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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-04-05, Page 7A turn as page Crystal Semple, a student at Grey Central School and a daughter of Calvin and Gail Semple of RR1, Ethel, acted as page person at the March 30 meeting of Huron County council. Crystal was introduced by Grey Twp. Reeve Leona Armstrong to Warden Bruce Machan. County budget lean, says clerk APRIL SPECIAL PAY NO TAX ON: Long-Sleeved Men's Coveralls Various colours, sizes from 36 to 60. Includes regulars, shorts and tails. 100% Cotton and Cotton/Poly Blends. Engineer Striped & Blue Denim Coveralls Available in regular and tails. Sizes 36 to 56. the Workshop FEATURING MEN'S WORKWEAR WINGHAM 357-4503 MON. - SAT. B RUSSELS ARIETY Open 7 days for your convenience Mon. - Sat. 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sun. 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. EASTER Chocolates & Candies Cards, Baskets, Bunnies, Craft Kits, Grass SEALTEST Sour Cream 500 m1 1.79 Whipping Cream 250 ml 1.29 Orange Juice 2 Ittre 1.69 Parlour Ice Cream 2 litre 3.99 (Arriving April 6th) RICE A RONI Assorted Flavours 135 g - 227 g .99 COLOURING & ACTIVITY BOOKS (As Marked) .50 Bright's TOMATO JUICE 48 oz. .99 Continued from page 1 province's duplicity in recovering all the Social Contract savings." The Social and Cultural Services Committee is asking the Adminis- tration, Finance and Personnel Committee to consider putting $40,000 into a provision for reserve for contingencies which would then be available for items such as social services and pay equity. While the 1995 budgets show no increase they are extremely tight, Murray said, and leave little room to accommodate any unforeseen events that might come up during the year, or any change to expendi- ture patterns or reduction in rev- enue. The Pay Equity plan has been outstanding since 1990, Murray said, with two plans having been rejected. It is expected that the commission will approve the non- union pay equity plan in 1995. The payouts in addition to those already paid will be substantial, she warned. "Depending on how the order is finally issued, they may have to be paid out immediately or over the three years until the deadline of 1998 for payout completion," she said. In addition the Act requires an employer to pay out a minimum of one per cent of payroll per year. The county's obligations with regards to this start in 1990 thus amounting to six years of obliga- tions at one per cent of the annual payroll. The county will, once the plan is approved, be required to pay out an estimated $500,000, Murray said. Changes to long term care may also have an effect on the county's finances. Murray explained that in July 1993, the Ministry stated that changes would not adversely impact any home. In addition the county homes for the aged arc among the nine homes across the province which were downsized in beds. As a result the Ministry pro- posed special financial considera- tion for the 1993 deficits to be amortized over a three-year period. She said that Huronvicw and HuronIca had a deficit in 1993 of $585,869 over the county contribu- tion of $915,000. The Ministry flowed the first payment in the amount of $206,502 in late April of 1994 leaving a balance owing of $379,367. The second installment is expected in April or May while the third installment is due in 1996. If the obligation is honoured, Murray said, the county would have a 1994 operating surplus of $292,240. The 1993 operating sur- plus and growth in assessment made up an unallocated budget amount of $388,346, which was placed in the provision for reserve for contingencies. The bulk of this remained unused. Combining this with the 1994 surplus and the growth in assess- ment results in an unallocated bud- get amount of $883,419. The growth in assessment for 1995 is approximately 1.14 per cent or $94,767. The view of the Administration, Finance and Personnel Committee was that this budget was extremely lean, Murray said. The committee recommended that the unallocated budget amount be placed in the provision for reserve for contingen- cies. Before voting on the budget, Councillor Tom Cunningham, reeve of Hullett, said that he was concerned that while department heads worked diligently to keep expenses in line the clerk/treasur- er's department budget was increas- ing. Questioning the cost effectiveness, Cunningham said he wondered if council should stop By Cameron J. Wood New ideas in politics these days seem few and far between. Pundits from all political camps spend a majority of their time arguing who stole whose platform for economic renewal, or policies. Yet during his visit to the Wingham region last week, Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Mike Harris suggested a new bend on plans to implement a photo identification card for health care in Ontario. Harris said he had no intention presently of following through with the concept, but spoke with the local media on a more "What if...basis. Harris said the idea of a photo health card did not sit easily with him, although he wasn't overly critical of the current NDP government's attempt to cut into health care fraud. What Harris did say was do Ontarians need another form identification. "Why couldn't we look at having one piece of identification for all services. With the SmartCard technology today, think about what we could do with just one card. You could have your health card information, driver's license, medical records all encoded on the magnetic strip on the back of the card." The Tory leader said it would be much more efficient to have such a system, especially when dealing with the medical field. Doctors could access medical files encoded on the magnetic strip, the pharmacist could use it for providing prescriptions, thus saving paperwork and pharmaceutical fraud. As for the question of what to do if the single card is lost, Harris said he didn't think it would be any more of an inconvenience than replacing the many cards people carry with them today. What it would mean is just one phone call to a central office instead of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transportation, the local doctor, insurance company, etc. Harris said he was a bit perplexed by the move to a photo health card when the plastic card experts do not use such a system. He questioned whether or not the photo ID would cut into fraud. The actual level of fraud is currently being contested. The NDP said they estimated fraud to cost Ontario $65 million per year, whereas the provincial auditor said it's more like $1.3 million per year. The other controversy is the anticipated $150 million it is expected to cost to phase in the new cards. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1995. PAGE 7 Tory leader Mike Harris suggests single ID card "navel gazing" at strategic planning meetings and "get back to the busi- ness of governing the county". Remarking on the fact that coun- ty council meetings have gone from day-long ones to morning sessions, Cunningham wondered if enough time was being spent on discussion at regular meetings. "We have become a big rubber stamp and are not asking enough questions. At some point there is going to be an issue that comes up that we haven't done our homework on and we are going to be sorry." Councillor Bill Clifford of Goderich disagreed. "I would be remiss in letting the people present in the gallery today think that silence is agreement." He spoke favourably on the time and money spent on strategic planning saying that he felt even more was needed so council "can do business smarter. Longer meetings doesn't mean better informed." NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF CLINTON AND CENTRAL HURON COUNTY In response to the provincial government's decision to ration health care by restricting funding for medical services, family physicians and general practitioners in Clinton will close their offices on April 7th, April 19th, and April 24th. Emergency medical services, in-patient and obstetrical care will continue to be provided at Clinton Public Hospital. Those inconvenienced are encouraged to express their concern to our MPP or the Minister of Health.