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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1991-09-25, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 1991. There are two ways of looking at the huge increases in private health insurance costs that Canadians travelling outside the country are going to have to pay to top up their OHIP coverage. If you're a senior citizen planning to spend the winter in the south, the news that you may have to pay more because the Ontario government will no longer pay the high U.S. hospital rates that can reach $5000 a day, is disturbing. Estimates are it can cost up to $90 a week for a family staying in the south for the winter to pay for private insurance to pay the difference between what OHIP will pay and what U.S. medical coverage will be. For many, it may make it impossible to head to the sun for extended periods this year. Many older people feel the time spent in the sun, away from the cold, can prolong their lives. On the other hand, perhaps this is just the first step in an education program Canadians need to put their lives in perspective. While many seniors are blaming the government and the OHIP system for the extra cost, the real villain is the U.S. medical system that has ridiculously high costs. If the cost of being treated in a U.S. hospital was as low as it is in Canada, there would be no problem. For years snowbirds have returned from Florida each spring with tales of how cheap everything was down there, wondering why things had to be so expensive here. Like cross-border shoppers, they were able to live with the best of the American system and the best of the Canadian system: paying their lower-taxed prices while reaping the benefits of a social welfare system in Canada that paid their medical bills and provided a far more generous pension system than American seniors can expect. The cheaper price of restaurant meals and gasoline may be balanced out by the cost of private health insurance. Now perhaps we can get a truer picture of the two systems. Any Canadian determined to enjoy the sun but unhappy with paying the private insurance to top up his OHIP has the option of moving to the U.S. permanently- and paying the extra medical costs year round. The OHIP changes are just the first step in balancing the books: in making Canadians see they can't have it both ways. We can give up the things we have like an excellent and cheap medical system in favour of cheaper prices like the U.S. or we can pay a little more in some areas to save a lot more in others. Most of all we can stop bitching. Making the law look silly If you wonder why people are getting cynical about the "justice" system, take a look at the happenings of the past couple of weeks. Down in the U.S. Oliver North, who masterminded the devious government means of getting money to the Contra rebels in Nicaragua when the Congress had cut off the funds, was told he won't be charged again, even though he was once convicted of his crimes. Col. North, who ran a program from the White House under the Reagan administration to sell arms in Iran with the money to go to fund the Contras, had had his original conviction thrown out because a higher court had decided that the publicity he had received from televised congressional hearings into the affair, had made it impossible for him to get a fair trial. So now he's free...and he declares he is vindicated in his law breaking. Down Hamilton way, a man who took his wife out in the car and stuck a butcher knife in her ribs was released on probation after serving only three years of his sentence for her murder. Groups battling violence against women were rightly outraged and people living in the area were upset that a convicted killer had been set free in their community without them being informed. And close to home, in court in Wingham last week, a driver who had failed a breath lest and been charged with drunk driving, was set free because the police constable who arrested him, neglected to tell him he could have a legal aid lawyer appointed if he wished. The arrested man had been informed of his constitutional right to call a lawyer if he wished, but he turned down the choice. But a ruling by an appeal court early last year said that the rights of an accused had been violated if he wasn't told not only that he had the right to call a lawyer, but that if he couldn't afford a lawyer one would be provided through legal aid. Even if he was a millionaire and would never think of applying for legal aid, if the caution isn't given, the case is thrown out. Dumb! The thrill of it all Pat on back only fair Something I’ve noticed about human nature is that it seems so much easier for us to give a slap on the wrist than a pat on the back. While we will often acknowledge a person’s attributes or acomplish- mcnts to ourselves, we will seldom seek that person out to voice our appreciation. Perhaps, it's the assumption on our part that when a job is well done, the person or persons involved shouldn’t have to be told, they should already know. But, boy,oh boy, let them do something wrong and we re going to guarantee the guilty party, hears about it. Well, after attending Brussels Fall Fair last week I figured a pub­ lic pat on the back would be well- deserved. As always the hard work and organization put into this major community event by the Brussels Agricultural Society is notable and should be applauded. It's a lot of work and not always easy, but the results are usually successful. For some reason, though, this anniver­ sary fair — the 130th — seemed even more special to me. Reflecting on it, I think it was because I had fun; fun like I had when as a child I attended the Listowel fair. (Back when their fall fair was actually, if you can imagine, held in the fall.) Simply, by being one of the last places in the county to still hold a fall fair, Brussels has maintained a spirit that those communities, which have chosen to move them to the summer, have lost. I remember those fall fair days of my past as days of celebration, anticipated for the coming year the minute the present one was over. It brought together the entire commu­ nity and captivated them for a day. Everyone was involved. Students from the two elementary schools spent days practising their march­ ing in preparation for the big parade. We never thought of it as Continued on page 18 The Citizen. P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $20.50/year ($19.16 plus $1.34 G.S.T.) for local; $19.16 ♦ $1.66 for each month after March 31/92 ♦ G.S.T. for local letter carrier In Goderich, Hanover, Listowel, etc. and out-of-area (40 miles from Brussels); $60.00/year for U.S.A, and Foreign. 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: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copywright. (♦cna BLUE RIBBON1 AWARD 1990 L FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 Editor & Publisher, Keith Roulston Advertising Manager, Dave Williams Assistant Editor, Bonnie Gropp Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. 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