Harry Stemp was born in Uxbridge in 1934. He started his career with the Uxbridge Times-Journal as an apprentice typesetter at age 14. He soon began writing sports for the Times-Journal and eventually owned 10 community newspapers in central Ontario including the Times-Journal. He started writing his award-winning Stemp’s Stew in 1965. The column came to an end shortly after he sold his newspaper chain in 1989, but was rejuvenated in 2006 when Harry became a regular contributor to The Cosmos.
Common sense
Every so often something happens that renews our faith in our elected representatives who sit in the hallowed halls of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. Such was the case recently when MP Kelly Block introduced a private member’s bill C-575 calling for the salaries and benefits paid to the chiefs and councillors of the various Indian Reserves across Canada to be made public.
You may recall news came out recently that many of these people were being paid salaries and benefits in the six figures; the exact amount was not revealed even though this was taxpayer dollars. There was a public outcry that these people, or government departments, did not have to make this information available to the very taxpayers who were footing the bill.
Well, the members of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation took up the cause and began a nation-wide protest seeking a law that would call for all public spending to be made available to the taxpayers of Canada.
We all know that getting a Private Members Bill passed is almost an impossibility. It does happen but rarely. Fortunately this bill hit a nerve with most politicians, who are also taxpayers, and they agreed that the secrecy surrounding these exorbitant salaries should end. When the vote was called on first reading another amazing thing happened. Fifteen Liberal MPs broke rank and voted with the Conservatives to pass the Bill. Having this happen almost guarantees that Bill C-575 will become law.
It certainly renews our faith when we see that some of our elected representatives do possess common sense and avoid party lines when it comes to carrying out their role to spend tax dollars wisely. And also that those taxpayers should not be kept in the dark where their tax dollars are concerned.
One thing I did find puzzling. Not one member of the NDP supported Bill C-575. Strange, when you consider that this party continually brags that they stand for the ordinary citizen. However when they had a chance to back up that claim they were nowhere to be found. Party politics overruled common sense. But let's not allow the NDP failing to take away from the fact that 15 Liberal members did support the Bill and congratulate them for their stand.
Party lines should be ignored more often at all levels of government when dealing with items that are of major importance to Canada and Canadians as a whole. --------------------------------
Many will be disappointed to learn that the popular Uxbridge Legion Ribfest will not be held this year. It has been very popular for two summers and you may wonder why it is being cancelled.
There are many reasons. The main one being financial liability should the event hit bad weather such as steady rain through the two-day event. Before the gates open to the public there are many costs that have to paid up front. These costs are not covered by insurance so if the event is rained out the Legion is on the hook for thousands of dollars they can't afford to lose.
For the past two years organizers have been very lucky that the weatherman cooperated and large crowds enjoyed two days of fun in our beautiful Elgin Park.
This year, after a lot of discussion members decided that it would be pushing their luck to go another year. Financially the gamble was too large. However, I understand there are plans to have a mini ribfest on the Legion parking lot on a weekend yet to be decided.
As disappointing as this news is, the positive side is that over 100 volunteers provided Uxbridge residents and visitors with one of the top Ribfest events in the province. Highly rated by all the ribbers, exhibitors and those who visited Elgin Park.
And these Legion members who worked hard on this project are as disappointed as everyone else to have to announce this decision. It had to be done and I'm sure you will agree, it was good fun while it lasted.
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I'm sleeping a lot better these nights ever since the Pope, in his recent book, absolved the Jews of being guilty in the death of Jesus, more than a few years ago. I thought this was mighty good of the Pope as I'm sure it has been top of mind and caused many sleepless nights for millions of people over these centuries.
Guess what I am trying to say is how ridiculous it is to waste time and discussion on these matters that, in my mind, are not important. And, if so, only to a small number of people around the world. Most people I talk to are worried about the cost of living. How they can pay their bills and keep their homes. What the future holds for their children. And, in too many cases, where can they find employment.
Wouldn't world leaders, such as the Pope, better serve mankind if they dealt in a positive way with some of these real problems as well as the poverty, slavery, mass killings and other atrocities occurring daily around the world?
Hope you agree.
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A closing thought: "We must be the change we wish to see in the world" - Gandhi (1869 - 1948)
