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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-02-01, Page 22 -THE HURON EXCITOR. t#ellis1sMY 1, 11114 - News and Views i Council debates/ merits of OPP BY TIM CUMMING t.. positor Editor Police service from the OPP play not be less expensive but is it better? Members of Seaforth Council :Il,d the Police Services Board debated the merits of OPP set - vice after Tuesday's public niecting. "The financial argument is not wlnpelling," said Coun. Brian i-erguson. He asked if the intan- gible benefits of OPP (such as nut dealing with hiring and firing police officers) outweighed the financial concern. Police Services Board member Bob Dinsmore says he sees an even split in public opinion regarding OPP service. A local police force faces increasing salaries and provincial regula- tions, he said. It would also be hard for a municipal force to deal with a personnel problem, according to Dinsmore. "If you've got a problem, how du you solve it?" he asked. "You've got them (the officers) and they're there until they retire. One advantage of OPP polic- iug would be to see some new faces in the community as police officers, said Coun. John Ball. The OPP will keep the current Seaforth police officers but they may eventually be rotated to bring other police officers into the community. Police Board chairperson Lin Sterner noted there didn't seem to be strong feelings pro or con towards OPP service at last Tuesday's meeting. The increasing cost of policing is going to create some chal- lenges for the town, said Coun. Ferguson. "What other cuts arc we going to have to make to find (the extra) money?" he asked, won- dering if the town would have to reduce the hours of municipal staff. Silence greets MP over care reform BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Expositor Staff Huron MPP Paul Klopp must have felt he was speaking to the converted in Seaforth after defending Bill 173 and the Ontario government's recent initiatives in long-term health care Thursday morning. In contrast to what he called an "acrimonious" meeting on the same topics in Godcrich the week before, not a single question or criticism arose from the packed board room at the regular meeting of the East Huron Long -Term Care Committee at Seaforth Community Hospital. The feeling seemed to be that November's Bill 173 and its controversial Multi -Service Agencies (MSAs) are a "done deal", so let's get on with it. "Everybody isn't going to get what they want but I hope we get what we need," later commented Helen McLean, the consumer representative for Fast Huron on our county long-term committee, who added "the family" seems the essence of the direction health care for the elderly is taking, "just like it was 60 years ago". McLean is also the consumer representative on the area all - volunteer MSA task force/resource group, with representatives from a wide variety of local care groups. "They seem very capable," she observed, "very concerned and they certainly listen." The current NDP government inherited long-term health reform from the previous Liberals at Queen's Park, but agreed with the ' need for change and the policy's intent. The new government insists it listened to concerned interest groups and publicdebate long enough then decided, after more than four years at the helm, it was time to move with November's legislation, Klopp said, adding in spite of inflation the NDP government has increased its commitment to long-term care as a percentage of its budget. "We are aU consumers of health care," he said, "to me personally, the numbers say it all." duplications of overheads, directors,' GREGOR CAMPBELL PHOTO MPP AT SCH - Huron MPP Paul Klopp spoke on health care and new powers of attomey when he met with the East Huron Long - Term Care Committee at Seaforth Community Hospital Thursday morning. In the United States private health care consumes 13 per cent of the gross domestic product, still leaving about 30 -million people without health care. Mandatory public health care in Canada consumes only nine per cent of our domestic • product. Klopp added he has American friends in New York City who spend $6,000 of their annual $14,000 pension to get the equivalent of this province's health care. "Right now is probably the best time to be a senior," said Linda Girard, from the Ministry of Health in London, who brought more facts and figures supporting MSAs, that among other things, amalgamate existing long-term health care agencies and eliminate the Huron may receive housing money if Perth succeeds BY MONA IRWIN A $10,000 provincial grant to the housing Registry of Perth will be used to determine whether it's worth while to extended its services into Huron County. The grant is part of the S7.4 million Community Partners program, which is run by the Ministry of Housing to help community groups deal with local housing problems and provide basic Housing services. The announcement of the grant was made in mid-January by Perth MPP Karen Haslam. Lynne Bonnett, co-director of the non-profit Housing Registry of Perth, says the registry's main purpose is to maintain a list of rental accommodations. its main office is in Stratford, but it also has office space in Listowel. Bonnett said the registry gets the listing from classified ads in the area's newspapers, updating the list twice a week, she said in an interview Friday. However, their list is more extensive because they phone each landlord to get additional details about the rental property. "We also provide information on other alternatives, such as non- profit housing and co-operative housing," said Bonnett. As well, the registry publishes a housing directory (updated last fall). Listing options such as non-profit and co- operative housing, as well as emergency housing, accommodations for seniors and other housing that's available for people with special needs. Tenants can also call for information on housing issues, such as the Landlord and Tenant Act, rent control and property standards. "And we do educational work- shops about tenants' rights and responsibilities" as well as information nights for landlords and 1, workshops on issues such as homelessness, Bonnett said. The money that will be used for the Huron County study has been available since the Community Partners program started, Bonnett said, "And we're funded through the same program, so we knew the money was there. "About a year and a half ago, the Mininstry of Housing approached us as the (geographically) closest county to Huron and asked what we could do to see if a housing registry service is needed in Huron. They said since the money's there, it should be used." financial managers and administrative personnel. "We are facing the future now," Girard said, "We hope a system evolves that uses every dollar in the most effective way possible."...... . She said Huron County bas''onu of the oldest "populations -in ,the province and when "baby boomers" hit the age of 65, in 10 to 15 years,'. health care costs will skyrocket unless the government takes the bull by the horns and streamlines now. Girard said with 11,000 people 65 years or older, and 5,500 over the age of 75, Huron now has one of the largest elderly populations as a percentage of its total. These people are living longer and are more active, the MOH representative said, and a consequence has been a noticeable change in the ages and relative health of those in nursing homes. The average age of Huronview residents 12 years ago was 68, but generally it is a more exhausted and frailer group today because "people don't go there unless they really need it", and their average is about 83. The Ontario government spent about $20 -million subsidizing eight Huron County nursing homes last year, representing 595 beds. If the system doesn't become more efficient, Girard said, when "boomer" demographics come home to roost we are going to need twice as much money in taxes to provide today's level of care. "How are we going to care for these people?" she asked. She added unfortunately the process seems to have put some care groups with the same ultimate ends at "loggerheads" with their government, resulting in toes that feel stepped on and the sentiment "that there goes, everything I've worked for." Klopp said our "front line workers in long term care have done a fantastic job" which contrasts favorably with the recent actions of our front Iine workers for the Canadian military. Off the cuff, as Klopp left Thursday's meeting, the Huron MPP said his caucus colleagues were Thr tougher on Bill 173 and Health Minister Ruth Grier than the East Huron Long -Term Care Committee had been with him this morning. "You were pussycats," in comparison he said. The MPP then compared our new MSAs to painting the barn. "Some of us might have wanted a red bam and got a green," he said, "but at least we got the bam painted." Town questions OPP about overtime, police morale Seaforth Council and the, Police Services Board met with representa- tives of the OPP before last Tuesday's meeting. About seventeen different ques- tions were posed on the OPP con- tract proposal before the politicians met the ratepayers at the public meeting. Seaforth councillors asked if the town would be charged for over- time hours even though the current policy for overtime is time off in lieu. According to minutes of the meeting, Seaforth must pay over- time subject to the Social Contract. Representatives of the OPP said overtime figures might be over- stated in its proposal and overtime will be reduced as court case man- agement is assumed by the OPP. The town asked the OPP such Thank You A special thanks to the following for their generous support of our 1995 Hockey Tournament. T.D. Bonk C.LB.C. Bonk Ross Ribey ( Whitney Ribey Funerol Home) W L. Elliott Services inc. Box Furniture Anno's Dress Shoppe James Etue Insurance Agency Flower Magic Shinnen's Huron Ice Tos ly- Nu Archie's U.C.O. Culkgan s Real Estate Ltd, Vincent Form Equipment Ltd. Knechtel (Seolorth Food Market) Futures Hair Design Bob's Barbershop Dolodle & Touche Seaforth Veterinary Clinic Seolorth U.A.P. Canadian Tire (Seolorth) McKillop Mutual Ms. Co. Dr Louis to Plante Sparky's Family Dining Doug Elliott Investment Centre Huron Expositor TJ. Devereaux Chiropractor McConnell Stewart & Devereaux McGrath Plumbing & Heating Milton J. Dietz Ltd Seaforth Co -Op Hollmeyer's Mil! Huron Perth Refrigeration Seolorth Creamery Egmondvipe Store Pizza Train Watts Maintenance Tremeer Printers Sills Hardware Cordnos Men's Wear Hildebrand Point & Paper Hildebrand flowers All Styles 11 Seolorth Jewellers Seolorth Sewing Centre Seolorth Grocery Seoforlh Main St. Video Stedmans VC The Hobby Shop Seolorth Insurance Broker Ltd Jackie's Donuts Phyllis Cusack Garry Osborn McGregor Forms Second Period Sports The Optimist Club would also like to thank our Ladles and all the other people who herbed in any way to make the Atom tournament a success. SEAFORTH OPTIMISTS L` r questions as how it would improve officer morale and how it would increase the police foot patrol pres- ence on Main Street. Both responses suggested the OPP sees consultation with the officers and Police Services Board as important ways to address the issue. According to the minutes the OPP representatives said any police officer would be disciplined if spending more than one hour meal time at their residence during a duty shift. The joint meeting was informed there would be a local police num- ber which will be an answering machine and a police emergency line would be a 1-800 number. There may be a cost savings for Seaforth if other area municipalities also opted for OPP service. Country Den 053 Your I ��,h One -Stop Shop for NSLci Interesting, Unique Gift Items (� Country Pricing 0 Q Doll Houses & Furniture 5 Country Crafts • Sun Catchers �..1 • Prints • Wood Crafts • Pot-pourri Pies "' 0 (right at Winthrop . County Road 017) eD ✓ past 3rd concession My Est farm on right (Blue House) 345-2596 Call Ahead 345'2596 of ev Dublin, Ontario OPEN 5 f M (519) 345-2596 WE'` EVENINGS SAT. SUN WEEKDAYS Linda Neeb wt Watch next week's paper for Date of MILTON J. DIETZ LTD. 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