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Clinton News-Record, 1986-02-05, Page 4THE BLYTH STANDARD) Page 4.., CLINTON NEWS ECQRD, WEDNESPAY, FEBRJY 5t 1980 Tf a Clinton t1ew3,6946rd 1p puhftph64 each W do*pdaY at 40.61.2403 34, Clinton. Ontario, 634646,N4M ILL Tot.;402-9443. 4u6scription Rate Camilo -421.00 6r- Citizen .014410 per year U .s.A. foreign 440.04 per year it Ip tP2lstPred as 464900 daps mall by .the poet oNH4a, under the pared* number 0417. The Newe0eCord incorporated in 1924 ,. thetluron IdeptaRecetd, founded In 1491. and The CUnten News Ire, founded in 1043. Total prone tone 3.,700. Incorporating J. HOWARD AITKEN - Publisher ANNE NAREJKO - Editor GARY HAIST - Advertising Manager MARY ANN HOLT ENBECK - Office Manager Display advertising rotes available on request. Ask for Rate Card No. 15 effective Oc• sober 1,1944. " t:CNA A MEMBER BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1985 The rice is high On January 280seven lives were lost when the space shuttle Challenger exploded 75 seconds after liftoff. The fiery death which the six astronauts and one teacher encountered was tragic, yet it was a possibility they were well aware of, and a price that must be paid during the ,process of ex- ploration. In the 25 years of space travel, 14 lives have been lost. Prior to the Challenger tragedy, America's worst accident involved thedeath of three men. For the number of years the program has been in place, and the uncer- tainity of space pioneering, 14 deaths seem minimum. Some may feel the program is unnecessary, but those that risk their lives disagree. The seven who died,- died because they believed the world will one day advance to the point were space travel will be common. They didn't want their grandchildren, and all the children of America, to take a back seat to other countries. Christa McAuliffe, the 37 -year-old schoolteacher, was one of these peo- ple. She was to be the first "citizen passenger" in space. In her applica- tion to the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) she said she wanted to "help humanize the technology of the space age" through her observations as a non -astronaut. She and the six astronauts did humanize the space age. Like no other space tragedy, they showed the general public that astronauts, space engineers and the entire NASA family, are human. Therefore, mistakes can be made. They showed that astronauts are not an eccentric breed. They have families and enjoy music and sports the same as everyone. What separates them from the rest of us is the challenge of doing something new and out of the ordinary. They are willing to risk their lives fora pro- ject they believe in. For many years, we have watched rockets and shuttles launched from the Kennedy Space Centre, never thinking that something as terrifying as thiscould�tappen. When the. flights are,. r lelayed, we don't;_realize4the ,: delay is necessary to correct or avoid life'threatening situations. The reason, or reasons, for the Challenger explosion has not yet been determined. But, only one week after the disaster, there is talk of another journey into space - something those who died last week would want. There's a price that must be paid, when doing something worthwhile. When it is 'something newand dangerous, the price is high. - by Anne Narejko Policy could be beneficial Dear Editor: $437 -million, is the 1985 estimated figure for the cost of the proposed Southwestern Ontario Transmission System by Ontario Hydro. The three people, who must deter- mine whether or not to recommend the spending of the public's money, comprise , The disposal of nuclear Waste - despite what the Consolidated Hearing Board at the they put it in, on or under - permits the high public hearings on the above system. At the risk of an environmental disaster. On Nov. 7, 1985, the Honourable Murray other mechanisms to provide additional manufacturers found objectionable). drugcists and conclusion of the hearings, the board must Ontario Hydro's reasons for building this Elston• introduced, for debate in a duly support. make a recommendation to Cabinet with transmission system are: elected legislature, The Ontario Drug Benfit Unfortunately, there seems to be a con- 4. that the government is acting unilaterally regard to the proposed transmission system a) To fully incorporate the existing and ap- Act,.1985 and the Prescription 'Drug Cost siderable amount of misinformation about to impose the,new legislation d anon at the Bruce Nuclear Regulation Act 1985. these issues A few noteworthy examples of untrue. There is a long and heir suggestions have been included in the reposed bills. LQttQrs Some kinda fun By Alan Rivett Whoever invented video cassette' recorders (VCRs) gave entertainment a new dimension, and undoubtedly, made themselves a small fortune in the process. Sales of these entertaining "toys" in 1985 were up 50 per cent over sales in 1984. Five years ago only two per cent of'the population had VCRs, now over 30 per cent of all households sport the gadgets. If this trend continues, VCRs will be right up there on the top of the necessity list with refrigerators and stoves. t ,t . rp an. a +fildlfi'�" goe1, I , the.�GAlavnces of . • t �~R 19 a VCR. One of the greatest assests a VCR has is the capability to record shows while your not home. (Having to go out when Knots Landing is on becomes more bearable.) The only trick to recording while you're away is getting the timer set properly. For some reason, I always seem to set the tuner 10 to 1 minutes ahead of the actual show time. Once I turned. on the VCR expecting to see the final episode of Dallas - the one when Bobby Ewing was killed - but instead of see- ing J.R. belittling someone, I had Charlie Brown dancing on the screen. However, some fastforwarding put my mind at ease. But the best aspect of VCRs is the ability to watch what you want, when your want. And what does the public like? Beverly Hills Cop. report on VCR sales and rentals showed the numbers increasing each year, but at a rI slow pace. Then Paramount Home Video made 1.35 million copies of Beverly Hill's Cop, (the largest number of any home video ever shipped), and RCA -Columbia made 400,000•copies of Ghostbusters, the sales and . rental figures shot up quickly. Together the two movies have sales of ap- proximately $85 million. Last year, the top 10 videos were, in order, Beverly Hills Cop, Ghostbusters, Gremlins, Ladyhawks, Amadeus, Code of Silence, Got- cha!, Visionquest, Missing In Action II and Baby...Secret of the Lost Legend. One tidbit of information I found enlightening was the fact that an underground video market exists. The Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Associations estimates it loses $10 million per year. That's approximately 150,000 il- legally sold videos. Topping the black market sales in 1984 was First Blood. Last year it was Rambo. So what does all ,of this mean to theatre owners? I can't see peopleabandoning'the huge screen, ready-made popcoi, licoricesi or peanuts completely. After all, people ill go to restaurants when they can take home food from the grocery stores and they still go to bars when they can get beer at the local Brewer's Retail and wine at the liquor store. VCRs are a convenience and they sure make the stormy Huron County winters more bearable! Jack itiddall, MPP. based on the testimony heard. provedgeneration g Testimony given at the hearings so far, Power Development - with present , The need for the legislation has been well -.are: . clearly give the members of the board two transmission capabilities, 80 percent of the substantiated by the Bailey Committee 1. that pharmacy originally brought the • options: generated electricity can already be Report (1978), the Gordon Commission "price spread" issue to the ministry's atten- • They could recommend a policy - transmitted. beneficial to both electrical consumers and b) To supply, electric power and energy de- Report (1984, Report (1984) , Auditor's tion the Provincial and references in earlier In fact, the previous government kne Ontario Hydro (and ultimately the environ- mand in southwestern Ontario to the year years), the Federal Eastman Report (1985), about the problem as early as 1971, and the ment) - to utilize already available energy- 2000 - at present we have a surplus of power and extensive correspondence and con Ministry of Health identified it as a sig saving technology and implement improved in Ontario. By using the electricity we have and a nior citizens cant issue in 1978 Action to correct t electricity management, with little or no available now efficiently, and the im- t i 't t d in 1979 and attempt change to the lifestyle of the general public. plementation of cogeneration and other Similar policies adopted by many utilities in small generating plants, and, by upgrading the United States have been extremely sue- and using our hydraulic resources to capaci- cessful. ty, would give us more than adequate supply • Alternatively, they can recommendOntario tp the year 2000 and at the same time prove transmission system proposed by beneficial to our environment. Hydro, with the further detriment to our en- c) To continue to permit adequate inter- vironment and prime agricultural land. change of • electric power and energy The three men on the Consolidated Hear- between Ontario Hydro and Michigan - ex- 'ing Board at these hearings, have the ports to Michigan have been decreasing as ultimate power to assist the Government of -- stated in Ontario Hydro's quarterly update Ontario to regain control of Ontario Hydro. (third quarter 1985)', "Electricity export To recommend that we use the presently sales fell 22.3 percent in the first nine mon- available transmitted electicitY more effi- the of 1985 compared to the same period in ciently, would be to the advantage of the 1984.. ... new generation capacity in general public, Ontario Hydr'o, the environ- Michigan also continue to impactnegatively ment and the province as a whole. The cost on electricity exports." of energy efficiency is far cheaper in the Of late we have had more than adequate long run; the consumer, big or small, would proof that our lifestyle during the industrial use less electricity, therefore, Ontario age has been .to the detriment of our en - Hydro would have to produce less. The vironment. Here. is a chance for three men, burden could be removed from our landfill through the testimony put forward by the sites, by using our garbage in co -generation Foodland Hydro Committee and people who plants for the clean generation of electrici- care about the future of our province, to stop ty. The province's enormous hydraulic Ontario Hydro's ever increasing empire of should be updated nuclear plants and transmission lines and s fromfossilfuelledpolicybeneficial ro- Furthermore, all parties (drug manufac- turers, consumers, wholesalers, senior citizens, third -party insurers, and represen- tatives of pharmacy, ,medicine and den- tistry) have been briefed and asked for ments from consumers se an third -party insurers, drug manufacturers, bion was initiated e s to detailedri ocommentsite onlythe proposed changes to and medical and pharmaceutical profes- rectify the drug pricing ssue have P n' the acts are anticipated, we expect positive sionals. tinued since then. In recent years, the raid- p p The Ontario Pharmacists' Association has ly escalating magnitude of the problem has changes to be incorporated into the draft expressed support for revising the drug • increased concern. regulations before they are finalized. pricing mechanism and, in particular, Sec- 2. that the ministry is unwilling to meet In addition, the Minister of Health has tion 155 of the Health Disciplines Act. The pharmacy representatives to resolve' stated from the outset that both bills will go outstanding issues to committee for public scrutiny, review legislation deals with these issuesgand pro- This allegation is simply not correct. vides clear adthority for the government to g P and comment. manage the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) There have been many meetings over the In conclusion, let me reiterate a few key program. past few months. points. "Price spread," which has resulted in the 3. that the legislation will have a serious and The government is acting now an Ontario government paying greatly inflated negative economic impact on retail phar- indefensibleThe ggovernment situation hastigone because o long.an pricesnc for unnecessary drugs, must one eliminated. It is an mThere is no doubt some cost reductions A long -overdue new ODB Formulary, incor- and taxpayers. burden Ontario consumers oratingprice adjustments, new benefits, and taxpayers. • will result from the legislation and from and consideration of federal sales tax in- toThe previous government was unwilling changing the one-month supply policy under in art program. creases, will be made possible. resolve the ptroblem, perhaps part the ODB ro ram. "Price read"should cease to exist. because the minister the situ the requisite henew prescription charge hasBut it must be ntwocomponents ered that a The intent of the government is to authority to manage situation. The negotiate a fair and equitable ODB dispens- legislation provides this authority, as well drug cost, and dispensing fee. It is difficult n g fee, taking intoqaccount dispe h- as the flexibility to respond to anomalies in to understand how predictions of economic economic factors.a the drug marketplace. doom for ,pharmacy can be substantiated Theet been consumer will be better protected. The new the enhances deumee when t. Thef'Minster oof f Healtt 'fee h has clnot early in- Pharmacists will be free to establish their protection and the potential for considerable own dispensing fees for non-ODB prescrip- savings in drug costs ( e.g. iii your invert- dicated his commitment to bargain in good tions. generating capabilities tory) through mechanisms to stimulate the faith for a fair and equitable fee. The basic structure of the drug distribu- plantsand utilized to their capacity. The acid gas force Hydro to adopt an energy efficiency use of, and lower the price for, inter- I trust you will agree that in addition to tion system in Ontario will remain g - emission generating li not only to the public and changeable drugs• negotiating a fair fee, it is both responsible ed, the vital role of community phar- can be controlled by scrubbers or the environment, but also to Ontario Hydro It also provides special initiatives aimed and reasonable for the government to and will be preserved. more cheaply by using "washed 49414'. itself. lectin the small -volume endent eliminate all indefensible increases in the I trust this information is useful and that it g drug cost portion of prescription prices (i.e. will confirm that the government is acting "inflated" prices previously possible through ineffective gover ent olicy.that responsibly and decisively to rectify an many parties including phnm�cists, the issue of great public importance.. • s at pro - lume indep pharmacy. These will ensure that no phar- macist is paid price by government which is lower than his or her actual acquisition cost, will permit each pharmacy to establish its own publibly identified fee for prescriptions where interchangeable drugs These are but a few examples of alternative technologies available to offset the necessi- ty to build a gigantic 500,000 volt transmission system at the expense of our environment and our prime agricultural land. Hydro maintains that nuclear power is cleaner and cheaper than other methods of generating electricity. The initial financial outlay to build a nuclear plant is astronomical and must be paid for somewhere along the line. The potential for a nuclear disaster requires only one human to make an error or one piece of man-made • equipment to fail. The recent radioactive leak froth Douglas Point is one eitample. • Yours truly, Jane Rose Foodland Hydro Committee Got an opinion? Write a letter are sold. 'tor years, pharmacists have askteacher - that this fee be unregulated. We are per- headers of the Clintoif News -Record and Midland and entertained fighter i of from his ed provision that the con-blications will no longer miffing this with theu p overav100 other publications of reading Bill , stories, !eas and opinions for the past 25 saner be given sufficient information to have the enjoyment ears.. make appropriate choices.Smiley'scolunvieachweek.y don't . ent does not wish" to place >; or health reasons,_ Mr: Smiley feels he If But e reg c 'his Mr. Smiley, his out t for good. small -volume independent nhartriacists at a can not continue writing his column. The governm ill . disadvantage mutts quite willing to cofisider Phe 05 -year-old • �retrf'ed publisher, once again appear In the News-lteetnd. . i ;4�. . B ill n,..ley is no longer writing • • • 4.J