The Citizen, 2006-05-25, Page 1'CMLISHED via
Take heart
Blyth Public School's playground whistled with the sounds of skipping ropes Friday May 19 as
students participated in the Heart and Stroke's Jump Rope for Heart. Chad Wheeler gets a
jump on things. (Carol Burns photo)
Belgrave water meeting, Wed.
Pg. 2
Pg. 6
Pg. 7
Pg. 9
Pg. 10
Minor ball needs
support
Couple visits
daughter in Zambia
Campout
celebrates history
Route set for
walk-a-thon
Walton WI marks
50th anniversary
e Citizen
Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Volume 22 No. 21
Thursday, May 25, 2006
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I NORTH HURON PUBLISHING COMPANY INC
Inside this week
Rabid skunk
found near
Brussels
The Huron County Health Unit has
been notified that a dead skunk from
the Brussels area has tested positive
for rabies.
The health unit would like to
remind, you to avoid contact with
wild animals, and ensure your pets
are immunized against rabies.
Dogs and cats often get into fights
with wild animals. The wild animal
can leave-saliva:behind on your pet's
coat„and the saliva can carry the
rabies virus.
If you see a fight, or if your pet
comes home with injuries from a
fight and you think it may have been
bitten or scratched by a rabid animal,
don't handle your pet. _
Isolate your pet, and contact your
municipal animal control agency,
humane society, local Canadian Food
Inspection Agency office, or your
veterinarian.
Help control the spread of the
rabies virus by being .a responsible
pet owner. Make sure that all dogs
and cats, including those in the barn.
are vaccinated against rabies every
year.
Pet owners are required by law
(Regulation 567/90) to have all cats
and dogs over three months of age
immunized against rabies.
Reduce the risk of being bitten by
a rabid animal. Avoid handling any
wild, unknown or stray animals.
Parents are encouraged to teach
their children to stay away from any
animal they do not know.
If you see a baby animal that
appears to be orphaned, leave it
alone. Chances are its mother is
nearby. _
The possible danger to you
outweighs the good you might do for
the animal. Notify the nearest animal
control agency or humane society
branch instead.
If you or someone in your family
makes direct contact with an animal
that may have rabies, seek medical
attention immediately,
For more information, contact your
local veterinary clinic or the Huron
County Health Unit at (519) 482-
3416 or toll-free 1-877-837-6143.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
A public meeting will beheld May
3lwith North Huron residents in
Belgrave for further discussion
about the water supply system.
At the May 15 meeting of council
it was recommended that ,figures be
put together that would show
residents, should the federal
government not cover the overage
costs on the project, how it will
affect costs.
Retiring administrator John
Stewart also advised council on
another issue regarding water in
Belgrave. He explained that there
had been discussion with Morris-
Turnberry at one point, about
running a main down Queen Street
in the hamlet. However, he added,
"I'm not sure there's any advantage
to North Huron to do that."
There are only two lots in question
and these can be serviced at the
backs of the property, Stewart
said.
He -added that he felt council
should pass a resolution saying they
decline an opportunity to participate
in the installation of a main on
Queen Street. "It's whatever council
desires, but I'm wondering if we
shouldn't go on record. I'd hate to
pay survey costs that aren't going to
benefit North Huron."
Councillor James Campbell
agreed that a paper trail is needed. "I
worry that we are getting suckered
into things."
Deputy-reeve Murray Scott
questioned whether council at one
point had said they would share
costs if there was development on
Queen Street.
Stewart said that wqs true, but
felt that council had maybe not been
clear at the time that this was only
if residential development required
it.
Council agreed to pass a resolution
saying they weren't interested until
further notice.
"This project seems to keep
growing," said Stewart. "Our portion
is fixed, because we're only dealing
with the Humphrey subdivision. I
hate to see us pulled in on something
that doesn't benefit us."
Bill 102
worries
local
business
owner
By Carol Burns
Citizen staff
On May 29 Ontario citizens, or at
least those able to travel to Queens
Park during weekday afternoons, get
the opportunity to comment on Bill
102 which will change the
definition, pricing and distribution
of pharmaceutical drugs within the
province.
The bill was introduced and
passed its first reading in the
legislature the afternoon of April 13,
the day before Good Friday and is
scheduled for implementation on
Oct. 1.
Ontario's pharmacists were
initially in favour of the bill because
it recognized the role that
pharmacists play in the delivery of
health, and included them as
potential members of the Family
Health Teams. However,
independent and rural pharmacists
are expressing serious concerns over
some aspects of the bill.
Local pharmacist Dan Taylor,
Blyth Apothecary, said t,hat he
anticipates a 30 per cent reduction in
income if the bill passes.
At issue is money which generic
drug companies provide to
pharmacists for using their products,
or what the legislation terms a
rebate.
Taylor stated " I have a choice of
three companies from which I
purchase my generic drugs. I have
never compromised my professional
ethics in purchasing drugs. As a
pharmacist I must purchase only
'those drugs which are listed in the
government's Formulary (the list of
approved drugs)."
"I switch from company to
company. Sometimes it is necessary
because a drug is back-ordered with
one company. Sometimes there is
something about the form of the
drug that is unpleasing, possibly an
odour or the size of the tablet."
"Having this extra money has
enabled me to hire an additional
staff person permitting me to spend
more time with customers helping
them with their medication issues."
Progressive Conservative health
critic, Elizabeth Witmer (Waterloo)
also expressed concerns.
In the legislature on May 17, she
stated "Bill 102 is another classic
example of the McGuinty Liberal
pay more, get less health care
system. This new legislation will
force pharmacies to close. Those
that do not close -will experience
staff lay-offs, reduced hours of
operation and increased wait times
for the fillings of prescriptions."
Continued on page 6