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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-03-18, Page 19Can e By Alice Gibb Nuclear energy, health care costs, regional government and absentee - foreign ownership of far- mland were some of the issues debated at an afl- candidates meeting at the Kirkton-Woodham Com- munity Centre last Wed- nesday. More than 150 people . heard candidates from both the Perth and Huron - Middlesex ridings defend their party platforms on a variety of issues. Jack Riddell, the Liberal incumbent seeking .re- election in Huron -Middlesex, also attacked the Con- servatives' agricultural policies. Riddell said ever since he was elected, he's called for the reinstatement of Junior Farmers' loans. He said the Liberals are also calling for a "long overdue" food strategy toget Ontario's food processing industry going again in fruit and vegetables. He 'said the Liberals "have the policies to get his industry back on top so we'll be self- sufficient." Riddell also criticized the Tory government for the numerous plant shutdowns in the past few years, a result of the government's "branch plant philosophy".. Riddell noted "when tittles get tough, you see what happens," adding that the Conservatives have provided "few incentives for Canadian people to invest in Canada." PC candidate, Jim Brit- teS charge on land transfer taxes to non-resident owners, and requires non- residents to register land purchases. Britnell if he were elected, he'd ask that the land transfer tax be made prohibitive, to discourage further speculation by absentee owners. NDP candidate, Gwen Pemberton of Bayfield, told the audience she's read in the London Free Press candidates in the riding must have grandparents born here to be successful in seeking office, and referred to her own school days in Kirkton. She told the audience most of the reforms in health and social services came about in Canada "because the NDP was the pusher behind the other parties to bring these things into being." She pointed to the example of Saskatchewan, where a CCF, then ND? government has been in power almost as long as the Conservatives in Ontario. She said the average person in -that Western province pays the •rawest provincial taxes in Canada . because . the government uses revenue from their natural resources th pay for social services. Following the presentation of 'their . platforms, can- didates were questioned on issues from stadia -Won programs for the pork in- dustrY to capita grants to municipalities. Candidates from both ridings were asked to outline their party platforms on the province's . health care program. nell, former Huron . County Perth NDP candidate -EflgifileOr, -now.emirloyd—Wi sor-1----a This party Were with a Goderich firm, told elected, they would abolish the audience the Con- OHIP premiums over the servative government has next few years, using laid a basic foundation to resources revenue to fund work out problenis with the the health care system: He BIM program. said only four provincesin Canada now .pay health care .1*-.X..cauclifialk-zatdithe---;attaTblem Davis government governnient haS also residents pay the highest shown its concern with foreign land ownership and has legislation to deal with this. He said the,,goverriment charges a 20 percent sur - premiums. PC candidate Misener said it is no intention of the Conservative government to , institute any form of Alexander 8t -Chapman Realty Limited Member of The Huron Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service Real Estate - General Insurance - Property Management. 10 THE SQUARE GODERICH 524-2177 CLOSE TO SCHOOLS Brick 8. Frame 4 bedroom Split level with nearly finished family room. Owners transferred. Bonus 10% large mortgage. Distinctive New 3 bedroom Brick 8. Abitibi siding split level. Family room. Bonus windows. immediate possession. RETIREMENT HOMES New listing. Brick bungalow with detached 2 car garage. Close to the Square. Mid -fifties. Also a 2 bedroom bungalow with detached 2 car garage. Very pretty lot. Close to the Squarga. Priced in low forties. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES - Good locations to start your own business. Several available. Included are the former "Andrew Dairy" store on West street and 3 variety stores. FARMS - Several good farms - all kinds - now available. Don't delay. Call "Gus" or Martha. INCOME PROPERTY - Two bedroom' and one bedroom apartments in cen- t r al location. Both rented. Lower rate mortgage. FLA. (GUS) CHISHOLM 4 Suncocast Drive W. Tel. 524-8554 JOHN BANTER R.R. 2 Goderich Tel. 524-8149 MARTHA ROBERTSON R.R. 1 Dungannon Ti. 529.7703 DON ABERHART 84 Comex Cres. Tel. 524-7216 BERT ALEXANDER 245 Catherine St. Tel. 524-7836 e deterrent fee for 01-11P users, or to force doctors backinto the OHIP system. She said the Conservatives plan to negotiate with the Ontario rviedical Association (OMA) which sets doctors' fee schedules. Mrs. Misener told the audience she can't support the principle that the government take over OHIP payments entirely, since then doctors would be on salary and would be little more than civil servants, "If you want your babies delivered the same way as your mail, then make the doctors civil servants," she told the audience. Hugh Edighoffer said the Liberal party has always believed "there must be universal accessibility to health care services by Canadians." He said one reason doctors are opting out of medicare is because the program is inefficient and doctors often wait months before their bills are paid: He said the salaries of general practitioners also haven't kept up with other salaries .in the medical profession Edighoffer said if over 10.percent of the doctors have opted out of OHIP in Ontario, this means there isn't the opportunity for all people in the province to be served by a doctor at the going OHIP rate for ser- vices. . • Riddell said if the government negotiated with doctors to give them a fair fee in keeping with doctors in other •provinces, then the doctors would "opt into" the program again. He also criticized the inef- --ficfency -of -ffie-0111-P system and emphasized his • party believes the public should all have access to doctors in the OHIP program. • Riddell criticized some specialistS, noting that .62 percent • of anaesthetists -t:Wt - said the law states doctors have to let patients know beforehand that they're not in the .OHIP program. The candidate said "a lot of people are telling me they had no idea they'd be paying (fees to anaesthetists) over and above the: operation;" The candidate said when this happens, doctors are "not living up to the law." Britnell, who told the audience he's served 16 1 h e, years on the Goderich hospital board, said people should realize 23 percent of the province's- population, the aged and unemployed, do not pay any OHIP premiums. He said doctors opting out had concerned him, but fewer doctcirs left the program in 1980 than the year before. He said most specialists are not billing over and above the OHIP scale. He told the audience, no doctor,' whether he's opted out of the program or not, can charge patients more than the OMA recommended fee for ser- vices. He said only six percent o the fees submitted to OHIP,3,allover the OMA scale. Gwen Pemberton, who served on health care committees for the Con- sumers Association of Canada pointed out teachers have learned to live with having their salaries paid by boards of education or other govermnent bodies, and to negotiate these salaries.' She said, "I don't see why doc- tors . can't do the same thing." Telling the audience one doctor told her the NDP wants "to make slaves of us", . Pemberton said she didn't think teachers regarded themselves as slaves. Candidates were also asked how subSidies.could be impThmented by the government while can- didates were advocating cutbacks in spending.. Riddell attacked the wasteful spending of the Conservative government on their advertising :campaign and— -"laiiet grabbing' /program. He said the Cayuga landfill site was an example- of the government happening to own the land "and they didn't know what to do with it" He said health care in the province "should ' 7.71F -6:a and advocated money spent on the government ad- vertising should be used4o help hospitals that have experienced bed cuts and are forced to put patients on stretchersin the halL • Referring to the govern- ment's $1:5 billion BILD program,- Riddell • asked where this money had been all these years, quipping "and you wonder why I'm losing my hair." Edighoffer, Perth Liberal candidate, said he would suggest the government go over one or two ministries at a time, item by item, and cut out waste spending. He • 11 5 11 also referred to sunset legislation which would review programs every three to four years to see if they were still needed. Perth PC candidate Follow the crowds TO..••• GODERICHSIGNAL-STAR WEDNESDAY. MARCH 18, 1981—PAGE 19 Misener said the 0,01n- servative government is implementing policies that are "long term solutions to great big problems" .1 I frn- • , • ON M4iRcll 110! VOTE JIM BIAITNELL HURON:MIDDUSEXT:C.-CAND1DATE or* • THURSDAY,MARCH19.th referefri..,_ +-1 • • '..,!a';; - Oh' O(t', • " /.4•N, PETER S. MacEWAN INSURANCE AGENCY REPRESENTING: Constitution Insurance Co. Economical Mutual Insurance Co. Dominion of Canada General Ins. Co. Gore Mutual Insurance Co. Perth Insurance Co. Phoenix of Canada Insurance Co. Western General Insurance Co. All Canadian Companies to serve your HOME -AUTOMOBILE AND BUSINESS COVERAGE 38 ST. DAVID ST., GODERICH 524-9531 SHOW WITH !RIDE " 'OR Ott,: ***AO'baf Pofty, • • . a. tetanal*, WITH EACaLARGEOR en xanuto Seed Bun. • CoUrtOsy.afT0 RSDAY, MARCH 1 9 TH Drop in and see our Great New Lod! FREE BALLO Ne FORTHE 4a1 KIDDIES! WE USE ONLY QUALITY SCHNEIDER'S MEATS AND WESTON'S BUNS FOR THE GREAT FRESH TASTE! Reduced to '59,500. 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