Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-05-12, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1999. Letters to the editor Writer warns readers of ‘danger looming’ / THE EDITOR, There is a \ery real danger looming that people need to be aware ot during this election campaign. It is the erosion of democracy that the Harris go\eminent has so effectively managed through legislation and prh arization. It is not that we ha\e less money, it is that we have less control over that money. He who pays the piper, calls the tune, right? What have the Tories done so far'? Here are some examples. They have removed all control of education spending away from local boards to Queen's Park. Our school boards are now lackeys carrying out the orders of central control. It's a very effective strategy because the boards take the lion's share of the blame. (By the way, I have never seen OTF president slams prov. such wasteful spending as I do now in the school system. This is often the case when a head office makes decisions without understanding the local situation or needs). The land registry is being privati/ed. You know, that place that holds all those important documents like the deed on your- house. Last week a big truck came and took away documents from the Goderich office. Don't w'orry though, after they warehouse these documents in some building in Toronto, you can track down your information on a computer. You will be charged for each minute you are on the computer. It is a slow programme so it may take half an hour to download your information. Heaven help you if you have property that has been in your family for generations with no recent land transactions. Those old documents don't scan well into the computers. Our municipalities now are centrally controlled by the Minister of Municipal Affairs. We have had lots of costs downloaded to municipalities but the power has shifted to Queen's Park. The mismanagement ot the transfer 6+ power was clear as municipalities delayed sending out tax bills while the ministry changed its mind several times. Ontario Hydro is being privatized. Somehow the debt is being buried under this process. The newly created companies will not be subject to environmental laws or the Freedom of Information Act. Why? Because the ''foreign companies they will be competing with will be exempt from these laws and it would be unfair to hobble the new companies with these nuisances! These are just some of the frightening scenarios. They mean that decisions can be made that affect us directly but give us no control over the decision making. We are already feeling the effects. Our communities are under attack. Guide camp celebrates THE EDITOR, Camp Keewaydin is a Girl Guide camp located along Lake Huron off Hwy. 21 at Amberly. Fifty years ago this camp was started and over the past half century thousands of girls, young and young at heart, have learned and shared many skills, talents, experienc.es and friendships. We are now trying to locate as many of these women as possible. We are putting out a call to anyone Democracy can be slow and requires compromises but it's far better than the poorly thought out, rushed decisions this government is famous for. The Harris government wants to control us rather than consult us. Would you rather be controlled or consulted? Linda Easton, Goderich, who was a camper or staff member at Camp Keewayden over the past 50 years. On June 6, we will be having a celebration at the camp from 1 until 3 p.m. for anyone who was involved with Camp Keewayden. < If interested or desiring more information call 1-800-386-6660. Yours in guiding Barb Beitz Beaver Division Public Relations Advisor. THE EDITOR, Recently, Mike Harris invoked the spirit of Egerton Ryerson to give a blessing to his plan for a Charter of Rights and Responsibilities in Education. It was aimed at parents, teachers and students. A significant partner, the Government of Ontario, was missing. Since the passage of Bill 160, the controls of education have passed from the school boards, teachers and parents, into the hands of the few insiders in the premier's office at Queen's Park. But as Dalton Camp recently pointed out, "The Charter is an apology for government failure, for the trade­ off of tax cuts, for cuts in education and, as well, it is a shameless attempt to turn the criticisms of concerned parents and others away from the government, which created the crisis, to the teachers who have desperately been trying to cope." I couldn't agree more. A look at how the government is funding education gives a clear picture of the crisis it has created and why there have been cuts to programs in education. Harris continually says that his government is spending more on education than any government has Pork producers speak out THE EDITOR, At a recent meeting of the Huron County Pork Producers Association there was a lively discussion about the new pricing formula. There was also some confusion that needs to be clarified. We feel that the board has negotiated a revenue neutral formula. That is to say, there is no gain or loss for either producer or packer. Actually there is a very slight gain in favour of producers about two thirds of the time, when the old and new are compared over the last three years. However, we feel that this is most likely due to the Indiana/lllinois price being less reliable due to low volumes and being manipulated lower all the time. We agree that using the national cost in the new formula is a much more accurate indicator of the U.S price. However, we do not agree that this gives us U.S. equivalency. The old formula gave us a price for ever spent. But since coming to office in 1995, Harris has authorized the following cuts: • cuts to junior kindergarten, $145 million • cuts to adult education, $150 million • cuts to transportation $39 million • cuts in administration $479 million • cuts to early learning grants $95 million • cuts to capital spending $300 million, • cuts to school maintenance $70 million In addition to these direct program cuts, the new funding reduces the elementary and secondary school budget by $600 million. Harris claims the total spending on education in Ontario is $15.4 billion. A more accurate number, however, is $12.9 billion. That is the figure left after subtracting the one-time allocations for: • restructuring of the school boards; • the cost of the high numbers of retirements; • delayed spending on construction; • the photo op spending on books; a lesser quality hog, and then had a divisor put in the formula to bring our average hog down to this lower value. The new formula, to be revenue neutral also has a divisor in it that brings our value down. This is still a flaw in the formula. We are not getting U.S. Continued on page 15 £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ JOHN McKERCHER CONSTRUCTION LTD. • Backhoeing • Bulldozing • Loader & Truck Rental • Sand • Gravel • Drainage Stone • Topsoil • Screened Topsoil • 1" Terra Stone • White Marble • Bark Mulch • Licensed Septic Installations 887-9061 FAX 887-9999 • the adjustments to the funding formula which had to be made because of faulty first assumptions; and • the accounting wizardry which has switched the responsibility for paying for teachers' pensions from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Education and Training. Most Ontarians know what the Harris education agenda is about - cutting spending. In fact, almost 70 per cent of Ontarians say that the government is more interested in slashing spending on education than in improving the system. The 1999 budget promises to cut the education portion of the property taxes by 20 per cent. There is no indication of where the $1 billion this generates for education is to be found. This carrot is being dangled in front of Ontarians when an Environics poll is telling us that six out of 10 people want an increase in education spending - even if it would mean a hike in taxes. Almost no one wants a cut in education spending. The Harris government's spending on education is a far cry from the highest level ever. In fact, since the Harris government has been elected, Ontario has dropped from 42nd to 55th out of 63 jurisdictions in North America in per student spending on education. The students of Ontario need a well-funded publicly supported education system. Liz Barkley, President of the Ontario Teachers' Federation which represents 144,000 teachers in the publicly funded elementary and secondary schools in the public, separate and Francophone school systems in Ontario. rink About Your Hospital A new Arjo Serenade Plus Bathing System has been installed in the Inpatient area at CPH. It replaces the whirlpool tub that had been in use in the building since the mid 1970’s. This new equipment features a soothing hydrotherapy technology that is as effective as water jets but much quieter and less intimidating to patients. Purchased with the tub is the transfer unit that assists less mobile patients in and out of the tub and is also capable of obtaining an accurate weight on people who are unable to stand on a conventional scale. Antje Troyan, Bev Riley (shown here) along with Budd Bell were the subcommittee that researched and made the decision to purchase this particular unit. Staff and patients are very pleased with the new user friendly equipment. 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 NATIONAL NURSING WEEK - MAY 10 -16 Nurses in their Communities Fighting for Health Care Patient Advocacy around the Clock Protecting Patients Through Political Action Giving Quality Care Message from the Minister of Health - Allan Rock (1998) As federal Minister of Health responsible for Seniors, I extend my best wishes to the Canadian Nurses Association, its members and partners as they embark on a week of activities focused on the health needs of older persons. It is particularly fitting that this partnership take place in 1999, The International Year of Older Persons. The Nursing Professionals are on the front line of the health system and provide much care and support to Canada’s older persons. During National Nursing Week, to be held May 10 -16,1999, efforts will be made to increase the knowledge and understanding of issues, such as medication usage, active living and safety from the perspective of seniors. The insights and collaboration of the diverse partners, networks and supporters, involved with the Canadian Nurses Association in this venture, will ensure a better partnership for healthy aging. I am pleased that Health Canada was able to support this initiative, and offer my best wishes for its success. CPH is celebrating Canada Health bay & The International Year of Older Persons HEALTH DAY OPEN HOUSE: Wednesday, May 12 Ontario Street United Church, 105 Ontario St. Clinton Open House & Health Information Displays: 1:30 * 8:30 p.m. Presentation: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. - Please Help Me I’m Falling & 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Making Healthy Bone Choices Organized by Clinton Public Hospital - Health Information for All Age Groups.