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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1976-04-21, Page 6Page 6 - Citizens News, April 21/76 Jottings by Jack - from Queen's Park Deb.t The debate on the Budget began this week, and the Fin- ancial Critic for the New Democ- ratic Party introduced a non -conf- idence motion. However, this will not be voted upon until Decemb- er, and it is unlikely to be suppor- ted by the Liberal Party. This is, of course, the second non -confid- ence motion introduced against the minority Conservative Gov- ernment this session. It attacks the Government for its handling of the economy, its increased OHIP premiums and its failure to act on a host of agricultural, health, transit and economic development issues. Leading off the debate for the Liberal Party, Marvin Shore, M.P.P. (London North) question- ed the Treasurer's projected budgetary expenditure increase OA budge4 of 11.7%, because the Govern- ment has made a practice of underestimating its expendit- ures, and pointed out that, in any event, keeping expenditures to this level was hardly a major achievement in view of the fact that Quebec's increase in exp- enditures is only 11.0% and Nova Scotia's is only 11.3%. Mr. Shore underlined The fact that, although the provincial deficit had been reduced, it was still, at one and a quarter billion dollars „the second highest defic- it in Ontario history, and he questioned the Government's reliance on possibly over-estim- ated projected exports to under- write the Treasurer's forecasts for revenue and employment figures. The Treasurer claimed in the Budget Statement that he is providing stronger incentives to Ontario's small business companies. However, he has done little more than eliminate some of the burdensome paper work involved in the Govern- ment's tax credit scheme. "The number of companies to benefit has increased to 50,000 from 20,000, it's true, but by reducing the tax rate from 12% to 9%, the Treasurer is not prov- iding one extra penny to small businessmen in Ontario. He ad- mits himself that the $30 million cost of this reduction is identic- al to the cost of the tax credit scheme which it replaces. The net result is that a larger numb- er of businesses must divide the same size pie into smaller pieces. In addition, the small business- man will be forced to pay increas- ed OHIP premiums, thanks to the Treasurer. Mr. Shore referred to the need . to evolve some better approach to provincial -municipal relations if we are to ekpect municipal- ities to be reasonably autonom- ous and to plan intelligently, and expressed the opinion that •the Provincial Government and the municipalities should establ- ish budgets on a multi-year bas- is, rather than basing their cal- culations on a 12 month period, which would be more efficient, and enable municipalities to establish priorities and make long-range plans. Both Opposition Party Leaders questioned the acting Health Minister on differences between letters written by her to the four hospitals which had appealed the government's decision to close them down, and a statement made by the Premier in the Leg- islature. With respect to the Clin- ton Public Hospital the Premier stated that the hospital will close as an acute treatment facility on the 1st of June. He said in recognition of the specific local concerns made clear during the appeal procedure, Clinton Public Hospital will be allowed to maintain the status of an amb- ulatory primary care facility after the lst of June, with X-ray, lab, minor surgical capacity, along with physician offices on the premises. The letter received from the Acting Minister of Health stated that the staff must receive term- ination notices, they must stop admitting patients as of May ist and the hospital must close as of June Ist, 1976, and it stat- ed that a plan for providing addit- ional ambulance service is being developed to satisfy the changed requirements of the community. Also that the Ministry of Health staff would be available at req- uest to assist in developing health care services in the com- munity using existing build- ings to some extent, if approp- riate. I questioned the Acting Minist- er of Health as to whether the use of the dialysis unit will be allow- ed to continue, as it °is the only one other than that located in London. The reply was that it is hoped that they will be able to develop an outpatient dialysis capability. I further questioned 'the acting Minister of Health about the contradiction between her letter and the Premier's statement to which the acting Minister replied that there was no contradiction, none whatever. Mr. Stephen Lewis, Leader of the Official Opposition, said that all of the so-called consultations over the Last several months ent- ered into in good faith by the hospitals, were in fact a determin- ed charade by the government, doonied to failure in advance. Liberal Leader Stuart Smith has called upon the Government to devise some form of compen- sation for owners of farmland if they are to be prevented from selling it for development. He suggested the provincial govern- ment must bring in a master land -use plait for the province if the best farmland is to be kept in food production. Selective freezes on selling land for development would have to be applied in some regions, and he said "it's poss- ible to pick certain areas and freeze them and pay reasonable compensation without bankrupt- ing the Province. DARING - Two-year-old Shiloh Sheppard, London, was among those who braved the cool waters of Lake Huron to escape the Easter weekend heat wave. The fact she didn't bring her swim suit along was of little concern to the youngster. News Photo a r on your savings ow t .,j at 1 of yo at c chestdid rs ? h" ri lift for Get 4% on your regular savings. Pay no service charge on cheques if minimum balance of $1,000 is main- tained (and even if this balance is not maintained) you get 12 free cheques per quarter and pay only 10 cents for each cheque over the 12. 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