Huron Expositor, 2007-09-12, Page 4Page 4 September 12, 2007 • The Huron Expositor
Opinion
Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK 1WO
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What would we do without nurses? 44, •
It's a question we seldom consider. Nurses always
seem to be there when we need them — in hospitals,
clinics, long-term care facilities, even caring for us
in our homes.
Sometimes we grumble if they don't appear fast
enough when we call them to our hospital rooms,
but mostly we take them for granted.
That's about to change.
With thousands of nurses due to retire in the
next decade, Ontario will soon be facing a shortage
every bit as significant as the much -touted doctor
shortage.
The issue was brought to light recently when the
Perth County chapter of the Registered Nurses
Association of Ontario (RNAO) announced it would
host an meeting Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in Listowel on
the issue with the Perth -Wellington candidates for
the Oct. 10 provincial election.
The average age of nurses in the province is 45.
and the average age of retirement is 55.
Of the 26,000 nurses who belong to the RNAO, 63
per cent work in hospitals, 18 per cent in various
positions in the community and nine per cent in
long-term care, the association reports.
As our population ages and we spend more time
in hospitals, clearly retirement of so many nurses
will be a significant problem.
What's more, there are fewer nurses graduating
to enter the workforce and fewer high school gradu-
ates going into nursing.
Ontario communities have gone to great lengths
to woo family doctors — Huron and Perth Counties
have been wining and dining graduating doctors
every November for the past five years in hopes of
enticing them to set up practice here -- but little is
being done to woo nurses.
Instead, Ontario is losing young nurses to places
such -as British Columbia which offers incentives
such as relocation money and funding to further
their educations.
Most of us will eventually need the services of a
nurse.
While a similar meeting has not yet been planned
for Huron -Bruce provincial candidates, we can offer
our support by raising the issue during local all -
candidates' meetings.
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My fringe vote means nothing
under first past the post
My vote means nothing
under the current electoral sys-
tem.
I am not a supporter of either
of the two major political par-
ties, so my ballot will become
garbage as soon as I make my
'x' on Oct. 10.
It should really come as no
surprise that so many young people are apa-
thetic when it comes to politics.
But this year's provincial referendum could
change that.
Our current system is known as first -past -
the -post (FPTP).
In each riding, whatever candidate gets the
most votes wins that riding. Then, whatever
party has the most ridings - *hich translate
to seats in Parliament - forms the govern-
ment. And the leader of the party with the
most seats becomes premier.
The same system exists federally and under
this system, voters are forced to make two
statements with one vote.
We directly state who we want to win the
riding. We indirectly state which party (and
by extention, which party leader) we want to
take power.
That's all well and good if the local candi-
date you support is a member of the party you
want to take power.
However, if the local candidate for the party
you support is an idiot, or you don't support
the party of the local candidate you think
would do the most good for your riding, you're
forced to choose.
Aaron Jacklin
Not only are you forced to
choose, your vote doesn't really
reflect what you want because
one of the two statements you
make is false.
In addition to this, the FPTP
system essentially makes any
election a race between the two
most popular parties.
Everybody else gets left out.
The first past the finish -line - sorry, "post" -
wins.
This was fine when there were only two par-
ties, which was the case when the system
evolved, but the political landscape has
evolved.
There aren't only two significant parties
competing for votes in this election, there are
four.
Let's be realistic. The Green Party - the
fourth party - hasn't seen a single member
take a seat in Ontario.
I'll be shocked - and thrilled - if they man-
age to do so on Oct. 10.
But if they don't, what does that actually
mean?
Does it mean that nobody thinks the party
represents them, or that nobody thinks they
would bring valuable points of view to the
table?
It doesn't.
It means that in every single riding a Green
candidate ran, a candidate for another party
received more votes. And that's all it means.
See MIXED, Page 5
Ron & Dave
There's a huge
frart coming down
from the back!
( Oh my gosh. This is
horrible! The Action
Storm Team is predicting
severe low pressure and
an unstable air -mass over
the entire areal
by David Lacey
I wonder what
terrible things
this means.
It means
it's gonna
rain.
act'
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