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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-03-22, Page 7GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1979—PAGE 7 Provincial doctors are opting out of OHIP in d BY JACK RIDDELL, M.P.P. There has been heated debate in the Ontario Legislature. about the number of doctors, who have opted out off the medicare program. The federal Minister of Health has indicated that Ottawa would reassess its contribution to,provincial health plans if the principle off universality was being destroyed. Figures released by the Provincial Minister of Health in the Legislature show that in some eleven counties or municipalities more than 20 per cent of the doctors had opted out of OHIP by the end of last month: Peterborough - 47.2 per cent; York - 40.7 per cent; INgth - 29.3 per cent; Halton 28.9 per cent; Wellington - 28.6 per Cent; Waterloo - 25.5 per cent; Simcoe - 25.2 per cent; Metro Toronto - 23.6 per cent.; Lambton - 21.9 per cent; Peel - 21.4 per cent; and Middlesex - 20.2 per cent. He also indicated that some 71 more doc- tors plan to opt out on April 1. When federal Health Minister Monique Begin said Ottawa would reconsider its support of provincial health plans if accessibility and universality were eroded, she specifically ex- pressed concern about the number of doctors opting out in Ontario. In the Legislature, the Provincial Minister hinted .strongly that improvement in government dealings with them would soothe doctors and discourage them from opting out of the medicare system. He said that doctors have complained that OHIP's administrative procedures are unduly bureaucratic and that some of them feel the schedule of benefits is unfair. Both problems are, he said, being studied. Subsequently, a Provincial Health Ministry official stated that, according to statistics, departure of doctors from the Ontario Health Insurance Plan has been a slow and steady trend. It began months before doctors were freed from federal wage and profit controls. The controls ended January 1 for most of the province's physicians, but the acceleration in the number of doctors leaving OHIP began as long ago as last May. Virtually all the anaesthetists at the Toronto Western Hospital have apparently opted out of OHIP. Asking if the Minister of Health were aware of this fact, Liberal Leader Stuart Smith questioned the Minister as to the government's plans to ensure that, people are able to have needed surgery lin a public hospital without being forced to pay a sur- charge. He also asked if the Minister were .prepared to encourage the im- mediate establishment of capitation medical groups in communities where patients are unable to obtain medical service at the OHIP rate. Capitation system is a payment scheme whereby doctors are paid a fixed annual amount per patient enrolled in their practice. HYDRO'S OVER EXPANSION This week, Stuart Smith replied to the Speech from the Throne. He condemned what he referred to as the government's attempts to avoid responsibility for 'the over -building that Ontario Hydro has acknowledged has taken place, and charged that Bit of a dilemma... • from page 6 going to come under fire to present a better dairy display. Members were concerned that the display could be more effective as it portrays the dairy industry to more urban than rural viewers. The procedure to elect national directors has been changed to a new voting system based on a three year revolving term. The motion was passed and sent on to the Ontario extension committee. In other business, the Huron Holstein club has over 30 new members and all have been invited to an information day Friday March 16 at the Agricultural office, were Dennis Martin, O.M.A.F., will. give general in- formation. Huron members voted to take out an ad in the Clinton Spring Fair entry book. This is the first year the fair board is selling ads in the book Church is go! BY SHIRLEY J.KELLER Bethel Pentecostal Church congregation have official approval from Goderich town council to start their building on Highway 21 south next to Conklin Lumber. Only Reeve `Eileen Palmer and Councillor Stan Profit opposed the motion which Was to allow the church group to proceed with the foundation of the worship Centre before Ontario Municipal Board approval is given. The majority of council felt the municipality never did have the legal right to oppose the church building and could see no probability that the OMB would turn it down. "It should never have gone to the OMB in the first place," commented Deputy -reeve Bob Allen. Church officials were at the Monday evening meeting of town council to ask permission to begin building right away. They said time was important to them and felt that since the weather is favorable to start, work could begin right away. They agreed that if the OMB did have reservations about the building after work had begun, all the responsibility would belong to the congregation and not to the town. °Commissioner of works Ken Hunter said that foundation work for the'project would take three to five weeks, and by that time OMB approval should be in the hands of the town clerk. Reeve Palmer said there was risk to the town in granting part or all of the building permit before the OMB had ruled on it. Councillor Profit concurred, warning council was putting itself "right behind the eight ball". "The town had no legal status to stop it in the first place," repeated Councillor Elsa Haydon. and is part of some new ideas to celebrate the 125 birthday of the fair. The ad is to 'entice members to come out to exhibit at more Black and White show s.' Along the same line members discussed selling ads for their own fair book which contains listsof classified en- trants. Members are to be contacted . by newsletter and , the secretary Don Watson will check the response. The suggested prices were $20 for a page and ,$.10 for half page. Members agreed not to attract businesses to advertise as it could conflict with the fair board booklet. , Of the 216 members in Huron County only 89 the Corporation's over expansion in the past few years is the most serious and costly example of mismanagement in the history of this province. Each year, because of Hydro's mistaken estimates of future energy demands, com- mercial and industrial consumers will pay another $74 million. The cost to the average residential consumer will be at least three cents a day. Former Treasurer Darcy McKeough un- derstood that Hydro's expansion was un- necessary, said Dr. Smith. He fought Hydro's plans but lost. "He lost because the Premier overruled him, and the Premier overruled him because Hydro policy was Davis policy. The government is "trying to work ' both sides of the street on this issue...On the one hand, they say it was a Hydro mistake; on the other hand, they say there was no mistake at all because we need the excess generating capacity for security of supply." He said the government cannot blame Hydro alone, because the Cabinet has approved were classified last year. Classification is paid and done by United Breeders and every member receives a card asking when he would like to be classified. . "People over estimate classification and are, discouraged from at- tendi"ng," said Mr. McNeil. Mr. Martin pointed ' out that classifying would be discussed at the meeting Friday afternoon. In a comparison of. clubs in fieldman Gordon Bell's area, Huron ex- celled in new members and attendance at many events including annual meetings. Of the 10 counties in the area, Huron lagged in at- tendance to ^ twilight meetings and exhibitors. Henry W. 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He recommended that foreign -controlled sub- sidiaries: undertake research and develop- ment activities in Ontario in cases where the Canadian market is large enough to justify such operations; be permitted by parent companies to buy component parts and services tinder the most competitive market conditions rather than ' being locked. into pur- chasing agreements with parent corporations. Both foreign owned and Canadian corporations "should acknowledge their responsibility to the communities in which they are located and recognize that those communities have a vested interest in...factories and plants, which cannot be move'd or shut down with im- punity." Compliance with the code "would be sought first through the use of. moral. suasion. 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