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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-01-29, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29. 1997 itizen (JcNA The North Huron P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising Manager, Jeannette McNeil The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) In Canada; $62.00/year In U.S.A, and $75.00/year in other foreign countries. 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 © Copyright. Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 E ditorial I' ......... . ........... I So far, so good All things are relative and so, given the possible scenarios for hospital closings, the Huron Perth District Health Council's decision Monday to let all eight hospitals in the two counties remain open is a victory for common sense. Certainly there will still be lost jobs and services, but the DHC and the Task Force on Hospital Restructuring deserve credit for having the courage to stand up to the government and say that a 20 per cent cut in hospital spending in Huron Perth is just too much. The compromise proposal, based on a plan worked out by the hospitals themselves, will achieve considerably less in savings than the province wanted, but it provides the bare minimum level of service local people should accept. But though some common sense seems to have been applied at last, local residents cannot afford to relax. This is only the local solution to the issue. Although the government has touted its policies as allowing local people to come up with their own solutions, the provincially- appointed Health Services Restructuring Commission has the final say, and in other localities has ordered hospitals closed despite local plans that would have kept them open. And even if the Huron Perth proposal is acceptable to the commission, the seeds of destruction for smaller hospitals may have been sown in the new administrative structure. Under the DHC's plan, all hospitals in the two counties will come under one board and one administration. Down the road, if more funding cuts come, is it more likely that all hospitals will share the burden equally, or will small hospitals be sacrificed to preserve larger ones? For now, however, all those involved in working out this compromise deserve a vote of thanks for their efforts. Thanks to the hospital administrators and boards for working so hard against tight deadlines to find a compromise. Thanks especially to those like Seaforth Community Hospital who gave a little so other hospitals could be kept open. Thanks to the Task Force members for allowing this compromise and to the DHC for accepting it. The solution may not be perfect, but given the alternatives, it's more than many people had come to hope for. — KR Marching for democracy Little noticed in North America, one of the most heroic battles for democracy is being fought in the streets of Belgrade, Yugoslavia. It should be an inspiration for us all if it was given more attention here. In a first tiny step away from its Communist past, the government allowed free municipal elections late last year. When opposition members won those elections, however, the government cancelled the election results. Being used to having all the power in a dictatorship, the government never contemplated that the public would rise up in fury against such a move. But people did. More than a hundred thousand people filled the streets in protest. The government decided it would wait for the demonstrations to end and still have its way. But the protests didn't end. Day after day a hundred thousand people came out to continue the protest. It has gone on now for over a month. The government threatened to use the police and army to put down the protests. Still the people came. They focused the international spotlight on the issue and gradually the government has yielded, allowing opposition parlies to form some municipal governments. Now the church has stepped in on the side of the demonstrators and the democracy movement gains momentum. It’s an inspiring sight, those thousands in the streets day after day. Il makes one wonder, would we have such resolve to protect democracy here? We have sent young men off in two World Wars to protect democracy but the majority has still been able to stay comfortably at home. Many people have attended the odd protest over the years, whether the march on Ottawa in support of supply managed marketing boards or local meetings to protect hospitals, but would we have the stamina to keep up the protest day after day for weeks? Would we have the courage to do it if we were threatened with violence? Many Canadians can't even be bothered to take a few minutes to vote! Something in human nature makes us undervalue what we already have, including democracy. The marchers in Belgrade should be an inspiration to us all to be more vigilant of what we have. — KR Letters THE EDITOR, We wish to comment on the Harris government's re-investing of health care dollars. The govern­ ment has some laudable plans; however, we disagree whole­ heartedly with its restructuring of hospitals to accomplish its purpose. There are many ways to find money to support new projects. One that always surfaces in our minds concerns the issue- of abortion. Abortion is elective surgery. The world "pro-choice" says it all. Why not de-fund abortion as is done with other elective surgeries. In September 1994 and again in September 1995, the research branch of the library of Parliament reports are not comprehensive and, therefore, lower than the actual sums spent. The total reported for Ontario in 1992/93 was $25,450,680.00 De-funding abortion would certainly help save money. Board of Directors Voice for Life, Wingham. THE EDITOR, The Canadian Food Grains Bank got its start in the mid 70s when Canadian farmers enjoyed an exceptional harvest, piling excess grain on their fields after filling their storage bins. At the same time, television screens and newspapers were filled with images of hungry people in Ethiopia. A small group of people, motivated by the example of Christ's care for the hungry, began to look for a practical way for Canadian farmers to share their harvest with those in greatest need regardless of their creed, colour of political persuasion. Now 20 years later the Food Grains Bank ships food to countries in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America. The grains are enllected on behalf of 13 church partners...and will continue to do so until the images and reality of hunger are no more. The partners are: Adventist Development and Relief Agency • Canadian Baptist Ministries Canadian Lutheran World Relief Christian and Missionary Alliance Christian Reform World Relief Committee Church of the Nazarene Canada Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Presbyterian World Service & Development Salvation Army United Church of Canada World Relief Canada In Blyth and Londesboro we have a unique situation. Six churches have been working together for the past four years to grow crops and fundraise to help feed the hungry of the world. Last year this group of people's efforts produced enough food to feed a town of 3,000 people for a whole year. How is this possible you say. Well, it has taken a lot of work and donations by a great number of people and organizations. The local committee is made up of members from these Blyth churches; Anglican, Catholic, Christian Reform, Church of God, United and the Londesboro United Church. This committee looks for donations of land, seed, fertilizer, sprays, equipment and people. They organize the plowing, stone picking, planting, spraying, harvest and shipping of the crops that are produced. You may recognize some of the names of those who have helped this project to be such a success. Labour equipment and other donations, the Hallahan's, Bill, James Edward and Maurice; Niel Edgar; Wayne Wheeler; Wayne Continued on page 6