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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-02-12, Page 4PAGE 4—OODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12,.1986 For many readers, the newspaper business is as mysterious and complex as any level of government and people's perceptions of what a newspaper should be are often in conflict with what we try to ac- complish at Signal -Star. Every business has its own jargon and the news business is no exception. Stories are labelled according to content as news stories,.feature stories, interpretive stories, editorials, columns and the many items sub- mitted by rural correspondents and repor- ting secretaries for groups, clubs and organizations. People tend not to differentiate between stories that appear in the paper and often refer to news stories and columns as "editorials". To many readers, one column of printed material is the same as the next. But,there is a difference. And many readers often have difficulty DAVE SYKES distinguishing the difference in content in these stories, the difference in approach and the difference in style. News stories are simply designed to be factual accounts of council, committee or board meetings or factual accounts of police matters or community events. Technically, a news story relates to the facts surrounding a community event. News pieces are not in- terpretative and are not designed to reflect any bias or opinion. A news story must deliver the facts and subject matter of an event and allow the reader to make judgements. On the other hand, editorials, which ap- pear under this column on the editorial page each week, are intended to be opinion pieces which relfect the opinion of the Goderich Signal -Star. This is where newspapers at- tempt to sort through the facts of national, provincial and local events and offer com- mentary and opinion on a variety of subject matter. The raison d'etre of the editorial page of any newspaper is to provide commentary, leadership and a diversity of opinion on mat- Opinion ters of importance to the readers. However, the editorial page also contains columns which are different than news stories and editorials. The Signal -Star features several columnists including this agent, reporter Susan Hundertmark's Postscript column on the Cornmunity Page, Elsa Haydon, Bill Smiley and Martha Rathburn. Columnists all have different styles and approaches as evidenced by the columns in this newspaper. Columns, while they may deal with strict- ly factual matters surrounding an issue, ex- press the opinions of the writer only. In the past there has been some confusion as angry readers believe these columns reflect the views of the newspaper and that all the opi- nions expressed within a column are em- braced wholeheartedly by the paper. That is simply not the case. Columns are a vehicle for personal ex- pression and readers must take this into ac- count when they disagree with the opinions contained within a column. Some columns are designed, by the author, to probe issues, entertain, provide an irreverent perspective or make vain at- tempts at humour. This paltry piece often slips through the cracks of those categories, but the column remains personal, and often contains my own jaundiced perception of things and glimpses of family life. I've even heard that one reader almost smiled once while perusing these grey bits, so there is a threadbare hint of a link to humour. But the point remains, opinions in col- umns, like those expressed by readers in let- ters to the editor, must not be viewed as the paper's opnion. Rather all provide a diversi- ty of opinion of subjects. THE NEWS PORT FORGOOERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 oe Gderic SINAL—STAR EBT ALL ROUNb COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN CANADA (CIrcubuon Cloys 3500 4500)CCNA But. NnwspoperCurnpo44on 1984 P.O. BOX EEO HUCKINS BT. INDUSTRIAL PARK ®ODERICH, ONT. N7A 468 PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED e-ounoeo In 1d4B and pubIIohs4 every edne000y a: ctcdertch. Ontario. Member of the CCNA end °CNA. Bubecrlptions payable In advance see.00, [Senior Citizens 69.00 privilege cord number required] in Canada, 660.00 to U.B.A., 560.00 to ell other countries, Bingle Sapless SOC. Display, National and CleadNed advertising rates avaible on request. Pleeee ask for Rate Card No. 16 effective Catober 1, 1966. Advertising is accepted the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertieing speco occupied by the orroneo ■ item, together with the reeoonable allowance for signature, wilh'hot be charged for but that belonce ofthe advertisement will be paid for et the applicable retie. In the event of a typographical terror advertising goods or services et o wrong price, goods or service." may not be sold. Advertising io merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal -Star Io not responsible for the lass or damage of unsolicited menueoripts, photos or othor materiels used for reproducing purposes. r General Manager SHIRLEY J. KELLER Editor DAVE SYKES Advertising Manager DON HUBICK FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...pleasa phone 15191524-2614 Second class mail registration Member: number 0716 • CNA an CCNA 1NGS RIDGE EAUY,, Rental housing needed Housing of any description is at a premium in the town of Goderich. Rental accommodation has always been a scarce commodity in town and council is pushing to have more units for senior citizens created, a shortage brought to town official's attention by. many seniors recently. In fact, council was about to consider reactivating its Housing Action Committee to evaluate the problem and offer a recommendation. It was of interest to learn last week that the Ontario Housing Corporation has offered the Reoterprise program here in Goderich. Under the terms of the program, builders are offered 15 year interest-free loans to con- struct rental apartmepts for low and moderate income families in Goderich and area. The province has put up $75 million for the program which is designed to assist in the con- struction of up to 5,000 rental units in the province of Ontario. It's all part of the ministry's Assured Housing for Ontario strategy that is attempting to meet the housing needs of low and moderate income families across the province. - Up to 40 per cent of the apartments, the ministry press release suggested, will be available to needy families who will pay rents based on incomes rather than the size of ren- tal unit. This type of rental housing is needed in many communities across the province and is most welcome here where housing of any type is hard to come by. Builders, who are invited to apply to the program, will be offered loans with the amounts contingent upon project costs and mortgage financing at market rates., Housing. minister Alvin Curling said the program's loans are to help bridge the gap between economic and market trends. Smiley no conger writes Over the years many columnists have offered differing opinions, viewpoints and perspectives on life in the pages of the Signal -Star. But few columnists have touched the ire, imaginations and hearts of weekly newspaper readers across the country like Bill Smiley. Millions of readers across Canada were enter- tained by his weekly Sugar and Spice column which has appeared in the Signal -Star on several occasions. But poor health has now forced Smiley to abandon his typewriter and, therefore, the col- umn will no longer appear on the editorial page of the Signal -Star. A former weekly newspaper publisher in Wiarton, Smiley had been producing the column from his Midland home. He was an entertaining, humorous, witty and insightful writer who was a welcome guest in the homes of Canadians each week. Many will miss their weekly dose of Bill Smiley. D.S. Sleigh ride • Photo by Sharon Dietz OMA is fighting rearguard action Dear editor: I can only applaud Mrs .Wilson'S' letter yesterdayls paper. He useddhe seatter-gunil approach and made his point very clearly - some of them several times. The ban„on extra billing, in my mind, is now virtually an accomplished fact. The On- tario Medical Association (O.M.A.) is fighting a rearguard action in order to re- tain as many trading chips as possible for the future. The ban on extra billing is not a panacea for all of the ills of the Health Services Delivery Industry. There are. several other features of it that cry out for change. The O.M.A. must be aware of it and are prudent- ly trying to gain advantage for future en - ;ATTER I mow awn counters. I cannot believe that the O.M.A. position and title by leading a vocal opposition against any measure of control by the elected representatives of the patients or people. I believe that a majority of the O.M.A.. members are sincere individuals who possess and practice the virtue of humility when the opportunity presents itself. A lot of their work requires an exhibition of con- fidence but there is a great deal of dif- ference between the exhibition of confidence and arrogance. It would require the literary ability of a Shakespeare and a lot more paper than is available to me to describe all of the over tones and intangibles involved herein, i.e. the making or make up of the' ideal family physician. And there are a lot of them out there. The Health Services Delivery Industry is big business. Health and education com- prise about one half of the Ontario govern- ment expenditures. That is big. Tom R. Melady Goderich Proposed legislation is like swattingaflY with a shot gun • • • • • • Dear editor, I wish to take issue with the letter from Michael Cicchini, and the column two weeks ago by Elsa Haydon regarding the medical issue. Mr. Cicchini charges that the physicians see only one side of the issue. I hope that my letter that was printed in the same issue showed otherwise. Ninety percent of us have not one cent to gain regarding this. The interest that the physicians have is the desire to work in a health care system that is effective for patients. We aredoing our b est to inform the public appropriately n e matter. Economically, as a matter fact, we will probably lose somewhat. I doubt very much thtMr ago itwhini asunderstands that many years doctors that started the health insurance program in Ontario. Eventually it became PSI which was a tetally non-profit organization whose administration fees were covered both doctors° fees aed by the medicalnd hospital fees. Members of my profession started that plan because they realized how devastating the cost of medical care can be. At that time, as well as now, the medical profession did not wish to see the situation go in the direction that it has in the United Status. Eventually the government insisted on taking over health insurance and clo:6ie tg90 percent of us continue to accept the Ontario Health Insurance Plan rates, although they are only 70 percent of our fees. Therefore, Mr. Cicchini, OHIP has truly been an insurance plan, and the people of Ontario have been served well by. it. (By the way, the crippling fees of the past and that would be here now without insurance, are hospital fees. Physician fees contribute only a tiny part of that, even in the United States. Mr. Cicchini taunts us to opt out and bill patients directly without the backup of OHIP. That is not allowed Mr. Cicchini. If we had that option, we certainly would take it and quickly, because it would resolve the matter. The government would have to allow people to get non-government people to non-government insurance which would likely put us back to PSI and we would no longer have to deal with the government. Mrs. Haydon's column expresses a good deal of anger directed towards one physician. After that, the article is simply not factual. Mrs. Haydon refers to our predicted sub- standard quality of care as a "desperate bogieman". Unfortunately, a certain amount of that is already here. As mentioned before, government has tried to close hospitals, has attempted to close 25 beds in Goderich, has closed psychiatric hospitals without appropriate alternatives, and certainly had no interest in funding Goderich's ICU. If those situations had not been turned around, care offered to the public here would have been significantly poorer as it is in the cities. At the moment, as noted in the media, people wait far too long to institute Turn to page 5A • Elsa can do without some things, but not her beloved trees This is a timeless message from the presi- dent of the Ontario Shade Tree Council and it applies in every municipality, certainly in ours. I had an interesting experience a couple of weeks ago. A gentleman called me at home and asked me to check out a tree on the boulevard beside his house. It seems the tree was making noises when the wind blew. It also had a hole in it. He was convinced the tree should be removed. He told me he called the municipal office and asked them to remove the tree. The town hired a local arborist tib investigate. The arborist recommended that the tree should remain, but that certain 'remedial work be done the tree and he gave a quotation for the'recornmended work. The homeowner was not satisfied with this, so. he tried to enlist my help. At the same time, he contacted a member of the town council with the offer that he would pay for the removal of the tree if she would convince council to go along with the idea. My findings were similar to the local ar- borist. The tree should not come down, although I did recommend the removal of one limb which grew towards his house. There was a hole at the base of the limb and I also recommended some pruning and other surgery. At the homeowner's request, I called the council member with my findings. What I found was interesting. That was the attitude of the councillor. After I related my findings to her she com- mented, "But did you know the tree was get- ting into the sewer?" I responded that there was another tree that was also quite close to the sewer line. How could we be sure which tree was getting into the sewer. Besides, the sewer lines were very old. If the line which was quite short was replaced properly, roots could not possibly enter it again. All right, she conceded, but did I not realize that the. town could not afford to repair the tree? Did I know thehope owner was willing to pay for the cost of removal? Besides, there are other trees on the proper- ty and lots of other trees on the street. How do you deal with this type of attitude? Just because I have a few dollars in my pocket, does that give me the ori ht to hveShould' tree removed from city p p Y, town , councils be allowed to be so short - life” would drop considerably. In fact, I would move! ELSA HAYDON all the trees along my street my "qualify of °sighted that they cut budgets to the point that the cannot maintain one tree? I ktiow we all pay high taxes, but sometimes we have to consider the quality of life. If I lost If it gets to the point where our street and park trees are in jeopardy because of lack of public funds, I think of several things I can live 'without first. I can live without a • sidewalk on both sides of the street. I can live without residential streets that are so wide that you can park cars on both sides of the street and still have room to pass oncom- ing cars. I can live without the thousands of tons of extra salt spread on the streets and sidewalks in winter. I am talking about the extra salt, not the necessary salt. I could live happily without tnany other things, but not without my beloved stately , old trees. Elsa Haydon is in hospital this week. She will return with her regular column next week.