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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-12-11, Page 16PA a ; Ih DE SIGN .LAR, WEDN : .D , PROEM�„ t tripartite stabilization agreement is signed BY JACK RIDDELL HURONaMIDDLES _ M.P.P. I am very pleased to re rt that as On- taVIO S Minister of Agriculture and Food, I have Signed the first national tripartite stabilization agreement for red meat pro- ducers with the federal government. On- tario is the first province in Canada to sign this voluntary income assurance plan designed to protect beef, lamb and pork pro- ducers in times of low commodity prices. Ontario producers have been most patient and supportive of my efforts to successfully conclude this agreement, and I was pleased to have had three representatives of the pro- ducer groups in Ottawa to witness the sign- ing. FIRST CONTRACT LEGISLATION The Libera' government is committed to collective bargaining as a fair and effective method of establishing terms and conditions of employment. Affirming this commit- ment, Labor Minister Bill Wrye has in- troduced first contract legislation to provide for the settlement by arbitration of first con- tract disputes. Wrye pointed out that, on some occasions, the employer fights against the existence of a bargaining unit even after certification is given to the union. First contract legislation would begin to address this problem, beyond A HAIRDRYER FOR MOM! QIECK 0 0 !a Phormacy 524-7241 14 SHOPPERS SQUARE, GODERICH YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD DRUG STORE H a finding of bad faith. Wrye stated the pro- posed legislation is a step closer to establishing a good solid climate for labor relationships in the province. WAGE PROTECTION FOR INSOLVENCY SITUATIONS Labor Minister Bill Wrye has released the final report of the commission into wage protection in insolvency situations. The report recommends that employees be pro- tected in the event that their employer goes bankrupt. It suggests that an employer hold three pay periods of., wages in trust for the employee; that employers should be per- sonally liable for wages; and that an unpaid wages fund should be established to ensure that no employees lose wages, even where no assets were available. Wrye stated his ministry will undertake a thorough ana lysis of the recommendations with a view to tak- ing appropriate action. MERCURY POLLUTION SETTLEMENT The Liberal government has struck an agreement to settle the claims of Native residents affected by mercury pollution from the pulp and paper industry in the English-Wabigoon River System. A total of $16.667 million will go to members of the White Dog (Islington) and Grassy Narrows bands. Attorney General ED. (Peterson) Your Family and Friends One Size fits all! RRE9M This year stuff their stockings with all the local news, features, opinions, entertainment, sports, etc... Pick the gift that renews itself 52 times a year! It's easy... All you have to do is... PARK Ian Scott, Minister Responsible for Native Affairs, announced that the provincial share of the agreement is $2.16 million. Great Lakes Paper will provide $6 million, Reed Paper will provide $5.75 million and the federal government will contribute $2.75 million. Of this amount, $2 million will go to create a mercury disability fund, while each band will receive $7 million to be used for social and economic projects. NORTHERN MEDICAL TRAVEL Health Minister Murray Elston has in- troduced the Northern Health Travel Grant Program to provide subsidies to Northern residents who have to travel over 300 kilometres, one way, for necessary medical care. The program, announced by Elston together with his parliamentary assistant, Chris Ward, member of Wentworth North, and the new minister for Northern Develop- ment and Mines, Rene Fontaine, will cost $13.2 million. In order to encourage more medical specialists to locate in the north, Elston also brought in the Medical Specialists Incentive Program which will provide $40,000 over four years to help specialists set up northern practices. As well, Elston approved an addi- tional $2.5 million dollars for perinatal ser- vices, which serve high risk pregnant women and high risk newborn infants, at four northern hospitals. BETTER DRUG PRICING: NEW LEGISLATION On Nov. 7, Health Minister Murray Elston introduced two bills in the Ontario legislature which are designed to have a positive impact on prescription drug prices in this province. The Ontario Drug Benefit Act, for the first time, gives the government the legislative authority it requires to manage the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan (ODB). ODB is the pro- gram under which senior citizens, people on home care, residents for nursing homes, as well as those on provincial assistance pro - grams, are able to receive prescription drugs without charge. The program now ac- counts for 40 per cent of allprescription sales in Ontario. The second bill, the Prescription Drug Cost Regulation act, is now consumer pro- tection legislation. It's been designed to en- sure that high quality, low cost drugs are available to all people of Ontario. THE NEED FOR ACTION The costs of financing the ODB program have been rising by nearly 23 per cent an- nually for the past six years — from $100 million to $300 million and it was projected that costs this year could be as high as $400 million. Unrealistic drug prices in the government's Drug Benefit Formulary were a major reason for these rising costs. Up until now, prices published in the for- mulary were based on manufacturers' price quotations which were often inflated above what pharmacists actually paid, therefore costing taxpayers millions of dollars a year. INFORMING THE PUBLIC The Prescription Drug Cost Regulation Act will promote more knowledge and understanding among the general public about the interchangeability of drugs, drug prices, and the options that are available to consumers when a prescription is filled. For example, consumers will have the right to request and receive a lower priced interchangeable drug when purchasing a prescription (except where directed other- wise by the physician) . This act also specified that inter- changeable drugs must be sold to con- sumers at cost plus a dispensing fee. It allows each pharmacy to establish that fee in a free marketplace, but consumers must be informed about the fee and the cost of each prescription drug purchased. REACTION TO THE LEGISLATION The legislation has received the solid sup- port of public interest groups such as the Consumers' Association of Canada, the Announcing savings you'll fird in the Classifieds. 111 1 C3 o'I7E'A► • HAVE YOU SEEN OUR SELECTION OF GIFTWRAP BOWS & RIBBON? QTJQ( PI` sza-�zsl 14 SHOPPERS SQUARE, GODERICH YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD DRUG STORE G VE A YEAR'S SUBSC I those spenal mend!. ;,rid relatives •r'vourIst. One fear's Subscription only $22.00 Special rate for subscriptions frorn a Senior Citizen to a Senior Citizen only $19•00* A special gift card will be sent to the recipient to announce your gift. Goderich SIGNAL -STAR OPEN DAILY 8:30 AM TO 5:00 PM HIGHWAY 21 SOUTH, GODERICH. PHONE 524-2614 r, United Senior Citizens of Ontario, the On- tario Health Coalition, the Toronto May`or's Committee on Aging, Canadian Pensioners Concerned and the Association of Jewish Seniors. Advertisements criticizing the proposed legislation, however, have appeared in many Ontario newspapers. Some ads have claimed that many of the smaller indepen- dent pharmacies will be driven out of business, that larger operators will have to reduce staff and cut back on customer ser- vice and that pharmacies may expect a 40 per cent reduction in profits as a result of the legislation. Yet, it is difficult to accept these statements of economic doom for phar- macies when an essential component in pharmacists' compensation under the new legislation — namely the dispensing fee — has yet to be negotiated. Also, Elston has stated he is committed to establishing a fair and equitable dispensing fee for pharmacists and his ministry of- ficials are ready to meet with represen- tatives of pharmacy to negotiate this mat- ter. The Ontario Drug Benefit Act recognizes that volume purchase discounts are not available to all pharmacies, especially the smaller, independent operators. The act therefore provides flexibility so that no pharmacy will be required to accept pay- ment for any drug at a level lower than what the pharmacy paid for the drug. This will help to ensure the economic viability of in- dependent pharmacy operators and recognize the contribution they. make to our health care system. While there are some who say the govern- ment is moving with undue haste, the fact is that there have been no price adjustments in the Drug Benefit Formulary since January of this year. This means that not only are new drug benefits not being included, but for every month that publication of the new for- mulary is delayed, the cost to Ontario tax- payers and consumers is estimated to be at Least $3 to $4 million in excess drug costs. As Elston has stated, "This is an in- tolerable situation. None of these issues can be addressed until a new formulary is pro- duced. And we can't produce the new for- mulary without the enabling legislation." Hydro workers use radios to alert police to crime Drivers of Ontario Hydro radio -equipped vehicles recently received special training in the "Hydro on Watch" program. These employees will use their radios in the event of emergencies such as accidents or fires to alert the proper authorities. On Nov. 19, a hydro crew working in Goderich Township alerted the Ontario Pro- vincial Police to a crirrie in progress. The police were able to make an arrest based on the description of the suspect and the con- cise, accurate directions provided. Radio equipped vehicles now have an identification logo to remind customers and the public that this service is available. "The program called 'Hydro on Watch' (H.O.W.) is a formalization of a service we have provided across Ontario 'for many years." Pete Johnston, regional security of- ficer, said. This program is supported by the Ministry of the Solicitor General of Ontario. LONGINES SILHOUETT DIAMOND ROYALE SEAFARER • • :n1 1 V'' , 'Please include senior citizen privilege card numbers with remittance. MEMBER AMERICA JEWELLERS 8 Albert St. CLINTON 284 Main St. EXETER 26 Main St, South SEAF©RTH 135 Queen St. East ST. MARYS 203 Durham St. E. WALKERT©N 04 GEM SOCIETY