Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-10-28, Page 6Health Unit clarifies misinformation To the Editor: We wish to clarify and correct several points in the article "Water quality in ACW in decline, espe- cially after storms" (October 14, 2009). A cottage resident was quoted as saying local river water isn't safe. He was also quoted as say- ing, 'The method the Health Unit suggests: don't swim in water if you can't see your feet in three feet of water, isn't accurate." He then is quoted with some statistics that are, in fact, inaccurate. The Huron County Health Unit does not test water samples from any body of water except Lake Huron. We do not sample rivers, ravines, dams etc. and therefore cannot make recommendations Page 6 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, October 28, 2009 www.goderichsignalstar.com Proprietor and published by Bowes Publishers, P.O. Box 220, 120 Huckins Street, Goderich, Ontario N7A 4B6 EDITORIAL Deficit will require savvy fiscal leadership The simple truth is: It's not likely to get any better. Every man, woman and child in the province of Ontario is on the hook for $1,800, a debt that translates into a provincial total of $24.7 billion this year, according to best estimates. And, unfortunately, it could get worse. The Liberal government is under fire for not coming forth with any reasonable recovery effort to pay down the deficit in its economic statement last week. There was no concrete plan offered by Finance Minister Dwight Duncan on a recovery plan to get the deficit under control or make serious attempts to balance the books. We are in a tough spot in Ontario. The economic engine that has driven the national and regional economy is suffering and as manufacturing job losses continue to mount, the provincial unemployment rate is likely to remain above nine per cent for the next three years. That leaves the government with little, if any, room to manoeuvre. The difficulty with the high unemployment rate is that the government stands to collect far less tax revenue. And if Dalton McGuiuty makes serious attempts to cut government spending or reduce the civil service, it only exacerbates the problem. Removing government jobs from the payroll only magnifies the unemploy- ment rate and creates more disparity between the revenue the government brings in and what it spends. The government will undoubtedly have to look at cuts but with over 55 per cent of the budget going towards healthcare, hospitals, clinics, colleges, universi- ties and the school system, it only leaves the $51 billion remaining of the $113 billion to be scrutinized for cuts. If five per cent is trimmed from the government's other departments, it would amount to a paltry $2.5 billion in savings. There is little room to move. Yet, as bad as it sounds, the projected deficit is manageable by today's stan- dards. While the government will be under pressure to cut spending and even elimi- nate jobs, tax hikes and spending cuts now to pay down the deficit would only hurt the economy more. The government has to get smart at being efficient and spending money wisely. The eHealth scandal doesn't help either the government's fiscal standing or the public's perception that it simply doesn't cane how it spends tax dollars. The government can control what it pays its employees and what it spends on consultants and outside agencies. The taxpayers of Ontario should expect nothing less than prudent spending, wage and salary freezes and a healthy respect for the dwindling tax dollars com- ing from beleaguered Ontarians. Now is the time to show some fiscal leadership. DS The Goderich Signal -Star, published every Wednesday at Goderich, Ontario is one of The Signal -Star Publishing Group of Community Newspapers, a division of Bowes Publishers. The Goderich Signal Star shall not be liable for failure to publish an ad for typographical errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of that portion of the ad in which the error occurred. The Goderich Signal -Star reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement. The Goderich Signal -Star is a proud member of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA) and The Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA). Il or.111ear,rau Editorial Deadlines... All Advertising Deadlines... Entertainment, Births, Deaths, In Memoriams.., Classifieds... Display Advertising... Friday at 2 pm • Letters opinion about water quality in those water sources. Our job is to prevent illness in Huron County residents, so our message to the public has al- ways been that when swimming in Lake Huron, you're generally safe to swim if you can see your feet when standing in waist deep water. Our epidemiologist and data analyst analyzed over 3,000 sam- ples taken randomly from the two previous summers (2008/09) and compared the bacteria levels to observed water clarity. Data from the 14 beaches were included. The results: We can say with 95 per cent certainty that when the water was reported as `clear' the bacteria levels were well below provincial guidelines for bacteria levels. In addition, we can say with 95 per cent certainty that when the water was reported as `turbid' (meaning you cannot see your feet at three feet of water), the bacteria levels were well above provincial guide- lines). This finding reinforces the ac- curacy of our message about when it is usually safe to swim in Lake Huron. We always advise residents that if they do decide to swim when the water is not clear, avoid going under the water or swallowing any water. Bob Worsen Public Health Manager Classifieds & Subscription... Friday at 2 pm Accounting... Telephone Fax.... Publisher... Reporters... 519-524-2614 519-524-5145 Dave Sykes Dominique Milburn Gerard Creces Denny Scott Office Manager... Display Sales... Advertising Manager... Judy Austin Rhonda Butt Mary Johnston Janet Shrier Lisa McLaren Keith Moreland Steve Northey Kevin Shrier Email... gssnews@bowesnet.com,gsssports@bowesnet.com gssads@bowesnet.com, goderichads@bowesnet.com website... www goderichsignalstar. com PueuCAnoNs MAIL Aoraarmtr No. 40064683 PAP REGISTRATION No. 7802 RETURN thioaNERAB F CANADA ADDRESSES To: Circulation Dept., 120 tiudctns St., P.O. Boz 120, Godelicll, (ilw1, NMA 486 (519) 524,2614 emu gunows@bowesnot.com We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs. Canada ocna