %' ,

PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022.

ACW Council defers Little Lakes gravel pit decision

By Denny Scott The Citizen

After numerous speakers asked for more time to review a requested zoning change to a proposed gravel pit on Little Lakes Road, AshfieldColborne-Wawanosh (ACW) Township Council deferred the issue for more than a month.

During council’s May 17 meeting, it unanimously voted to defer the issue to its second meeting, scheduled for June 21, despite planner Celina Whaling-Rae saying the application hasn’t changed, from the perspective of the bylaw being discussed, since it was presented last summer.

She later explained to The Citizen that the zoning bylaw had not changed significantly since July, meaning no additional meetings or notifications needed to be sent out.

The only changes that had been made were regarding the site plan, which isn’t handled by the municipality or the county, but the Ministry of Northern Development,

Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry.

The meeting started with numerous individuals speaking out against the rezoning, which would see a parcel of land zoned AG-1 and NE-1 rezoned to allow for resource extraction. The opponents of the rezoning said the proposed document had changed and, with it only being accessible to them as of Friday, May 13, they and their legal representation hadn’t had time to fully evaluate it.

Aside from requesting a deferral, critics of the plan also condemned third-party companies involved with the report and found fault with council as they hadn’t kept the ratepayers up to date on the issue.

Critics also pleaded to protect the “treasure” of the “tourism corridor” that exists around the site and suggested that council wouldn’t be following its code of conduct by moving ahead with the plan.

Finally, they panned the idea of a gravel pit because of how other pits are handled in the county and beyond.

After the numerous speakers addressed the issue, Mayor Glen McNeil thanked them for keeping their comments respectful and adhering to the five-minute time limit per speaker.

Rebecca Garrett and Jennifer Morris also spoke to the issue as a deputation during the meeting, reiterating some of the concerns and bringing up new ones. They said they were frustrated with the lack of response from ACW, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the company behind the gravel pit, Lobo Sand and Gravel. Garrett and Morris said that, with over 10 letters sent, they hadn’t received a single written response.

They also urged council to defer the zoning request to give more time to review the issue.

The duo then also said “the media” was making out the concerned citizens and ACW council to be “adversaries” or “enemies” and that isn’t the case.

They said that council and the community should work together on this issue, adding that aggregate

mining often doesn’t benefit the host community.

Garrett and Morris also spoke about the support their group, the Friends of Balls Bridge and the Little Lakes, has garnered including 3,000 signatures on a Change.org petition protesting the development, the aforementioned 150 letters of objection, a Facebook group boasting 700 members and 20,000 page interactions per week and a popular website.

The group has also had bake sales to raise funds and hosted other community events.

Finally, the two said the area and the visitors to it are a community, and “just because it’s not a village or a hamlet does not mean [that community] doesn’t exist.”

Whaling-Rae then proceeded with her presentation, saying that Lobo had done its best to meet many of the concerns of the group, including rerouting traffic off of Little Lakes Road on to Londesborough Road through the company’s existing gravel pit, taking on numerous assessments to confirm that no damage would be done to nearby properties or land uses by the presence of the gravel pit including vibration assessments

for Ball’s Bridge and a cultural heritage association for surrounding land uses, and statements, like one from Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, saying that, with changes that had already been implemented, the project could proceed without outstanding concerns.

The proposed use of the 83-acre site follows plans to minimize impact of aggregate extraction which follows provincial, county and municipal rules, she said, and noise impact studies have shown that the proposed pit won’t adversely affect neighbouring uses.

The proposal also fits the area, she said, because the proposed pit site is primarily surrounded by land with agricultural and extraction uses.

Whaling-Rae said the conclusion she had to come to, following planning best practices and various rules, was to recommend the development.

Several council members, including Councillor Bill Vanstone, Jennifer Miltenburg and DeputyMayor Roger Watt said they felt more time was needed to review the issue, and, as a result, council unanimously passed a motion to defer it to the June 21 meeting.

Smashin’ and Crashin’ at the

Clinton Spring Fair Friday, June 3, 4 & 5, 2022

Friday, June 3 (Gates open at 5:00 pm)

Let’s ride Earlier this month, the Hensall 4-H White Squirrel Sports Club met at the McNaughton Trail in Exeter. There, the group learned about the rules of the road and bike helmet safety before going for a ride around the trail. (Photo submitted)

Fundraising group to keep goal The committee fundraising for the renovation and expansion project at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre plans to keep its current timeline, regardless of Huron East Council’s schedule on the project.

Huron East Council heard from the group at council’s May 17 meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom. At the meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts recommended not accepting the only tender received for the project, which came in more than $1.6 million over the alreadyincreased budget. However, he amended his recommendation, saying some late discussions with the contractor provided some hope for cost savings. As a result, he asked council to defer a decision on the tender until council’s June 7 meeting, at which he plans to present an updated report.

Dan Fritz of the committee spoke to council, joined by others involved in the committee, such as Brian Ten Pas, Doug McArter, Roxane Nicholson and John Van Vliet, as well as fundraising profesional Nicole Jutzi, who has been hired by the municipality for the project.

Fritz said his group requested to speak to council that night not to argue with McRoberts’ recommendation to delay awarding of the tender until this fall, meaning construction wouldn’t begin until next spring. He did say, however, that the results were disappointing,

only receiving one tender that was over budget.

He said he would love to recommend that council continue to “fight the good fight” on the project and have “shovels in the ground tomorrow”, but he acknowledged that the discussion is much more complicated than that, with the project being funded from taxpayers’ dollars and donated money.

By way of an update on the fundraising efforts of the committee, Fritz said there has been strong support for the project out in the community. He told councillors that the committee exceeded its minimum campaign target of $1.5 million in under one month, which was very encouraging.

He also said the campaign goal has been revised to reflect the rising costs with a final goal of $3.1 million.

Fritz told council that the committee has a plan in place for the “Inspiring Our Future” campaign with a finish line of February of 2023. Fritz said that, regardless of council’s direction with the exception of council pulling the plug on the project completely, which no one favoured - the committee hoped to continue its work and keep the same deadline in order to preserve the momentum of the campaign.

He said it’s very important that the committee continues the work of the campaign, saying that the

plan is working and the results demonstrate that clearly.

Nicholson agreed with Fritz, saying that the work of the committee was really “just getting started” and that there are more funds out there for them to tap into.

She also said that the committee will be very clear with council as to the funds being raised when it comes to cash in hand versus pledges being made. The committee has allowed donors to spread pledges over a period of five years, which was approved by council at an earlier meeting. She said some people are wanting to donate all at once, while others are wanting to spread it out over two or more years. When the committee reports to council, she said, the figures will always be very clear when it comes to how much money the committee has actually raised and how much has been pledged to the project, but not yet received.

Mayor Bernie MacLellan cited the figures presented by Fritz and said he is really impressed with what has been accomplished by the committee.

He said there is reason to be optimistic when it comes to the tender, though he couldn’t share specifics. He said staff is working tirelessly behind the scenes and wants the project to be successful and he hoped to be able to report some very good news in the coming weeks, even in the face of the high tender cost.

General Admission: $12.00; Children (6 to 12 years) $8.00; Children (5 years and under) FREE

5:00 pm 6:00 pm

- Fair Opens - Junior and homecraft Exhibits Open - Complex, Bubble Soccer North end of Racetrack - Demolition Derby - Racetrack - Arena Closes

8:00 pm 9:00 pm

Saturday, June 4 (Gates open at 9:00 am) Group of 4: $8.00 Single: $4.00 Children (5 years and under) FREE

9:00 am 10:00 am

- Arena Opens - Poultry and Goat Displays, Farmers’ Market, Baby Show (Arena floor), Youth Activities (Arena floor & outside), Bubble Soccer, Comic Con Event inside Libro Hall, Smashing & Crashing at the Fair - Upper level parking lot at complex.

11:00 am - Open Car Show - Upper level parking lot at complex, Miniature Horse Display Outdoor ring north of REACH Huron, Mini Tractor Pedal Pull (Arena floor), Garden Tractor Pull - East side of racetrack 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm - Wrestling Show inside Libro Hall 12:00 pm - Axe Throwing - Upper level parking lot at Complex 1:15 - 2:00 pm - Wrestling Show inside Libro Hall 2:30 - 3:15 pm - Wrestling Show inside Libro Hall 2:30 pm - Pet Show - on the grass beside Livestock Barn 7:00 pm - Kim Mitchell Concert - Grandstand 9:00 pm - Arena Closes

Sunday, June 5 (12:00 noon - 4:00 pm) Midway Bracelet Day

www.clintonspringfair.com For more information contact Janet at 519-482-7925

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022. PAGE 3.

Provincial candidates answer ‘Citizen’ questions

Lisa Thompson PC Party

Shelley Blackmore Liberal Party

Just ahead of the June 2 provincial election in Ontario, The Citizen sent each candidate the same seven questions to help readers learn more about the candidates and where they stand on the issues of the day.

Below are the answers from incumbent MPP Lisa Thompson of the Progressive Conservative Party, Shelley Blackmore of the Liberal Party, Laurie Hazzard of the NDP, Matthew Van Ankum of the Green Party, Matt Kennedy of the New Blue Party and Gerrie Huenemoerder of the Ontario Party. Bruce Eisen of the Ontario Alliance and independent Ron Stephens did not respond by the deadline.

Just a reminder that the views presented by each candidate are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Citizen or North Huron Publishing.

1. Tell our readers about yourself, your political experience and your community involvement.

Lisa Thompson, PC: Over the last decade, I have appreciated the support of the residents of HuronBruce. I have and continue to make significant efforts to ensure everyone at Queen’s Park knows that Huron – Bruce matters.

This election is about building the right economic conditions to attract investments and growth, to ensure that our children and our grandchildren have a future full of opportunities. It is about growing our workforce and investing in infrastructure. It’s about building more homes so that families can live, work, grow and retire in this beautiful part of the province. And I, and the Ontario PC party understand that.

I have been honoured to serve as the MPP for Huron-Bruce and as a cabinet minister. Huron-Bruce constituents can trust that, in me, they have a strong, respected voice at the cabinet table. If re-elected, an Ontario PC government will continue to put the growth and success of Huron-Bruce’s agricultural and small businesses at the forefront.

There is more to do and I will get it done.

Shelley Blackmore (Liberal): My name is Shelley Blackmore, and I am a retired principal. I worked for the Avon Maitland District School Board for 38 years.

My husband, David and I live on a farm in Howick Township. We have three children and six grandchildren. I have travelled extensively and enjoy learning about other cultures. In my leisure time, I ride my horse, and I am an avid hiker, currently hiking the Bruce Trail.

Laurie Hazzard Matthew Van Ankum Matt Kennedy Gerrie Huenemoerder Green Party NDP New Blue Party Ontario Party

As a volunteer, I have been on the Board of the Huron Perth Centre for Youth and Children, the North Perth Community of Character, and held leadership roles as a volunteer for the United Way Perth-Huron.

My husband and I were foster parents for the Huron Perth Children’s Aid Society. In all of these roles, I have been an advocate for those who need help, and I see my role as your MPP in much the same way. I don’t have all the answers, but I know where to find them and I’ll work hard to find solutions for my constituents.

I have a good understanding of agriculture, having lived on two farms, raising sheep and horses. As a mother and a grandmother, I am passionate about protecting our environment and way of life for future generations. I have a proven track record of following through for those who need my help. I have the experience, energy and leadership skills to best represent our beautiful riding of HuronBruce.

Laurie Hazzard (NDP): My name is Laurie Hazzard, your NDP candidate for Huron-Bruce.

I’m running to be Huron-Bruce’s next MPP because I love this riding and province, and I believe in its promise. I know that together, we can get back on track and finally fix what matters most.

I was a nurse for nearly 15 years and made a career change to a teacher where I taught at Seaforth High School and later became viceprincipal there. In 1999, I led a team as principal to set up the first full service online secondary school in the province: the Avon Maitland Distance Education Centre. In 2004, I joined the Ontario Ministry of Education where I helped develop the province’s eLearning strategy and oversaw the development of Kindergarten to Grade 12 digital resources for our public schools.

Since I retired, I’ve spent it giving back to my community of Bayfield, where I’ve lived for the past 25 years. I’m a member of the Bayfield Ukulele Society and during the pandemic ran a Zoom ukulele program for the Huron County Alzheimer’s Society. I’m also part of a team leading a new grassroots movement called “Blue Schools”, a project to promote education about the global water crisis.

My entire life has been dedicated to improving the lives around me.

Huron-Bruce deserves an MPP who will work to improve their lives, not cut billions from health care and education.

Matthew Van Ankum (Green): I am a farmer in northern Huron County. I love trees, fresh air,

sunshine and a good barbecue. I live with my wife Danielle of 18 years, my two boys and a house full of Great Danes. My 100-acre farm has cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens making up the mix. Farm products are “direct” marketed or sold through restaurants and delis, supporting regenerative agriculture.

I enjoy carpentry and do-it-yourself stuff around the house. I have built my first timber-frame cabin and I look forward to another slightly bigger project.

I attended the University of Guelph, class of OAC 97, majoring in Environmental Biology. The war in the Ukraine and the DGR proposed for storing nuclear waste

by Teeswater have both encouraged me to become more involved in politics. I value knowledge of both local and global conflict, how they are interrelated and how important it is for the community to be aware of conflicts, working together towards resolution and a better world for children.

Matt Kennedy (New Blue): I was born and raised in Kitchener where I grew up in a family of hardworking people who impressed upon me the duty to serve your community. I attended Conestoga College and earned my Certified Financial Planner designation while working for one of Canada's largest life and health insurance companies in product development. I had always possessed a very strong desire to serve my community as a police officer and realized a lifelong dream when I was hired in 2019.

I currently live in Exeter with my wife, Janie, and our beagle, Ella.

We enjoy exploring the beautiful shores of Lake Huron.

Gerrie Huenemoerder (Ontario Party): I was born and raised in rural Ontario. I love the country and small communities. I am an entrepreneur and business owner and have been most of my adult life. I am a mother of three adult children and a grandmother of two.

I ran in the 2018 election because I was very concerned about where our province and country is heading. I am much more concerned now four years later. I see a huge erosion of freedoms and I am very concerned for the future of my grandchildren when it comes to having the opportunity to live in a country with opportunity and freedoms.

That is why I am running, to be able to help the people of Ontario get back some of the freedoms that have been taken from them and be able to take Ontario back. It’s about family, freedom and community.

2. As Ontario continues to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, what do you propose

to jumpstart the economy and ensure a prosperous future?

LT: Behind every small business is an entrepreneur with ambition and determination, enriching the lives and livelihoods of families and communities across HuronBruce. That is why the Ontario PC Party has a plan to continue to support small- and medium-sized businesses that have been acutely impacted by the pandemic.

If re-elected, we will develop Ontario’s Entrepreneurship Strategy, that will set out a bold vision to position the province as the fastest and easiest jurisdiction to start up, sustain and scale up a business.

This will be complemented by a plan to recruit 100 entrepreneurs to start or grow businesses in regions outside of the Greater Toronto Area, while in areas like Huron-Bruce, we’ll

expand access to start-up and growth capital through Venture Ontario.

We’re also helping businesses transform, through programs made popular by champions like Jan Hawley, such as the Digital Main Street Program, which has already helped 41,000 businesses across Ontario increase their online presence.

SB: In Huron-Bruce, small- and medium-sized business have been the backbone of our economy, but during the pandemic, the frequent closures were devastating for this sector. We will eliminate corporate taxes for small businesses hurt by the pandemic for two years. We’ll also loan an additional $300 million to tens of thousands of small business and fund programs that help them go digital and reduce Continued on page 10

The grass will be growing over our graves!

(J. C. Ryle) “It is appointed unto men once to die, and after that to face judgment!” Hebrews: 9:27 All things are growing older—the world is growing old; we ourselves are growing older. A few more summers, a few more winters, a few more sicknesses, a few more sorrows, a few more weddings, a few more funerals, a few more meetings and a few more partings — and then—what? Why, the grass will be growing over our graves!

“Prepare to meet your God!” Amos 4:12 A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, Listowel, ON 519-492-1359

We are happy to announce some exciting news!...

Starting with your June 3rd paper The Citizen will be in your mail on Fridays!

We will have more current news faster!

No more waiting until next week for this week’s news

Deadline for submissions and advertising will be Tuesdays at 2:00 pm 405 Queen St., Blyth

The Citizen

519-523-4792 www.huroncitizen.ca

PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022.

Editorials & Opinions

Founding Publisher: Keith Roulston Publisher & President: Deb Sholdice Editor: Shawn Loughlin • Reporter: Denny Scott Advertising Sales: Brenda Nyveld

The Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Ph. 519-523-4792 Fax 519-523-9140 E-mail info@northhuron.on.ca Website www.huroncitizen.ca

The Citizen is published 51 times a year in Blyth, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $45.00/year ($42.86 + $2.14 G.S.T.) in Canada; $190.00/year in U.S.A. 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. 4 p.m.

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 429 BLYTH ON N0M 1H0 email: info@northhuron.on.ca

Member CCNA

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.

Member of the Ontario Press Council We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright

Backlash over backlash Muslim leaders in London, Ontario found themselves on the receiving end of pushback after expressing their frustration at the image of two women in hijabs about to kiss on a University of Western Ontario poster promoting gay rights. The university ended up deleting the image from its social media only hours after putting it up as part of its promotion of International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, which included depictions of several couples, all illustrations.

By removing the image that offended the imams, critics immediately voiced their concerns that the university was capitulating to homophobia at a time when LGBTQ+ Muslims need to be represented and respected.

On Thursday, the London Council of Imams tried to calm the situation by issuing a statement trying to clarify their position, saying that they were offended only by the inclusion of the hijab, which has religious and spiritual significance. Despite the imams’ statement that, “We want to do our part to promote understanding and harmony among the diverse people who live on these lands and who share many common goals and values, even as we differ on many issues,” their demand to remove the offensive image appeared to many to accomplish the opposite of promoting understanding.

One has to wonder if their only objection is really to the hijab being included in the poster, and where that leaves Muslim women who identify as LGBTQ+ in their society. – DS

Stuck in the middle While he narrowly avoided losing the support of the United Conservative Party in Alberta, earning the votes of just 51.4 per cent of the membership, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney then promptly stepped down from the position. When it comes to leadership confidence votes, many view between 75 and 80 per cent as the bare minimum to stay in a leadership role. Kenney received 17,638 of the 34,298 votes cast.

Political pundits have said that Kenney found himself in a middle ground in one of the country’s most conservative provinces; not going far enough with COVID-19 measures for left-leaning Albertans and going too far for those on the far right wing (a statement that would stun readers back in 2019 when Kenney was elected premier as one of the most right-wing premiers in the country).

Kenney’s grim fate and the meteoric rise of Pierre Poilievre, who is seeking to be the leader of the federal Conservatives, signal what could possibly be the end of unifying politics that work to meet in the middle of conservative- and liberal-leaning voters. The death of the centrist.

While people have called Jean Charest a dinosaur for other reasons, and have criticized Patrick Brown’s return, saying his time has come and gone, it could be true that their aims of unifying a deeply divided Canada could be goals of a political world that is dead and buried.

This type of political extremism has already taken hold in the U.S. and in many other countries, creating a situation in which talking politics with your neighbour who may draw his X in a different box than you is more difficult than it used to be; perhaps even impossible.

Canadians are a very divided people right now, much of it fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated control measures. Some politicians say they want to help unite the country, but perhaps the country is telling those politicians they don’t want to be united. – SL

Get out and vote Ontarians (and most people) have had a rough go of it since the last Ontario general election in 2018. Between the lockdowns, the protests and the slow road to recovery, everyone has been faced with difficult times over the past four years and most people blame politicians.

Fortunately, strife like what everyone has weathered does provide one thing: a breeding ground for new political candidates and parties.

With the plethora of new politicians and parties, even in the HuronBruce riding, it becomes more important than ever to become an active participant in the election process. Whether you think one of these new parties has all the answers, or believe that these new candidates are an unwelcome symptom of the COVID-19 recovery, there has never been a more important time to vote. New parties may find success, or they may split the votes that made the difference in the previous election.

So, whether you think we should hold the course with Premier Doug Ford and his Conservative Party, represented locally by incumbent MPP Lisa Thompson, or whether you think that it’s time for a change, the important thing here is that you get out and vote.

Huron-Bruce, as a riding, had a 63.5 per cent turnout during the 2018 election, which was called impressive because it was higher than 56 per cent the province boasted. In reality, a 63.5 per cent is barely a passing grade in Ontario schools, so Huron-Bruce needs to do better and everyone needs to get out and vote and make sure that the person who represents Huron-Bruce, and every other riding, really has the majority of people that live there behind them. – JDS

Looking Back Through the Years May 27, 1965 The last Girl Guide meeting of the season was held on May 18 and members entertained their mothers as part of the program.

The Huron County Tuberculosis Association was planning to host its annual dinner meeting on May 31 in Seaforth. At the meeting, Dr. Neville Lefcoe of London would be the guest speaker. His subject was “Research in Lung Disease Today”.

Twenty members of the Melville Women’s Guild met in the parlour of the church for their monthly meeting. Rev. Jim Perrie offered “Fallow Ground” as his speaking topic and the meeting concluded with a jumbled word contest under the direction of Mildred Perrie.

Mary Huether led the group in prayer and President Mrs. Aileen Mutter handled the business portion of the meeting.

The Brussels United Church had a busy day lined up on Sunday, May 30 with its annual Flower Sunday Service set for 11 a.m. and its youth service at 8 p.m. Rev. Doug Steven was set to be the guest speaker for the youth service.

May 28, 1975 The Blyth Industrial Softball League was set to begin its season on June 1 with a game between the Lawrie Decorators and Radford’s Gravel Giants, followed by a late game between the Atlas Raw Hides and Manning’s Lumber Kings.

Doreen Anderson and Dale Lougheed from the Belgrave area were both members of the Lucknow Concert Band, which made its way around southern Ontario for a tour.

The band played concerts at schools in Burgessville, Norwich, Oakville and Burlington before being part of the Lions Club Convention parade in Hamilton.

The Belgrave Women’s Institute sponsored a petition asking for a slow-traffic sign to be installed at the eastern approach to Belgrave.

Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part II had made its way to Huron County, with show times at the Park Theatre in Goderich.

May 28, 1997 Dianne Cunningham, the Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues, was in Clinton on May 26 for the launch of The Joke’s Over, a CD-ROM created by former Central Huron Secondary School students Robert Kamp, Jason Bell, Erin Maaskant and Matthew Maaskant. The project aimed to tackle sexual harassment in schools.

The Huron County Historical Society elected its slate of officers for the coming year, naming David Yates of Goderich as president. He took over for Paul Carroll of Seaforth.

The Auburn United Church Women celebrated the group’s 35th anniversary with a special meeting.

Pat Milliken, the rural outreach and service co-ordinator of the London Conference of the United Church Women, was the guest speaker. She addressed her work with the groups and her outreach with rural women.

With the Blyth Festival ready to open its 23rd season on June 20, Artistic Director Janet Amos was busy casting the opening show, Anne Chislett’s Quiet in the Land.

Canadian stage legends David Fox and Jerry Franken would play the lead roles of Christy and Zepp, respectively. There would also be some adult and child roles filled by locals, including Anne Elliott, Floyd Herman, John Battye, Scott Bouman, Kendra Fry, Lindsay Gibson and Cappy Onn.

May 24, 2012 The Huron County Plowmen’s Association set its sights on hosting the 2017 International Plowing Match. If the association’s bid was successful, it would mark the fifth time the county hosted the match.

The 2017 match would be the 100th International Plowing Match held in Ontario. This came a few years after the event marked its 100th anniversary - the disparity comes due to several matches not being held due to World War II. To bolster its bid, the association was then on the hunt for three candidate sites.

Blyth’s Alex Peters won gold in both the 100- and 200-metre races at the Huron-Perth track and field meet. He also tied for first place in the regional high jump event, but, due to missed jumps earlier in the event, he was awarded second place.

Brussels Cadet leader Paul Dawson completed a walk from Brussels to Walton after losing a bet to the Cadets. He bet them that they wouldn’t be able to fill a 15-litre jug with change for a fundraiser.

They did and he made the long, hot walk on May 20. Several Cadet members joined him along the way.

Local orchards were facing significant crop loss as a result of the weather, specifically a hot spell in March, quickly followed by a sub-zero snap in April that killed many of the blossoms that would normally beautify local orchards in mid-May. Lewis Cardiff of Mait-Side Orchards in Brussels said he had lost a significant portion of his crop, adding that similar losses were being experienced all over the province.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022. PAGE 5.

Other Views

Only today matters, apparently

S

ince I’m an old guy with a limited time left on this earth, you’d think I’d be absorbed in the present, yet I find myself depressed by the human propensity to forget the near past and live for the moment.

Apparently, for instance, the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, but as I write this, a little research shows that 16 people died yesterday and more than 1,000 were reported to have contracted the disease in Ontario. Yet, when Jill and I went grocery shopping the other day, far fewer customers and staff wore masks than didn’t. We felt a little out of place, yet we were concerned enough about our health to keep the masks.

Meanwhile, conservative commentators have been attacking our federal government over the size of the deficit in the past couple of years, conveniently forgetting the emergency of the pandemic and the need for extraordinary spending to support businesses that had to close their doors and protect people who could no longer work. Listening to critics, it’s as if the COVID-19 crisis didn’t exist.

If anything’s worse, it’s the situation south of the border. Recent polls suggest President Joe Biden is hugely unpopular and people are likely to vote for the Republicans in the midterm elections this fall. Voters seem to entirely forget that Republican leaders twisted themselves into pretzels: first condemning the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump who swallowed his propaganda that the election was stolen from him, then arguing that there was no real insurrection at all and the Jan. 6 investigation is just a Democratic Party political stunt.

People today are so upset by the rise in the price of food and gas they’re willing to

Keith Roulston From the cluttered desk overlook that Trump-supporting Republican legislators have passed extraordinary laws that will make it harder for the sort of people more likely to vote for the Democrats to vote, and easier to throw out their ballots if they do vote.

The price of gas matters more than democracy, apparently.

Part of the reason the cost of living has gone up, of course, is not only the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 fights, but the market interruptions caused by the war in Ukraine. The price of gas, for instance, has risen partly because Europe depended on Russia for much of its petroleum supply and cutting off this revenue for Russia has created a shortage for the rest of the world.

One can hardly blame Ukrainian leaders for worrying that people in the U.S., Canada, Germany and other NATO countries will get tired of the sacrifices they make and turn against governments that support the little country that was attacked by its gigantic, undemocratic neighbour. Already some prominent U.S. leaders like Trump and Senator Rand Paul, who recently held up a vote on a support package to Ukraine, feel Americans should support Russia.

Then, closer to home, there’s the fight over the Conservative Party leadership. Pierre Poilievre, the race’s leader, recently attacked the policies of the Bank of Canada and pledged

to replace bank governor Tiff Macklem if he becomes Prime Minister. The trouble is there is a long-held policy of all political parties that the government should not interfere in the bank’s functioning.

Over in Europe, sanity narrowly prevailed as the majority of voters in France supported the moderate Emmanuel Macron, over Marine Le Pen, past supporter of Russia’s Vladimir Putin, in the recent presidential election. Meanwhile, of course, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, president of Turkey, who has become infamous for his antidemocratic manoeuvres, has threatened to prevent the efforts of ultra-democratic Sweden and Finland to join NATO. It’s enough to resurrect Winston Churchill’s famous comment that “democracy is the worst form of government – except for all the others that have been tried.” Sometimes, to support democracy, it takes the utmost in good faith that the common man and woman actually know ow to choose who will govern us. And yet, as Churchill said, you only have to look at countries like Russia, where the common people have turned over the decision-making to a dictator, to see the importance of democratic choice.

But democracy depends on a public that makes an effort to make the right choice. To make a wise choice we need to make the effort to learn before we go into the voting poll. It’s ironic that we have more information and opinion thrown at us today than at any time in history. Too many people choose the comfort of only listening to the people they agree with, and not listening to a wide variety of news.

We’re coming up to a test of democracy in Ontario with the provincial election. Get out and vote – and think about who you support.

Guns don’t kill people, social media does

N

ew York’s Attorney General Letitia James will be investigating some social media services for the part they may have played in the devastating shooting that took place in Buffalo, just over the border, on May 14.

The horrific incident of the day is one that, unfortunately, won’t be remembered long by the world at large, thanks to the sheer amount of gun violence that happens in the United States, but it will always be notable for the fact that there is no question about what caused it: guns and the radicalization of already-racist people.

And while most of the world may be behind that, James seems to think that the internet is to blame.

This isn’t me defending the internet, this is me asking when we are going to just hold people accountable? It doesn’t matter which technological era we live in, people are always quick to blame something other than the people involved. Take Columbine, for example. The Columbine High School massacre took place just over 23 years ago and while the gunmen were blamed, everyone wanted to spread that blame to someone or something that had little to do with the shooters acquiring guns or pulling the trigger.

There were plenty of mental health pressures in play, which we now know, nearly a quartercentury later, can lead to people like the gunmen feeling they have no way out. They faced school-wide bullying and embarrassment and were driven further and further into isolation by people who did nothing about it.

However, instead of addressing the causes of the problem (the widespread bullying, the alleged ignorance of said bullying and gun culture) many media organizations, politicians and even church leaders were quick to point the finger at everything but the United States’ love affair with firearms and casual acceptance of bullying.

Denny Scott Denny’s Den From rockstar Marilyn Manson to video games to the gunmen’s (erroneously identified) sexual identities, everything except the people who could be responsible were blamed for these two young men killing other people.

I’m not going Bowling for Columbine here (though Michael Moore and I both do enjoy wearing red hats) - everything played a part in the development of the gunmen and their decision, including, yes, video games and the music they listened to (however it was later revealed they didn’t think too highly of Manson).

The missing factor here, however, is choice.

They chose to do this and no one is responsible for that except them. Every other factor can be tied to millions of people who don’t do what they did.

Every time there is another one of these horrifying incidents (which happen far too frequently) where the perpetrators either end their own lives or are killed, people look for a reason but ignore the agency of the people involved. That doesn’t seem to be such a problem when the gunmen are taken alive, but once they're dead, apparently people need a reason beyond, “They woke up and chose to be evil that day.”

So, just like the media, politicians and churches wanted to blame video games and music alone for the Columbine shooter’s actions, James is now looking into how social media enabled the Buffalo shooter to “discuss and amplify his intentions and acts”.

What’s next? Are we going to string up

Alexander Graham Bell’s descendants because of the role that telephones play in planning crimes? Or how about Steve Jobs’ surviving family - I’m sure iPhones (and the other smart devices that follow) are used in crime all the time. Actually, while we’re at it, maybe we should see if Al Gore still feels responsible for the internet, and investigate him for every crime that has occurred on or been enabled by the world wide web. Are we going to try and find everyone related to Johannes Gutenberg to blame them for any crime that involved the printed word?

The simple fact is that communication technology, and the companies behind it, aren’t responsible for how individuals use them.

Sure, an argument can be made for trying to prevent companies or nations from using social media to unduly influence an election, but, unless we want to have a party line with the government whenever we’re communicating in any way but face-to-face conversation, there’s no way to blame or control communications companies or websites.

We’re not talking about organizations that are actively trying to avoid law enforcement or flagrantly break rules, we’re talking about groups that are using technology to give people a way to connect. Yes, there will be bad actors who will try to use any technology to nefarious ends, but that’s just human nature. There will always be bad actors.

The reality is that any crackdown on one platform will just send those with a nefarious agenda to another social media platform and there are dozens of them out there. That game of digital Whac-A-Mole will never end. So instead of focusing on how people are talking about or even broadcasting their crimes, maybe our southern neighbours should focus on just being kinder to one another. I’d love to say that’s a lesson they could take from us, but it’s one many Canadians seem to have forgotten in this day and age as well.

Shawn Loughlin Shawn’s Sense

Breaking up

W

ell, everyone – I’m 40. Thanks for coming along for the ride with me.

Those reflections on age were so successful that I’ve been compelled to stick with them. So, here is the first in a 51-column series that will reflect on turning 41. Who better than a 40-year-old to write them?

God, could you imagine? Reflecting was nice and even if four parts were a bit too flabby and self-indulgent, it did seem to connect with people, but it is, indeed, time to move on.

So, I guess this means we’re back to our regularly-scheduled programming for this space, which, I’ve learned over the last year or two, means different things to different people.

A lot of the recent politicking at all levels of government has me thinking about how the connection between us and our politicians is quite similar to that of a romantic relationship.

It starts with so much promise (both in the metaphorical sense and, in most cases, with actual promises – a staple of any political campaign), but then, more often than not, a politician will let you down in one way or another. The result is then taking the time to think things over and, perhaps, breaking up.

I have broken up with more than a few politicians over the years, at all levels, vowing never to put my X beside their name again.

The reasons, of course, have varied depending on the situation. There have been party policies or actions, personal interactions with representatives or votes that have just rubbed me the wrong way over the years.

Without trying to start World War III within our readership (perhaps that reference needs to be updated to World War IV if we’re as close to World War III as many think we are - kind of like the saying about avoiding something like the plague, as people have shown they will not necessarily avoid the plague) I will say that, while some representatives have been better than others, we have been lucky enough in this area to have people who at least seem to do their best to represent the area. But what happens when the break-up is initiated from the other side? That can be tricky.

When independent MPP Randy Hillier announced he would not seek re-election next month, a lot was written about him and his role in the Ottawa convoy, his beliefs about COVID-19 and the government’s response, vaccination and more. One thing that was lost in all but a few pieces was the fact that the people of the Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston riding lost a representative at Queen’s Park.

I read a letter to the editor in one of the local newspapers and then saw the equivalent of what used to be called a “streeter” where the media spoke to a number of residents about how they felt about Hillier’s representation.

Those people were left behind and they felt left behind. Of course, there are some residents who were likely thrilled with the work of their representative, but many felt like the neglected children of someone who had moved on.

This isn’t to pick on Hillier. There have been others who have been ejected from their party and essentially, to tie it all together, broke up with their constituents. They went on the warpath to espouse their views on the world, rather than the views of those they represent.

And when that happens, the focus always tends to be on the rogue politician, rather than the people who are left without a champion.

Policies can change and promises can be broken, but when you vote, at any level, seek out the person you think would best represent you. That mandate of the job - whether it be federal, provincial or municipal - maybe isn’t as clearly defined as it should be.

PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022.

At the Branch

Davis wins final night of dart play at Brussels branch

By Jo-Ann McDonald It was a quiet week and weekend last week at the Brussels Legion

Branch. The final night of darts was held and there were 14 darters out for the final night of play. After

playing three regular games and four skill games, winners were: first, Rhonda Davis and Tyler

Season opener The Clinton Raceway held its season-opening race day on the weekend, welcoming fans and competitors alike to take in the action. (John Stephenson photo)

Lack of public input questioned Continued from page 1 them into one north fire district, phasing out the Seaforth department into a south district (both over the course of the next five years), undertake formal discussions with Huron County on the potential for a lease-based takeover of the Brussels fire hall for the Brussels paramedic services base and to establish a working group from the Grey and Brussels fire districts and the public works department to develop designs for a new public works north operations centre/north fire district fire hall.

Before council discussed the matter, MacLellan said that, in light of the changes being proposed in the first half of the motion and the information some councillors were hearing for the first time regarding the lack of standardization in the departments, he felt council should delay any potential organizational changes for several years. He said the departments should let the changes run their course and then council could re-evaluate the situation in three years’ time.

Several councillors were highly critical of the lack of public consultation on the matter after they felt there was a certain understanding that Huron East staff and council would solicit feedback from both residents and firefighters on the potential merging of the two departments.

Fisher spoke up first, saying he was of the opinion that public consultation should have been part of the process and that any further decision should be delayed until at least 2023 or 2024.

Councillor Justin Morrison said that while he was the member who made the motion to ask for more information on McRoberts’ original proposal, he was under the impression that the public would be consulted. He said that those he’s spoken with made it clear that public consultation “has not happened on the scale that it should have” and he felt that if the issue is to return in a few years’ time, it would have to be after the residents of Brussels and Grey have been

thoroughly surveyed on the matter.

Councillor Dianne Diehl said she agreed with Morrison. “The public consultation is a huge miss in all of this.”

She said council passing the first five recommendations made sense, but that the municipality needs a better sense of “what everyone is thinking” on the issue and that it should maybe be revisited in the next three, four or five years.

Councillor Alvin McLellan agreed, saying he found it “very disheartening” to see the words “phase out” in the report. Wording like that, he said, really draws a line in the sand, so he wasn’t surprised to see the response from the community.

He also decried the lack of public consultation and said that, with ongoing development in communities like Ethel and Cranbrook, now is not the time to be reducing fire services in the community, but perhaps looking at enhancing them.

Mayor MacLellan then defended the report, calling it a “chicken and egg” situation. The way he interpreted it was that the report would start a conversation and public consultation process and that couldn’t begin without a recommendation on the table. He added that he never thought council would pass a recommendation that night.

McRoberts said that, given the apparent direction of council, he would recommend that any organizational changes for the municipality’s fire departments be delayed for a minimum of three years to allow for the changes proposed in the first motion to take effect.

In regards to public consultation, McRoberts said he intentionally avoided it, saying there was no point in upsetting residents about potential drastic changes if that wasn’t the direction council was planning on taking.

In his report, he said he consulted with Fire Chief Marty Bedard, Brussels and Grey firefighters, Huron County, a real

estate advisor and a building consultant.

Morrison said he disagreed with MacLellan and McRoberts. He said that, like McLellan stated, the fiveyear timeline really draws a line in the sand with the public, adding that, if council decides to phase out the department in five years, that timeline is set as far as the public is concerned.

Council then voted on the remaining four recommendations, defeating the motion unanimously in a recorded vote.

BOYER’S DELEGATION MacLellan welcomed Grey Fire Chief Gary Boyer to address council as a delegation at the meeting. This came after some back-and-forth over the course of the weekend as to whether Boyer would be allowed to speak to council.

Before Boyer spoke, MacLellan raised a number of points. He relayed the history of the potential amalgamation of the Brussels and Grey Fire Departments, saying the concept dated back to a report prepared by McRoberts late last year that outlined a number of initiatives to be investigated in the new year.

He said that while some people may question some of the information presented by McRoberts in his report, it represents the hard data and “black and white information” that can be easily verified in regards to statistics and historical records.

What was missing, however, is how such a decision would affect the public. He said that’s council’s responsibility to ascertain and take into consideration before making a big decision.

He also stated that, in his time on Huron East Council, which is now over 20 years, he didn’t feel council had ever attempted to rush anything through and that this would have been no exception. If council were to give this consideration, however, the municipality had to start somewhere.

MacLellan also cited his weekend phone call with Boyer, saying he Continued on page 11

Verbeek; second, Lynda Davis, Rob Anderson and Kathy Burkholder; high, Tyler hitting 140 and Dean Lewis, 120. Following the darts there was a short presentation. Most high shots went to Tyler, 161, Rhonda, 140 and Sandra Brown.

Rhonda was presented with her 140 pin. Most high shots went to Tyler and Shawn Daw. Most high starts went to John Stadelmann and Ty Sebastian. High finishes went to Tyler with 132. The skunk award was presented to Kathy Burkholder.

Darts will resume again in October.

Thanks to all who came out and have a great summer The Catch the Ace draw was held Friday night and the lucky weekly winner was B.J. Hummel who won $192. He chose envelope number seven and the queens of clubs was revealed. The estimated jackpot for next week will be 3,200. The pub grub was burgers. The month will end with a trio of events. The draw will happen, we hope, the pub grub will be poutine and they will have some fun with Stubby D on hand for karaoke. Stop in and have a bite and exercise your voice!

The Military Service Recognition Book submissions had to be sent in last week. I am pleased to say I was able to submit 37 stories of veterans who served from the Brussels area from World War I and World War II. I have to thank my “couldn’t do

without my helper at times” Glenda Morrison for her assistance. I tried to cover all the Charter Members of the Brussels Legion 218, formed in 1931, plus others The Brussels Lions met on the holiday Monday to enjoy their final meal and meeting for the term.

They have some special meetings to hold, but the Legion is not involved. Thanks to Legion members Jo-Ann, Judy, Marni and Mabel for helping out with the meal.

NEWS FROM BRUSSELS

Getting Married?

Announce your upcoming wedding in

The Citizen Call or email to book your ad today 519-523-4792 info@northhuron.on.ca

Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner Winning Ticket: B.J. Hummel $192 Envelope #7 found the Queen of Clubs Estimated jackpot for May 27 is $3,200

A r e yo u t i r e d o f g e t t i n g a s e c o n d - h a n d n ews p a p e r ?

Be first in line and get your own subscription!

One year subscription to

The Citizen only

$

4500

Add the E-edition for only

$

1000 more

Enclosed is $45.00 for a 1-year subscription Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Postal Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

On-line subscriptions available too at huroncitizen.ca

Phone 519-523-4792 or mail cheque made payable to North Huron Publishing to: P.O. Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022. PAGE 7.

Harman, Smith top local euchre game From Marilyn’s Desk

By Marilyn Craig Call 523-9318

Another year, another run This year’s Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund Run Around the Square went ahead virtually again for the second consecutive year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event’s top sponsor, Bruce Power, continued its support, pledging $1,500 to the run this year. Fund board member Jessica Loughlin, left, and Run Around the Square Chair Brenda Orr, right, both of Blyth, accepted the donation. (Photo submitted)

Hope everyone had a good weekend for the first long weekend of the summer.

Happy 75th birthday to Niel Edgar of Wingham, who will celebrate on May 29.

Congratulations to Michelle and Jeff Nesbitt, who will celebrate their anniversary on May 30.

Winners of last week’s euchre were: first, Susan Harman, 72 and Harry Smith, 73; second, Linda Campbell, 72 and Pauline McMichael, 71; lone hands, Jewel Plunkett, four and Carol Lahey, two and share the wealth, Doris

NEWS FROM BLYTH McClinchey and Jayne Smyth.

Stay safe everyone and have a good week. Give someone a call to say hi when you have a few minutes to spare.

NH to keep storage building at former works site

By Denny Scott The Citizen

North Huron Township Council has decided to maintain one building for storage at the former public works building and fire hall on Mill Street in Blyth.

The property, which has been debated for some time at council, will be transformed into a parking lot as a result of the decision on Monday night, but one portion of the property will remain as storage for smaller public works equipment.

During council’s May 16 meeting, Director of Public Works

Jamie McCarthy presented a report on the project, saying it would cost $100,000 to change the site into a parking lot.

Councillor Kevin Falconer asked if that included underground water concerns, which have been an issue at the site resulting in structures “sinking” and leading to the decommissioning of the fire hall.

“Do any of the changes address that?” he asked.

McCarthy said there was no easy answer to the question, but when studies for the project were completed, hydrogeologists did research the property.

“These are just estimated costs,” she said. “Truer costs will be

provided before the 2023 budget process.”

Councillor Chris Palmer was the first to address storage concerns, saying that the municipality is “always looking for storage of equipment” and said that the $100,000 price tag probably wouldn’t compare to the small amount of money to keep the buildings in decent shape to house off-season equipment.

“I’d hate for, down the road, an ask for a new building in Wingham [to come forward],” he said. “[Keeping the structures] prevents something like that, and I see that as a good move.”

Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip said

the buildings had been emptied because they can’t be used for people or equipment, and that people often underestimate the amount of money needed to repair and maintain buildings.

He said there are municipal sheds in Blyth, East Wawanosh and Wingham, and that the municipality has to maintain a “significant amount of buildings”.

Seip would later go on to ask if the salt shed, which council eventually did decide to keep, was “necessary to the operation of the municipality” and how much could be saved by not demolishing it.

McCarthy said it would reduce the price by approximately $15,000

and the public works department needs extra storage.

“Equipment is bigger,” she said, adding there is a need for smaller, off-season equipment storage like zero-turn mowers.

Council approved the plan to have the site turned into a parking lot, except for the salt shed, which will be kept for equipment storage.

Feeling Dirty?

Blyth Laundromat 191 Westmoreland St., Blyth 519-523-9687

Good Employees are hard to find

Follow the leader Local photographer Liz Allan was out capturing some nature shots recently, including the above photo of a brood of goslings playing a little game of follow the leader.

Everyone, from amateur shutterbugs to professional photographers are invited to share their images with The Citizen to possibly see them in print. Send your photos to reporter@northhuron.on.ca for a chance to see them in print. (Photo courtesy of Liz Allan of the Maitland Valley Camera Club)

Big Jobs Little Jobs Odd Jobs Even Dirty Jobs

Let us help you find the ideal person!

Place an ad in our classified section in

The Citizen

PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022.

Brussels welcomes new restaurant to main street

New business Hometown Pizza opened its newest site in Brussels over the weekend. The first customers to visit the new shop on the village’s main street were John and Pauleen Kerkhof. Behind the counter is Jess George. (John Stephenson photo)

PEOPLE AROUND WALTON

By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570

In the last article from Walton, I wrote about the hard-working farmers getting the crops in. Then the rain, which was hit and miss, decided to hit more and everything

came to a stop. Some places received three-quarters of an inch of rain and some others received three to four inches of rain. We did hear rumours that some farmers may have to replant some of the corn that is drowning.

The corn that went in first, on good ground and only a little rain, to my surprise has already broken through the ground and was up about two inches on Monday morning. Wow! Ideal growing weather that week helped with heat and rain for some, but not all.

Last week was quite a bit cooler and not a lot of planting was done

H. East Council to return to in-person

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen

Huron East Council hopes to return to in-person meetings this summer, adopting a hybrid model that will keep one of its bi-monthly meetings virtual and the second inperson at the municipal office in Seaforth.

After months of uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health regulations and restrictions, council opted to revisit the issue of returning to in-person council meetings at its second meeting of the month, every month, until a final decision could be made.

Council debated the issue at its May 17 meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom.

Councillor Zoellyn Onn was the first to chime in, proposing a hybrid model that would keep one bimonthly meeting virtual and the second in-person. She said that most people have shown they are able to adapt to virtual meetings and they can provide cost savings and reduced transportation in the winter months.

Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts said the savings realized would be nominal, really amounting just to mileage costs, as

councillors still get paid a full meeting fee for virtual meetings.

However, Councillor Joe Steffler pointed out that savings are savings and he was in favour of Onn’s hybrid suggestion.

Councillor Brenda Dalton said she’d like to see a full return to inperson meetings, given the “hitand-miss” nature of internet connectivity in some of the more rural regions of Huron East.

Deputy-Mayor Bob Fisher agreed.

However, council voted in favour of Onn’s recommendation, moving to one hybrid meeting and one inperson meeting per month for the foreseeable future.

Mayor Bernie MacLellan suggested revisiting the meeting structure in the fall, ahead of the winter, saying that if hybrid meetings could help keep councillors off the roads when the weather is bad, it should be considered further.

McRoberts said staff would work to determine if the first or second meeting of the month would be virtual and present that to council.

He also said that, because meeting notices have already been sent out for the next month, the new hybrid structure would not officially be adopted until council’s July meetings.

because of the rain hitting on and off for a few days. We even had frost on May 18. I remember the Victoria Day weekend in 2013, we had snow and it was cold. Hope not this year. I am writing this before the long weekend because of the early deadline. It doesn’t sound like it will be a great holiday weekend, but we will wait and see. We hope all had a great time off and a chance to visit with family or friends or both!

When the paper comes out, we will be down to 21 days of school left. The last day of school is June 27. Many schools plan special days for the students’ year-end activities.

The Grade 8 students from Seaforth are already enjoying a four-day adventure on the Bruce Peninsula.

Younger students have trips to Camp Kintail and others are heading to an adventure park in London. Time will fly and school will be over!

Congratulations to Joelle Glanville and her new husband Kraig Reid. The couple was to be wed a year ago, but the pandemic postponed the wedding. They

celebrated their big day on May 2 in Canmore, Alberta. The couple resides in Blackfalds, Alberta.

Joelle is the daughter of Robert and Jackie Glanville of Walton. The groom’s family and friends attended from Nova Scotia. A very special and touching ceremony was conducted by aunt Karen Smith of Cranbrook, who married the couple. It was a beautiful ceremony with the mountain backdrop.

There were many Walton and Brussels family and friends making the trip west including grandparents Lorne and Bonnie Glanville and Joelle’s siblings, brother Edward and Jessica and Jonah Glanville, and sister Melissa, Jordan, Blake and Parker Brand, uncle Andrew McCutcheon with Darlene, Avery, Brett and Claire, friends John and Karen Braecker, Holly Braecker and Blake Cardiff and Olivia and Hillary Beuerman. Jackie reports everyone had a great time and Canmore offered many adventures for everyone and it was beautiful to visit. Congratulations to the newlyweds.

Great news! Hometown Pizza has opened. We hope they had a great weekend and lots of business.

Welcome to Brussels!

Congratulations to Christopher and Danielle Jutzi on the birth of a beautiful little girl. The tiny girl is named Nora Lyn and will be loved by grandparents Jim and Lyn Jutzi and Greg and Nanci Ducharme.

NEWS FROM WALTON Congratulations to all.

Celebrating birthdays this past week were Gerry Ryan, Valerie Shortreed, Jonah Glanville, Hailey Bachert, Alexandra Humphries, Abby McGavin, Jessica Pennington, Megan Bowles, Emma Dalton, Darrell Dalton, Mary Pennington, Owen Jarosz, Teegan McGavin, Kaleb Wilts, Rosemary Baarda, Sharon Dalton, Scott McDonald, David Perrie, Miles Linton, Jolene McNichol, Anne Bosman, Rene Richmond and Emmalee Riley. Happy birthday to all.

Belting it out Jannett Dunbar sang “O’ Canada” to open the race day at the Clinton Raceway on Sunday. (John Stephenson photo)

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022. PAGE 9.

Londesborough Lions duck race set for Sunday experiencing a severe drought and consequently farmers are losing their crops and livestock and their farms as a result.

Oliver Wendell Holmes reminds us that: “The great thing in this world is not so much where we are but in what direction we are moving.”

Ron Nesbitt asked me to remind everyone that the Londesborough Lions Club will be releasing their rubber ducks at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. The ducks are hoping to swim along the Pollard Drain in the area along the property of Al and Barb Bosman at the east end of Trueman Street. Hot dogs and beverages will be available for folks wanting to cheer their duck along and congratulate the winners.

Licensed Lay Worship Leader Sue Barnett led the morning worship at Londesborough United Church on Sunday, May 22. Her theme for the service was, “Whoever loves Me will keep my word,” words spoken by Jesus in John 14: 23.

The Minute for Mission included on this week’s bulletin encouraged people to support the Mission and Service Fund so the United Church of Canada can then support the people of Somalia. That country is

This has created a food shortage.

One in seven children die before the age of five due to malnutrition. The Mission and Service Fund and the

Movin’ on up Several local Lions Club members were recently named to the Lions Clubs International District A9 cabinet.

Penny Overboe, left, of the Londesborough and District Lions Club will serve as the secretary, Zoellyn Onn of the Brussels Lions, centre, will be the Zone 6 chair and Victoria Sider, right, of the Blyth club will be the Zone 7 chair. (Photo submitted)

Council defers renovation issue

By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Amid discouraging results from the tender process for the renovation and expansion of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, Huron East Council has pressed pause on the process until its next meeting in anticipation of some new information.

Council discussed the issue at its May 17 meeting, which was held virtually via Zoom.

Chief Administrative Officer Brad McRoberts presented a report on the matter, recommending that council not accept the tender of Elgin Contracting and Restoration Ltd. The submission came in more than $1.6 million over budget for the already-revised construction budget of over $7 million.

“General indications are that

contractors are generally busy and that there is significant price variability in the current market,” McRoberts said in his review. “As the tender is in excess of the budget, staff are not recommending [awarding] of the tender. The tender documents will be reviewed and a tender submission request will be reissued in the early fall of 2022.”

While he acknowledged that delaying the acceptance of the tender would bump the project until spring of 2023 at the earliest, he said the federal and provincial funding received for the project still had a completion deadline of March 31, 2027.

McRoberts, however, spoke to his report at the meeting, saying he had some late-breaking conversations with the contractor before the meeting, but after he had submitted his report.

He said he couldn’t share specific information or figures, but did say that he spoke with the contractor about finding potential cost savings and he felt the conversation was promising. He said the contractor had to make best guesses for some of the trades involved in the project because he couldn’t get a hold of those professionals by the tender deadline, so that might be another opportunity for savings to be found.

McRoberts said the contractor had agreed to extend the company’s bid offer to June 17, which would allow McRoberts to present an updated report to council at its June 7 meeting for consideration before moving on the tender one way or another.

Council deferred the motion, as per McRoberts’ updated recommendation, to be addressed again at council’s June 7 meeting.

Canadian Foodgrains Bank are endeavouring to offer nutrition education, dietary supplements and treatment for malnutrition. Your dollars are always needed for these funds.

The boom truck has arrived and Woody’s Painting has begun the work on the exterior of Londesborough United. He has been contracted to paint the exterior of the building’s windows and doors. The bell tower will also receive some repairs. The church board recognized a couple of years ago the need for this work, as it is important to preserve a community’s older buildings and also to keep them attractive to the community. Woody’s is a one-man operation and does not welcome conversation. You should be hearing more about this project in the weeks ahead from the board.

Group six was responsible for the program/time of devotion at the Londesborough UCW meeting on May 16. The theme for the service was God’s unchanging love and caring. Supporting scriptures verses read by Brenda Radford were Hebrews 13:8 and James 1:17.

Crystal Whyte read the familiar poem “Footprints”.

While the ladies present enjoyed refreshments prior to the meeting, they perused some Ladies’ Home Journal magazines from 1914 brought by Laura Scott, just to see how the world has changed in over 100 years. Then some facts from 1922 were read and enjoyed, again, to see how things have changed.

Harriet Shillinglaw had the ladies guessing the prices of clothing for young women of that era. The most expensive suit with a long skirt and embellishments sold for $15. There was plenty of laughter and disbelief!

The program ended with a prayer of thanks for God’s love and for the hurting people of the world.

President Catherine Allen conducted the business part of the evening.

NEWS FROM LONDESBORO Crystal Whyte gave an update on things related to Camp Menesetung.

Catherine reminded everyone that funds are still available through our UCW to help children have a camp experience.

Other items on the evening’s agenda were discussed and tentative ideas offered; more to watch for in the coming months.

The group will meet again on June 20.

Wow! June is on the horizon.

Correction In last week’s issue of The Citizen, the MacGregor family farm was misidentified in a story celebrating the 50th anniversary of Don and Kittie MacGregor of Londesborough.

The couple spent their honeymoon in London and at the MacGregor home farm near Londesborough, a Century Farm that has been in the MacGregor family since it was sold to them by the Canada Company.

The Citizen apologizes for the error.

The Citizen

519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114

Advertise your business here!

One of the most read areas of the paper

SUDOKU Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles?

Then you’ll love sudoku. This mindbending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!

Getting good use of the zoom Local photographer Darlene Greydanus captured this awesome avian art recently and decided to share it with The Citizen. While birds are a popular subject, The Citizen welcomes all kinds of photos. Send yours to reporter@northhuron.on.ca for a chance to see them in print. (Photo courtesy of Darlene Greydanus of the Maitland Valley Camera Club)

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022.

Candidates take on recovery, inflation, housing Continued from page 3 regulatory burdens on small businesses. We will eliminate incorporation fees for new business start-ups and launch a one-stop, 311-type service to help businesses navigate government supports.

Significant for Huron-Bruce, we will help the agri-food sector to export more goods. We will support the recovery of restaurants by eliminating HST on prepared foods under $20. We’ll make strategic investments in hard-hit industries like tourism, music, culture and sport.

LH: Tourism and small business are core parts of Huron-Bruce’s economy. They are also two areas that were impacted the hardest in the pandemic.

We will work with the small business community to develop and deliver the support they need to recover and create good-paying jobs.

We will bring in two rounds of the Small Business Recovery Grant, with one payment in 2022 and another in 2023. We’ll ensure that, unlike under Premier Doug Ford, our program is responsive to business owners, and payments are disbursed in a timely manner.

To ensure our tourism communities can thrive, the Ontario NDP will provide a second round of the Tourism Recovery Program to help businesses recover and hire staff. We will also encourage Ontarians to travel within the province and support local tourism by extending the Staycation Tax Credit for another two years. We will evaluate the success of the program at that point and decide whether to make it permanent.

Festivals also play a huge role in the economies of our communities.

We will increase festival funding and work closely with performing artists and cultural workers to develop a recovery plan that gets the sector back on track.

MVA: The real problem is inflation; today listed as 6.8 per cent but it feels like 20 to 30 per cent for the average person. Gas, real estate, rent and groceries are all major challenges for today’s families. Wages need to match inflation. Those on fixed incomes must be guaranteed to be able to afford groceries and housing.

After pandemic lockdowns, I do believe that the economy is recovering at a quicker pace than expected, but not without challenges as described above.

Small business owners involved in agriculture, construction and energy are doing very well. The impact of the pandemic was particularly felt on businesses that were not able to open and compete against the bigger box stores that rely on cheaply-sourced labour and materials. We need to, more than ever, encourage local economies, living wages and sustainability. We need to address the challenges local economies face emphasizing their uniqueness in terms of lower transportation costs, locallysourced labour and materials as well as smaller “footprints” they afford.

MK: Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario’s economy had been hamstrung and handcuffed by years of over-regulation, overtaxation and high energy costs.

Businesses have increasingly been leaving Ontario for greener pastures. One of the first things the New Blue Party would do is scrap Doug Ford’s industrial carbon tax and present real opposition to the federal carbon tax.

We believe in promoting a fair and free market economy without unnecessary government intervention and supporting unsustainable industries through government welfare. We would seek to de-regulate many industries in order to allow businesses to flourish and thrive, hiring more employees and growing our local economies.

GH: The Ontario Party believes an environment that fosters small business must be created. First, all expenses relating to starting a small business would be cancelled. Red tape and government overreach in the form of bureaucracy must be cut back. Taxes must be lowered.

Energy costs need to be lowered.

It’s very hard to attract business when energy costs are extremely high.

There would be incentives in the form of grants to assist in business start-up. Rental assistance, putting a business online, teaching social media skills and assistance with other facets of starting a business.

There would be incentive programs for existing businesses from loans to assistance in areas that would be identified to be of importance to small business. We would also offer OSAP grants to students entering into post secondary education in fields that are known to be in demand. This would help to get the needed workforce educated.

3. With the cost of living rising dramatically, how would you help make life more affordable for the average Huron-Bruce family?

LT: Global challenges, combined with a suite of federal Liberal policies, are driving up inflation and the cost of living for Ontarians and the residents of Huron-Bruce.

The Ontario PC government is doing its part to make life more affordable, because we know that the most important economic decisions are made around the kitchen table.

If re-elected, we will enhance the LIFT Tax Credit, that would provide an estimated $320 million in additional personal income tax relief to about 1.1 million taxpayers. We’re cutting the gas tax by 5.7 cents per litre and the field tax by 5.3 cents per litre, to save you more money at the pumps.

The Ontario PC government has also eliminated and refunded licence plate renewal fees, so that you have more money in your pockets. And, unlike the Liberals, who would have settled with the first offer, we now have the best childcare agreement in the country, and by September, 2025, the average cost of childcare in Ontario will be $10 a day.

And we’re making it easier for seniors to age at home safely. If reelected, a PC government will introduce a Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit, that would allow seniors to receive up to 25 per cent of their claimable medical expenses up to $6,000, for a maximum credit of $1,500.

SB: Ontario Liberals have a balanced, progressive and fully costed plan to help families with rising costs. We will remove HST on all prepared foods under $20, we will re-introduce rent controls, eliminate interest on student loans and we’ll reduce average fees for childcare costs from $50 per day to $10 per day, making childcare discounts retroactive to Jan. 1, 2022, so parents aren’t punished by the Ford government’s failure to act on the federal deal. We’ll help those who need it most, with a 20 per cent increase over two years for those on

ODSP, $1,000 pension top-up for seniors, and increase the minimum wage to $16 per hour, working towards a living wage. We will commit to the gas tax cut planned for July 1.

LH: For too many families in Ontario, it is getting harder and harder to pay the bills and make ends meet. Doug Ford has made life more difficult; whether it’s freezing the minimum wage, scrapping student aid or canceling Ontario’s drug program. We need a plan to really make life more affordable.

In addition to our plan for making buying and renting a home more affordable, the Ontario NDP is committed to making life more affordable.

Our plan includes working with the federal government to achieve $10-a-day faster and ensure we’re expanding non-profit and public childcare centres to ensure families can get the childcare they need.

Gas prices are at an all-time high.

We’ll direct the Ontario Energy Board to regulate the retail price and wholesale mark-up of gas to stop big oil companies from gouging Ontarians. We’ll ensure prices are fair, stable and competitive, regardless of where in the province you live.

Every Ontarian deserves a wellpaying job. We will raise the minimum wage to $20 in 2026, with stable and predictable annual $1-an-hour increases.

Doug Ford broke his promise to Ontarians to reduce hydro rates by 12 per cent. We have a plan to start fixing the electricity sector. In addition to expanding clean renewable energy, we stop privatization and expensive private power contracts. We’ll also bring in an ambitious energy efficient building retrofit program to help families and businesses with the cost of retrofitting their homes and lowering electricity bills.

MVA: Again, wages must keep up with inflation and keep globalization in check.

For example, gaining independence for energy production will give you options: your own solar panel and battery bank, perhaps an electric vehicle are examples of a good starting point.

The Green Party will help out with cash incentives up to $10,000 for buying a fully-electric vehicle and $1,000 for an e-bike or used electric vehicle. More incentives and lower price points around alternatives are needed.

Continued focus on housing affordability, sustainable economies and local community codependence will all trickle down to make life more affordable for the average family.

To put more money in people’s pockets is not as easy as reducing taxation. Reducing taxation will lead to other challenges, like reduced childcare options or worker benefits. Cutting some of the red tape faced by smaller businesses will save labour time for the family unit engaged in such a setting.

MK: We’re all paying too much tax. The New Blue Party would reduce the HST from 13 per cent to 10 per cent, offering immediate relief to all Ontarians. Another contributor to the average family’s cost of living burden is the price of electricity. Ontario taxpayers have, for years, been paying unnecessarily high electricity prices due in part to the terrible wind turbine contracts signed by Kathleen Wynne’s government. The New Blue Party would cancel the wind turbine contracts and

dismantle the wind turbines, resulting in an immediate reduction in electricity prices.

GH: The Ontario Party would reduce the Ontario portion of gas taxes on gasoline and also get rid of the Ford government’s own carbon tax that was pushed on large businesses that then trickled down to the consumer.

We recognize the high cost of rentals because of the lack of rental housing and the high cost of home purchasing. We have incentives to assist the first-time buyer in a home purchase. The Ontario Party will also allow multiple unit dwellings where the Ford government would not. Promoting market farming and farm-to-table products, buying locally-made goods where possible would decrease costs for many items.

4. Housing affordability is a major issue and the Huron-Bruce region is in the midst of a housing crisis. How would you work to help people get a roof over their heads?

LT: Everyone in Huron-Bruce deserves to find housing that is right for them. That’s why the Ontario PC Party is committed to delivering on the Housing Affordability Task Force’s target of building 1.5 million homes across Ontario over the next 10 years. That will mean more homes in our fastest growing communities, like Kincardine and Saugeen Shores.

While other parties are talking about big ideas, it is a PC government that is getting it done.

We have helped create the right conditions to get more homes built faster, with 2021 seeing the highest level of new housing starts in over 30 years. However, we recognize that more must be done.

If re-elected, a PC government will continue to reduce red tape to build more homes, make it easier to build community housing and protect homebuyers, homeowners and renters.

We are committed to working with the municipal sector to develop a data standard for planning and development, so that new homes spend less time in municipal development offices and more time being built. I sincerely

appreciate the leadership we have at the local municipal level, ranging from a commitment to backfilling settlement areas to exploiting the viability of one additional residential unit on a property, as all options to increase housing choice are considered.

SB: The housing crisis is the number one issue I’m hearing across the riding. We will build 1.5 million new homes over the next 10 years, which will include at least 138,000 units of much needed supportive housing and retain and repair tens of thousands of existing homes, creating an estimated 150,000 jobs per year. We will tax homes currently sitting empty, ban new non-resident ownership, put a use-it-or-lose-it tax on developers’ land sitting empty and establish the Ontario Home Building Corporation to finance and build affordable homes.

We’ll provide municipalities and housing support providers with $100 million per year to promote a housing-first approach to ending chronic homelessness. We will bring back rent control to all homes across Ontario to ensure all renters have smaller, more predictable rent increases, and provide renters with a path to ownership by creating a legal framework that protects renters to opt into rent-to-own agreements.

LH: Affordable housing in this province is a huge issue. In HuronBruce, people don’t only struggle to find an affordable house to buy, but rental options are also out of financial reach for many.

The Ontario NDP has released its concrete, doable plan to fix the housing crisis. We’ll work hard to ensure every Ontarian has a decent, affordable place to live, whether you’re renting or buying.

The first thing we will do is establish a new public agency Housing Ontario - to build 250,000 affordable homes that are operated by public, non-profit and co-op agencies, not greedy speculators.

We will also build an additional 30,000 supportive housing units for people living with mental health and addiction challenges.

We will introduce an annual Continued on page 13

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022. PAGE 11.

‘Significant resistance’ to fire merger was expected Continued from page 6 he appreciated the “very good conversation” and that he appreciated hearing about how disbanding the Grey Fire Department would affect the firefighters, the residents and the community.

He also said he was happy to hear that the firefighters planned to stand by the community and protect it regardless of council’s decision. He said that level of commitment really showed the care and consideration the firefighters have for the community.

He said he felt the actions of the firefighters went a long way in helping to “diffuse a bad situation”.

Boyer then spoke via Zoom, seated alongside Brussels District Fire Chief Max McLellan.

Boyer cited the excellent response rates for both the Brussels and Grey departments, which would be put in jeopardy as a result of amalgamating the two departments. He also said the two departments have a good working relationship as things stand.

Any reduction in fire service to Grey and Brussels residents, he said, would be “very unacceptable” to both ratepayers and firefighters of the two regions.

He urged council to oppose McRoberts’ recommendation and instead listen to the more than 700 people who had made their voices heard by signing a petition to save the department.

He said he agreed with the standardization of equipment and training across the three departments, but felt the relatively low level of cost savings that would be realized by restructuring the departments didn’t outweigh the potential for loss of property and life due to increased response times.

“Under no circumstances do we support the merging of the two stations,” Boyer told council.

MCROBERTS’ REPORT In McRoberts’ report, which he presented to council at its May 17 meeting, he outlined a number of concerns based on consultation with both the Brussels and Grey departments on April 20. These concerns included: a lack of standardization of equipment;

increased response times; illogical fire district service boundaries between Grey and Brussels; the challenge of flow of increased personnel due to the size of the Brussels fire hall; the fact that it had taken a long time for the two departments to begin to work together and that amalgamation could upset that relationship; increased liability; the challenge of Grey firefighters arriving at the scene in personal vehicles versus the fire hall; a lack of standardized training and standard operating procedures; the future of current officers; the treatment of female firefighters; the challenges of Brussels daytime fire responses; the impact on firefighters due to the increased number of calls; the fact that the area’s local elementary school is just outside of Ethel; increased levels of post-traumatic stress disorder due to the increased number of calls; the increased cost of homeowner’s insurance and the opportunity to reduce costs significantly without closing the Grey fire hall.

Another concern was the lack of synchronicity between Brussels and Grey when it comes to medical calls, though Boyer corrected that statement, saying the Grey department does respond to medical calls at the request of emergency medical services.

“As expected, there is significant resistance, particularly in the Grey fire hall, to the proposed closure of the Grey fire hall. There is, or will be, significant resistance to the closure of the Grey fire hall from the community, particularly from residents and businesses in the former Township of Grey,” McRoberts stated in his report.

McRoberts said that driving this feeling is a loss of sense of community. “Reducing levels of service is always perceived by the individual that they are getting less rather than getting what everyone else gets.” Other factors, according to McRoberts, include a perception of increased financial impact, a perception of loss of life, health or safety, historical animosity over amalgamation and the historical significance of the department.

Based on the consultation,

McRoberts said he felt three themes emerged as prevalent: a lack of standardization, financial impacts versus savings and service levels and boundaries.

In regards to a lack of standardization, McRoberts said not having equipment and apparatus standardized would pose operational challenges at fire scenes and, if joint forces or equipment was required, compatibility would be a problem.

“Standardization of fire equipment, training and standard operating procedures should be developed and implemented across the municipality for all fire districts, regardless of any decision to close the Grey fire hall,” McRoberts said in his report.

McRoberts said that while there had been speculation that insurance rates would rise as a result of closing the Grey fire hall, after consulting with insurance providers, McRoberts said that wouldn’t be the case.

There are three grades for residential insurance and most, if not all, residents (with the exception of those living right in towns) would fall into the second

grade of risk (communities with no hydrant protection and located within 17 kilometres of the responding fire department on roads normally kept open all year round) regardless of whether the Grey hall was closed.

Regarding service levels and boundaries, McRoberts called them “inappropriate” and said the boundaries needed to be overhauled to reflect response times and not historical township boundaries. In short, he said, the closest department to the fire should be the one responding to it.

In his report, McRoberts said that the areas serviced by the Grey department enjoy a higher level of service in regards to response times than the municipality’s other two fire districts. If the Grey hall were to close, the response times for that community would be increased as a result and brought in line with the non-urban areas serviced by the Brussels and Seaforth departments.

McRoberts also said that, upon further review, he felt the economics of a consolidated north fire district in the same building as the public works department’s north patrol would be feasible. This

LET THESE BOOKS HELP YOU GET READY FOR SPRING! HERBAL REMEDY GARDENS Enhance your health naturally with herbs from your own garden. Care for yourself and your family using timetested herbal remedies. Learn about over 20 medicinal herbs and more than 35 plans for gardens for specific health needs. $25.95

110 NATURE HOT SPOTS IN ONTARIO Informative introduction to some of the province’s best-kept secrets. A fresh look at destinations that have made Ontario famous.

If you’re looking for a day trip or a weekend getaway, this book will appeal to you. $29.95 HOW CARROTS WON THE TROJAN WAR: Curious (but True) Stories of Common Vegetables Learn intriguing stories of everything from asparagus and beans to tomatoes and turnips in 350 pages of tasty tidbits from throughout history. $17.95

THE GARDENER’S A-Z GUIDE TO GROWING ORGANIC FOOD Information on organic growing of vegetables, herbs, fruits and nuts. Formulas and techniques to control 201 pests and diseases organically. Information on starting with organic methods. $37.95 THE ORGANIC LAWN CARE MANUAL The ban on pesticide use on lawns doesn’t mean you can’t have a goodlooking lawn.

This 270-page manual provides information on how to have a healthy lawn, identify pests and control them. $26.95

Prices subject to change with increases in wholesale prices, postage, taxes, etc. Please refer to current issue for correct figures.

Incorrect payment will delay delivery.

Deb Griffey, a member of the Maitland Valley Camera Club, recently captured this peaceful barnyard image and shared it with The Citizen. (Photo courtesy of Deb Griffey of the Maitland Valley Camera Club)

$29.95 $37.95 $25.95 $17.95 $26.95 $18.95

Total for Books Shipping & Handling $9.00 Add 5% GST on subtotal Order Total

GROWING AND USING HERBS SUCCESSFULLY Betty Jacobs helps you get the best results with 64 herbs. Tips on how to start herbs indoors and out, how to avoid buying costly perennial plants, how to harvest and store, and how to market them so you can make a profit. $18.95

The Citizen

Total

Qty.

110 NATURE HOT SPOTS IN ONTARIO THE GARDENER’S A-Z GUIDE HERBAL REMEDY GARDENS HOW CARROTS WON THE TROJAN WAR THE ORGANIC LAWN CARE MANUAL GROWING AND USING HERBS SUCCESSFULLY

Some rest

statement was contrary to his earlier recommendation which felt it might be cost-prohibitive.

The net capital cost would be $250,000, he said, based on the sale of the Brussels fire hall, Grey fire hall, Grey public works building and capital equipment savings when compared to the cost of a new building ($3 million) and the land purchase. McRoberts estimated annual savings of just under $28,000.

NOTICE OF MOTION Another piece of information several councillors said they were surprised to learn was the lack of communication between the three departments.

Councillor Zoellyn Onn said she would like to see the three fire chiefs meet on a regular basis and report back to council quarterly or biannually on the status of fire suppression in the municipality.

Fisher suggested that perhaps the officers of the three departments could be included in those meetings as well.

Onn put her suggestion forward as a notice of motion that will be considered at the June 7 meeting of council.

Send cheque or money order for full amount to: Books: North Huron Publishing P.O. Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 or call and pay by credit card 519-523-4792

MAIL BOOKS TO: Name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Address: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________________________ Code _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Phone:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Visit huroncitizen.ca for more rural living books and local authors.

New titles being added as we build the site.

Mail order or curbside pick up available.

PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022.

Candidates weigh in on rural healthcare challenges Continued from page 1 presented by it trickles down to everyone.

Blackmore said the Liberal Party would continue to expand accessibility to natural gas and implement additional energysaving measures.

Hazzard criticized Premier Doug Ford and his government on its promise to reduce hydro rates, but not delivering, while the NDP would be in favour of a “green new deal” to help combat climate change.

Kennedy said his party would cancel any carbon tax at the provincial level and strongly oppose a carbon tax at the federal level as well.

In response to the second question, about expanding local processing capacity, Thompson said that “absolutely” her government is in favour of expanding that sector and adding value.

Blackmore said she would like to see processing expanded across Huron-Bruce, but that another problem would be having enough workers to keep those plants running. She said her party would provide a $2,000 incentive for any student who decided to take on an apprenticeship in the processing sector.

The NDP would also support local processing, Hazzard said, adding that having more processing capacity close to home would be better for the entire riding.

Kennedy cited the high cost of fuel as a reason that local processing should be a priority, adding that the province has been sending its products out of the country and then buying them back at a higher price, which needs to stop.

Stephens told those in attendance that the “globalists” in power want to “starve you out”.

When asked about the financial challenges of rural healthcare systems, Blackmore said that it’s no secret that rural healthcare has its challenges, going so far as to call it a crisis.

She said her party would pay the tuition of family doctors and nurses who chose to stay in rural areas.

Hazzard said that during her time in healthcare, she worked in a number of different hospitals and felt that rural Ontario facilities provided the best care, due to their holistic approach.

She said her party would seek to hire 10,000 personal support workers and bring recently retired nurses back to help mentor younger nurses just entering the field.

Hazzard also stated that the party would work to include mental health in the province’s paid healthcare plan.

Kennedy said the issue isn’t new and that the provincial government needs to allow people to better choose their preferred method of care, opening their minds to alternative methods.

Huenemoerder said she felt there is a lot of waste in the healthcare field, saying hospitals don’t need to buy new televisions for every room every year, relaying an anecdote she said she’d heard about people waiting by hospital dumpsters on days they knew the one-year-old televisions would be thrown out.

Thompson then brought up former Premier Kathleen Wynne, for whom Thompson said she had respect. In a recent interview, Thompson said, Wynne said that if she had known the pandemic was coming, her government wouldn’t have made the cuts that it did.

Under her government,

Thompson said the implementation of local health teams has been a success and she was proud to see that Huron-Perth was one of the first to be certified.

In response to a question about the demand for agricultural graduates and the labour shortage in the world of agriculture, Hazzard said one of the main issues has been the lack of housing and that people can’t be brought in to work jobs if they don’t have places to live.

Kennedy said that it’s a problem that post-secondary schools have been pushing students away from agriculture and trades in favour of earning university degrees they never end up using.

Stephens says all that’s needed

are people with the right attitude, but that students are fearful because of both the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, both of which he said are hoaxes.

Huenemoerder said she has experienced first-hand how the housing crisis is affecting the community and the ability to bring people to Huron-Bruce. As a renter, she said she has had to move three times in the last five years and that she now pays three times the rent that she did five years ago.

Thompson said she has been working to encourage agricultural education in students since she was first elected over 10 years ago.

Also, as the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, she

reinstated funding to several organizations that work to champion agricultural education at several levels throughout the province.

Blackmore said that most of the sector’s commodity groups are struggling when it comes to hiring employees and that the lack of available housing is a piece of that puzzle.

She said her party would invest in the high skills majors program for agriculture in high schools, saying she wants students to have those kinds of opportunities to get into the world of agriculture in Huron and Bruce Counties.

When it comes to putting support in place to help seniors live at home

longer, Kennedy said this is a topic that’s near and dear to his heart, as his father was diagnosed with dementia when he was just 57.

He benefitted greatly from in-home care and he said those services should be expanded so seniors can stay in their homes longer.

Thompson said the work being done on long-term care and accessibility is great and further studying the effect on mental health that isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic has had on seniors is necessary moving forward. She also mentioned improvements at a seniors’ centre in Goderich and the work being done by Blyth’s Julie Continued on page 23

Leave the irons at home The Hensall 4-H White Squirrels Club recently met at the Clinton Lions Park for their regular meeting, which included some kite-making and disc golf. In addition to

their disc golf game, the members also used bamboo sticks, wooden dowels and plastic table cloths to construct their kites before giving them a test flight. (Photo submitted)

37th Annual Citizen of the Year Award Nominations Open Pictured from left, Marguerite Thomas accepting on behalf of her late husband Bob Kellington, 2020 Citizen of the Year award recipient. Presenting award is Citizen board member, Ralph Watson.

There are so many people out there who do so much to improve their community.

This is your opportunity to show your appreciation for all they do.

Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area and Brussels and area communities to receive an award for contribution to the community. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the form and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and they didn't win, we encourage you to submit again.

Emailed submissions can be sent to Shawn Loughlin at editor@northhuron.on.ca I nominate ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ as Citizen of the year for

q

Blyth & area

q

Brussels & area

q

Huron County**

** New this year! Due to requests from the wider community we have added a category for Citizen of the Year Huron County to recognize outstanding citizens from beyond Blyth & Brussels.

I feel she/he deserves this award because ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Nomination Deadline September 30, 2022.

Name and phone number of nominator Fax: 519-523-9140 Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022. PAGE 13.

Healthcare needs help in Ontario, candidates say Continued from page 10 speculation and vacancy tax on residential property. Modeled after British Columbia’s tax, it will apply to all speculators who own houses they don’t live in. The rate will be two per cent of the assessed value and will be phased in over two years. We’ll also maintain the nonresident speculation tax (NRST) at 20 per cent and close loopholes that allow wealthy investors off the hook.

For renters, we will create a portable housing benefit to assist over 300,000 families who can’t afford their rent in addition to basic necessities for themselves and their families.

We will also bring back real rent control for all apartments, eliminating the financial incentive for landlords to squeeze out tenants to raise the rent. We will also ensure that you pay what the last tenant paid by scrapping vacancy decontrol.

MVA: There were 100,000 housing starts and 13,000 rental starts in Ontario in 2021. This increase is significant. The cost of lumber, wiring, roofing steel, windows, kitchens and doors have all gone up by 35 per cent or more.

A labour shortage exists, therefore wages go up, land in the country is harder to find and building lots in town are more expensive. Because of this, we are now looking at a situation where a 1,700-square-foot detached home is running around $500,000.

Let’s say for simplicity’s sake it costs $500 per month to borrow every $100,000. Therefore, to afford this house you need at least $5,000 a month of disposable income. The government manages to take about one-third of your paycheck each week you have to gross around $90,000 per year. Not everyone is in this situation.

In my opinion, we need to build smaller, more affordable starter homes so that families can enter the real estate market earlier and not find themselves perpetually paying rent. If you peruse MLS today, a small family home around $200,000 and $300,000 is not a reality. Entry-level housing is key to get families into home ownership.

MK: For years, successive governments have promised to build millions of new homes without any measurable impact on housing prices and always falling short of lofty promises. Housing is talked about as if it is a problem that exists in a vacuum, and that it will only take more government spending or some other easy solution to fix. The reality is that housing is affected by many factors.

The common denominator to working towards increasing housing affordability and availability is to build a strong underlying economy.

Families are barely getting by due to inflation and a lack of real wage growth; businesses have been overregulated and locked down over and over again by our current government.

We need to immediately reduce the tax burden on families and small businesses while creating a more favourable climate for businesses to grow our economy and work to ensure homebuilders can continue to build new supply.

GH: The Ontario Party recognizes the high cost of rentals because of the lack of rental housing and the high cost of home purchasing. We have incentives to assist the first-time buyer in a home

purchase. The Ontario Party will also allow multiple-unit dwellings where the Ford government would not.

Specifically, through prohibitive zoning regulations in many urban areas, Ford’s government prevents construction of family dwellings that are not single-family homes. Duplexes and fourplexes are forbidden where they are most needed.

Allowing tiny home developments on unfarmable land would also be an option made available by changing zoning bylaws and bureaucratic red tape.

Allowing multiple housing on farms and allowing more land severances by changing current policies would also allow for more housing.

Changing immigration numbers coming into Ontario, that currently receives about 50 per cent of new immigrants while the necessary infrastructure is not prepared to handle this influx would also allow a catch-up of housing, reducing costs.

5. Healthcare and long-term care in Ontario need help as the pandemic continues. What would you do to set this sector up for success moving forward?

LT: As part of the Ontario PC’s commitment to building a stronger healthcare workforce, if re-elected, our government will invest $142 million to recruit and retain health care workers in underserved areas.

We will immediately provide $81 million in funding to expand the Community Commitment Program for Nurses for up to 1,500 nurse graduates each year to receive full tuition reimbursement in exchange for committing to practice in an underserved community. If reelected, we will also launch the new $61 million Learn and Stay Grant, for 2,500 eligible post-secondary students to enrol in priority programs like nursing to work in undeserved communities in the region where they studied after graduation.

These investments build on the actions we have already taken to invest $342 million to add 13,000 workers to Ontario’s healthcare system, including 5,000 new registered nurses and 8,000 personal support workers.

The health care system in HuronBruce will directly benefit from these targeted investments address the health human resources challenges that rural communities like ours are facing.

If re-elected, a PC government will also make it easier and quicker for foreign-credentialed health workers to begin practising in Ontario by reducing barriers to registering with and being recognized by health regulatory colleges.

SB: We know that rural healthcare has its own challenges and needs a model that reflects our rural reality. The Ontario Liberals will ensure that rural Ontarians have access to the same quality of healthcare, education and opportunity as the rest of the province.

We will invest in additional health services and cover tuition costs for medical and nursing students willing to work in rural communities to ensure everyone has access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner. We will remove the barriers that prevent internationally trained professionals from working in our system.

We will repeal Bill 124 and ensure that our nurses are paid a fair wage and have full-time positions.

We’ll train and hire 100,000 nurses,

doctors and other healthcare workers over the next six years as we replace retiring workers and expand our system. Our investment in home care of $2 billion annually will relieve some of the pressures on our hospital systems as well.

What happened in long-term care during the pandemic was shameful.

Infection control was difficult because we don’t pay personal support workers (PSWs) enough and provide permanent jobs, so many have to work at several homes to make a living. We will immediately raise PSW wages to a minimum of $25 per hour and provide free tuition. We will create a model where seniors can live in their homes as long as possible with our investments in home care and grants for retro-fitting homes for safer living.

We will end for-profit long-term care with a target of 2028. New assisted living homes will be small, accessible and community based.

Full-time positions will provide seniors with the ability to have strong relationships with their caregivers, which is so essential for their health.

LH: It’s getting harder and harder for Ontarians to get the healthcare they need and the pandemic exposed just how broken our healthcare system is. Ontario has a health human resources crisis. The Ontario NDP has a practical, doable plan to rebuild and strengthen health care in Ontario.

Our plan includes taking immediate action to begin hiring

10,000 PSWs and 30,000 nurses numbers that healthcare experts say we need. We will immediately eliminate Bill 124 (Ford’s salary cap bill) and give healthcare workers the wage they deserve.

Increasing our supply of nurses will include expediting recognition of nursing credentials of 15,000 internationally trained nurses.

Another part of our plan includes raising hospital funding to exceed health sector inflation, population growth, expanded operating plans, and unique local needs such as aging populations.

We have the right plan to fix our broken healthcare system.

MVA: The past two years have shown us just how much we rely on caring professionals in healthcare, education and social services to get us through. But neglect and halfmeasures from years of successive governments have strained services we rely on every day.

Getting help when you need it should not be this hard. Whether you’re a senior citizen waiting two years for a knee replacement or a person with a disability trying to survive off $1,169 per month, the system is broken. The pandemic exposed the giant chasms in our healthcare system, leaving our ICUs overrun and our elders dying alone. Stopping the bleeding will take more than a band-aid.

As well, our vision for Ontario is one that clearly states that mental health is health. Bringing more mental health services under OHIP will mean that people can afford

and can access the care they need.

Our vision puts the dignity of people ahead of private profits or government red tape. If we are going to call nurses, PSWs and educators heroes, then let’s pay them that way. If we want to keep our hospitals stable, then let’s treat illnesses before they become an emergency.

MK: It is inexcusable that our hospitals fired doctors, nurses and other staff during a pandemic.

Equally inexcusable was the silence from our current government and that it didn’t defend the rights of those and other employees who worked tirelessly through the worst of the pandemic only to be fired or put on unpaid leave. The New Blue Party would immediately see that all employees affected by vaccine mandates are re-hired and compensated. Through legislation we would codify that divisive, discriminatory vaccine mandates and passports could never happen again.

Healthcare is one of our largest tax expenditures and yet we consistently rank too low compared to our global peers. A thorough review of our healthcare system needs to happen in order to look at how to deliver more frontline care to Ontarians.

We need to allow for more choice and support alternative care providers, such as naturopaths. The strain on our hospitals can be simultaneously helped by working to keep more people out of Continued on page 14

OUTDOOR OUTD OOR MA M MARKET ARKET . USED BO BOOKS OOKS

FRIDAY FRIDA FRID AY JUNE 3 SSATURDAY ATURD T AY JUNE 4 SUND TURDA SUNDA SUNDAY AY JUNE 5

FIL LL A BOX WITH BOOKS FO OR $10 BE B ES SURE URE E TO TO VISIT VISIT C CO-HOSTS: O -HOSTS:

PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022.

Local candidates discuss climate change, education Continued from page 13 them. This can be done by providing more funding for inhome care providers and support.

We need to shift from a predominantly reactive model of medicine to a more proactive one by promoting long-term health and rewarding those who take ownership of their health and wellness.

GH: The Ontario Party would ensure that those who lost their jobs by exercising their medical rights to freedom would be rehired if they choose to return to those jobs and professions. Promoting free tuition for nurses, PSWs, doctors, lab technicians, etc. in exchange for working in rural areas would be available. An overall review of expenses and spending in hospitals and long-term care must be reviewed. There is a substantial amount of wasteful spending that could be curbed and used for patients needs. There would be a review of excessive profits by longterm care operators and the Ontario Party would remove the clause preventing long-term care homes from being sued for neglectful treatment of patients, as was initiated with the Ford government.

6. With the ongoing pandemic and conflict in Ukraine dominating the news, many feel the state of our climate has been ignored. What would you do to ensure future generations will inherit a sustainable Ontario?

LT: An Ontario PC government is committed to protecting Ontario’s natural environment, and we have a strong track record of delivering on that commitment. After all, it was a Progressive Conservative government that created the Ministry of Environment and it was a PC government that shut down coal-burning power plants.

Over the last year, the Ontario PC government has invested $6.7 million in valuable green infrastructure, as well as the restoration and enhancement of approximately 150 wetland projects across the province, which are improving water quality, preserving and increasing habitats for endangered species, helping to prevent flooding and building climate change resiliency in the Great Lakes watersheds and waterways.

We have also invested $1.9 million in the Great Lakes Local Action Fund, to supportive innovative projects that focus on protecting and restoring coastal shoreline and nearshore areas of the Great Lakes, including the beautiful Lake Huron.

With the help of our partners, municipalities, and conservation authorities we are stepping up conservation and climate efforts across the province, helping to secure a greener and cleaner future now and for generations.

SB: The impacts of climate change are already here and they’re very real for families who have to pay for flooded basements or farmers dealing with more severe and unpredictable weather. Our Ontario Liberal plan will cut greenhouse emissions by 50 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. We will ensure that the biggest polluters that emit more than 50,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas, which include cement, chemicals and petroleum refineries, pay more carbon tax, and that money will go to support technological investments through our Green Jobs fund for grants, tax credits and loan guarantees to achieve those

reductions. These investments will create 25,000 made-in-Ontario clean technology and green jobs.

We will increase carbon tax rebates for farmers who still need to rely on fossil fuels for heating and cooling barns and grain drying.

Just 10 per cent of land in Ontario is designated as protected space.

We will increase that to 30 per cent by 2030 by expanding the size and number of provincial parks (creating five new ones) and conservation areas, particularly in the boreal forest.

We have a long-term energy plan that includes the most cost-effective mix of nuclear, hydroelectricity and renewables.

We’ll make it safer and more affordable to walk, bike and drive by providing $500 rebates on ebikes and provide communities with $100 million annually to build separate bike lanes, cycling trails and bike-sharing programs. We will boost the automotive sector to continue to build electric vehicles and provide $8,000 in rebates on the purchase of vehicles costing up to $68,000, and rapidly expand the availability of charging stations throughout the province.

LH: The reality of climate change is already here. Ontarians need to know that our children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy the clean air, drinking water and beautiful natural spaces of previous generations.

We have a plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 including replacing the Trudeau/Ford carbon tax with a made-in-Ontario capand-trade system that makes big corporate polluters pay for their emissions, rather than farmers paying for grain drying, ensuring hard-working Ontarians in rural areas are not unfairly penalized.

Twenty-five per cent of cap-andtrade revenue will go to support rural, and low-income families disproportionately impacted by carbon pricing.

To have youth help create their sustainable future, we will create a Youth Climate Corps - giving young Ontarians the opportunity to get hands-on skills and experience restoring and enhancing Ontario’s natural landscape, while earning a fair wage, and a fee credit towards their post-secondary education.

We will also expand access to parks and green spaces (including the Greenbelt), while increasing protection of ecosystems and biodiversity and plant one billion trees by 2030.

We’ll ensure our transition to a net-zero economy creates over a million good jobs in Ontario.

MVA: By definition, the Green Party is directly behind the push for sustainability, understanding how carbon-dependent our economy is and finding different ways to doing things in order to reduce their energy footprint.

Without a common goal such as sustainability, humanity is likely to fail. I have received a lot of e-mails from the climate resiliency people and they are worth a read (ontarioclimateemergency.ca and greenresilience.ca/final-report).

The role of the government should be to put in place policy and practices that are best for the “average family” and the land and water we occupy. How seriously you take change in climate or a situation where we are considering placing all of Canada’s high level nuclear waste in Teeswater is perhaps a personal opinion or decision, but we need a protector for the “good of all”.

MK: Farmers have always had a vested interest in living sustainably on and caring for their land. Rather than becoming increasingly beholden to international treaties and accords that see more of our tax dollars wasted on pet projects like the Liberal wind turbine fiasco that fail to deliver real value, we need to focus on local sustainability and empowering those who live on and are already good stewards of the land.

We can research and invest in sustainable, economically viable renewable energy technology while continuing to improve the efficiency and cleanliness of traditional sources. Nuclear will continue to play an important role in our energy needs today and, in the future, but we must respect the wishes of local communities opposed to burying nuclear waste in the Great Lakes basin.

GH: The Ontario Party has true green environmental policies that would be initiated to preserve clean air, water and soil. These elements are of utmost importance for long term sustainability.

More initiatives, such as dehydration of sewage turned into fertilizers, as is done in Hanover to prevent sewage from being dumped in our waterways should also be explored, including the promotion of new heating and cooling technologies with incentives to switch. More garbage incineration. Planting more trees, promoting gardens and shopping local are all sustainable initiatives.

7.

Education has been interrupted repeatedly due to the pandemic and that unpredictability has taken its toll on students. What's your plan to improve education in Ontario for the future?

LT: The best thing we can do for our students is prepare them for the jobs of the future. That is why we have updated students’ curriculum to focus on financial literacy and are building up skills that students will need in order to succeed.

While the Ontario Liberals closed 600 schools during their 14 years in government, we are building, expanding and renovating schools in Ontario to help current and future students learn and develop. The PC government has committed to investing $14 billion in capital grants over 10 years to support school infrastructure, and I can confirm that some of that investment will be committed to fast-growing communities in Huron-Bruce as well.

If re-elected, a PC government will also launch a new pilot program to collaborate with school boards to expedite construction using rapid, modular building methods, so that students can take advantage of new and updated schools sooner.

These investments will leave a lasting legacy and benefit families, children and teachers for years to come.

SB: As a retired principal, education is a top priority for me, and our students suffered greatly during the pandemic.

The Ontario Liberals met with all stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan for education.

We will immediately scrap the plan to build Highway 413 and put that $10 billion into repairing and renovating our aging schools, as well as building 200 new schools.

We will cap class sizes at 20 from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and hire 300,000 new teachers.

We know that students and staff need more support for mental

health and we will hire 100,000 mental health professionals for schools.

We will put EQAO testing on hold for two years and come up with a more efficient way to assess student progress. We will extend Grade 13 for four years, so this cohort of high school students can catch up on the time missed during the pandemic and be better prepared for the workplace or postsecondary education.

We will freeze tuition, double OSAP for college and university and provide $2,000 for students choosing an apprenticeship. We will also eliminate interest on student loans.

All of our Ontario Liberal policies were developed through an extensive engagement process with Ontarians from across the province and involved 25 open forums, 500 consultation meetings with over 28,000 participants and over 38,000 ideas. Our platform: “Ontario, A Place To Grow”, has been fully costed and can be read in its entirety on the party’s website.

LH: Schools are the heart of our communities. Children and youth have suffered enormous losses during the pandemic. Ford slashed $1.8 billion from classrooms in 2021/2022 and refused to spend money to keep schools safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ontario NDP has a detailed and doable plan to fix what the Liberals and Conservatives broke and invest to ensure Ontario’s world-class public education system thrives.

Our plan includes reversing Ford’s cuts to help students get back on their feet academically, emotionally and psychologically after a tough few years.

We’ll cap classes for Grades 4 Continued on page 15

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022. PAGE 15.

519-523-4311

www.ruralvoice.ca

Agriculture

BLYTH 519-523-4244

www.hurontractor.com

Brussels Livestock report

Fed steers, heifers, hit $2 to $3 higher Total receipts for Brussels Livestock for the week ending May 20 were 1,865 cattle and 665 lambs and goats.

On Tuesday, fed steers and heifers sold on a strong active trade at prices $2 to $3 higher. Choice steers and heifers sold $177 to $186 with sales to $188. Second-cut cattle sold $170 to $176. Aged and medium-fed steers and heifers sold $143 to $168. Holstein steers and heifers sold $96 to $134 with sales to $168.50. Cows sold on a strong active trade.

On Thursday, veal sold actively at steady prices. Lambs and sheep sold steady. Goats sold higher.

There were 225 head of veal on offer. Good holsteins sold $155 to $176; SL heavy holsteins, $140 to $168; heavy holsteins, $120 to $139; medium holsteins, $137 to $140; plain holsteins, $110 to $129.

Mark Upshall of Dublin, consigned four head. One holstein steer weighed 720 lbs. and sold for a price of $173.

Lambs under 50 lbs. sold $330.50 to $365; 50 - 64 lbs., $340 to $370; 65 - 79 lbs., $330.50 to $370; 80 94 lbs., $329.40 to $347.50; 95 109 lbs., $334 to $340; 110 lbs. and over, $281.50 to $330.

Sheep sold $100 to $275.

Goats: billies sold $150 to $400;

On Friday, calves and yearlings sold on an active market at steady prices. Steers and heifers, 700 - 800 lbs. sold at a premium.

K/C McAlpine Farms of Ailsa Craig, consigned four head. One red heifer weighed 1,375 lbs. and sold for a price of $188.

Connell Farms of Palmerston, consigned 12 head. Two red heifers averaged 1,665 lbs. and sold for an average price of $187.

There were 225 cows on offer.

Beef sold $95 to $130; good holstein cows, $100 to $115; medium holstein cows, $85 to $99.

Bulls sold $124 to $150 with sales to $164.

nannies, $100 to $300; kids: dairy, $350 to $530; meat, $475 to $595.

Heffer Farms of Wingham, consigned 13 head. Ten lambs averaged 102 lbs. and sold for an average price of $340.

Tony Howe of Walkerton, consigned eight head. Three lambs averaged 69 lbs. and sold for an average price of $370.

Top quality stocker steers under 400 lbs. sold $242 to $257; 500 599 lbs., $228.50 to $269; 600 - 699 lbs., $229 to $275; 700 - 799 lbs., $220 to $241; 800 - 899 lbs., $194 to $212.50; 900 - 999 lbs., $189 to $209; 1,000 lbs. and over, $178.75 to $196.

Candidates propose education reforms Continued from page 14 through 8 at 24 and hire 20,000 teachers and education workers, which will ensure students at every age get the direct support and attention they deserve.

Additionally, we will increase special education funding and base funding on actual needs with timely assessments. We’ll increase inschool support by hiring more mental health workers, child and youth workers and other education workers.

The pandemic has shown us we need to better protect our schools and youth.

MVA: Support in-person learning and oppose any move toward mandatory e-learning or hybrid learning models; cap Grades 4 to 8 class sizes to at least 24 students and Kindergarten to at least 26 students; eliminate the EQAO standardized testing and update the elementary curriculum to reduce prescribed student outcomes; increase funding for enhanced outdoor education, green space in school yards and enhanced curriculum content on critical environmental topics such as food literacy and climate change; implement a province-wide nutritious school lunch program.

MK: Our children are our future; the politicization of our public schools has become one of the greatest threats facing our community. The rights and responsibilities of parents are increasingly being infringed upon and ignored. I believe that parents are the primary and most important educators of their children; parents deserve to have input over what their children are learning in school and the rights of parents should not be ignored. Families who choose to home-school should be respected and supported by removing the barriers to doing so.

We need to remove politics and political agendas from our schools and return the focus to core competencies. We need to better promote trade skills and encourage children interested in the trades to pursue them.

GH: The Ontario Party will never lock down children and schools again. Scientific studies proved this is very bad for the long-term effects mentally and physically on both children and adults.

According to the current

provincial government’s own data, year after year, the math and literacy skills of students in Ontario continue to decline. At the same time, growing numbers of parents are expressing shock and frustration as school time and resources are diverted from the teaching of core academic skills toward “ideological” instruction. Often, such instruction promotes hostility and division based on misleading theories and political ideals.

Parents feel powerless as schools and school boards refuse to heed their calls for reforms. Children feel cheated when they discover they’re ill-prepared for higher education or employment. An Ontario Party government will reform the province’s educational system from Kindergarten to Grade 12 so that public schools return to their core

mandate, ensuring that toxic instruction is removed from the classroom and parents and children have the power of educational choice.

The Ontario Party would allow entrepreneurs, parent associations, and community groups to establish charter schools in Ontario. Unlike private schools, charter schools receive government funding though significantly less than public schools - and charge no tuition. Charter schools have the freedom to operate in a more streamlined, focused fashion, and can design curriculums meant to promote higher intellectual outcomes and greater success for diverse student populations. The “charter” is the contract between the school and the government that details the high standards the school

4-H Sheep club meets PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE

By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188

May 29 and Ruth Gordo’s birthday is on June 2. Birthday greetings to all.

Special anniversary greetings are extended to Brian and Rita Potter on their 50th wedding anniversary.

must meet in order to continue to receive funding. Research shows that charter schools, on average, outperform public schools in terms of meeting or exceeding established educational outcomes. In particular, these same studies show that children and youth from disadvantaged communities experience some of the greatest successes when transferred from a public school to a charter school.

Watch The Citizen for election updates on Facebook, Twitter or through huroncitizen.ca

Top quality stocker heifers, 400 499 lbs. sold $209 to $238; 500 599 lbs., $196 to $280; 600 - 699 lbs., $191 to $211; 700 - 799 lbs., $190 to $203; 800 - 899 lbs., $177.50 to $202.50; 900 lbs. and over, $167.75 to $181.50.

Earl Bullock of Parkhill, consigned 14 head. Six black heifers averaged 693 lbs. and sold for an average price of $207.50.

Darroch Farms of Mount Forest, consigned 15 head. Four gold heifers averaged 815 lbs. and sold for an average price of $202.50.

Gail Adam of Benholm, Quebec, consigned 72 head. Nine charolais steers averaged 743 lbs. and sold for an average price of $239.50.

Paul M. Martin of Lucknow, consigned 10 head. Four charolais steers averaged 904 lbs. and sold for an average price of $209.

BRUSSELS LIVESTOCK Division of Gamble & Rogers Ltd.

UPCOMING SALES TUESDAYS 10:00 a.m.

Fed Cattle, Bulls & Cows

THURSDAYS

9:00 a.m. Drop Calves 10:00 a.m.Veal 11:30 a.m. Lambs, Goats & Sheep

FRIDAYS

10:00 a.m. Stockers Visit our webpage at: www.brusselslivestock.ca email us at: info@brusselslivestock.ca

Call us 519-887-6461

Keep up with the latest agri-businesses and the best of rural living! $25 for 12 issues

The first meeting of the North Huron 4-H Sheep Club was held on May 19 in the Belgrave United Church basement. Fifteen members were present The club will have six meetings, an Achievement Day and some local fairs to attend.

For this meeting, members talked about biosecurity. Afterwards they played a matching game to determine if common plants and items around the farm are good or bad for sheep.

Our daughter-in-law Stacy Campbell will celebrate her birthday on May 28. Donna Shaw’s birthday and my birthday are on

$45 for 24 issues Please make cheques payable to North Huron Publishing Inc.

The magazine of Agricultural Life

NEWS FROM BELGRAVE

Welcome Your New Arrival in

The Citizen

Call or email to book your ad today 519-523-4792 info@northhuron.on.ca

Subscribe Today

www.ruralvoice.ca The Rural Voice 405 Queen St., P.O. Box 429 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0

PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022.

Classified Advertisements – RATES – 20 words or less only $7.00 + HST. Additional words 20¢ each + HST.

Help wanted Help wanted Help wanted Help wanted The Corporation of the Township of North Huron

DEADLINE 4 p.m. Monday Phone 519-523-4792 e-mail: info@northhuron.on.ca

is recruiting two (2) part-time persons to fill the role of:

Articles for sale GERBERS FIREWOOD SERVING you for over 10 years. Your number one source of quality slabwood and bodywood. Delivery available. No Sunday calls. 519-656-2057, 519441-2085.

01-50p -------------------------------------------REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. All are in colour. 4x6 – $5.00, 5x7 – $6.00, 8x10 – $10.00. Phone to order 519523-4792 or 519-887-9114. tfn -------------------------------------------THE CITIZEN IS AVAILABLE TO purchase at these locations – Auburn Co-op, Auburn Esso, Belgrave Variety, Blyth Variety, Blyth Food Market, Blyth Ultramar, Brussels Foodland, Brussels Variety, Clinton Convenience, Clinton Foodland, Dean’s Valu-Mart in Wingham, Wingham Mini Mart, Seaforth Foodland, GT Mini Mart in Seaforth, Fincher’s in Goderich, Goderich Victoria St. Shell and The Citizen Blyth.

Card of thanks KENNEDY. The family of the late Mark Kennedy would like to thank everyone for their kindness shown during the recent, sudden loss of our dear husband, father, brother, papa and grandpa, uncle and friend. We appreciate all family and friends who sent flowers, condolences, memorial donations, gift cards, cards and delivered food. We also very much appreciate the kindness shown

by Chris Smith and Mark Rushton at Falconer Funeral Home. Their amazing care and compassion was exceptional at this very difficult time. Thank you for all the wonderful support, sympathy and kindness that is sincerely appreciated and will never be forgotten. Mark, Papa and Grandpa will always be remembered and held close to our hearts. – The Kennedy and Huether families.

21-1p

Garage sale GARAGE SALE AT 4 PARKER Drive, Belgrave, May 28 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date - May 29. 20-2p --------------------------------------------

Huge inside

is seeking

More details available at www.blythfestival.com/employment

The Corporation of the Township of North Huron is recruiting for the role of:

FULL-TIME RECREATION FACILITY OPERATOR II (TEMPORARY) The Township of North Huron is accepting applications to fill a temporary vacancy (June – October) of a Full-time Recreation Facility Operator II to assist with the facility operations of the Recreation Department.

The Recreation Facility Operator II performs daily operational and facility maintenance duties to the municipal recreational facilities within North Huron including the supervision of other facility operators and arena attendants. This position is responsible for operating the arena ice-resurfacing machine and performing preventative maintenance on equipment, etc. This position is also responsible for maintaining pool water conditions, filtration systems and building mechanical systems.

The • • • • • • • • • • • •

ideal candidate will possess: Grade 12 or equivalent; Basic Refrigeration Certification; Certified Pool Operator or equivalent Certified Ice Technician is an asset; Two years’ experience in pool and arena maintenance Certification or willingness to become certified for Working at Heights, First Aid and CPR with AED Good interpersonal skills; Able to work alone or with minimal supervision; Working knowledge of refrigeration, mechanical and electrical equipment; General knowledge of facilities maintenance standards; Valid driver’s licence; Must be able to work days, evenings, weekends and statutory holidays as required.

The rate of pay for the position is $22.83 to $28.54 per hour based on a 40 hours per week. A full job description outlining the duties and responsibilities of the position is available on the Township of North Huron website at: https://www. northhuron.ca/en/municipal-government/careers.aspx Interested applicants are invited to submit a letter of application and résumé outlining their qualifications and experience to the undersigned by no later than 4:30 PM on Monday, May 30, 2022: TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HURON

Clinton United Church 105 Ontario Street

Friday, May 27 1:30 - 7:00 pm

Saturday, May 28 8: am to noon

Many UNEXPECTED finds!

PART-TIME RECREATION FACILITY OPERATOR 1 (15-30 hours/week)

Seasonal Box Office & Front of House staff

ATTN: Human Resources 274 Josephine Street Wingham ON, N0G 2W0 hr@northhuron.ca RE: FULL-TIME RECREATION FACILITY OPERATOR II (TEMPORARY)

The Township of North Huron is seeking a Part-Time Recreation Facility Operator 1 to assist with the operations of the Recreation Department.

The Recreation Facility Operator I provides general maintenance and custodial maintenance services for indoor and outdoor recreational facilities including, but not limited to: setup/takedown of tables, chairs and equipment; cleaning and disinfection of washrooms, dressing rooms, change rooms; clearing snow from entrances, etc. This position may also performs ice maintenance and pool maintenance tasks. The Recreation Facility Operator operates within the budgets, objectives, policies and programs approved by Council and all applicable by-laws and Ontario regulations.

The • • •

ideal candidate will possess: Grade 12 or equivalent; Basic Refrigeration Certification; Certified Ice Technician and/or Pool Operator designation is an asset; • One year experience in recreation, parks & facilities is an asset; • Certification or willingness to become certified for Working at Heights, First Aid and CPR with AED • Good interpersonal skills; • Able to work alone or with minimal supervision; • Working knowledge of refrigeration, mechanical and electrical equipment; • General knowledge of parks & facilities maintenance standards; • Valid driver’s licence; • Must be able to work days, evenings, weekends and statutory holidays as required.

The rate of pay for the position is $17.30 to $20.35 per hour based on a 15-30 hours per week. A full job description outlining the duties and responsibilities of the position is available on the Township of North Huron website at: https://www. northhuron.ca/en/municipal-government/careers.aspx Interested applicants are invited to submit a letter of application and résumé outlining their qualifications and experience to the undersigned by no later than 4:30 PM on Monday, May 30, 2022: TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HURON ATTN: Human Resources 274 Josephine Street Wingham ON, N0G 2W0 hr@northhuron.ca RE: PART-TIME RECREATION FACILITY OPERATOR I We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Township of North Huron is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process and work environment. Accessibility accommodations are available for all parts of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.

Personal information collected will be used in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and solely for the purpose of candidate selection.

See more “Help Wanted” ads on Page 17

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Township of North Huron is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process and work environment. Accessibility accommodations are available for all parts of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.

Personal information collected will be used in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and solely for the purpose of candidate selection.

All word ads in The Citizen classifieds are put on our webpage at www.huroncitizen.ca

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022. PAGE 17.

Classified Advertisements Help wanted Help wanted Land for sale Land for sale Land for sale KSE INC. Kurtis Smith Excavating Inc.

is currently looking to fill positions for

Request for Proposals Vacant Agricultural/Woodlot Land

Dump Truck Drivers Experience preferred.

AZ licence an asset but not required.

Must have clean abstract.

Must have own transportation to our shop in Brussels.

Property Information: 358 acres total: 222 workable, 136 woodlot

Immediate Start

WE OFFER COMPETITIVE WAGES, BENEFITS AND GROUP RRSP PLAN. PLEASE SUBMIT RÉSUMÉ by fax 519-887-8856 or email to ksexc@hotmail.com or call the office 519-887-8855 and ask for Kurtis.

COMMUNITY LIVING CENTRAL HURON Coordinator, Huron Respite Network (Full-Time) Community Living-Central Huron is dedicated to full inclusion and citizenship of all individuals. Huron Respite Network is a collaboration of 14 local agencies that have a vested interest in respite services in Huron County for children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities and/or autism and children and youth with mental health concerns.

The successful applicant will be responsible for coordinating respite services for individuals and families that qualify for such supports. The Coordinator will facilitate the objectives of the Management, Advisory and election Committees as well as act as a resource and community connector for people supported and their families. Duties will range from administration of policies, procedures, budget, intake, planning/monitoring/ coordinating individualized respite plans, introduction of potential screened Respite Providers, program facilitation, data collection and ensuring adherence to Agency Policy and Procedures, Ministry and legislative requirements.

Requirements: Accomplished skills in full inclusion for all citizens; 3 years experience in the Human Services Field; related Post Secondary Diploma/Degree; demonstrated leadership ability and self-direction; experience with planning processes and staff supervision; advanced written/verbal/computer skills; knowledgeable of advocacy and range of opportunities/resources/services for children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities and children’s mental health.

Written applications to be received by 4:00 p.m.

June 3, 2022; sent to: Human Resources “Coordinator, Huron Respite Network” Community Living-Central Huron 267 Suncoast Dr. E, P.O. Box 527 Goderich, ON N7A 4C7 Fax: 519-524-1511 Email: hr@clch.ca Only those receiving an interview will be contacted.

Community Living-Central Huron welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

See news happening?

Call or email us today!

The Citizen

519-523-4792 info@northhuron.on.ca

The legal description of the property is as follows: Formerly, the civic address to the property was 40647 AMBERLEY RD CON 1 PT LOTS 7 TO 14 PT; ROAD ALLOWANCE CLOSED. A civic address for the newly severed agricultural lands has not been established.

Proposal documents can be accessed through the following link: https://northhuron.bidsandtenders.ca/Module/Tenders/en/Home/ BidHomepage Paper copies of the proposal documents are also available at the Township Office: 274 Josephine Street, Wingham.

Closing date: Thursday, June 2, 2:00 PM, hard copies only to the address specified above, late submissions will be returned.

See more “Classified Ads” on Page 18

Citizen-To-Citizen “SWAP SHOP” ad “One person’s junk is another’s treasure”

Let us help you turn that junk into $$ • Free ad up to 25 words, person to person only (no businesses), items valued at $1,000 or less. Price must be included in your ad.Your ad will run three times unless it sells faster!

• The Citizen reserves the right to limit the number of items or ads per person.

Call 519-523-4792 or email: info@northhuron.on.ca FOR SALE - kitchen cabinet, two glass doors, two solid doors, microwave shelf and drawer, 6'Hx32"Wx16"D, asking $100.

519-418-9385.

21-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - little girls’ clothing, size 9 months to 2T. Make a donation to Wingham Hospital Auxiliary, Wingham 519-3572768.

20-3 -----------------------------------------FREE - 2 - 10-gallon aquariums with equipment and stand. Pick up in Clinton, 519-482-3616. 20-3 -----------------------------------------WANTED - slide to reach an 8foot deck of a tree house, Wingham 519-357-2768.

20-3 ------------------------------------------

FOR SALE - Cockshutt 252 disc for parts, $200 for whole or will part out; 2 - 18/4/34 tires for duals, no cracks, $150 for pair; parts for 256 New Holland rake, $350 or will part out; 5-furrow Allis plow for parts, $300 or part out; 2 land rollers, $100 each; WD Allis tractor for parts, $300 or part out. 519395-2225.

19-3 -----------------------------------------FOR SALE - large vintage doll carriage, asking $40. Phone 519482-7262, ask for Mildred. 19-3 ------------------------------------------

All word ads in The Citizen classifieds are put on our webpage at www.huroncitizen.ca

PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022.

Classified Advertisements Notice

Notice

Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE OF PESTICIDE USE The Municipality of Huron East intends to control noxious weeds along the following roadsides through spot spraying where noxious weeds have been identified.

Municipality of Huron East Road Sides East County Road 12 (Brussels Line) and South of Highway 88 (Grey Ward) including: Jamestown Road Browntown Road Cardiff Road Brandon Road Rowland Road Acre T Road Cranbrook Road St. Michaels Road

Moncrieff Road Walton Road McDonald Line Johnston Line Adams Line Mt. Pleasant Line Maple Keys Line Perrie Line

Obituaries

Turnbull Line Fischer Line McNabb Line Gillis Line Livingston Line Krauter Line Henfryn Line

All locations where herbicides will be applied are in rural areas along a highway in which the public has general right of access but the application does not include any area intended for pedestrian access nor areas where the public is invited to stop such as rest areas or picnic areas.

Noxious weeds identified along the right-of-way locations noted above will be spot sprayed using the following pesticides registered under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada): • ClearView Herbicide containing the active ingredients: Aminopyralid, present as potassium salt and Metsulfuron - methyl (Registration No. 29752) • Hasten NT Ultra Spray Adjuvant containing Methyl and ethyl oleate (esterified vegetable oil) (Registration No. 31760) • Navius Flex Herbicide, containing Metsulfuron – methyl and Aminocyclorpyrachlor (Registration No: 30922) Anyone not wishing to have the roadside adjacent to their property treated for noxious weeds should contact Barry Mills at the Municipality of Huron East 519-527-0160.

Note: It is the responsibility of the property owner requesting no spray to contact the above each calendar year prior to the application of weed spray. Property owners requesting no spray will be responsible for all noxious weeds on the road allowance adjacent to their property.

We are controlling Noxious Weeds under Public Works Exception of the Cosmetic Pesticides Ban to the promotion of public health and safety.

STEVEN EDGAR FOGAL Steven Edgar Fogal passed away suddenly at his home on Sunday, May 22, 2022, after a brief battle with cancer. He was 65.

Steve was the devoted husband of the late Marilyn Fogal, who predeceased him in 2019. He was the cherished brother of Lavern and Irene Fogal, Markdale; Brenda Wade, Durham; Doug Fogal, Durham; Shirley and Dave Park, Hanover and Lisa and Al Sears, Hanover. He was the loving stepdad of Debbie and Mike Jardin, Belgrave and the dear grandpa of Kendall and Kesler Jardin.

Steve will be lovingly remembered by his best buddy and loyal feline companion Sylvester, Marilyn’s siblings and their families, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Steve was predeceased by his parents Leslie and Verna (Waterman) Fogal.

As per Steve’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. Private arrangements have been entrusted to McBurney Funeral Home, Wingham. Steve’s final resting place is at Durham Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to your local animal shelter would be appreciated.

Online condolences may be left at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com.

Wingham Memorials

AUDREY JEAN STOREY Audrey Jean Storey of Stratford, and formerly of Brussels, passed away peacefully at the Stratford General Hospital on May 23, 2022.

She was 92.

Born in Morris Township, Jean was the daughter of the late Richard and Eliza Alcock.

Jean was predeceased by her first husband Leonard Lamont, second husband Lloyd Storey and her companion of many years Charles Rompf. She is survived by her sister Joan Baxter (George) and many nieces and nephews and their families, including her goddaughter Debbie Jones.

Jean was predeceased by her siblings Isabel, Helen, June, Ruth, Mary, Beacham and Eric.

Interment will take place at Brussels Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. Private family arrangements were entrusted to the W.G. Young Funeral Home, Stratford.

Condolences may be left at www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com.

STRATFORD MEMORIALS Creating Memories in Stone for Over 95 years

Distinctive memorials of lasting satisfaction produced by us to your specifications.

Commencing May 24, 2022 weather permitting and ending approximately July 7, 2022.

For information call: Barry Mills Municipality of Huron East 1-888-868-7513

Or

Steve Ford Green Stream 1-905-510-1229

Call or email to make an appointment.

Masks are preferred for meetings.

Owned and operated by Mac and Donna Anderson Assisted by Mandy

519-357-1910 E-mail: andgranite@bellnet.ca After hours appointments available 89 North Street W., Wingham www.winghammemorials.com

519-524-8457 email: mfalconer@stratfordmemorials.com

Goderich/Clinton Michael Falconer Memorial Counsellor www.stratfordmemorials.com

Remembering your loved one Honour your loved one by placing their obituary in

The Citizen This is a free service provided by

The Citizen

Making the turn Harness racing returned to the Clinton Raceway on Sunday, with a record-setting opening day at the local track. This is the first time in three years that the raceway has begun its season in May due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (John Stephenson photo)

We encourage you to share the story of your loved one in a special remembrance of their life.

Cards of thanks can be placed in our classified section, starting at just $7.00.

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022. PAGE 19.

From the Minister’s Study

Exploring the feminine images of God with Rev. Todd

By Rev. JoAnn Todd Trinity Anglican Church, Blyth St. John’s Anglican, Brussels As we are still in the month of May, the month in which we celebrate motherhood, I’m sharing with you the sermon I wrote for Mother’s Day, which I titled “Feminine Images for God”.

Why do I think it was important to explore this? Well, masculine images and words for God abound in the Bible, flowing over into our prayers and hymns of praise. The words we use to describe something or someone provide us with images and feelings about the very things we’re describing. Words have power, images have power, and words and images create feelings that directly impact the relationship we have with someone, including God. When I say “Heavenly Father”, what images or impressions come to mind? If I began a prayer instead by saying: “Loving and nurturing God”, what feeling does that instill within you? With those ideas, thoughts and mental image, influencing our perceptions about who God is, we can, and often do define God according to our human limitations.

“God the Father” for millennia has been the primary image of God, and yes, it is scriptural. It is, of course, a masculine image and brings to mind all the stereotypical male images of who God is, what God is to me, and how I then respond to God within myself. One of the things I learned very early on in my faith studies is that the first image a child has of God is the same one she or he has of their own father.

If the father-child relationship has been domineering, or abusive in any way, or even if the father is absent, it impacts the view the child has of who God is to them, and their relationship with God. And, of course, the reverse is true.

A loving, nurturing, present father helps to create a positive image of God. And those images stay with us a long-time, for better or for worse!

The male image of God has been, and still is encouraged in many faith traditions, and of course comes from historically patriarchal societies. The power rested, and still rests with the male members of many a society, so a feminine, female image of God can seem somehow antithetical. How could the Almighty God be anything but male, if the males in your society have all the power, and wish to continue to perpetrate their power?

If there’s one thing humanity is

good at, it’s viewing all things in our lives through our own cultural images. We even do that to God! And so, what we often miss are the feminine images of God in the Bible. Admittedly, and not terribly surprisingly, there are not as many of them as male images to be sure, so we don’t read or hear of them often and they are often overlooked.

The role of the prophet was to bring the people God’s word, as they perceived it to be. The prophet Hosea describes God as fiercely protective of God’s children “like a bear robbed of her cubs.” (Hosea 13.8) Isaiah wins the prize for the book with the most number of feminine references to God – but then Isaiah is a pretty big book: 66 chapters long!

Isaiah describes God using many maternal images; as a woman in labour (42.14), a mother comforting her child (66.13), a mother carrying her children in her womb and giving them life (46:3-4) and God compared to a nursing mother: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for

the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” (49.15) A beautiful image for a nurturing God. Ask any woman who has been pregnant, had a child, nursed a child; the love that mother feels is always there, regardless of what the child does, the love is never forgotten. And God loves us just like that – we are never forgotten, we’re always a child of God. The Psalms, however, are the opposite of the books of the prophets. Psalms are the people’s prayers and cries to God. There are numerous psalms with references to God protecting God’s people under God’s wings, which presumably are mother birds! (See 17.8, 57.1, 69.4) Psalm 22 describes God as a midwife: “Yet it was you who took me from the womb; you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.” [vs 9] Psalm 123 only has three verses: “1 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted my

Sun. May 29, 10:30 a.m.

DAY OF PRAYER FOR CAMP Pastor Ernest Dow, “Praying for Real” (Luke 11:1ff)

Churches are now open for in-person worship.

Weekly service live-streamed at 10:30 a.m. on our facebook page or on youtube @St. Paul’s-Trinity Anglican Church Wingham.

Rev. JoAnn Todd, Rector 519-357-7781 email: revjoann@hurontel.on.ca The­Regional­Ministry­of­ Hope www.regionalministryofhope.com

Trinity

St. John’s

BLYTH 9:00 AM

BRUSSELS 12 NOON

St. Paul’s Trinity

WINGHAM 10:30 AM

COME WORSHIP WITH US!

BRUSSELS

United Church WELCOME to WORSHIP Sunday, May 29 at 9:30 a.m.

Service on YouTube later Sunday Help fight world hunger by donating to Canadian Food Grains Bank Masks and distancing encouraged

Contact Alex at minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com Website: brusselsandblythuc.ca P.O. Box 359, Brussels ~ 519-887-6259

MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS

Worship 11:00 am every Sunday Masks are encouraged while indoors.

Brussels Soup and More 2 is cancelled until further notice.

519-357-5273

Blyth United Church Sunday, May 29 Join us for in-house worship service at 11 am

Sunday School & Nursery during worship

changes in the fields of theology and biblical studies over the past half century are reflected in the commentaries on this psalm. Most of the recent analysts have accepted what seems obvious once spoken – that the author is a woman or is, at least, quoting a woman”. “My eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.” Verse one is written rather like ‘an apology for intruding into male space in a time and place where that religious behaviour was not Continued on page 21

Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Come Worship With Us Sundays at 10:00 am All Are Welcome (Masks are optional) 250 Princess St., Brussels • 519­887­6388 • Pastor Ken Gazley

The Regional Ministry of Hope

All are welcome to join with us in joyful worship to the Lord!

Evangelical Missionary Church

soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like the weaned child that is with me. 3 O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time on and forevermore.” The second verse of this psalm gives us a very powerful image of the writer’s relationship with God; compares her soul to that of a deeply-caredfor child, like the child that is with its mother, perhaps on her lap or being carried by her.

There is a good possibility that this psalm may well have been written by a woman according to one commentator I read: “Important

Service is also online later Bring your lawn chair and join us for a visit in the garden Wed. mornings at 10:00 "But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him." (Romans 6:8) Outreach project is Food Grains Bank.

Donations can be sent to church treasurer.

In-person and online! live.huronchapel.com

Contact Alex at: minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com

119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131

Facebook: Blyth and Brussels United Churches blythunited@tcc.on.ca ~ 519-523-4224

Sunday, May 29 at 10 a.m.

BMG Community Centre (upstairs room) 800 Sports Drive, Brussels **Please note our new location** Childcare provided for children aged 0 to 4 during the sermon

Worship and Prayer Time Loving Fellowship Expository Preaching

For additional details please visit: brusselscommunitybiblechapel.com

Join us for our 10:00 am and 7:30 pm services Services are live-streamed and can be found by searching “Blyth Christian Reformed Church”

BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743 www.blythcrc.ca

THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH

OUR CHURCHES HAVE RE-OPENED. WELCOME BACK. Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday ~ 6:00 p.m.

17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday ~ 9:00 a.m.

220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph’s Sunday ~ 11:00 a.m.

1025 Wallace Avenue N. Facebook: Search for St. Joseph/Sacred Heart/St. Ambrose Live Sunday Mass, Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022.

To be feared no longer Glimpses of the Past with Karen Webster Among the most terrifying words that parents could hear, in past decades, was that of “diphtheria”.

Known by various names, such as the strangling angel of children, diphtheria was a scourge that caused grief for many centuries.

With the advent of antitoxins, incidences of diphtheria no longer cause the dread that they once did.

This disease was known by various names, but in 1826, Pierre Bretonneau coined the name “diphthérite” from the Greek word for leather, describing the deadly membrane that formed over the throat. Diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by “corynebacterium diphtheria”, which is transmitted by close contact with an infected person through respiratory secretions that are spread through the air. The toxin produced by the bacteria causes a thick film to develop in the throat which makes it increasingly difficult to breathe. Children under the age of five and people over 40 are the most likely to succumb to diphtheria.

An antitoxin was developed in 1890 by Emil von Behring but widespread use, especially in rural areas, was slow in coming. Many home remedies for diphtheria were touted in local newspapers, such as hot malt vinegar in flannel wraps, baths with chamomile flowers and plenty of hot red wine. From the

Huron News-Record of January, 1893, we learn that parents were advised to “close up a room, then take a tin cup with equal parts tar and turpentine and hold it over a flame. Have the little patient inhale the fumes and thus cough and spit out the membraneous matter. The diphtheria will then be gone.”

In 1887, local drugstores such as Combe’s in Clinton, Hamilton’s in Blyth and George Baker’s in Brussels were offering for sale Dierlamm’s Diphtheria and Croup Remedy. Rev. H. Dierlamm of Gowanstown claimed that “no child needs to suffer, let alone die, from these… diseases”.

But, indeed, as these “remedies” were ineffective, many children did die from the effects of diphtheria. It is devastating to a family when one member dies, so imagine the agony when several pass away within a short period of time, all from the same cause. The Beavers family near Kippen lost three family members, including the mother, in one week in 1881. A Goderich family by the name of McIntosh lost four children in 1888. Between Nov. 30, 1889 and Jan. 9, 1890, the schedule of deaths in Goderich recorded eight of 11 deaths that were the result of “diphtheria” and another two that were the result of “ulcerated throat”, which is a symptom of diphtheria. Of these deaths, three were from the William

“Watty” Watson family. Violet, nine, died on Dec. 4 1889, Carrie, seven, died on Dec. 5, and Nellie, aged five, died on Jan. 20, 1890.

The Samuel Gibson family lost George A., aged 14, Ethel, nine, and Florence, seven years old. Within a month and a half, six children of these two families were dead. The Medical Officer of Health of Huron, Dr. Alex Taylor, reported that use of water from an unsafe well was likely the cause of these deaths.

The Registrar General of Ontario released some interesting statistics about the year 1880. For instance, 23 per cent of Ontario deaths were of children under the age of one year. Diphtheria was the fourthgreatest cause of Ontario deaths, following consumption (tuberculosis), old age and infantile debility and inflammation of the lungs (likely pneumonia).

The diphtheria antitoxin was used as a cure for diphtheria, administered once symptoms had presented. Doctors the world over reported that the fatality rate of diphtheria was greatly decreased with the use of the antitoxin.

When cases of diphtheria were reported in communities, notice would be put in the local newspaper advising of a six-week quarantine for the household involved. In Brussels, in 1902, the household of John Long was in quarantine. Miss

Winnie Long was reported as improving from her bout with the disease. By 1939, when a mild case of the disease was reported in Brussels, no quarantine was deemed necessary.

An alternate name for this column could have been Before the Age of Miracles, which was the title chosen by Dr. William Victor Johnston for his 1972 memoir of his medical practice in southern Bruce and northern Huron counties from 1924-1954. He recounted that two of his paternal aunts had died of diphtheria around 1880, but that during his years of practice, he only encountered three young people with the disease. With the help of antiserum, all three survived. Dr. Johnston always kept a supply of diphtheria antitoxin and antiserum in his office refrigerator. He saw advances such as antibiotics, immunizations and drug therapies as “miracles” that prevented much of the sufferings of the past.

Various reports throughout the 1900s chronicled the decline of the incidences of diphtheria in the

region. The rates, reported in Canada, reflect the number of cases per 100,000 of population. In 1924, the rate was 100.13. Gradually the numbers decreased, but a spike was observed in 1938 with 33.01 cases per 100,000 people. In 1975, the rate was 0.5. Some recent years have seen no cases reported and as of 2019, the rate was 0.01.

In 2022, the Immunization of School Pupils Act and the Child Care and Early Years Act require that all children attending such institutions must receive certain vaccines, which are administered free of charge. Vaccines can start right with pregnancy. Babies receive vaccines to protect against diphtheria, as well as tetanus, pertussis, polio and haemophilus influenza type B starting at age two months. Routine vaccinations follow along at prescribed intervals.

Instead of a word that brings fear to families, today, diphtheria can be controlled and conquered.

Many thanks to Cheryl Cronin for her help with research for this column.

SELL IT IN THE CLASSIFIEDS! Turn those unwanted items into quick cash with a single phone call or email.

CALL 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 info@northhuron.on.ca To place your classified ad in

The Citizen

Business Directory Bernard Enterprises Authorized dealer for

COME IN AND VISIT YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD PHARMASAVE

Central Boiler

BROWN’S PHARMASAVE 198 Josephine St., Wingham, Ont. 519-357-1629 Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 - 6 Sat. 9 - 4 Rear Parking Available Easy Prescription Transfer

Free delivery in Wingham & surrounding area

Experienced Masons and Concrete Contractor Parging - Stonework - Walls - Foundations Residential - Commercial - Agricultural - Industrial 40193 Blyth Road, Blyth 226-523-1424 info@advancedblockcorp.ca

SAVE

NEW CONSTRUCTION AGRICULTURAL RENOVATIONS RESIDENTIAL

Call

Classic Outdoor Wood Furnaces, Edge Outdoor Wood Furnaces & Maxim Wood Pellet and Corn Burners Gasification units available Inquire about our new edges Carman Bernard

519-887-6405

519-524-0253

RR #4 Brussels centralboiler.com

PAUL COOK ELECTRIC

YOUR HOME MOVIES!

- COMPLETE MECHANICAL SERVICE COMPUTERIZED TUNE-UPS - TIRES - BRAKES MUFFLERS - VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION

NICK@LAKEAFFECTMEDIA.COM

Home, Farm & Commercial Wiring

DAN'S AUTO REPAIR

Talk to us instead.

Video Tapes Degrade Over Time

BELGRAVE

TO L L - F R E E

519-357-1537

Dave Franken

1-877-513-5333

Affordable CAR AND TRUCK RENTALS

Large & Small Trucks

CONCRETE FORMING

fridge carts - piano dollysmoving blankets

For All Your Concrete Needs!

Complete Selection of Cars

COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL • Foundations • Floor Finishing • Circular Tanks • Sandwich Walls FREE ESTIMATES RR#3 Blyth ~ Fax 519-523-9604 519-523-9971

Our rates qualify for insurance replacement

Owned and Operated by Dan & Heather Snell

RR 3, Blyth, Ont. N0M 1H0

1(519)440-9633

LAKE AFFECT MEDIA can convert your tapes to Digital or DVD before it’s too late

Make a Jump on your Summer Sales!

Advertise today in

(on the Westfield Rd.)

DAN SNELL,

519-523-4356

Lakeside

SHELVING & RACKING

Large instock selection of pallet racking, store shelving, display cases and more for Industrial, Residential, Farm & Retail www.lakesideshelving.com lakesidemarket@gmail.com

Passenger Vans full size or mini

GODERICH TOYOTA 344 Huron Rd. GODERICH

519-524-9381 1-800-338-1134

Hidden Gems of Huron County 519-523-4792

Automotive Technician

33842 Market Rd., North of Goderich, off Hwy. 21

519-524-1740

Call 519-523-4792 to book your spot today!

Central Huron Insulation

Residential • Commercial • Agricultural Attics • Crawl Spaces • New Construction & Renovations

• Spray foam insulation • Blown-in cellulose insulation • Fire proofing

“be cool, stay warm...”

Call for your free, no obligation quote 519-482-WARM (9276) info@centralhuroninsulation.com www.centralhuroninsulation.com

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022. PAGE 21.

Jesus is a mother hen; strong and protective Continued from page 19 universally accepted.’” I love the image of a child resting quietly, calmly in peace upon the breast of God. In your mind’s eye, can you envision yourself as that child?

Luke 15: 8-10 provided a blatantly female image of God, as a woman who is diligently sweeping her house, searching for a lost coin.

In fact, according to another commentator, it would have been pretty shocking to Jesus’ audience to have God depicted as a searching woman, who rejoices over a found coin by throwing a party for her friends and neighbours. “No other parable in the New Testament presents a woman as a metaphor or allegory for God.” But that’s Jesus for you, shocking his listeners with teachings that challenge their way

of thinking, challenge their way of perceiving God. And if that wasn’t shocking enough, for God to throw a party for her friends and neighbours to celebrate the found coin, which would probably cost as much, if not more than the coin that had been lost: well, that doesn’t make financial sense. There Jesus goes again, challenging our assumptions of what’s truly important in the Kingdom of God. And in this parable what was also important is that the lost one is diligently sought after and greatly celebrated when found. There is nothing more highly valued than our returning to God’s embrace!

Jesus even provides us with a very feminine image of himself.

Also from Luke’s gospel, Jesus

refers to himself as wanting to be the mother hen to her people, gathering her brood under her wings. Now, there’s a definitive image too. A brooding hen: a nurturing and a female image for Jesus; and an image that I suspect most of you would not instantly think of if I asked you about your image of Jesus. But still, a very strong image, if you know anything about hens with their chicks! We had banty hens for a few years when our kids were little. Have you ever seen a hen with her chicks, particularly when they feel their chicks are threatened? They’re fearless! They’d go after the barn cats if the cats came too close! And the cats would flee from them.

Then, the hens would round up the scattered babies and literally scoop

them up using their wings and tuck them under their bodies, fluffing their feathers around them and clucking in reassurance to the frightened little ones.

What an amazing image for God, for Jesus – a mother hen; strong and protective of her young, soft and loving – yet not afraid to stand up to any predators. It is such a wonderfully maternal and feminine image for Jesus that I really love!

While Jesus may well have taught his disciples to pray to “Our Father, who art in heaven...” he also taught that our perceptions of who God is goes beyond the limits of the words and images we try to place upon God. So, I do hope the scriptures I’ve referenced have maybe broadened your view, opened your eyes to

perceive God as beyond gender; that God is bigger, more encompassing, and even more loving than anything we could ever ask or imagine. God is our Mother too!

Celebrate their special milestone!

Advertise it in

The Citizen

Call or email us today for the details

519-523-4792 info@northhuron.on.ca

DREAM HOME OF THE MONTH

PLAN NUMBER 2-3-781 Home Hardware Building Centre We’ve got your lumber • Lumber • Flooring • Windows • Kitchen & Doors Cabinets

519-887-6277 1-800-881-0030 Brussels www.mcdonaldhomehardware.com

Laverne’s Custom Wood Products Custom made furniture, kitchens, vanities, wood trim and much more ...designed to fit your home.

41496 Moncrieff Rd, Blyth Jeff Kuepfer 519-441-7998 Where your dreams become reality!

Central Huron Insulation

Residential • Commercial • Agricultural Attics • Crawl Spaces • New Construction & Renovations

• Spray foam insulation • Blown-in cellulose insulation • Fire proofing

“be cool, stay warm...”

Call for your free, no obligation quote 519-482-WARM (9276) info@centralhuroninsulation.com www.centralhuroninsulation.com

IDEAL FOR EXPANDING FAMILY

Gabled roofs seem to make a house homier, and this attractive three-bedroom, two-storey design is no exception. A future secondary suite on the ground floor will be ideal for an expanding family or those seeking a mortgage-helper or in-law accommodation.

The covered entry, flanked by double pilasters with brick bases that echo those directly above, leads into roomy foyer with a large coat closet.

Upstairs, the great room and dining room form one large space, with the great room opening on to a spacious covered deck. The gas fireplace in the great room will cast its rosy glow as far as the dining room, which includes a bayed-out area that could house a built-in storage cabinet.

The kitchen features an angle sink, with a window to the left, as well as an efficient counter configuration. Next to the pantry is a doorway to a patio, ideal for al fresco dining and grilling.

The master suite overlooks the front garden and includes a roomy walk-in closet as well as ensuite with a soaker tub, double basins and a glassed-in shower stall.

The second and third bedrooms share a three-piece bath. The linen cupboard is located between them.

On the ground floor, as noted above, a future secondary suite is roughed in, with a three-piece bathroom and kitchen/dining/sitting area.

The laundry room also occupies the ground floor. With access to the double garage, the laundry can double as a mud room.

Exterior finishes include painted wood siding and trim and vertical siding in the gable and two sets of double pilasters, for a traditional look.

This home measures 33 feet wide and 48 feet deep, for a total of 1,274 square feet on the second (main) floor.

Teeswater 1-800-834-4414 Plans for design 2-3-781 are available for $775 (set of 5), $835(set of 8) and $883 for a super set of 10. Also add $35.00 Ph: 519-392-8474 Fax: 519-392-6168 for Priority charges within B.C. or $60.00 outside of B.C. Please add H.S.T., PST, OR G.S.T (where applicable) to both the plan price and Priority charges. * Regular Units Our 50TH Anniversary Edition of the Home Plan Catalogue containing over 400 plans is available for $16.50 (includes * Deluxe Units - sink / flush taxes, postage and handling). Make all cheque and money orders payable to "Jenish House Design Ltd." and mail to: * Handwash Stations

C&P PORTABLE TOILETS

JENISH HOUSE DESIGN LTD. c/o The Blyth/Brussels Citizen, #201- 1658 Commerce Ave Kelowna, BC V1X 8A9 OR SEE OUR WEB PAGE ORDER FORM ON: www.jenish.com AND E-MAIL YOUR ORDER TO: homeplans@jenish.com

Book your ad space Single ads $40 + HST/month Double ads $78 + HST /month Call 519-523-4792

Residential & Commercial Dumpster Rental & Service

Jim Anderson: Cell 519-440-6007 Jason Fleet: Cell 519-525-9473

Convenient for your outdoor event!

Always clean & fresh.

C&P - for people who are out and “going”!

P. E . I n g l i s Holdings Inc.

Dumpster Rental and Service

R.R. #1 41403 Londesboro Road Londesboro, ON N0M 2H0

* Wedding / Special Event Units * Wheelchair/Infant Care Units * Comfort Station Trailer

Windows • Entrance Doors Glass Showers • Mirror All Glass Work 41 Third St. Vanastra ~ 519-482-7869 www.dndglass.ca

• Backhoe • Bulldozing • Licensed Septic Pumping & Installations • Terralift - no dig septic repair/ soil rejuvenation • Hyhoe Excavator • Dump Truck

1-800-834-4414

PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022.

May 29, 1910 Mr. F. Roth of Morris passed away.

His funeral was conducted by the Maccabee Society of which he was a member.

Read more in the Blyth Repository of History.

405 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792 blythrepositoryofhistory.ca

#ThrowbackThursday

Leadership in energy and environmental design

Devon Henry 84772 McDonald Line • Box 616 • Brussels

devonjhenry@hotmail.com 519-505-2473

The Citizen, May 14, 1997

The Citizen, May 10, 2012 The Citizen, May 10, 2012

Bearing down on the cattle Austin Ryd, right, and Jack Hicks, were part of a three-person team in the Southern Ontario Cattle Sorting Association’s first competition of 2012 on May 5 at the Turkey Run Ranch at RR5, Brussels. Ryd and Hicks were both bearing down on the last of seven cattle that needed to be sorted by numerical order during the competition. (Denny Scott photo)

Help The Citizen pick the photos that appear on this page. Your ‘likes’ and other reactions on Facebook help us figure out which photos are best to appear here.

The Citizen, May 14, 1997

The Citizen, May 10, 2012

Advertising their creation Grade 6/7 students at Blyth Public School under the guidance of Ms. Clark got to flex their creative muscles twice over as they first made inventions out of different foods and glue then used those products as a springboard for their persuasive advertising writing project. Shown are, from left, Brenden Howson, Brett Fleming, Hannah Ortman and Jenna McDonald with their food-and-glue creation. (Denny Scott photo)

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022. PAGE 23.

Incidents down in regular M-T report

By Denny Scott The Citizen

One horse power The Clinton Raceway once again welcomed crowds of fans and risk-takers to enjoy equestrian activities over the weekend. The raceway opened on Sunday, May 22 for the season, which will run until Sept. 4 when the track will host the 42nd annual Charity Drivers’ Challenge. (John Stephenson photo)

Chief Building Official Kirk Livingston told Morris-Turnberry Council, during its May 17 meeting, that property standards and bylaw enforcement incidents have decreased in recent months.

Mayor Jamie Heffer commented it was good to see fewer incidents on the monthly report, and Livingston said that one of the two new incidents was actually a North Huron resident calling about livestock that wandered to a North

Huron property from a MorrisTurnberry property.

Livingston said he normally wouldn’t enforce the North Huron bylaw, since the two municipalities no longer share his services. He was able, however, to pick the livestock up.

Livingston also said that the outstanding files or investigations would likely be cleaned up soon.

There were seven incidents in his report, and he said, with nicer weather, clean-up or assistance could be pursued soon to deal with any outstanding issues.

Care for seniors, COVID-19 hot topics at debate Continued from page 12 Sawchuk and her accessible design committee.

In the Liberal Party of Ontario’s platform, Blackmore said that changes to how seniors are taken care of is referred to as a “seniors’ revolution”. She said that the conditions of some of the for-profit homes that were discovered during the pandemic was a travesty and that it can’t be allowed to happen again.

She said the party would get rid of for-profit long-term care homes and also implement programs to allow seniors to live in their homes longer, adopting Denmark’s model of small long-term care homes.

The first step towards improving healthcare, Hazzard said, would be to hire more personal support workers and the NDP has pledged to hire 10,000 more of them if elected.

She also noted that one of her volunteer efforts was teaching ukelele to seniors with Alzheimer’s Disease in long-term care homes via Zoom during the pandemic, but that program was cut by the Ford government. If elected, she said she would fight to have programs like that reinstated.

The candidates then took two questions from the floor. The first was about transitioning the province to a “new economy” in which more money stays with normal Ontarians, as opposed to the ultra-wealthy, effectively bringing back the middle class.

Huenemoerder said that people behind the scenes are really running the show when it comes to the government, comparing Premier Doug Ford to a “mannequin in the shop window”.

Blackmore said it’s about restoring “economic dignity” to Ontarians and closing the gap between the “very rich and the very poor” and expanding the middle class.

Hazzard said she had recently spoken to a high school civics class about the difference between the major political parties and she did so by way of using a pie as an example. She said that each party wants to divide the pie differently.

She also said that the NDP, if elected, would not raise taxes on anyone making under $200,000 a year and would ensure higher earners begin to pay their fair share.

Kennedy said his party would propose a reduction to the HST so that more money stays in the pockets of Ontarians for them to spend as they see fit.

The second and final question

dealt with COVID-19 vaccination, with the person saying the results of a booster dose of the “experimental” vaccine had been “damning” and asking candidates if they would continue to uphold vaccination mandates and welcome back anyone who was terminated from their job as a result of a termination due to a COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Huenemoerder said she would immediately bring back anyone who was fired as a result of refusing vaccination, adding that the calls for “my body, my choice” cannot be cherry-picked for some situations and not others.

Thompson said that many workplaces were allowed to create their own policies and that Ford’s government followed the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health. She added that just about every COVID-19-related mandate has been lifted in Ontario and that her party has a plan for the province to stay open, in addition to providing personal protective equipment going forward.

Blackmore said her party would certainly continue to support vaccination against COVID-19, citing the success of other vaccination campaigns against polio, diphtheria and more, vaccinations required to attend Canadian schools.

She also cited that once vaccinations were widespread, especially in long-term care settings, deaths went way down, saying the work being done with vaccination in the province has been a success.

Hazzard also said her party would continue to support vaccination, saying that as someone who has worked in healthcare for years, she was told about MRNA technology and its place in cancer treatment back in the 1990s, so she disagrees with those who say the technology is new and untested.

She said her party would follow

Sudoku Solution

the science on vaccination, which is how many diseases have been wiped out.

Kennedy, however, said he was against vaccination mandates and any other COVID-19 control measures such as lockdowns, calling it a divisive issue.

Stephens called COVID-19 and vaccinations “just another fraud”.

In his closing statements, Kennedy said he was proud to be part of the New Blue Party, which has candidates in all of the province’s ridings, providing voters with an alternate option for those with conservative values who were tired of Ford’s broken promises.

Hazzard said this election in June is the most important in a generation and that in addition to

everything she had already addressed, the NDP had a plan to reduce emissions and tackle climate change.

Blackmore said the Liberals would be there to support HuronBruce’s farmers and lauded the donations of local commodity groups to local food banks over the course of the pandemic.

She said she’s worked with leader Steven Del Duca to develop the party’s rural Ontario policy and she was quite proud of that.

Thompson said her party has a plan to keep the province open and said that, contrary to Huenemoerder’s comments, Ford has proven that he’s anything but a mannequin in a window, adding that he’s shown he’s literally

just a text away from Ontarians.

Huenemoerder agreed with Hazzard, saying the June 2 election is a very important one for Ontario.

She said the measures taken to contain the spread of COVID-19 have done more harm than good when it comes to mental health, suicides and more.

She added that, if people want real change in their government, they have to change the way they vote.

Stephens said that voters need to think beyond the two-party system, which was created at the time of the French Revolution as a divide-andconquer tactic.

The 43rd Ontario general election is set for June 2. Advance polls are open now and will close on May 28.

50th Anniversary Brian & Rita Potter invite you to join their

50th Wedding Anniversary

A Celebration of Life service for Stewart Steiss will be held on May 27 at 2:30 p.m. at the Cranbrook Cemetery

Celebration and Dance Saturday, June 4th, 2022 from 8 pm until midnight All ages welcome at the Wingham Knights of Columbus Centre 99 Kerr Drive, Wingham, ON

Brighten Their Day with our Celebration Special During this time of social distancing don’t forget your loved one’s special day with our limited time special price for celebration ads (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.)

2" wide x 3" high 4" wide x 3" high

$30 + tax

includes colour

The Citizen

Call or email today 519-523-4792 info@northhuron.on.ca

$60 + tax

includes colour

THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2022. PAGE 24.

We have everything to make your BBQ season special! * Aprons & oven mitts * Serviettes * Sauces & dips * Spices * Smoked salmon * Local cheese * Cider

FILL YOUR

GRILL Salter and Blake Families

200 Potter St., Wingham

Small and large quantities are always available.

519-492-0057

’Cue the Grill Brand Names to get your grilling off to a great start

Coleman

Napoleon

Masterchef

Vermont Castings

Paderno

Weber

Check out these and other accessories at...

CANADIAN TIRE Hwy. 8, Goderich Mon.-Fri. 8 am - 8 pm Store: 519-524-2121 Service: 519-524-2124

Sat. 8 am - 6 pm Sun. 9 am - 6 pm

Get Ready for BBQ Season

Curbside pick up available Please call ahead to arrange your order

Fill Your Freezers!

suncrestfarm@cyg.net

398 Queen St., Blyth 519.523.4276 www.mapleandmoose.com

J.R. FEAR APIARIES INC.

Suncrest Farms Galloways

44567 Line 86, Listowel

See us on Facbook & Instagram Call Bev 519-523-4323 or Vicky 519-523-4870 to arrange payment through Credit Card or E-Transfer and we can arrange pick up or delivery.

Fresh Honey Pure Unscented Beeswax Candles Creamed Honey Honey Baskets

519-357-3656

BOOKS

125 BEST INDOOR GRILL RECIPES With an indoor electric grill you can continue to cook interesting grilled meals year long.

These recipes include everything from chicken and seafood to burgers, steaks and chops. Enjoy a whole new way of cooking. $19.95 300 BEST POTATO RECIPES Our most common vegetable can also be the most versatile.

Information on potato history and varieties and recipes for everything from appetizers, snacks, salads, soups, main courses, breads and desserts. $27.95

Steele Wool Farm Rick and Marg Steele

• Grass Fed Freezer Lamb • Honey Garlic Sausage • Pepperettes • Burgers 38689 Moncrieff Rd., R.R. #3 Blyth, Ont. N0M 1H0

519-526-7446 rmsteele@hurontel.on.ca

Enjoy the best of Grill Time from grills to delicious foods and sauces, we encourage you to shop local

Call to order your copy today

The Citizen Blyth ~ 519-523-4792

Check out these and other books at... huroncitizen.ca

Get Fired Up With the best Grills Great Selection of BBQs Weber, Broil King and more!

519-887-6277 Brussels 1-800-881-0030

www.mcdonaldhomehardware.com