The Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-11-07, Page 4toe triabani abbance-tined
Published at Winghatn, Ontario, P.O. Box 390. NOG 2W0
by Wenger Bros. Limited
Barry Wenger, President n Robert O. Wenger, Sec.-Treas.
Henry Hess, Editor Audrey Currie, Advertising Manager
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Member—Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc:
Subscriptions $20.00 per year
Second Class Mail Registration No. 0821
,Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc.
Six months $11.50
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McMurtry enters the race
Ontario attorney -general, Roy Mc-
Murtry, has announced his Intention to
seek the leadership of the provincial
Progressive Conservative party. Judg-
ing the man on past performance, we
believe that he should be seen as a wel-
come addition to the two who have al-
ready declared their Intentions. Dennis
Timbrell, the present provincial min-
ister of agriculture and food and Frank
Miller, the provincial treasurer, will be
the other candidates.
McMurtry has never sought the
public spotlight and did not rush his de-
cision to seek the leadership. During
his time in office he has often spoken
bluntly on public questions, even when
his stance tended to make him unpop-
ular. He has left the impression of an
honest and sincere politician.
Only a couple of weeks ago Mc-
Murtry spoke out on a subject which
should indeed be addressed. He indi-
cated that he would favor new laws to
limit the "mindless frenzy of violence"
in movies, television and video tapes.
Obviously he was thinking primarily of
the murder of a Toronto -area police-
man by a young man who dressed him-
self in battle fatigues and sallied forth
to kill with an automatic weapon in his
hands.
The electorate, of course, can
never be absolutely certain of the cali-
bre of those elected to responsible of-
fice until the people they choose have
time to demonstrate their abilities in
action. The PCs have already stated
that they do not intend "instant" party
members to influence their choice of
leadership candidates, a decision
which deserves total approval.
With at least three capable candi-
dates we may reasonably expect able
leadership of the PC party for the next
few years.
Government in business
The brand new federal government
has decided to rid the people of Canada
of the burdensome business enterprises
which have cost taxpayers millions
upon millions of dollars over the past
few years. The Canadian Development
Investment Corporation was set up or-
iginally so that the government of Can-
ada could provide an infusion of invest-
ment capital which would, if all went
according to plan, guarantee employ-
ment for thousands of workers and a
good return on the money invested. The
CDIC Petrofina, a Belgian -owned oil
company, for $120 per share, despite
the fact that the going price only a few
weeks previously was $60 per share,
Something similar happened with the
share purchase of British Petroleum.
Now there Is regret in high places
that the government finds itself in
business In the Canadian marketplace.
The revelation a couple of weeks
ago of the salaries paid to the heads of
several crown corporations has been
followed by news that some of these
monsters will be offered for sale to the
private sector. Those mentioned most
frequently are Canadair, Canada's lar-
gest airplane manufacturer, and de
Havilland, another aircreft maker.
The prime minister has stated that
he has no objection to paying top -hole
salaries to heads of public corpora-
tions. He knows that private. companies
do the same. The big difference, how-
ever, is that in the private sector a
highly -paid boss is expected to earn his
money by providing consistent profits
for the shareholders of the company.
The same demand is not made of
corporation heads working for the
crown. Both of the aircraft companies
mentioned above have been repeatedly
bailed out by taxpayers' money be-
cause they are showing stupendous
losses under government-sponsored
management.
There will be more of these rev-
elations as time goes on, provided the
PC government follows through with
its promise to provide more efficient
management of our affairs.
Law or public opinion
In the wake of the recent killings of
policemen in Ottawa, Montreal and To-
ronto there has been considerable pub-
lic outcry for return of the death
penalty. Those who are most vehement
demand that a referendum on the sub-
ject should be held to provide for the
expression of personal opinion on the
subject.
So far the federal governments of
both parties have refused to consider a
referendum as a way of making an im-
portant decision — and rightly so.
Under our system of government
we elect representatives who will
speak for us in the House of Commons.
No matter what the question, these
men and women are given time to
think, and opportunity to make their
decision after having access to much
more reliable data than are available
to the average citizen.
Ask any half dozen Canadian citi-
zens exactly what they know about the
effectiveness of the death penalty and
you won't find very many who can ac-
curately quote the statistics on in-
crease or decrease of murder since the
T IRIES A page of editorial opinion November 7,
death penalty was revoked several
years ago. Every one of them can relay
his emotions — but emotions are hardly
the best means of making important
decisions.
In this week's presidential elec-
tions in the United States there were no
less than 40 states in which "proposi-
tions„ (referendum questions) appear-
ed on the ballots. Vote by referendum
was legalized in the U.S. in 1978 in the
state of California, when a majority
voted to cut taxes by a whopping 57 per.
cent. What the voters did not realize
was that they had also voted to cut
state revenues by over $7 billion. In
other words they did not know enough
about government to make such a de-
cision.
As long as we are permitted to vote
for our own representatives we would
do well to abide by'fheir decisions. We
won't agree with all of them — and we
may, disagree strongly enough ,to turn
them out at the next election. That,
however is our system and no one has
yet discovered a better one.
Interesting people
It was our personal pleasure last
week to spend several days at a meet -
Ing of the Audit Bureau of Circulations
in Toronto. Membership in ABC In-
cludes advertisers, advertising agen-
cies and publishers df print media, with
headquarters in Chicago. Those In at-
tendance were Americans in a ratio of
about ten to one Canadian. As usual, we
found the class of Americans at the
gathering were intelligent, friendly and
well mannered.
Theme of the gathering and the
subject of several excellent addresses
was "The Reality of Change", addres-
sing the subject which arise from our
progress Into a world of new Ideas and
changing technologies.
Welcome to the province of Ontario
was voiced by our lieutenant -governor,
Hon. John Black Aird, who made no at-
tempt to steer away from the fact that
he is, officially, the representative of
Queen Elizabeth 11. The lieutenant -gov-
ernor is
leutenant-gov-
ernor.is customarily preceded into and
out of such a gathering by his personal
piper, and this time was followed by
two members of the RCMP (main and
female) in full dress uniform.
' One of the American speakers later
remarked that he sort of liked the idea
of belonging to a monarchy, in which a
public official Merited such full-dress
ceremony.
It remained for a Canadian speak-
er to remark that it was the first time
he had ever heard an American pro-
nounce the name of the office as "let -
tenant" rather than "lootenant”. A
telling observation, since the American
pronunciation is undoubtedly closer to
its French origin.
Hospital
h�uld be
Dear Editor,
Last year our Hospital
Board hired the Toronto
consulting firm of Goldie Co.
Ltd. to assess the ability and
willingness of the citizens of
this community to support
the then -proposed hospital
building program.
The Goldie Report,
completed in June, 1983, at a
cost of approximately $7,500,
listed under recom-
mendations; (a) prior to
mounting a campaign to
raise funds for the new
emergency and ambulatory
care building, the Hospital
must heal the rift that ap-
pears to have developed in
its relationship with parts of
the community itserves.
On July 5, 1983, all ad hoc
committee was established
by the Hospital Board with
three terms of reference,
with "A" beings.the com-
mittee be given the power to
set in motion the process for
healing the rift within the
community. This committee
reported to the board on Feb.
15, 1984, and made four
recommendations, with
Number 2 being:
The ,committee recom-
mends that board meetings
be open to the public,
thereby continuing ongoing
and open communication
with the public.
As a member of the ad hoc
committee, I was quite
disappointed to learn that
the Hospital Board did not
open the board meetings to
the public, and failed to
make public its reasons for
not doing so.
At the June, 1984, annual
meeting of the Hospital
Association, I° moved a
motion recommending the
board again consider
opening its meetings to
observers from the general
public, seconded by ;Doug
Garniss, and this motion ,was
passed overwhelmingly by
the estimated 60 people in
attendance.
As of today, Nov. 5, 1984, I
am aware of no public an-
nouncement by the board as
to their decision on this
motion.
I read with dismay and
alarm your account of last
week's board meeting where
even the press was barred
from three hours of a three
and a half hour meeting.
I commend you for your
editorial, "What are they
'hiding?". Our hospital is an
essential part of our com-
munity, providing vital
services to us all. Our
hospital is funded by public
taxes land should be ac-
countable to the citizens of
our community.
If affairs of the hospital
are being well conducted,
first-hand knowledge of this,
gained by public observation
at board meetings, would
help build public confidence
and support.
If street reports of
manipulation, intimidation
and deception are true, and
some have been verified, it's
time for action.
Ross S. Procter
RR 5, Brussels
Dear Editor,
Some time ago, the
Wingham Hospital Board
commissioned the Gordon L.
Goldie Co. of Toronto to
evaluate the community's
ability to support a fund-
raising project. The
following is a quote from that
report which substantiates
my observation that very
little has been learned, as
witnessed by the recent
reports in the Oct. 31 edition
of The Advance -Times.
FroginPart One, Page 2-C:
"There appears to have been
a breakdown in com-
munication between the
Hospital and some sectors of
the community. A feeling of
lack of public involvement,
control and knowledge of
what are the objectives of
the Hospital..." and further,
from Page, 4, II -A, "... the
Hospital lutist heal the rift
that appars to have
developed in its relationship
with parts of the community
itserves." .
The above quotations say
it very clearly: "breakdown
in communieation"; "lack of
public involvement", etc.
Meeting behind closed doors
develops lack of trust and
generates suspicion and in
no way helps to "heal the
rift".
With all due respect for the
extra hours and effort put
forth by the executive
director, Norm Hayes, and
board chairperson, Mary
Vair, to "heal the rift", there
appears to be little gained or
learned by them. Openness
with "public involvement"
and the recognition of the
o rd
o'"Ten to
eetings
u�Iic
worth -of persons in -the
public sector to whom they
are responsible is not Only
justifiable but expected.
Anyone can get a copy of
the Gordon Goldie report to
read. You can read how your
community and hospital are
perceived by the experts who
were paid thousands to study
us and let us know.
I challenge the Hospital
Board members to openness
and the suppression of un-
necessary, prolonged closed -
door dialogue.
Archie Hill
Wingham
Dear Editor,
I would appreciate the
opportunity to comment on
the closed board meetings of
the Wingham and District
Hospital and your Oct. 31
editorial, "What are they
hiding?". My position is that
the hospital is funded with
public money, therefore the
board should be subject to
public scrutiny through open
board meetings.
It is very perplexing and
troubling to consider that the
Hospital Board has not acted
to open its meetings, in spite
of the overwhelming support
for that action which was
expressed at the June annual
meeting.
The creation of open
meetings is simple. It
requires one board member
to move and another to
second a motion to amend
the Corporation By-laws.
Since most, if not all, of the
board members were at the
June meeting and onlytwo
or three people voted against
open meetings, 'surely the
logical conclusion is that the
motion would pass. Case
closed! Meetings open!
Unfortunately, things are
never simple. If the board
continues to disregard the
wishes of the members of the
Hospital Corporation, then it
is time for the members to
take action.
I would like to make three
suggestions:
1. that The Advance -Times
poll the board members on
their views and position on
open board meetings and
publish the findings;
2. that The Advance -Times
publish the names and
telephone numbers of the
board members and indicate
the municipalities they
Reeve comes to defence
of E. Wawanosh mill rate
Dear Editor,
I feel it is necessary to
voice concern regarding the
news item pertaining to the
comparison of tax rates
among the six northern
townships of Huron County,
as contained in The
Wingham Advance -Times,
Oct. 31, 1984.
Granted, East Wawanosh
does lead the neighboring
townships in total mill rate;
it is of importance to clarify
how the mill rates are
arrived at.
Due to the fact East
Wawanosh has the least
assessment base of the six
townships, it therefore
requires more mills to raise
equivalent funds. Example:
East Wawanosh has an.
assessment base of ap-
proximately $2 million, so
one mill raises $2,000.
Likewise Morris Township
has an assessment of ap-
proximately $3.2 million;
one mill raises $3,200.
Howick Township has an
assessment of $5 million,
therefore one mill raises
$5,000.
Example: To pay for the
gravel pit at $80,000 which
East Wawanosh purchased
as mentioned last week, East
Wawanosh required 40 mills
as compared to Morris
Township requiring 25 mills
or Howick Township 15 mills.
A second issue of com-
parable importance is the
equalization factor establish-
ed by the Ontario Govern-
ment. This factor is founded
on the basis of land value
brought about by land sales
averages over a three-year
period. East Wawanosh land
sales have been high for the
past 20 years, giving East
Wawanosh a low equaliza-
tion factor based on present
formula.
Due to the low equalization
factor because of high sales,
there have been less grants
applicable to East Wawa -
nosh Township, also to the
County of Huron and the
Huron County Board of Edu-
cation, which affects the
East Wawanosh share of the
county and school levies.
A third issue of prime
importance which will also
decrease grants to the town-
ship is the unconditional
grants administered by the
Province of Ontario. That
part of the unconditional
grants based on township
population has now been
changed to number of
households within a town-
ship. Again East Wawanosh
will feel this effect in grant
monies since there are no
hamlets of significant size
and number within the
township.
Likewise the equalization
factor affects our road
subsidy monies. In 1984 our
grant was decreased by
$4,200 compared to some
townships which realized an
increase. It is also noted at
today's present formula we
will continue to experience
decreases causing more
township dollars to be used
to obtain grants applicable.
Rather than a clear ex-
planation of the differences
requiring a comparison of
township operating budgets
and balance sheets, as stated
in the news item of Oct. 31,
1984, I feel the public in
general should be aware of
various factors involved to
cause the difference in mill
rates, mainly assessment
base and equalization factor.
Neil G. Vincent, Reeve
Township of East Wawanosh
represent; and,
3. that concerned citizens
contact their board mem-
bers to express their
opinions, concerns and
qu, tions about the "current
dtt of affairs" at the
Wi g am and District
H pital.
Perhaps such action by the
membership will prompt the
board to move toward
closing "the gulf between
hospital and community" by
opening their meetings to the
public.
Editor's note: While it is
true, all other things being
equal, that in two
municipalities with identical
budgets the one with the
lower assessment base will
have to collect propor-
tionally higher taxes from its
ratepayers, this does not
suffice to account for the dis-
crepancies found in the
survey.
It is worth noting, for
example, that among the six
townships compared, the one
which has an assessment
base closest to that of East
Wawanosh, its neighbor
West Wawanosh, also had
the second -lowest taxes in
the group.
It should also be pointed
out that the survey did not
compare mill rates, which
can be misleading, but
rather the dollar value of
taxes collected by the
municipalities on land of
equivalent value. This takes
into account the equalization
factor.
By way of illustration, the
mill rate in Bayfield is the
highest in Huron County, but
its actual tax rate in dollars
ranks around the middle of
the field, as shown in the
previous survey which was
published Oct. 24.
Art Clark
Wingham
Dear Editor,
I read with considerable
interest your editorial last
week about the Wingham
and District Hospital Board
("What are they hiding?").
Earlier this year, a
hospital ad hoc committee
recommended the opening of
board meetings to the public
as a means of healing the rift
between hospital and
community. Further, at the
annual meeting there was
almost unanimous approval
of a similar motion. In spite
of this, not only do the
meetings remain closed to
the public but are, as you
point out, increasingly
closed to the press.
Of perhaps even greater
concern is the fact that, on at
(east two occasions this year,
the chairman prohibited any
debate on motions involving
the expenditure of this
community's dollars —
namely the administrator's t
trip and the building project.
We must all realize that
the cost per family of health
care in / Ontario is already
close to $4,000 per year and
therefore, in these circum-
stances, we must insist on a
much higher level of ac-
countability in the spending
of those dollars.
I have great confidence in
our existing board members
who, I believe, are becoming
increasingly aware of the
problems and increasingly
determined to deal with
those problems;: I, commend
them for their'efforts in that
direction and urge them to
persevere.
Undoubtedly the board will
soon vote to open the
meetings to the public.
However of far greater
significance is the fact that
for the first time the board
would be deciding to go
against the direction of the
administrator and the
current chairman. Thus the
board would be signalling to
the community that it now
has the strength to take
control of the situation at the
hospital.
Once that point is reached,
no doubt significant changes
would follow and our hospital
could then again truly be
called a community hospital.
R. W. (Bob) Pike
Wingham
PRINCE OF PEACE by
James Carroll
This is the story off the
American Catholic Church
from its glorious triumph of
post -immigrant success to
the unfulfilled promises of
Vatican II up to the shot in
Dallas and the tragic
"complicity of the Vietnam
War. It is a story of the love
and heroism of Michael
Magurie, athlete, scholar,
survivor of a Chinese POW
camp and an ordained
priest.
GOOD KING, HARRY by
Denise Giardina
King Henry V (1387-1422)
is known from Shakespeare
as the rakish young Prince
Hal and as the romantic and
heroic conqueror of France.
The author closely follows
the known historical facts
and presents her subject as
an appealing, conscience -
ridden figure who is ahead of
his time in humanness as
well as military thinking. It
is told in the first person and
the story is dramatic and
colorful.
FRENCH COUNTRY by
Pierre Deux
What has come to be
known as the French -
country look is, in fact, the
style of Provence — the style
that has charmed millions of
visitors and influenced.
thousands of decorators
around the world. In this
delightful book of over 450
full color photographs, the
author explores all the rich
ingredients off Provencal
style.
PEANUT & CANDY DRIVE—John Tweddle and Colin
Campbell are among the members of the Wingham
Lions Club gearing up for their annual house-to-house
sale of peanuts and candies. The club uses the pro-
ceeds from the drive to support its community service
projects. Mr. Campbell is Lions activities chairman while
Mr. Tweddle is the club secretary.