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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-01-29, Page 4Page 4 Tintes=Advocate, January 29, 1997 Publisher & Editor: Jim Beckett Business Manager: Don Smith Production Manager: Deb Lora Barb Consitt, Chad Eedy News; Heather Mir, Chris Skalkos, Ross Haugh, Brenda Burke production; Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson. Brenda Hem, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner Transportation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert Front Office & Accounting; Elaine Pinder, Sue Rollings, Ruth Slaght Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple The Exeter Times -Advocate is a member of a family of community newspapers „omit,* coMMUNr providing news, advertising and information leadership ,Aret-A X03% • . inion Publications Mad Registration Number 0386 SUBSCRIPTION RATES; One year rate for Ontario subscribers - 535.00 + GST Two year rate for Ontario subscribers - 563.00 + OST CANADIAN.DDRESSES OUTSIDE ONTARIO One year subscription - 563.00 + GST Two year subscription - $119.00 + OST OTHER RATES Outside Canada - 5102.00 Published Each Wednesday Morning at 424 Main St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 186 by J.W. Eedy Publkatlons Ltd. Telephone 1.519-235.1331 • Fax: 519235-0766 email address: tlmes.advocate@eedy.com G.S.T. aR105210935 IE.I)I'IORIAI4 We do have a voice hen a community cares, great things can be accomplished. We may never see a better example of the power of community involvement than what was demonstrated recently when the future of South Huron Hospi- tal was threatened. The Task Force, appointed by the Hu- ron -Perth District Health Council, pro- claimed a radical change in the way health care would be delivered. After months of study it announced one of the three options placed before residents of the two counties would be chosen. South Huron Hospital would have been left without any beds and with no guarantee it would remain open. Hospitals in Clinton, St. Marys, Listowel and Wingham werefacing similar fates. Public meetings were held in all af- fected communities with Task Force Members fully prepared to handle any criticism. Ih fact, the Task Force was doing a pretty good job of explaining why the solutions they offered would be implemented until the options for South Huron Hospital were announced. To anyone living in this area, it was obvious the importance of South Huron Hospital was grossly underestimated. Thousands of families living in Lamb - ton and Middlesex were ignored even though, they depended on SHH for health care. This message was delivered to the' first public meeting in Exeter which was called by 'the local hospital board. The auditorium was packed and the first signs of a community fighting back to reverse a bad decision became apparent. The next public meeting was de- scribed as an open house and was called by the Task Force to explain the reasoning behind its decisions. The re- ception was a reflection of an outraged community. Local citizens knew the task force had made a bad decision and they were not shy about expressing themselves. At first glance, the Exeter and area backlash was what one would expect from any town where the hospital was facing possible closure. But beneath some of the anger and frustration was a belief the local hospital was about to be- come the victim of badly flawed reason- ing. Something else was also taking shape which undoubtedly was responsible for saving SHH along with other area hospi- tals. Reason and organization took over from shouting and namecalling as those who were convinced the decisions could be reversed were developing into a force of their own. Although time was running out and many were convinced the Task Force decision was carved in stone, a case for preserving all the hospitals in the area ' was developing. A small group of citizens was faced with making an alternative proposal to the Health Council. They capitalized on the fact important chunks of Lambton and Middlesex were not included as part of the area served by SHH and even more importantly, they logically present- ed the argument that would eventually become a lifeline for Clinton, Wingham, Listowel and' St, Marys as well. "Form one hospital board with one ad- ministrator and trust them to develop a system of health care that would main-, tain high standards and be financially vi- able." This was basically the argument. • accepted by the District Health Council this week. This is not the situation area hospitals would be in today without a group of citizens standing up for what was right. If ,our readers happen to come across Rick Hundey, Dr. Jerry Jadd, Dr. Peter Englert, Bruce Shaw, Verla Russell, Jack Riddell, Cam Ivey, Brenda McDo- nald, Clay Murray, Marlene Moore or Bill Mickle, it would be appropriate to shake their hand and say "Thanks for getting involved." Of course, the list of citizens responsi- ble for the change in direction by the District Health Council is much longer. If you attended any of the public meet- ings, if you wrote a letter to the editor or if you expressed any doubt about the correctness of the options presented to SHH you can count yourself part of a se- lect group. Simple Cruelties Brenda Burke Cold enough for ya? More frightening,and tedious than that repetitive phrase, "How are you today?" small talk about the weather has me' sighing and rolling my eyes to • the ceiling. Obviously we've had our January share of snowstorms and icy road conditions. • Obviously it's cold out. (Yes, it • is cold enough for me.) And true, we haven't seen a lot of sunshine lately. Worse than weather small talk is cohstaht complaining about it, Winter is too cold, summer is too hot, spring too muddy and fall a constant reminder of 'old man winter' all over again. Are we not a little lucky to be living in a flux of weather transformation? Florida would bore me to death with its sunny, warm days, one after another, never changing''always forcing people to wear shorts, the most boring piece of fashion apparel in existence. As a co-worker pointed out to me this morning while I was contemplating a column topic, why not mention the lovely winter birds that fly around, A View from Queen's Park. TORONTO -- Some of Canada's foremost au- thors have banded together to appeal to. Premier Mike Harris, but he is not likely to hang on their every word. The writers include Michael Ondaatje, a film of whose novel, The English Patient, is now collecting awards around the world, and two other winners of Governor General's awards for literature, a heavyweight group. They complained that Harris's planned amal- gamated Metropolitan Toronto dominated by low -brows in the suburbs will have less interest in maintaining the downtown area's thriving community of artists which benefits all Onta- rio. Margaret Atwood, Canada's most honoured author, and actress Margot Kidder earlier signed petitions asking Harris not to privatize TVOntario, and its most renowned ballerina, Karen Kain, protested against other cuts in arts funding. These are not normally the type of people the Progressive Conservative premier pays much attention to. His New Democrat predecessor, By Eric Dowd devouring seeds from backyard feeders? Or what about sharing the joys of a 15 -year-old who decides to build,an igloo and start a real fire in it? (Now, he's got the spirit of winter.) Besides, she added, we have seen the sun a lot over the past week. (To her dismay, someone argued it was too bright out.) Why do we complain so much about the weather? Probably because it's one of the few things left in this world that we can't control. Instead of hibernating during a snowstorm that slashes across the yard and whips snow into a frenzy, creating havoc on highways and shrieking frostbite warnings, why not put on a few hundred layers of polar fleece and head out for a leisurely stroll? Then you'll be able to tell your grandchildren you braved the elements and conquered the odds while setting your sights on a life or death matter - getting to the convenience store down the street to buy a chocolate bar. ' Farmers and others in their situation have a right to complain about the weather. It directly affects their livelihood. For the rest of us, however, a • big storm simply postpones , school, events and meetings, blessing us occasionally with,an egra day off. Lucky for students, this type of disaster always ends up arriving right around exam time. I'll admit the weather does affect us in profound ways. Even if most of us only experience it while shuffling from the house to the car to work to the car to the house. Some people admit they're cold or warm season types. Many swear by the heat and humidity•of summer while some admit snowboarding and frigid temperatures turn them on. We • all have a favorite season and an ideal vision of the perfect weathery day. Although they can be a pain, snowstorms, thunderstorms and even occasional minor floods can be exciting, exhilarating - a reminder we aren't allowed to - niake order of all our worldly • chaos. Bob Rae, who wrote an autobiography recently, loved the literary set and was always inviting it to the legislature for some book- launch or simi- lar event. Liberal premier David Peterson, before him, was more enamoured of the theatre and film crowd (his, wife is an actress), met them at every first night and even went to Hollywood drum- ming up business. Hams has not shown interest in either group, although he was at a Three, Tenors concert, pho- tographed with a property developer and direc- tor of the right-wing Toronto Sun and no doubt getting a well-rounded view of society. Kain could not even get in the legislature to deliver her petitions and, while this was not be- cause of any direct order from Harris, he has contributed to setting a confrontational tone which led to people not being admitted. This raises the question of who Harris listens to. An earlier Tory premier, William Davis, met regularly with unions, but about the only way unions can speak to Hams is through a mega- phone. Who has the real influence? Harris has disbanded the premier's councils which Liberal and NDP premiers had and in- cluded union leaders and academics as well as businessmen. Harris has a small group of unelected advisers who worshipped Ronald Reagan and some of his policies such as workfare were copied from the U.S. But it is no secret Harris listens most to busi- ness. One current example is that he is closing the Ontario Occupational Disease Panel, which researches possible links between illness and the'workplace and whose findings are respected and used by other provinces and countries. The Ontario Mining Association, representing employers, felt it turned up too much informa- tion that encouraged workers to make claims, and lobbied Harris to dump it. If there is a group Harris listens to more than others.it is the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber called for government to provide a climate fair to business and attractive to in- vestors and Hams has responded among other acts by weakening unions and their powers to strike. • The Chamber wanted government to cut its spending and weed out inefficiences in the civil service and Harris has begun massive downsiz- ing. The Chamber asked government to avoid tax increases and Harris has gone further by reduc- ing provincial income tax. The Chamber wanted "a balance between environmental pro- tection and economic growth" and Harris has softened environmental controls. The Chamber wanted privatization of govern- ment services where appropriate and Harris has turned over to the private sector some of the province's smaller operations and is poised to privatize others. The Chamber wanted, as one more example of many, an end to waste caused by duplication, ofservices between the province and munici- palities and Harris has now embarked on this in his who -does -what process. What the Chamber wanted is almost what has happened under the Harris government. it shows who has real influence. i 1