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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-08-07, Page 4P 4 Times -Advocate, August 7,1996 Publisher & Editor: Jim Beckett Business INsee erOon Smith Prediction �t be6 toad dikarfigke Barb Conant. Chad Eedy MIL Heather Mir, Chris Skaitos, RossHemi. Brenda Butte @}amply Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray. Barb Robertson Brenda Hem, Joyce Weber, Laurel Minor Flynn, Al Hodgen Elaine Pinder, Sue tonings, Ruthann Negrijn, Mita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple The Exeter Times Advocate is a member Oa family of community newspapers providing news, advertising and information leadership I':I)I l OI11.‘1.� • • tea.. Publications Met Registration t8 mlar 0386 , Oar rate loft mum subscribers - Ono ye$35.00 • S$T Two year rats for Ontario subscribers - $$3.00 • O=T pinion Oar year subscription • $.3.00 + OST Two year wbaeeiptlon • =118.00 +OST l BdWd Outside Canada - $88.00 + OST Published Each Morning 424 Main Exeter, Ontario, NOM Wednesday ).W. L yPubblc ,Ltd. Telephone 1,519.2353.331, • Pax: ars-ass 7S4 s.a.T. aaaa>goasa Solid Quarter Century ow that the biggest weekend of the year is over the many people in Dashwood and area who are responsi- ble for Friedsburg Days should take time out and give themselves a well- deserved pat on the back. This year's event was extra special because it was the 25th anniversary, a remarkable achievement when you con- sider the fact many larger communities in the area no longer have any annual attraction Over the past several years there were indications that "this year" would be the last but somehow community commitment would get re -focused, the volunteers would regain their enthu- siasm and the weekend of fun continued. The list of names of those who have contributed to Friedsburg !Says will be almost as long as the Dashwood section of the phone book. Success doesn't just happen. While it seems almost redundant to en- courage the Friedsburg workers to "keep up the good work" after achieving the milestone of 25 great years, we fully re- alize the effort it takes to put an event of this magnitude together. New volunteers will have to come forward to add their contributions to those who have been in- volved but then that's how a tradition is created Investigation needed "Do they want to be remembered as being involved in the cover up of the Hurongate affair?" Dear Editor: The reluctance of the majority of county council- lors to investigate the many allegations against the , present administration of the county is dangerous for the'to } th of the county a e-peop e'. whom i�hey serve. Yanderstand.finm several sources that the morale of county employees is at an all time low. When morale is low, productivity and commit- ment to high standards suffer. Do we, the citizens of Huron County, want the quality of our services re- duced, because council refuses to investigate a broad range of very serious allegations? Like countless others, I have received copies of Huron County's Fast Facts. Like many others, I re- gret that this information was circulated anony- mously. And yet, I understand that the likely reason for the anonymity, is that the author (or authors) is/ are still employed by the county, where original and creative thinking is about as welcome as a leper at a beauty spa. What matters more than the issue of anonymity is the long list of concerns and issues which the Fast Facts contained. Until these issues are fully investi- gated, the credibility of the present council and ad- ministration cannot be regained. The longer council delays such an investigation, the longer the employ- ees of the county and the people of Huron County will suffer. Many past and present employees of the county have discussed with me the issues in Fast Facts. I re- gret to inform you, that the opinion of the vast ma- jority of such employees, is that the issues raised are valid. Therie is still, tie for the present warden and councillors to ot&r art'invesdg&ti6n: Councillors should note that issues of such magnitude will not simply dissolve in the ether with the passage of time. If the present warden and council do not deal with this matter, subsequent councillors will have to deal with them. There is far too much concern, with- in and outside of the county, for these issues to be ignored and unresolved. Do the present warden and councillors wish to be recorded in history as the key players who denied the need for a thorough investigation into such seri- ous matters? Do they want to be remembered as being involved in the cover up of the Hurongate affair? On an optimistic note, an increasing number of councillors are to be congratulated on being willing to investigate the status quo. The integrity of county government cannot be reclaimed until such an inves- tigation has been carried out. Sincerely, J. Hollingworth, Goderich • • • WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND? • • • The Times Advocate continues to welcome lettersto the editor as a forum for open discussion of local Issues, concems, complaints and kudos. WE ASK THAT YOU.KEEP YOUR LETTERS TO A MAXIMUM OF 30O WORDS. The Times Advocate reserves the right to edit letters for brevity. Please send your letters to P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario, NOM 156. Sign your letter with both name and address. Anonymous letters will not be published. A View From 's B .Ms t:'t. ook TORONTO -- Doctors who are threatening to strike against Premier Mike Harris are unlikely to find the public in their corner -- and the same goes for other professionals who pick a fight with government. The 8,800 specialists say they will stop tak- ing new patients after Oct. 1 unless Hams abandons new levels of restraint on amounts they bill the provincial health plan.The prov- ince will pay only 67 per cent of doctors' annu- al bills after it has paid, as examples, $292,000 to a pediatrician and $356,000 to a Seneral sur- geon, and even smaller proportions of their bill- ings in excess of higher specified levels. A spokesman for the specialists called this "slavery." This will not endear them to the public. Harris's Progressive Conservative gov- ernment has been slashing, not just g, spending in most areas, trying to tlddee taxes which have grown out of control. Welfare re- cipients have lost 21 per cent of their benefits and been told to live on canned tuna. Doctors' rule of thumb is that they spend an World is our playground The Exeter Canada Employment Centre for Students closed last Thursday, but some services are still available. Employers can call 1-800-265-5185 to place job orders for students and students can use the Job Bank in Exeter to look for jobs. The public assess computers and the literature resources are also available all year round. The summer was a success! Overall statistics show that Huron County job vacancies were up by about 18%. Many students I have talked to have found work, a few have not. A little advice to all students for next year: start early, write a good resumt, and be persistent. The world is our playground Last week, I touched upon the importance of international experience. A stay abroad can give you an appreciation for other cultures and for people that are different from yourself. The more people you meet, the more different places you see, and the more things you experience; the more adaptable you become to new situations. It is important to note that when visiting a new country it is great to visit the tourist areas, but the way you will benefit the most is to meet the local people, experience the culture, and attempt to learn the language. From a pure resume aspect, international experience, whether it is attending school, working, or extensive traveling abroad will make you stand out from those who have spent their entire life in Canada. Items like this may give your resume more than the standard glance. There are many options available for people who nt. want to try a new culture. The federal government publishes a booklet called the "Hot 100" which outlines federal programs and services that are available for youth. In this booklet, which is available at the Exeter office, there are descriptions and contact information of working exchanges with France, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, Holland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. The Rotary Club offers exchanges to various countries. As well, many high schools and universities sponsor exchanges. I am involved with an exchange a stude through the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western. Off to Finland! In one week, I depart upon the adventure of my life. A nine hour flight will land in my new home, Finland. There I will study in the International MBA Program at the 1 telsinki School of Economics until Christmas.' My classes are in English and the professors and students are from around the world. I will live in. Kannelmaki, which is a suburb 10 km from downtown Helsinki, where I will go to school. Public transportation is excellent there, so getting to school will take about 25 minutes. I have been asked one question over and over: why Finland? A few of the many reasons are: the program is international, the country is beautiful, and it is a place that few people visit. The trip will be expensive, but!. the experience will have no price tag. I am excited to leave, but also very nervous about leaving my family, friends, and everything else familiar. I will try to publish a follow-up in December when I return. Until , then! average 40 per cent of their gross income on overheads (the government claims less), so a pediatrician will still net a basic $175,000 and general surgeon $213,000 even before they start to collect additional payments at the re- duced rates. Many, particularly those who have lost public sector jobs, would envy such serfdom. The de- bate on cutting spending also has made the pub- lic aware of statistics like doctors' billings in- creasing by 40 per ant in the past decade while the population went up only 19 per cent, which suggests some take advantage of their unique power to increase their incomes by ordering pa- tients to keep coming back. The public also now knows that doctors, un- like others having to earn a living, refuse to practise in rural areas where they are needed, and too often move to the United States, cuing training paid for by Canadian taxes to gouge even bigger bucks, and that the province last Year paid $40 million tort and Malpractice ituah ranee bemuse so much of their treatment is fau Doctors threaten to strike Doctors traditionally have been the most trusted profession, but their reputation. has tak- en a beating as the public focusses on ways to save money. Nurses are thought of as a pro- fession which used the support of the former New Democrat premier, Bob Rae, to win huge pay increases putting those with experience up to $52,000 a year, and priced themselves out of jobs. Teachers seem always on the verge of threat- ening strikes, although clearly the public has no more money, and have lost some respect be- cause they automatically oppose'studying pro- posals that might make better use of resources, such as year-round schools and classes starting at 8 a.m. Voters have had it impressed on them that teachers commonly have salaries over $60,000 and pensions of $40,000 paid for paatly by taxpayers and often extra, huge retire- ment bonusesfor not taking days off sick, be- cause they used tough lobbying techniques and politicians would not stand up to them. The image of polite has been dented because of high profile incidents like a riot squad at the legislature going too far and clubbing pickets, a` police sergeant being charged with criminal r negligence in the shooting death of an Indian i activist, bungling in the Paul Bemando case which allowed two teenage girls to be mur- dered and a rash of charges against policemen including robbing an armored van and planting' drugs on suspects. Discipline charges against police in Toronto jumped 19 per cent over the i y past year. Judges complain about pay and conditions, but anyone who has been in a courtroom will have noted their capacity for working half a day and adjourning and still managing to delay giving judgments for six months. Lawyers have complained the province pro- vides insufficient funds for legal aid, but cannot have impressed the public by their push to limit new entrants to their profession so they can maintain their incomes. Politicians have been low in public esteem in recent years, but none of these professions is in great sha . to take on Harris.