Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-12-08, Page 1r+� Disomutu Iliang tge� Canada Inc. Joy Finlayson & Sharon Medd Mortgage Consultants "Finally, a company that starts with a discount" (5 1'1) 527-I15611 Sharon Medd, Associate Broker M.V.A. Appraiser Visit: mis.ca for Information of listings in Huron/Perth Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004 ;SS +.914:. $1.25 includes GST 1 Doug Elliott, CFP, B.Math Financial Flamer GIC des aid Dec 7. Ttl(!$ se mud ad awe .. scam ropemir. gime abaleda, .1y doles berm Beat Rates DEeir 3.% 4.6% SP(n a I " 9I 26 Main St., Seaforth 527-2222 In brier Steckle not surprised Bush didn't open borders to beef Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle is not surprised that U.S. President George Bush Jr. did not offer to swing open the borders to Canadian dairy heifers during his first visit to Canada this past week. Chances are, says Steckle, the president's real plan was to encourage Canadians to get on board with a proposed North American air defence system. • "I sense his mission had more to do with with a northern defence system," says Steckle. "Quite frankly, I am a little gun shy." Indeed, the •MP says constituents have been letting his offices know that they, too, are not in favour of the plan. "There just isn't that kind of appetite. We've gone beyond the Cold War era and we want to stay away from that." Not only is Canada not able to pay for the proposal, people are fundamentally opposed to it, says Steckle. "We do not think like Americans when it comes to doing certain things," says Steckle, noting Canada's Armed Forces are focussed on peacekeeping initiatives, such as helping maintain order in Afghanistan. "We need to keep our record in tact on that front," he says. Steckle says the president's good-natured quip about surviving a dinner featuring Alberta beef doesn't help the domestic beef industry much. Notably, says Steckle, the official menu should have read "Canadian" rather than "Alberta" beef. Overall though, says Steckle, things are looking up for beef producers as China has reopened its borders to boxed beef and the wheels are in motion in the U.S. to once again allow older animals to start crossing the border. "We are making progress," says Steckle. By Cheryl Heath Inside... Mary Verberne wins inclusion award... Page 3 Local OHL players having good season ... page 12 Jason Middleton photo Dashing through the snow Kelsey Dale, 11 and Nikki Steep, 11, both of Seaforth, pull Jessica McKellar, 10, on a sled while Sam Steep, 7, tries to climb aboard during the first snowfall of the season on Friday's P.A. Day. Seaforth hospital needs more services to survive, council told By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Seaforth Community Hospital needs better community participation and at least one essential service to remain viable, Huron East council was told at its Nov. 30 meeting. "Nobody is looking at the overall policy of delivery to make each site is a viable partner. Your hospital needs an important role in the health care system," said Dr. Ken Rodney. Rodney and Maureen Spittal, two of the three members of the hospital study group, attended council to update councillors about the research their group is doing about the community's feelings about its local hospital. They were accompanied by more than 20 supporters, including members of the Seaforth hospital auxiliary and members of the local advisory committee (LAC) to the Huron -Perth Healthcare Allliance. Spittal told council that site's concerned if SCH is left with six medical beds and an emergency department, under the proposed budget cuts, it will not survive. "It's great for Clinton (Public Hospital) that they've got obstetrics and surgery and 15 active care beds. Their hospital is fully functioning and our (Seaforth's hospital) plant is pristine. We really don't know why the disparity is the way it is," she said. "After listening to the Alliance we are hearing the same mantra over and over - we want four viable sites. Well, we're not viable with what we have," said Spittal. McKillop Coun. Sharon McClure asked why SCH isn't viable with land to expand and a helipad. "We're the smallest hospital in the partnership. We can be squeezed easier than everybody else," responded Rodney. Seaforth Coun. Joe Steffler asked why SCH has "lost a lot of services in the past two or three years." "Is there a reason why? Have we done something wrong as a community?" he asked. Rodney responded that saving money for the Alliance is the reason for decreased services in Seaforth and he shared that he's argued with Alliance administration that SCH is being See HURON, Page 2 Alliance CEO and board member agree SCH in no danger of closing By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Seaforth Community Hospital will "play a vital role in local healthcare after the dust settles," says one of Seaforth's representatives on the Huron -Perth Healthcare Alliance board. "I'm sure Seaforth will remain open with all the essential services and I'm certain it will play a vital role in the Alliance," says Bob Norris. Norris says he is fighting for Seaforth's hospital and has no concerns about it closing. "I can understand why people are concerned but we're looking at all kinds of options right now," he says. He says the Alliance is trying to figure out where services can be best offered without duplication. And, while some services at SCH have been reduced over the past few years, Norris says the lack of doctors locally has created that situation, not a decision by the Alliance. "Our doctor situation is not good and we cannot offer services unless we have the medical staff. Once the clinic renovations and the new computer system is in place, I certainly hope it will attract more doctors," he says. Norris adds that Seaforth does not offer obstetrics anymore because the local doctors decided it wasn't safe to offer the service with the number of doctors available. As well, he says that with Dr. Ken Rodney's recent retirement, SCH no longer • has any surgeons on staff. "When we're facing budget cuts, you cannot expand services. The world of health is really changing as the Liberal government tries to lay down a new strategy," he says. Alliance CEO Andrew Williams agrees that the Alliance has not cut services in Seaforth. "Things ebb and flow depending on the availability of physicians," he says. See HOSPITAL, Page 2 Totals 'way up' for families in need By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor The Seaforth office of the Huron County Christmas Bureau is asking for extra help this,year as the number of families in need had already gone beyond last year's totals during the bureau's first day of business Monday. "Our numbers are way up," says Seaforth organizer Deb Jamieson. "The Children's Aid are saying we've doubled what the need was last year at this time," While 37 families with 79 children in Seaforth were helped by the Christmas Bureau last year, 56 families with 139 children had registered for help on Monday, the first day of the weeklong appeal. And, phone lines for families registering for help will remain open the rest of the week. Jamieson says that although the Christmas Bureau generally closes on Friday (with plans to run this year from Dec. 6 to 10). it will remain open Saturday, Dec. 11 and Monday. Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in an attempt to meet the increased need. "We don't understand why the numbers are so high in Seaforth this year. We're taking a few deep breaths," says Jamieson. Children's Aid spokesperson Joan Van den Broeck echoes Jamieson, adding she's never seen Seaforth's numbers so high before. "It's a little worrisome. Seaforth is showing a big blip this year and they haven't finished registering yet. We have no way of knowing why," she says. Van den Broeck says need across Huron County is close to the same as last year in the county's four bureau locations. The Seaforth Christmas Bureau office at Egmondville United Church is asking for more clothing, gifts for children aged infant to 16 and more food. In particular, Jamieson says the bureau needs more peanut butter, cereals, sugar, flour, rice, stew, crackers, snacks, coffee, tea and hot chocolate to cover the registered families. So far, donations have only brought in a few sets of See BUREAU, Page 3 when Accldeflt iispsn ea. COLLISION REPAIR • GLASS INSTALLATION RENTAL CARS AVAILABLE • INSURANCE CLAIMS FOR AFFORDABLE, PROFESSIONAL BODYWORK ON CARS, TRUCKS, VANS AND SUVS, COME TO US. WE'LL GET YOUR VEHICLE LOOKING LIKE NEW AGAIN. "Your complete paint & collision repair centre." 120 Harpurhey Rd., Seaforth 522-2222 We use quality BPON performance coatings F7 i-t,c E t i I 1 1. >I II 4 . !