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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-10-06, Page 5Opinion Letters What is real purpose of dun legislation? From Page 4 publication in mid -western Ontario, the consequences of a news story in Dryden, Ontario will affect all Canadians. A Dryden business man, taxpayer, family man, chose to disagree with the regulations of the government on the gun registry and Bill C-68. Bruce Montague, a political prisoner, was in jail for 10 days, then finally released on bail with many restrictions;<while those who break into our homes and steal our property are regularly released with only a "Promise To Appear." It is obvious that the government has deemed "disagreement with government regulation" as a more heinous crime than those crimes against the "lives of Canadian citizens and the lives of those who protect us." Mr. Montague, who disagrees with a law that violates the Charter of Rights in 27 areas, faces the possibility of spending more time in jail than Karla Hamolka. Is this yet another example of "Canadian justice gone awry?" Bill C-68 and the Firearms Act have plagued Canadians for many years -- both financially and philosophically. Supposedly passed for public safety, studies documented in "The Failed Experiment" show that in Australia, England, Wales, and Canada, gun control has the opposite result. I Canada has recently seen a dramatic increase in home invasions not only in cities, but rural areas as well. Criminals are not going to get a license, have their guns registered, or store them safely. They know the public is either unarmed, or does not have ready access to their firearms, so it is open season for crime. What is the "real" purpose of the firearms act? Is it, as some suggest, to systematically disarm the public, is it power and control, or another opportunity to get more money from the taxpayers'? I, for one, am outraged! Let's start punishing those who use guns to steal, terrorize and kill, and leave responsible citizens alone! Dave Joslin, Brussels, Ont. It's time for health care reality check To the Editor, Over the past few years, a gradually increasing disparity between the public's impression of the condition of our healthcare system and reality has evolved. this disparity is most marked in rural areas. Local health institutions play a vital role in the well being of small nrral communities and as a result local leaders often feel pressured to circulate "good new stories" about their local health centres. Unfortunately, at the same time a new reality has been taking shape and it is time for local citizens to be informed about this new reality. Unfortunately, the provincial and federal govemments have done little to educate citizens about the major changes currently taking shape. The following is one group of physicians' view as to why we believe dark days are ahead - with respect to health care in this province and in this community. It is time for a dose of reality. First and foremost is the present and worsening human resources crisis in primary health care. Simply put, there are not enough family doctors to provide care for our current population. This problem will get worse in the near future. Recent efforts to increase medical school enrolment and reduce red tape for international graduates will not come close to addressing the issue. Unfortunately other traditional health care providers including nurses are also in very short supply leaving no one that will be able to fill the gap. The only result that seems logical is increased utilization of emergency rooms or ambulatory cane clinics. New medical graduates are steering clear of family medicine and most that do choose family medicine as a career arc finding jobs as hospitalists (doctors that work only in hospitals) and emergency doctors. Physicians currently practising in rural areas arc leaving because they are unsuccessfully attempting to juggle their roles of family physician, attending physician of hospitalized patients, emergency room doctor, nursing home director, hospital board member, teacher of medical students, advocate for the community, recruiter, parent and spouse. These doctors often become distracted from their primary purpose of providing care to their patients. They are often not supported by their specialist colleagues and they also feel they are not living up to the expectations of their community. There currently exists no new model that will adequately address the exodus of physicians from primary care and especially rural practice. This departure of family doctors from rural settings will bring into question the viability of small rural doctors. The provincial government has recently stated that our current method of delivering health care in inefficient especially at the hospital level. They believe that hospitals shotild be restricted to providing only acute and surgical care. It is their expectation that all other services will be provided for in the community despite the fact that the infrastructure to support these services does not currently exist. The Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance will be receiving less money this year than it did in 2003/04. The current hospital funding formula will not help rural hospitals and the survival of many rural hospitals including ours will be in —y. Despite the government's position that access to care will be improved, we believe that the access to care will be severely restricted. Targeting money to specific areas such as joint replacement will cause other areas of health care to be neglected which will in turn have unforeseen consequences on the rest of the health care system. Drastic consolidation of services is going to be an inevitable outcome of this govenunent's policies. In defense of the government's policies, health care expenditure is rising at an alarming rate and is clearly unsustainable. We haven't even begun to appreciate the effects of the aging population on the health system. Progress in medical technology has and will continue to lead to new treatments and new testing methods all associated with new expense. Fundamental changes need to occur if we wish to maintain an acceptable level of care for the population. Hard decisions are going to need to be made. One solution would be the delisting of insured services previously thought to be untouchable. Can we afford to insure all elective joint replacements when patients commonly lay in hospitals for days waiting for O.R. time for their fractured hips to be fixed? The relative benefit of one intervention over another will need to be considered. These types of discussions need to take place. Communities that will weather this storm best will be the ones that have strong community leaders combined with a forward thinking vision. They will need to abandon traditional views of how health care is delivered. Fortunately, as part of the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance, we now have a large region including four communities on which to draw support and expertise. In addition, local municipal leaders are becoming more aware of the crisis facing rural medicine and they are attempting to work towards finding answers. Despite this support, we predict that tough days are ahead. People in this community need to be aware that the level of care they have become accustomed to will not continue. Local political representatives need to hear your concerns and better solutions must be found. 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Med �1 .kill OOM�,�M00 7P0 M..la. oM Moo too WINGPMI • Noun 1404P!TAL FOUNDATIONS NEED 4:APPRECIATE W►PORT Clinton Public Hospital Foundation 98 Shipley Street, CLINTON, ONTARIO NOM ILO Phone 482-3440 ext. 227 (Joanne) or ext. 297 (Velma) vow& Stent rws nfayts es Seam stlis mselll.#v dell ae wawa stlie. gems St. Anne's Food Services CAFETERIA ST. ANNE'S CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL HIGHWAY 8 EAST • CLINTON THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Oct. 6, 2004.5 When It Comes To Protecting Your Assets.... Turn to the Professionals at GRAY INSURANCE ' BROKERS INC. Specializing In PENNY OVERBOE Farm — Commercial -- Auto -- Home 5 MAIN STREET, SOUTH SEAFORTH, ON (519)527-2500 Open, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. • 6:00 p.m. • OR by gppolnm nt It needed - TX - GRAND OPENING be ore a er new Iiiiq Brie • rimierntt', r'. children's viear • gifts FSI. OCT. 8 10:ill ENTIRE STORE OPEN 9:30 - 9:30 REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE 293 MAIN St S.•EXETER, ONT.•519.235.4432 This week... remember to place your ad in The Huron Expositor early! Our office will be closed Monday, Oct. 11 DEADLINE For News, Classifieds & Advertising FRIDAY OCTOBER 8th at 12:00 Noon Have a safe & happy holiday! 11 Main St., Seaforth 527-0240 -or Church Services BEREAN COVENANT CHURCH A CHURCH PLANT OF GRACE TRNiITY COMMUNITY CHURCH %Nort527-0029h 10 am Family Sunday School 11 am Worship Service 7 pm Prayer Meeting Pastoral Team: Pastor Bob Penhearow Pastor Ron Matthews Pastor Ro al Hamel St. Thomas Anglican Church A Capapaece d the Parish of The Holy Spurt Jarvis St. Seatorth Fr. Michael Atkins Parish Office 527.1522 Sunday, October 10 Sunday Worship - 9:30 am Sat. Oct. 16 - Parish Council - 11 am Monday Prayer Group & Grower's Group cancelled Everyone Welcome Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church ' 126 Main St. Seaforth 527-0982 Sunday Worship Hour 11 am Sunday School 9:45 am Jim Wyllie - Pastor NORTHSIDE - CAVAN UNITED CHURCHES Cavan 9:30 a.m. 11:00 e.m. Northside Winthrop 54 Goderich St. W. Mlnistpr Rev. John Gould Sunday, October 10 Northside Church 11:00 a.m. Sermon The Transmission Of Faith You are invited to attend these area churches Catholic Church St. James RC Church 14 Victoria Street, Seaforth 527-0142 Weekend Masses: Sat 5:15 pm Sun. 11:00 am St. Columban RC Church Saturday Mass at 7:30 pm Father Lance Magdziak Egmondville United Church Sunday, October Worshl Service p N t t s m Sunday School • Aga 6 & up -10 am Steve Hildebrand Lay Pastoral Minister In Training Everyone Welcome - Moment For Mission thls weak provided by Brian O'RNIIy - Turkey Supper Wad. Oct. 27 First Presbyterian Church Goderich St. W., Seaforth Minister Rev. Henry Huberts SUN., OCTOBER 10 • Thanksgiving Service 11:15am (Sunday School & Nursery Provided) 'Come and Give thanks"