Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-04-27, Page 4PAGE 4--GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1978 0 WV) •CNA Goderich` 111111111111.1111 SIGNAL -STAR The County Town Newspaper of Huron Founded In MO and published every Thursday tat Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CWNA and OWN(. Advertising rotes on request. Subscriptions payable In advance '13.00 In Canada, '17.00 to U.S.A., '20.00 to all other countrla ..Ingle copies 30 cents. Display advor. Using rates available on request. Please ask for Role Card 'No. 0 effective Oct. 1. 1977, Second class mall Registration Number 0718. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that. In the ovont of typographical error, the advertl.ing space occupied by the erroneous Item, together with reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for but the balance ql the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods er service may not be sold. Advertising Is merely en offer to soil, and may bo withdrawn at any time. The Slgnal•Ster Isnot responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts or Photos. Business and Editorial Office TELEPHONE 524-8331 area code 519 Published by Signal -Star Publishing Ltd. ROBERT G. SHRIER — president and publisher SHIRLEY J. KELLER — editor EDWARD J. BYRSKI — advertising manager Mailing Address: P.O. BOX 220, Industrial Park, Goderich Second class mail registration number — 0716 OHIP premiums... Must they really go up so much? While Premier Bill Davis wrestles with the question of whether or not to risk a provincial election by implementing a budget item advocating a 37.5 per cent increase in Ontario Hospital Insurance Protection (QHIP) premiums, the Liberals have been doing some elementary arith- metic which should interest the average taxpayer anywhere in Ontario. The proposed new rates for OHIP are slated for implementation on May 1, 19.78,, less than one week from now. They would Just before press time, Ontario Premier Bill Davis announced OHIP premiums would increase by 18.75 percent; leffective May 1, 1978, not 37.5 percent as previously suggested. mean an -increase in revenue for the provincial government of $271 million...and an increase in the monthly premium paid by single subscribers from $16 to $22 and by family subscribers from $32 to $44. The Liberals say such hefty increases are exhorbitant and unnecessary. They feel the premium system as a method for raising revenue for public health insurance is regressive because it is increasingly unfair to those who must pay the cost of health insurance for those who do not pay. They argue that between March 31, 1973 and March 31, 1977, the number of non-paying OHIP subscribers increased 16.2 per cent while the number of paying subscribers increased by only 9.3 per cent. And over the same period, the revenue raised from premium -paying subscribers increased by 53.6 per cent: However, the Liberals seem to realize that the abolishment of the premium • system cannot be accomplished overnight. Something like $850 million is generated through OHIP premiums at the current rate and to find alternative methods to raise that kind of money would require "extensive research and reflection". . The Liberals have, though, come up with an alternative proposal that would hold the increases in the OHIP premiums to a more digestable six per cent. They say the $271 million the government says it needs in extra revenue can be generated another way. It involves three increases on the revenue side of the ledger and three decreases on the expenditure side of the ledger' If you have 'a few minutes, it really makes an interesting study. First of all, the OHIP premiums would go up six per cent adding another $51.7 million to the coffers. The corporation income tax would increase by one half a point for another $41 million and the lottery fund would be tapped for $38 million. At the same time, the estimate for the health ministry would be reduced by $50 Million; holding manpower increases to four percent would generate a savings of another $67 million; and a reduction in the Services budget from a proposed 7.5 per cent increase for 1978-79 to a 2.5 per cent would save another $24 million. Voila, readers. A total addition to the provincial revenues of $271.7 million. +++ Let's take a closer look at the proposals. The Liberals say they are in total agreement with the government's decision to limit the overall increase to public hospitals in Ontario for 1978-79 to 4.7 per cent and that they also concur that an in- crease in 0I -IIP benefit values of 6.25 per cent, effective May 1, 1978 is fair. And, the Liberals say, they support the policy of constraint where OHIP premium rates are concerned and suggest only a six per cent increase...not 37.5 per cent as the.gover- nment proposes. In a sense, the second Liberal suggestion - to increase the corporation income tax by one-half a point - is tied to the first suggestion to limit the increase in OHIP premiums, to six per cent. Since business often pays the full shot for employees for OHIP, it has been estimated that the government's 37.5 per cent hike would cost business $122 million. The combined cost to business of the Liberal proposal for a half point corporate tax increase and a six per cent OHIP increase would be $61 million - exactly half of the cost of the government's proposal. Where Wintario funds are concerned, the Liberals say the money being generated by the lottery is far greater than originally expected. According to the budget, $77 million will remain unallocated at the end of this fiscal year. The Liberals therefore, propose that $38 million of those us - committee funds be allocated to general revenue: The Opposition also believes that the Treasurer, Darcy McKeough, is "padding" the budget for the Ministry of Health so that he will be able to find $50 million here and $100 million there in "savings" as political need arises. The Liberal official statement said this, "In the past year alone, he (McKeough) has suddenly managed to find, on diverse occasions, overnight "savings" totalling almost $300 million. He is clearly engaged on the same stratagem in his expenditures for fiscal 78-79." The estimated expenditures for health during the last fiscal year totalled $3,152.3 million. Actually expenses were something like $3,075 million, yet the estimates for the 1978-79 fiscal year are based on the 1977-78 estimate and show an increase of 4.3 per cent over the $3,152.3 million budgeted last year. The Liberals say, therefore, the real difference between . this year's health budget and last year's actual expenditures in the area of health is something like 6.9 per cent higher. The .Liberals are calling this "inflationary forecasting" which is "counter-productive to a policy of con- straint". They are advocating cutting $50 million from the health budget. The government estimates also show it intends to spend $1,655 million on salaries, wages and employee benefits throughout the government offices this year. Last year, the government paid out $1,527 million, so this year's estimate represents an increase of $128 million...or 8.4 per cent. The Liberals point out that if the four per cent increase policy was in effect, the in- crease in this budget would be something in order of $61 million...and a saving of $67 million over what the government is Proposing. The Liberals say to decrease this manpower budget by $67 million. Another interesting statistic here might be of interest to citizens who are keeping tabs. Information supplied to the Liberal research staff by the Civil Service Com- mission reveals there were 5,861 separations from the classified staff in 1977-78 but 6,224 additions..Thjs means there has been a net gain in staff of 363. And filially, in the area of services, the budget is $478.6 million, 7.5 per cent higher than last year's expenditures in the same area. The Liberals apparently believe a five per cent reduction in this estimate is more in keeping with a policy of constraint. The savings here would be $24 million. +++ The people of Ontario must be en- couraged by the attitude taken by the Liberals in this instance that an opposition party must do more than criticize and oppose. The Liberals have presented some alternate proposals which many of the people of the province must consider to be responsible and reasonable. Some citizens, like the Liberals, may even want the government to consider them seriously. Evidence seems to point to the fact that elected members of parliament in Ontario want the provincial minority government to work for a (while longer. The thought of another provincial election in 1978 doesn't excite too many politicians and certainly the people of Ontario don't want another election so soon, especially with a federal election looming large on the horizon. What's more, 1978 is a municipal election year. Enough is enough. Health care costs are high but it appears the OHIP rate increase really has very little to do with increased health care costs. The government needs money for many things. What a shame if OHIP is branded the Culprit and the paying subscribers must pay through the nose over and over again for a system which cries for a major overha uk -'SJK White water By Dave Sykes DEAR BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER together," echoed Mary Dale, wife of Ernie. Part of my job each week is to keep watch on the other + + + weekly newspapers published throughout the province. This I had a talk with a minister week I was reading a 50th a few years ago about the wedding anniversary story in . modern marriage .... the kind The Clinton News -Record. where husband -and wife are While I don't know the couple, wed in a luxurious ceremony, I was certainly interested in enjoy a whirlwind honeymoon what they had to say. in some far-off exotic island Listen to this. and then ,come home to a divorce two or three years down the road. "I tell my wife we'll be together for 100 years and -she said she'd be beside me in 100 "ICS the attitude that years." That from a man who marriage isn't a lifetime has been married to the samebargain," ,the minister .told women for 50years. me. "Young couples today And do you know thatthe fellow even used his wood- working hobby to reinforce the ,idea of togetherness for a century? Yes sir. He cut out the shape of a quarter moon from plywood. There's a stairway on -the quartermoon depicting 100 years. And there's a balcony at the halfway point on which ' is standing a bridal couple, ready to mount the flight again for the second 50 years. At the top are clouds and an angel. "We've had a 'happy marriage," says Ernie Dale of Clinton. "I'd have to say that mother and I worked as a team whether it was in the house or in the field." "There's lots of com- promises and working want to be married in ceremonies that have them promise to love, honor and obey only as long as they love each other. Not until death,as was the case in marriages of former years." The guy should know. He marries lots of fellows and gals every year. And if he thinks that the attitude toward a lifetime com- mitment is changing ... and that it is this new attitude that is causing so many broken marriages and split families in this present world .... I'm not inclined to argue. It may be all too painfully true. At least for Ernie and Mary Dale, the idea that marriage is forever has aided their relationship. READERS +++ As my husband and I ap- proach 25 years of wedded bliss, I ,like to look back on things as they were during those first crucial years. And just for fun, I made up a list of hurdles that we had to get over before our marriage began to work like a part- nership that would last for -life. First of all was something as basic as the food we ate. Until the day we , were married; we had no trouble eating together. But as soon as the minister said, "I now pronounce you man and wife" and I put on my apron to do the cooking, the disagreements began. My husband'would not eat salad dressing in any form. I couldn't prepare a meal without it. In my,house, salad dressing was slopped on everything from salad greens to peanut butter. My husband wanted homemade tomato soup and toast for breakfast. The thought of anything but poached eggs and , bacon made me ill. He wanted raw fried potatoes and homemade sausage and capned plums and weak coffee. I knew how to prepare boiled potatoes, hamburger patties, custard and tea. And then there was the problem of money. Since I'd been very young, I'd always had my own money. Suddenly I was married and at home in the kitchen. There were times when I needed a few dollars extra and I just couldn't bring myself to ask. All the while my husband expected I would let him know when I needed something ... and so the stage was set for a difference of opinion. Parents were another headache. When I look back on it, it really wasn't the parents vis,ho were the problem ... 'it was our own inability to leave our respective parents in the background where they preferred to be. Neither family insisted, on anything much .... but when it came Sunday, my husband wanted to be with his family and I wanted to be with mine. And so our unwitting, parents were the centre of a dispute they didn't even want to be in- volved in. There were other things too . like getting in tune about the laundry and whether to starch just collars and cuffs or the entire shirt; about scrubbing the floor and whether it is really necessary to get down on all fours to get it clean; about Christmas greeting cards and if they are important and to whom they should be sent. +++ Little things you say? You are right. They were little things and that's my favorite line when somebody asks me about marriage. I say, "The little things you differ on can alvyays be resolved with love land un- derstanding. But make sure you have the big things decided long before you trail down the aisle." There isn't much - doubt about4t. You can work out the problem when the wife wants mushroom soup and the husband prefers barley broth, but if she wants a houseful of kids and he wants no family at all to mar the peacefulness at home, you've got a -real nut to crack. : nd what do you do when ' views country living as the ultimate in the future, and she gets hives unless she walks on cement at all times? It's like Ernie Dale says. Married folks should "work as a team" ... two people pulling in the same direction for the same common goal. It may sound seedy and just too simple to work, but Ernie and Mary Dale have celebrated a golden wedding anniversary and are looking happily toward doing it all over again. Now that's performance. 75 YEARS AGO A charter of incorporation has been granted to the Goderich Organ Company, Limited. The capital is $100,000 and the provisional directors are Alex Saunders, James Clark, Wm. Proudfoot, W.L. Horton and Thos. Elliott. Through the persistent effort of R. Holmes, M.P., the Dominion Government has decided to construct a rifle range at Goderich and has accepted the tender of Messrs. Bucahanans and Lawson, the well-known builders and contractors, for the same. It will be located along the lakeshore, somewhat south of the piers and will cost in the neigh- bourhood of•$2,400. At the adjournment meeting of the West Huron licence commissioners held last Thursday at Clinton, a deputation of nine Colborne Township residents was heard in opposition to the application of N.G. Boggs for a licence for the Carlow hotel. The commissioners decided not to grant a licence. J.J. Wright has had con- siderable improvements made at the Park. House. A new portico has been built LOOKING BACK and new eaves placed and some re -shingling done. A special meeting of the public school board was held on Tuesday evening to con- sider the tenders for the erection of a new St. Patrick's ward school and alterations at the central school. The tenders were way above the estimated cost. It will require nearly $9,000 to make the proposed changes at' the central school and the cost of a new ward school would be about $3,500. 25 YEARS AGO Goderich's low -rental housing development began to take shape with the arrival of the first of the 25 units last Friday and the appointment of a three man committee to surpervise rental. When excavation work starts at the Judith Gooderham Memorial Playground early ;n June for the construction of the new swimming pool, it is expected that this ground will give up the bones of pioneer Goderich residents and probably Indians buried there for many years as well. Once known as Victor is Park, the playground was the burial ground of Goderich town and Goderich, Colborne and Ash- field Townships at the time the Canada Company sur- veyed the town. Before that it was an Indian burial ground. Becoming suspicious when a woman wanted to buy a pair of shoes without even trying them on, saved Goderich storekeeper, Bill Anderson of Maher Shoe Companyifrom being swindled last Saturday- -but three other merchants weren't so fortunate, losing a total of about $200 when a couple of cheque forgers made their rounds in town. Large crowds greeted actors in MacKay Hall Monday, Tuesday and last evening for the Goderich Little Theatre group's sixth annual drayna festival. Seven little theat a groups staged successes in the festival. 5 YEARS AGO This year the "At Home Dance" queen will be chosen out of seven pretty can- didates, one of the greatest number of nominees ever. Among the candidates is a set of twins, Kaye and Faye Dustow. Other nominees include Darlene Crawford, Barb Blake, Anne MacEwan, Cathy Young and Mary Van Rooy. Town councillor Elsa Haydon has publicly declared she wants to be disassociated with council's action at last Thursday's regular meeting to approve a building permit for Eric Krohmer's proposed apartment building in the southern part of Goderich. The fate of the old green freight shed at the harbor used in recent years by MacDonald Marine is under decision now by the Harbor Committee chaired by Councillor Bill Clifford, It was learned at last week's council ' meeting that the building is being returned to the Tbwn of Goderich this spring. Goderich building inspector Roy Breckenridge spent some time Monday telephoning businessmen in the municipality and advising them that when selling metal storage sheds, customers should be advised of the necessity to obtain a building permit to erect them. WANTED Letters to the Editor on any topic Send to: Box 220, Industrial Park, Goderich N7A 4B6 (Letters to the Editor on page 6) C7