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Times Advocate, 1989-03-15, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, March 15, 1989 Huron Liberals elect new slate �f&Hlcers for 1989 HOLMESVILLE •-A number of controversial issues -tieing faced by David Peterson's Liberal govern- ment in the province of Ontario were aired at Thursday's , annual meeting of the Huron Riding Lib- eral Association. Minister of,Colleges and Uni- versities Lynn McLeod touched on the -subjects 'of auto insurance, Sunday shopping, health care, pub- lic pensions and workers compen- sation. On -health care she said, " It is our belief, if the long term needs in the health care system arc to be met, we .must first- ensure that we have achieved as high a degree of efficiency as possible . That's why - the Minister of Health has carried out operational reviews of all hos- pitals in a deficit budget situation and has established committees which arc studying the very sensi- five questions of prescription drug use and medical practice throughout the. province." .According to McLeod,-" A new •bill on the licencing of independent healthcare facilities for the first time gives the Ministry of Health responsibility for ensuring the ac-.; countability of such- facilities. Thee' i, also a renewed emphasis on. based health cart .and illness prevention: The Pre- mier's council on health cart is 'working on that." • Health costs have `more than tripled since •1978 and now account ; for one-third.of thc provincial bud- .bet. The S1.2 billion added to the health care budget consumed all of the revenue generated -from the one percent increase in sales tax. To this McLeod added, " Clearly, no- responsible, government can af- ford to avoid dealing with these very-stressfuf changes." On auto insurance 'she said, " I -believe we have taken the right di- rection on this issue:. We arc com- mitted to ensuring that rate' increas- es arc reasonable and fair because •wc arc required to provide a degree of consumer protection in a situa- tion where automobile insurance is mandatory:" • One of our challenges will be to help people realize that -the cost of insurance must be mct, whether through premiums or through tax increases which subsidize govern- ment plans in other provinces. • About Sunday shopping, McLeod said, " - The new legislation clearly • provides for closed Sundays; not wide.open Sunday shopping. It sets oth much clearer guidelines and is thcrefolt. much more: enforceable • than the current 1.•gislation. There- -are atso much stiller penalties for violation of the 'law. The_ arca of controversy, of course, is giving municipalities the option to pass • their own amendments to suit local circumstances." - - Several government commis- sional reports have confirmed that then: is an unfunded liability in the public pension sector of about S5 billion. - McLeod went on to say, " We must how take steps. to begin to, fund thL-accrued liability and ensure that this liability docs not increase into the future. -For- the 117,000 teachers and 84,0(0 others involved in public tensions, this. is a very important issue." On the subject of workers com- pensation she said, " Our new Bill 162.providcs injured workers with a real opportunity to return to work and ensures that those with perma- nent disabilities are compensated fairly. This also includes new obli- gations on the part of employers to re -instate injured workers." In the annual election, Joe Hogan of Exeter was acclaimed for another term as riding president. The vice- presidents are John .Jewitt, RR 1, Londesboro and Graeme Craig, RR 1, Walton. Nancy -Parker of Clinton is secretary and Zoie Raithby of Grand Bend handles the duties of treasurer. Area .vice-presidents are Fred McGee, Wingham: Joe Semple, RR 1, Ethel; Geoffrey Walker, RR 3, Goderich; Eileen Palmer, Gode- rich; Norman Pickell, Godcrich; Two accidents in town parking Tots EXETER - -1'wo of the three acci- dents investigated this week by of- ficers of the Exeter town police de- partment occurred in parking lots and. were caused by slippery road surface .Tuesday, March 7, a vehicle driv- en by Vernon Thomson, St,) T,,_ struck a parked vehicic.owncd by Susan Marshall, Kirkton in the • parkinglot,hchind 472 Main street. In a similar mishap the next day, a vehicle driven by Darlene Light- foot,•Exetcr struck a parked vchicic own..d • ny Ray IlJljko of . t.cindon while, turning into a parking spot at the Standard Trust parking lot. . 'Vehicles driven by Jack Hayward lartd_Edtvard (Griffin, Sea- """" -forth collided Snnduy on Janet Lawrie, Blyth; Peggy Men- zies, Clinton; Jack Horan, RR 1, Walton; Jim Love, RR 1, Zurich and Kim McLean, Exeter. Youth representatives are Allyson Scott, Seaforth and Doug Lounsbu- ry of Goderich and president of the Huron Young Liberal Club is Caro- lyn.Love, RR 1, Zurich. - Delegates to the Ontario Liberal Party annual general meeting scheduled for the Hamilton Conven- tion- Centre March 31 to April_ 2 are Howard Aitken, GoYdon Strang, Pa- tricia Down, Margaret Aitken, Jim Fitzgerald, Janeth Sangster, Graeme Craig, Lois Fitzgerald, John Jewitt, Geoffrey Walker and Anita Riddell. Youth delegates are Liz Hogan, Lyn Bezaire and Ann Tindall. University m n star speaks The guest spea er at urs. ay Provincial Association was Ontario's Minister of Colleges and Universities. Above, she is being- wel- comed by Huron Association president Joe Hogan of Exeter. Looking on are secretary Nancy Parker Agriculture Minister Jack Riddell. and Highway • b Y - n d within the town limits. - 0'PP reports �no accidents EXETER - For thc first time in many weeks, motor vchicic acci• - dents failed to appear among thc 53 general occurrences investigated. this wcck by officers of the Exeter detachment of :the Ontario Provin- cial Police. The occurrences included assis- tance seryice break and enters, suspicious vehicles and persons, lost property, domestic situations and wilful damagc.Charges laid this wcck included 62 under the High- way Traffic Act, 14 for Liquor Li - y cence Act infractions, two impaired driving and 12 hour licence suspen- sions %vcn, issued to six driN, r. As many arca F,e:.plc arc f:11ding out, thc RIDF. spotchccks arc con- tinuing on arca roadways. Buckle up, drive safely and please don't drink and drive ' 4 a° - available until March 25 • 1