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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-11-27, Page 44 ,uaf I Timee-Addocate, November 27,1996 Ill ix • Publisher & Editor Jim Beckett Buslne14 IManeg.r: con Smith Predation Manager oeb:wit! eamedisiot Banti Consist, Ched Eedy film Feather Mir, Chris Skalkos, Rosa Haugh, Brenda Burke Pm&k4k p; Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray: Barb Robertson Brenda Hem, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner • Tr ii AdeatifinLA Flynn, N Hort Pert Office & Accountir j; Elaine Pinder, Sue Rollings, Ruthann Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple .41 The Exeter Times Advocate Is a member of a family of community newspapers providing news, advertising and information leadership • • inion Tough job ahead hock, dismay, outrage, sur- prise and, disbelief were words repeat- ed over and over to describe the options released Friday on the future of local health care service. If any of the choices presented by the Huron Perth District Health Council task force are implemented, our hospi- tal, along with others in St. Marys, Clinton and either Wingham or Listow- el, will be forced to undergo major sur- gery themselves to ensure survival. District health councils across the province have been mandated by the province to streamline the delivery of health care while cutting costs by about 20 per cent. The news came as a surprise to both local hospital and municipal officials when they learned South Huron was one of those slated for major downsiz- ing. Exeter Mayor Ben Hoogenboom im- mediately demanded Huron MPP Helen Johns get on board to save the hospital, stating she would not be re-elected if she didn't get involved. In fact, the fight is just beginning to maintain South Huron as a viable hos- pital as opposed to it becoming nothing more than a "band-aid" station. Round one begins tonight (Wednes- day) with ai public meeting set..4:1;,.7:30, p.m.' -at ,the'South Huron Rec >Cl;ntrr. " ` ' The`emotions expressed over the last few days are perfectly natural. Any community about to face a major downsizing of their hospital would be expected to fight as long and hard as possible in an effort to have the deci- sion reversed. An organized plan to save the hospital is finally developing. Convincing the DHC South Huron is a vital and necessary part of the commu- nity will be the challenge. Who is going to step forward and fight for Exeter? The decision makers must be convinced of the important role South Huron Hospital plays in this area. Thousands of voters from Huron ap- proved of the cutbacks Mike Harris promised in his election campaign. Now we're seeing first hand what he meant. Hoogenboom, the hospital board, and its administrator Don Currell all held the opinion South Huron would escape the cuts everybody knew were coming. They were taken by surprise. The Times -Advocate has not received one letter to the editor from doctors or anyone else stating action must be taken to preserve our local hospital. The only letter we have published was from the local chapter of the Ontario Nurses Association written by Darlene Geoffrey. In contrast, the town of St. Marys waged a well -organized battle with a huge amount of support from the com- munity, yet they fared no better than Ex- eter. Several people close to the health care profession have told the T -A the scenar- io was much different in Seaforth. Doc- tors were vocally on side for their hospi- tal and apparently a great deal of groundwork was done ahead of time in an effort to establish their hospital as vi- able. These efforts paid off as Seaforth has been upgraded to secondary status. The prevailing attitude in Exeter seemed to be "we're safe" and "let's wait and see what the task force recom- mends." We now know. The Huron Perth District Health Coun- cil task force has written a prescription tl ey .believe v nprove.,>'b : ,cry of . ; camitis the tW +e�s. Mill n �• �ttnis s�bf lars have bee *tent on establishing dii trict health councils to ensure the gov- ernment's goals are met. They are at' arm's length from the political process, which will make it more difficult to present Exeter's case. The challenge ahead for all those who reside in the area served by South Huron is to convince the government the health council is prescribing bad medicine. It will require leadership. It will take a lot of work. At some point in their lives, nearly every reader of the Times -Advocate will require the type of medical service that is currently available in Exeter. There could still be hope they will be able to receive it. About 20 years ago, the Clinton hospi- tal was slated for closure by the prov- ince. The community dug in, fought hard and survived. They will begin the battle again. A View From Queen's Park TORONTO -- Premier Mike Harris likes to put down immigrants, but this may change when he sees how many are coming to live in his own backyard. The Progressive Conserva- tive premier's latest jibe, coming as it did after demonstrations against his cuts in services, could come back to haunt him. Harris said he saw "special interest groups" among marchers and "the banners of some of the Communist parties and the Iraqi group and Iranian group." Scores of other groups had banners, among them unions, neighborhood associations, Chris- tians, Jews, aboriginals and ethnic organiza- tions like the Centre for Spanish-speaking Peo- ple. eo- p Harris did not mention any of these, but sin- gled out Iraqis and Iranians, and the obvious" were out or stream of Canadi- conclusion is that he felt, place,and not part of the' Iraqis and Iranians been accepted and their ti cavo emi®rated and are flct Lay Eric Dowd ed by the same government policies as other Canadians and clearly have the same right to• demonstrate. Ontarians of Arab origin would have accept- ed Harris's slight meekly a few years ago, be- cause they were few and accustomed to being pushed around. But their community has become larger and better organized and has able spokesmen. The Canadian Arab Federation quickly fired off a letter to Harris expressing concern and touch- ing all the riga points. The federation said Harris's comment lent le- gitimacy to those who make racist attacks and that it was already receiving the fallout of hatee cells, Including one from a woman who said Arabs have "no right to antifly► gpvem- meet in Ontario =- go back yeti came from. It also said Harris sounded likelaCques fart - zeal' wiser he was premier ofOttiShaei kiting the referendum on separa6ott and i taurhng it on ' - • Publications Mail Registration Number 0388 SUBSCRIPTION RATES; One year rate for Ontario subscribers - $35.00 + SST Two year rate for Ontario subscribers - $83.00 + BST CANADIAN ADDRESSES OUTSIDE ONTARIO One year subscription - $63.00 + OST Two year subscription • $119.00 + AST aThIlaitAla Outside + AST Published Each Wednesday Exeter Ontario, NOM J.W. at 424 Main Publealions sLtd. Telephone 14192354331. • Fax: 40705 .mm Via: thissAivointellsoly.osee GALT. IRiei210gs The almighty shopping cart Sure, Christmas shopping has begun, but what about the type of shopping many of us do weekly? Love it or hate it, shopping for food is a necessity all of us have to face in some form. When I owned a daycare, shopping was a nighmare. One every Om weeks I'd buy numerous bags and boxes of stuff in bulk, items kids would tolerate. Now that I'm back to shopping for two, it's not a huge challenge, but it does pose questions in my mind from time to time. Why are shopping carts made so wide and aisles so narrow? More than once I've bumped into freezers, rows of oranges and other grocery store pedestrians. I was recently at one of those big box stores and was disappointed when the cart was so huge I could barely push it down the aisle. Why do the numbers always add up wrong in your head? I've tried to lug around a caictilator to tabulate my food purchases but it's really hard to push those tiny buttons with your cart stopped in the middle of an aisle and everybody is shopping around you, tossing in goodies while your carefully calculate. Why do you always stray from the list? Everyone recommends writing a grocery list and sticking to it. Good luck. These intentions are easily shoved aside when I notice cashews on sale, strawberries in season or a new type of chocolate that has just been discovered. Why is there nothing to eat, even after you've done all the grocery shopping? Have you ever shopped to your heart's content in your favorite store, only to drag all the food home, put it away, sit down and think, 'There's nothing to eat'? Why do you always have too many items for the express lane, and not enough for normal lanes? The lady in front of you in line has just bought half the store and is busy plunking items on the conveyor belt. You sigh, leaf through a magazine and glance at your 20 items sitting there waiting, the ice-cream seeping out of its cardboard container, the pork chops turning green, and the bread growing stale before your eyes. Why can't you seem to find the items you desperately need? You're cooking up a special meal for company. The detailed recipe calls for orzo, tarragon and exotic sauce. You race around looking for such items, only to substitute for rice, oregano and ketchup. Meanwhile, you ask a stock person where the canned beets are. He points to the shelf directly in front of you at eye level. How do you decide what items to choose? Captain Crunch or Corn Flakes? Blueberry bagels or cheese buns? Chicken legs or chicken thighs? Orange juice in a can or a bottle or a package? The ultimate grocery shopping tip: Never shop in a place that has too little or too much choice. Harris puts down Immigrants "ethnic" votes, as if English-speaking residents were not a valid part of that province. Harris replied quickly that he did not intend to single out or denigrate any specific group and be- lieves all Canadians have a right to protest pub- licly, adding: "if my remarks or the interpreta- tion of them have caused offence, please accept my apologies." The federation held a news conference to say Harris had still left some doubt as to what he meant. But the event was the most poorly at- tended at the legislature this year until the Communists held one two days later, so he got away fairly lightly. Harris has raised concerns by comments on immigrants before. He complained in 1994 that "we're getting too Many from other countries who are coming here for a free ride" and de- nounced hnmigrant "freeloaders." Many share his views and the premier possi- bly reinforces them..In a recent poll 26 per cent said Canada allows in too many visible minori- ties. Harris also earlier got rid of legislation the former New Democrat government brought in attempting to promote visible minorities in jobs. But he may feel like revising his views after statistics from a committee restructuring municipalities showed Ontario's population will grow by 1.1 million over the next decade. Almost all this growth will be in the Greater Toronto Area and particularly its fringe munici- palities, and so much of it will be due to immi- gration from Asia and Africa that by soon after the turn of the century close to half the resi- dents in the fringe will be visible minorities. This is Harris's heartland, the cradle of the Common Sense Revolution, where he won big in the last election and is a hero in endless miles of trim bungalows, highrises and McDo- nald's restaurants. Since many of these newcomers would have cause to feel Harris belittles them, he could be in danger on his owniturf. 'r