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The Citizen, 1996-12-04, Page 1Rehearsing Students of F.E. Madill's Drama Guild are enthusiastically rehearsing for their fifth Performance Showcase to be held this weekend on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon. Featuring music from theatre productions, comedy skits from popular television shows and dance, the showcase is a vehicle for the diverse talents of the Guild. Here, Kelly Alexander, as Christine, reaches out to Manny Hussey as the phantom in a scene from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera. An unidentified member of the movement drama troupe appears behind. Sports Blyth Juveniles lose close one to Paisley in Sunday's hockey action Special 4 pages of Christmas music for carol singing News Blyth has Christmas Bureau drop-off at Memorial Hall See page 10 Beginning page 13 See page 28 The North Huron • Hospitals' future ttizert fuels county debate [yd. 12 No. 48 Wednesday, Dec, 4 1 996 74 +4Gs1750 The emotions surrounding the future of Huron County's hospitals came sharply into focus Thursday when county council debated a resolution of support for all county hospitals. It was a peaceful council session until a motion of the Huron County Board of Health roused councillors. The Board of Health called on the Hospital Restructuring Study Group to "look seriously at ensuring the provision of acute care facility centres located strategically throughout Huron County". Brian McBurney, reeve of Turnberry sparked the debate saying he would like to see the board of health support all hospitals, not just those "geographically privileged". The county should be representing the interests of the whole county, he said. "I'd like to see that instead of this gutless resolution." "They felt the commission should be allowed to to their job," replied Ron Murray, reeve of McKillop and chair of the Board of Health. Bill Mickle, reeve of Exeter, questioned what "strategically" meant. Murray answered that the board of health felt the committee should look at the health service needs of the county. Tom Cunningham, reeve of Hullett, argued that county council is elected to represent the needs of the people of the county, not of the needs of the government in cutting health costs. In the past there had been empire building among hospitals, he said, but now hospital boards are willing to look at working together to meet budget cutting requirements. But Warden Bill Clifford, reeve of Goderich, argued that the task force, a committee of the District Health Council, made up of 19 volunteers from across the two counties, also represents the interests of the county. "I think we all have the same interests." Bob Hallam, reeve of West Wawanosh, worried that the task force volunteers are being used to meet a political agenda. Health care needs don't stop at the boundary of the county, he said, referring to Wingham Public Hospital's large service area in • Bruce County. Clifford, who is also a member of the Huron-Perth District Health Council, said the task force is looking beyond the boundaries of the county, looking at the role, for instance, that London plays in the county's health care. Murray said the proposals, which would ensure the futures of only Goderich and Seaforth hospitals in Huron and Stratford in Perth, were developed after a great deal of public input through a telephone survey, a questionnaire circulated in county newspapers and focus groups. But Mickle challenged the opportunity the public had to take part in the discussion saying focus groups were not public meetings. "That does not constitute getting a feeling from the people." Bill Carnochan, reeve of Tuckersmith and DHC member said the reality is that Ontario Health Minister Jim Wilson is going to cut 18-25 per cent from the hospital budget for Huron-Perth. "The status quo cannot continue," he said. The task force volunteers have put Continued on page 17 McBurney calls board of health's motion 'gutless' Blyth welcomes Brussels opposes CA restructuring doctor, Dec. 12 Brussels village council voted, Monday night, to send a strongly worded disapproval to the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) over the decision to reduce the number of representa- tives on the authority. Council made the decision after Bruce McCall made his last annual presentation to council after repre- senting the village for close to 20 years. McCall expressed displea- sure with the decision to reduce the MVCA board from 29 to 12 mem- bers. Under the plan Brussels, Grey and Howick would have one repre- sentative between them effective at the Jan. 15 annual meeting. "We," he said of Brussels, "always opposed the reduction of member- ship but it went ahead anyway." McCall also disagreed with a plan to share work with the Aus- able-Bayfield and Upper Thames authorities which he said was a new version of old attempts to amalga- mate authorities. "I can't agree that bigger is better," he said. "It's been proved wrong in the past." The best value is delivered by local munici- pal councils, he said, and every level of government higher gets more wasteful. Still, the trend of the current government is to bigger bodies. "I have a feeling the present gov- ernment are more destroyers than builders. I hate to see things that have worked so well destroyed." Councillors each thanked McCall for his many years of work for the community. He, in turn said that he had found every council he worked with to be co-operative. Though opposing reducing the numbers of representatives to MVCA, council also voted to send a letter to Grey and Howick sug- gesting that if they were to share membership, the representative be rotated among the three municipali- ties, starting with either of the townships. By Janice Becker Citizen staff It will be a day of looking towards the future as Blyth wel- comes a new physician to the vil- lage. After months of searching, Blyth council, with the persistence of Clerk-Treasurer John Stewart, has secured the services of Dr. Daniel Rooyakkers from Seaforth Com- munity Hospital. To become acquainted with the residents, Dr. Rooyakkers and administrative personnel from Seaforth Medical Clinic will hold an open house, Thursday, Dec. 12 from 1 to 3 p.m., at the office for- merly occupied by Dr. Hay. Every- one is welcome to attend. Dr. Rooyakkers has been a mem- ber of the Seaforth medical com- munity since May as well has having office hours at the Brussels Medical Clinic. A man who enjoys a rural prac- tice, Dr. Rooyakkers studied in London, Thunder Bay, Hamilton and Victoria, B.C. and practised in northern areas such as Geralton and Englehart. He also continued his studies in psychiatry.