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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-04-12, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2007. THE EDITOR, I was amazed and incensed at the gall of Prime Minister Stephen Harper last week when he came to Huron County and literally attempted to plant his blue Tory flag in a riding which hasn’t been vacated yet by the current incumbent. Stephen Harper knows that the rural vote in Ontario is what wins elections. But this independent riding of Huron Bruce, for all these years, has voted for a maverick MP. And why? Because we like people who will speak for our opinions – whether we all agree with his stand or not. We like someone who will speak out and break the mould. Not a toady who will let his leader do all the talking for him. (the current Tory modus operandi.) Huron County citizens are independent, thinking beings who can attend the all- candidates’meetings, can read the newspapers, can talk to their friends, can follow the Bryan Allen show – and other media debates, and can consider the best candidate for themselves. We can make up our own minds about how we want to vote; we don’t need Stephen Harper to tell us how. I was also concerned that Harper asked for Huron Bruce to help give them “a majority and (they) can do it alone.” The last thing we want is a Conservative majority in Canada. A minority government - or a defeat - will keep him in his place as it has for the past year. As a rural resident I am particularly concerned about the plight of agriculture in our riding. And I don’t think Stephen Harper’s policies will stand them in good stead. Farmers know that Stephen Harper is against the marketing boards that protect many of those whose livelihood is wheat, or milk or poultry. Steven Harper is for the free trade that hurt farmers so badly during the BSE crisis. Some farmers have only recently received their cheques – three years after this situation! For some, the cash infusion was a real relief, for others, it came too late to save the farm. And while farmers have told me that they appreciate the financial assistance, what they really want is to address the root issues. Steven Harper is also for helping big corporate food conglomerates which favour food transported from a distance over home-grown products. And food security? Foods brought in from those other countries can be contaminated by black water irrigation or by pesticides illegal in Canada. Rules legislated for local farmers don’t apply to foreign farmers. Never mind the pollution that occurs in transporting food from 3,000 miles away. As long as the big food companies make a profit. In reality, Steven Harper is not particularly concerned about the votes of farmers. He thinks he could win the riding without their support. After all, only 11 per cent of Huron County residents really have a personal concern about farm issues even if agriculture is the critical underpinning of our area. Well I say to Stephen Harper, and to quote a rural proverb, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch!” Stephen Harper calls farmers who hold off-farm jobs “lifestyle farmers.” He thinks only corporate farmers have a chance in hell of being “real” farmers that make real money. But last year our corporate farmers were feeling the pinch, too. We all saw their faces in the papers and heard what they had to say as the farm activists stepped up their protests. We need strong federal and provincial policies that help all farmers to make a living and that bring dignity and a reasonable lifestyle back to the farm community. We need to make farming a valid life choice for our young people. We need to think farther down the road at what the collapse of a viable farming industry would mean to our province and to our country. A political pundit recently wrote about the collapse of the manufacturing and primary industry in Ontario that, “It’s all well and good to have a strong service economy, but somewhere along the road, we have to get down and actually produce something!” Huron County residents need to vote for a party other than Stephen Harper’s if we want to see important critical changes in our agricultural community. The Huron Bruce NDP has prided itself on running candidates who are strong proponents of changes in agricultural policy. The NDP also wants present-day farmers to remember that the roots of the New Democratic Party are in agriculture. Tommy Douglas and the CCF started out as a grass roots rural movement speaking out for our farmers. In the two upcoming elections the Huron Bruce NDP Party will be running candidates with rural farming experience as our candidates. Nominees for candidates at this point are all farmers. Huron and Bruce County farmers know these knowledgeable persons as activists who have fought beside them to bring agricultural issues out into the open. Once our nominations have occurred, we respectfully ask our farmers to consider what these candidates have to offer as provincial and a possible federal election are called. We also request that our farmers make contact with them if they have particular issues they want brought to the fore. How you vote will be up to you. Wilhelmina Laurie President Huron Bruce NDP. In order to bring cuttingedge healthcare technology toSeaforth, key players of the Southwestern Ontario digital imaging initiative gathered last week to cut the x-ray film of yesteryear. This initiative has been in the works for years, but is now finally up and runn- ing. It marks the end of film in the hospitals linked to the network. The system will enable healthcare providers to view, manage, distribute and store images from x-ray, CT, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, MRIs and PET scans in addition to medical files. “Ensuring our healthcare professionals have access to the latest technology is extremely important to the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance,” said Andrew Williams, CEO of Huron Perth Healhcare Alliance (HPHA). “It assists in the recruitment and retention of staff and physicians and strengthens our ability to provide needed healthcare services locally.” The press conference served as more of a party to celebrate how far the projecthas come and gave theprincipals a chance to thankthose who helped them alongthe way.The four hospitals in the HPHA, St. Marys, Clinton, Seaforth and Stratford are now connected to Goderich and Exeter’s hospitals. Phase 2 hospitals are in Ingersoll, London, Newbury, Strathroy Middlesex, St. Thomas, Tillsonburg and Woodstock. Stella Skerlec, DI and registries program director for Canada Health Infoway, was on hand to present a cheque worth $481,456 to the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance. “This is one of the largest shared diagnostic imaging projects of its kind in Canada. It can serve as a model for other jurisdictions across the country,” she said. All of the day’s speakers could agree that this was not an easy project to bring together, but that it was worth it. Benefits were numerous as healthcare experts expressed how helpful this new technology is on the front lines in the hospital. “This is important not only for us, but for our patients,” said Dr. Miriam Mann, HPHA medical programdirector of emergencyservices. She added thatdigital images can beaccessed much easier thanfilm and can be recalled at any time, cutting missed diagnoses down drastically. The celebration included a lot of back-patting from all of the participants. Williams reiterated that this initiative came together because of a dedicated group and couldn’t have happened with the efforts of just one person. “It’s all about the team. This is a group of committed individuals that made the transition a comfortable one,” he said. Dianne Beattie, integrated VP and CIO at London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London, was on hand, joking that her job had to have been the easiest one on the panel. “This system impacts how we can provide care and that’s the main thing,” she said. “Soon we’ll connect through Owen Sound into Windsor. This really is phenomenal for the people of Southwestern Ontario.” Williams closed with a positive outlook on the project, saying that it is a huge look to the future. “The partnership is getting bigger every day. This is a significant step forward,” he said. “Healthcare is changing every day and we need to focus on the technology.” Williams called the day a milestone that sends a message to the rest of the country about Southwestern Ontario that they’re serious about their healthcare’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve. Letter to the editor Huron Bruce NDP president speaks out Digital imaging comes to health care alliance We Couldn’t Celebrate Our 135th Birthday Without You. Remember when the whole community pitched in to help a neighbour in need? That spirit lives on at South Easthope Mutual. We’re here when you need us and have been for 135 years. Working Together For Insurance That Works. Call Us Today. South Easthope Mutual Insurance 1-800-263-9987 www.seins.on.ca Farm & Urban Property •Auto Insurance A new age Everyone involved in the Southwestern Ontario Digital Imaging Initiative gathered last week to celebrate the network being up and running. They cut the film to symbolize the ushering in of the new digital technology over the old film usage. From left: Andrew Williams, CEO Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance, Dr. Miriam Mann, HPHA medical program director of emergency services, Gary Schellenberger, MP for Perth-Wellington, Stella Skerlec, the DI and registries program director for Canada Health Infoway, Brenda Scott, program director for Medical Imaging, Ron Lavoie, Seaforth Community Foundation Board Chair and Diane Beattie, Integrated VP and CIO at London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London. (Shawn Loughlin photo) By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen Well, you do. You (yes, you!) can fight cancer by becoming a volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society. All you need to do is spend three hours selling daffodils or canvassing door to door, and you’ll be helping us fund research to help more Canadians survive cancer. And that’s a powerful thing. Three hours for you, a lifetime to a cancer survivor. To volunteer, visit cancer.ca/volunteerpower or contact your local Canadian Cancer Society office. Did you know you have cancer-fighting powers? Let’s Make Cancer History 1 800 294-0086