The Citizen, 1989-03-15, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1989.
Peterson government doing well. Libera! faithful told
BY ROSS HAUGH
A number of controversial issues
being faced by David Peterson’s
Liberal government in the province
of Ontario were aired at Thursday’s
annual meeting of the Huron
Riding Liberal Association.
Minister of Colleges and Univer
sities Lynn McLeod touched on the
subjects of auto insurance, Sunday
shopping, health care, public pen
sions and workers’ compensation.
On health care she said, “It is
our belief, if the long term needs in
the health care system are to be
met, we must first ensure that we
have achieved as high a degree of
efficiency as possible. That’s why
the Minister of Health has carried
out operational reviews of all
hospitals in a deficit budget situa
tion and has established commit
tees which are studying the very
sensitive questions of prescription
drug use and medical practice
throughout the province.’’
According to Ms. McLeod, “A
new bill on the licencing of the
independent health care facilities
for the first time gives the Ministry
of Health responsibility for ensur
ing the accountability of such
facilities. There is also a renewed
emphasis on community based
health care and illness prevention.
The Premier’s council on health
care is working on that.”
Health costs have more than
tripled since 1978 and now account
for one-third of the provincial
budget. The $1.2 billion added to
the health care budget consumed
all of the revenue generated from
the one percent increase in sales
tax.
To this Ms. McLeod added,
“Clearly, no responsible govern
ment can afford to avoid dealing
with these very stressful changes.”
On auto insurance she said, “I
believe we have taken the right
direction on this issue. We are
committed to ensuring that rate
increases are reasonable and fair
because we are required to provide
a degree of consumer protection in
a situation where automobile in
surance is mandatory.”
“We also believe it is important
that the private sector stay involved
in provision of auto insurance since
there are greater efficiencies to be
found in a competitive marketplace
environment than in a government
run insurance scheme.
“One of our challenges will be to
help people realize that the cost of
insurance must be met, whether
through premiums or through tax
increases which subsidize govern
ment plans in other provinces.”
About Sunday shopping McLeod
said, “The new legislation clearly
provides for closed Sundays; not
wide open Sunday shopping. It sets
out much clearer guidelines and is
therefore much more enforceable
than the current legislation. There
are also much stiffer penalties for
violation of the law. The area of
controversy, of course, is giving
municipalities the option to pass
their own amendments to suit local
circumstances.”
Several government-commis
sioned reports have confirmed that
there is an unfunded liability in the
public pension sector of about $5
billion.
Ms. McLeod went on to say,
“We must now take steps to begin
to fund the accrued liability and
ensure that this liability does not
increase into the future. For the
117,000 teachers and 84,000 others
involved in public pensions, this is
a very important issue.”
On the subject of workers’
compensation she said, “Our new
Bill 162 provides injured workers
with a real opportunity to return to
work and ensures that those with
permanent disabilities are compen
sated fairly. This also includes new
obligations on the part of employ
ers to re-instate injured workers.” <
In the annual election, Joe
Hogan of Exeter was acclaimed for
another term as riding president.
The vice-presidents are John
Jewitt, RR 1, Londesboro and
Graeme Craig, RR 1, Walton.
Nancy Parker of Clinton is secre
tary and Zoie Raithby of Grand
Bend handles the duties of treasur
er.
Area vice-presidents are Fred
McGee, Wingham; Joe Semple, RR
1, Ethel; Geoffrey Walker, RR 3,
Goderich; Eileen Palmer, God
erich; Norman Pickell, Goderich;
Janet Lawrie, Blyth; Peggy Men
zies, Clinton; Jack Horan, RR 1,
Walton; Jim Love, RR 1, Zurich
and Kim McLean, Exeter.
Youth representatives are Ally-
son Scott, Seaforth and Doug
Lounsbury of Goderich and presi
dent of the Huron Young Liberal
Club is Carolyn Love, RR 1, Zurich.
Delegates to the Ontario Liberal
Party annual general meeting
scheduled for the Hamilton Con
vention Centre March 31 to April 2
are Howard Aitken, Gordon
Strang, Patricia Down, Margaret
Aitken, Jim Fitzgerald, Janeth
Sangster, Graeme Craig, Lois Fitz
gerald, John Jewitt, Geoffrey
Walker and Anita Riddell.
Youth delegates are Liz Hogan,
Lyn Bezaire and Ann Tindall.
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Compiled by Mrs. Betty McCall. Phone 887-6677
UCW conducts Duff's
service Sunday
The United Church Women were
in charge of the service Sunday
morning at Duff’s United Church.
The U.C.W. President gave the
Call to Worship. Hymns were
accompanied by organist, Glenda
Carter.
Gloria Wilbee sang a solo
“There’ll be peace in the Valley
for Me” accompanying herself on
the guitar. The children’s time
story about “Love” and was told to
them by Joanne McDonald prior to
them going downstairs to their
classes.
Dorothy Sholdice led in prayer
and gave the minute for Mission
message on the Support of Women.
The scripture lessons were read by
Helen Craig.
A special play “The Puzzle” was
presented by the U.C.W. mem
bers. Marion Godkin conducted the
skit, it was based on the theme
“Love”, relating to something
about church work. She was assist
ed by Doreen Hackwell, Marie
McGavin, Marilyn McDonald,
Brussels LCBO
burglared
The liquor store in Brussels was
broken into late last Thursday
evening with $1,030 worth of liquor
taken, Ontario Provincial Police in
Wingham said Monday.
The robbery was discovered the
next morning when the store was
opened. The police have no sus
pects at this time.
Phyllis Mitchell and Heidi Mc
Clure.
The offering was received by
Maxine Marks, Pearl McCallum
and Margaret Craig. The greeters
at the door were Jack and Janie
McEwing.
Announcements on the bulletin
given out were that there will be no
junior choir practice this week, the
U.C.W. is invited to Northside
United Church, Seaforth for their
Thankoffering, Monday, Mar. 20;
Wed., Mar. 22 is the U.C.W. joint
meeting featuring Julie Lee of
Survival Through Friendship
House in Goderich.
Next Sunday March 19 is Palm
Sunday and Sacrament of Holy
Communion at 9:55 a.m. Saturday
evening, March 25 an informal
Community Easter Vigil Service
will be held in Brussels.
Easter Sunday, Walton Worship
will be at 11:30 a.m.
Walton couple
returns from
holiday
Mrs. Ruth Thamer returned
home a week ago Sunday from a
month’s holiday in Florida. She
was accompanied by her sister-in-
law, Mrs. Margaret Michelle of
Stouffville.
The Walton Women’s Institute
noon beef luncheon is this Wednes
day. The regular meeting is at 8
p.m. Everyone is welcome.
The Government of Canada is com
mitted to helping women achieve full
equality and provides many programs
and services to help them reach this goal.
A new Directory providing informa
tion about those Government Pro
grams and Services for Women is now
available through the Status of
Women Canada.
The directory includes such pro
grams as employment training and
retraining, educational assistance and
research grants, social services, child
care, health promotion, human
rights and family violence protection
and cultural programs as well as help
for community-based organizations.
Special attention is given to the
needs of native women and women
in the many multicultural commu
nities across Canada.
This directory is available to you
free of charge. To obtain a copy,
complete the coupon below.
return to: The Honourable Barbara McDougall
Minister Responsible for the
Status of Women
151 Sparks Street
RM. 1005
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1C3
NAME:
ADDRESS:
CITY:PROVINCE.
CONOITIO
ftrt***™ fan* I’**0*
DIRECTORY
DD^1»*^ernment w#
WOMEN
STATUS-OF WO
POSTAL CODE:
■ Status of Women Condition feminine
■ Canada Canada
The Hon. Barbara McDougall L'Hon. Barbara McDougall
Minister Ministre
I
I
I
III
| Canada
■