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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-04-28, Page 4PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL STAR, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28,„ 1982 DA KES I am ing to feel slightly paranoid and my viour is reflecting that feeling. My head jerks involuntarily to one /tide hi spastic motions and I've taken to looking over my shoulder. I feel like a bad guy; a villain even. But the role has ban dumped on this scribe° un- ceremoniously and. since I have little ex- perience as a villainous editor, the role does not come easy. Economists, or more to , the point, governments, have been urging everyone to tighten the old proverbial belt and lower their expectations. We- must live more frugally and economically in these recessive times. That, unfortunately, has also applied to the newspaper industry, not just here, but • across the country. In the daily press, classified sections, and the help -wanted advertising to be more precise, ` has dwin- SINCE 1848 THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH it DISTRICT Poundal In 1141 end published .very Wednesday et Dadaists. Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OWNA. Adver- tising sat.. on [.quest. Subaalptlens payable In advance '111.1111 In Canada. 'SIM to U.S.A., °WS.M to .11 other coun- tries, sing1e copies Sr. Display advertising rates available en request. Please ask for Rete Card No. 11 effective Oc. sober 1. 1141. Second clam nail Registration Number 5715. Advertising Is assupted .n the condition that In the event of typographical error, the advertising some occupied by the .rron.ew Item. together wH reasonable .11ow.nce for signature, will not be charged for but that Sultana of the advertisement will be Id for .t the op. pikable rate. In the event of • typogr.phial error edverfls(PR goods sr services at. wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising Is merely en offer to sell. end may be withdrawn et any time. The Signal -Star I. not responsible for the lou or damage of unsolicited manuscripts. photos or ether materiels used for reproducing pur- poses. BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1979 PUBLISHED BY: SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED ROBERT G. SHRIER-President and Publisher ,4 DONALD M. HUBICK-Advertising Manager DAVID SYKES-Editor died severely. If anything, that single factor in daily papers across the country refelcts a slow economy. That effect is also being felt in the weekly industry and the reading public will notice #hat their weekly papers are smaller in rms of the number of pages produced each weekand the pages contain a greater percentage of advertising than they ever did. It Is simply a product of the times. There is no shortage of news and news does not dictate the size of a newspaper. Regardless of the economic conditions, there will always be news, both good and bad to be offered to the'readership.. However, the percentage of news offered to the readers is governed mainly by the volume of advertising. Even in your favorite weekly, there must be a certain percentage of advertising per page to make the paper an equitable and viable product. That can present some problems and recently has made the editorial job a little more demanding and precise. The size of the news hole is smaller and it means, in some weeks, that pictures and stories must be held over for another week, some stories are cut and other events will receive limited picture coverage. It is most difficult to try and explain the situation to someone outside the business and certainly readers and members of clubs and organizations feel slighted if coverage of their event is held over or reduced. We feel bad about it too but you will have to try and understand and respect the decisions spade with regards to coverage. Your event is important to you and I should stress that it is also important to us. Undoubtedly many readers question the rationale behind decisions to cut certain pictures and stories and while in effect it is done arbitrarily, the editorial department tries to be fair. Last week several items had to be held over. and I fully expected to hear from people, who had a right to be annoyed that coverage of their event was ignored. The irate calls didn't materialize but it would have at least given mer the opportunity to offer an explanation. This job isn't gratification personified all the time and when the papers are running a little tighter (more advertising per page) and a little smaller, Hopefully, it is only a temporary situation and one that the readership will have to accept for the time being. We are eager to cover your event but you may have to be satisfied with a shorter story and perhaps, less picture coverage than the event would normally warrant. Now that I've spit that out and can count on your co-operation and understanding, I will not be looking over my shoulder. • Second class mail registration number -0714 P.O. BOX 220, HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK GODERICH NTA 416 • FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES please phone (5l9) 544.8331 r bitrate disput Most 'doctors` across Ontario are participating in a .;provincial strike this. week to support the Ontario Medical Aociation's demands in the fee negotiations with the government. While the negotiation process continued over the weekend with no degree of success, Health Minister Larry Grossman said the government would have to consider legislating the doctors back to work if there was no ap-. preciable progress in the process Wednesday. While the doctors staged a strike Tuesday and Wednesday, the negotiations continued. For a change, the OMA has achieved solidarity among the membership in its hid for a new and acceptable' fee schedule. The government had offeredthe doctors a 34 per cent increase over three years. that the government claimed would boost the average salaryto about ;114,000. The OMA has disputed the government's figures but has not indicated what the OMA would call a reasonable compromise. It was rumored the OMA was seeking an increase in the neighbourhood of 70 per cent. In recent negotiation sessions, the government in- creased its offer by, compounding the percentage in- creases that were already put into effect into the OHIP fee schedule. The unposed 34 per cent increase was not compounded. By compounding the percentage increases, it would have raised the government offer by a mere two per cent although negotiators were willing to add three per cent raises in 1986 and 1987 on top of the negotiated settlement. The governmentis being a little more fair and realistic in its approach by offering a compounded interest formula 'and catch up raises for two years afterwards. But the .P' doctors have remained united in their frontand still seek a higher settlement. r.} Nobody in the province would argue that doctors deserve adequate pay for the services provided. They are certainly dedicated to the profession and protide an in- valuable and lifesaving service to the residents of Ontario. But it is difficult for the average resident, who faces unemployment, inflation and no guarantees their own pays will come close to matching inflation, to fully grasp the doctor's stand. It appears they are commanding an adequate salary based on economic conditions. The doctor s might be ' putting themselves in a precarious position by taking such a united and tough stand against the government. The government faces a similar risk of losing the confidence of the public if it gives into the demands of the OMA. There can be no winners in such a dispute and ultimately, it is only the patients who may feel the effects of the strikes or rotating walkouts. Legislating the doctors back to work may only serve to strengthen the OMA, an organization that has been fess than imposing in previous negotiations with the gover- nment. It is difficult, in this day when athletes are millionaires, to speculate on just pay for the job. As mentioned previously, doctors deserve adequate compensation for their services and dedication. But they should not have to seek that compensation at the expense of patients. If government refuses to make further concessions in the negotiating process, the. only solution might be ar- bitration. The sides should he able to reach a solution but if the patient begins to suffer, then arbitration might present the only alternative. D.S. Frosty mooring By Kris Svela DEAR READERS SHIRLEY KELLER Davis passes buck The Ontario Conservative Party and namely its leader, Bill Davis, have been•guilty of buck passing with respect to the economy. Davis has criticised the federal government on numerous occasions for its current budget and monetary policy. The Conservatives have claimed that the economy is tied directly to federal policy and that there is little they can do at the provincial level. Saskatchewan voters might tell you differently this • week after they overwhelmingly supported a Con- servative government that has prornised to reduce tax on gasoline and eventually lessen the burden of provincial tax. The measures, certainly, smack of idle campaign promises, but if that province's government is true to its word, the people will feel well represented. Ontario is due tor a new budget shortly but Davis has made no promises and treasurer Frank Miller is being tight-lipped about the impending budget. The only economic strategy Davis has purported recently calls for a new federal budget to stimulate the country's economy. Speaking to financial analysts and business economists last week, Davis said that a new budget, with new economic policies is needed. Davis said that Canada's tight -money policy and high - interest rates are not curing inflation. Rather, the policy is imposing high costs and unemployment on the public. The premier has offered no alternatives to the federal policy but said the goal of 'all governments is to bring inflation under control, a promise that Trudeau made 10 years ago that followed with wage and price controls. Inflation must be licked on a national scale, Davis said and offered praise for British Columbia Premier Bill Bennett who imposed a 12 per cent ceiling on provincial spending and a 10 .per cent ceiling on pay increases for provincial employees. Bennett has at least taken a bit of a stand in the fight against inflation and while Davis admires his policy he said the Ontario government might not impose similar measures in the May 13 budget. The Premier has spoken against wage controls for government employees in the past claiming the Con- servatives could not isolate one sector of the economy. There is a measure of truth in that but the government could at least reduce or cap its spending to a certain degree. According to Davis, however, the underlying difficulty rests solely on the shoulders of Canadians. There is no confidence in the economy and experts and the general public are not painting great pictures for the Immediate future. Canadians are relatively tame in the investment market compared to the audacious methods employed by Americans and that lack of confidence of that gnniibling nature is hurting the economy now. Confidence on the part of investors and consigners will add some stimulus to the lagging economy but the government could also show some restraint and leadership Ina few areas. D.S. Most of you who know me, know that I've come out strongly in favour of a raise for doctors. And even though I've had some angry responses recently from some of you who think doctors generally make too much money for doing too little, I remain adamant. I believe that doctors should be reimbursed for their services according to their worth to suffering mankind. And who can really put a price tag on that? Having said that, I am appalled when doctors use that vital and special training as a bludgeon for personal monetary gain. I am disappointed that Ontario doctors have resorted to withholding services from their patients. To me 'it seems most unprofessional for the , province's doctors to close their doors to suf- fering mankind, even for one, two or three days a week. I know emergencies are still handled by doctors. But when is an emergency legitimate? Whose decision is- that? Who - makes the judgement? The Hippocratic Oath embodies the code of medical ethics. Does it also make, provision for leaving the sick unattended while doctors are driving home a point with the Ontario govern- ment? There's something totally inconsistent about the dedication and fervour of highly respected physicians in this community whom I have observed at work 18 their offices, in the hospital and in the board rooms, when it is pitted against the rather commonplace and unimaginative methods suggested by the Ontario Medical Association to stubbornly refuse to work until they get their way. The two just don't go together. And I'm amazed at the lousy timing of the Ontario doctors in their militant pursuit of more money for their services. Surely the provincial medical practitioners aren't so completely out -of -touch with the St grassroots that they don't know how badly some individuals, and particularly business, is hurting in this first half of 1982. And while the doctors are aiming their guns at government, it is the people who will pay if government agrees to the doctors' demands - and the people . who will suffer loss of medical services if government refuses to comply. Surprisingly, I'm not the only citizen who says I would rather pay more in OHIP premiums each year than risk going without medical services when'I need them. I have found there are many others who agree with me. But many more only partially agree. Many more say, "I won't pay more for OHIP. I pay enough now to the provincial treasury. Let government reassess budgets." In a small business for instance, backs are already to the wall with rising costs and reduced sales. Whether it s cause is realsor psychological doesn't matter. Another significant wallop in the pocketbook to pay more for their share of their employees' OHIP will have serious repercussions all down the line. Their costs will need to be recovered somewhere, somehow - or face even more startling losses than they are already ex- periencing. Really doctors, this isn't the time to be turning down increases, even if they aren't in the proportions you hoped for. If you were losing respect before this fiasco, how can you hope to regain it by such militant means? Government isn't blameless of course. In my opinion, government has misread the economic signs in the past, and has made some decisions which in hindsight, were incorrect. As in private business which is today realigning its priorities, government should be prepared to back -pedal on things like the premier's jet and the provincial foray into the oil business. Ontario citizens have indeed a right to question the decision-making of a government that continues to lay blame for Ontario's woes everywhere but at its own doorstep. There's little doubt that the Ontario govern- ment now sees this whole thing as an opportunity to make political hay. The question is, "What must we do now to get re-elected?" rather than "How can we continue to deliver the best medical services to the people of this province without increasing taxation?" Who is "keeping the promise" now to Ontario's citizens - patients and doctors alike? But the real culprits in this whole mess are the people. You and me. We make the demands that must be met by doctors and paid for by OHIP.'We drive up OHIP payments every time we fall to lower our ex- pectations about what constitutes safe medical practices. It is people who refuse to act responsibly about using the medical services available to them. It is people who vote for the politicians who promise the moon on a platter, without ever stopping to assess the cost of those promises. It is people who forget that their selfishness - and apathy is what brought us to this day. It all started with us, dear readers. It's been building to a peak for years. We saw it coming, but we ignored it. Said it couldn't happen. Wouldn't happen. We have ourselves to blame, • for we are the government. Somehow I hoped the doctors of this province would have a little more class than the average citizen. A little more moxey. A few more smarts. -But alas, no one seems to have any new ideas these days. Not government. Not people. Not even our top professionals. It's a sorry state we're in when from among even our upper echelon of society, there's a lack of inspired leadership when we need it most • desperately. awanosh residents should look at plan Dear Editor: If residents of East Wawanosh Township would like to take a second look at the Township of East Wawanosh draft secondary plan, just take an and underline all Big be allowed", "will not be allow- ed", "must be", "must be used", "may be permitted", "will be monitored". These phrases occur all the way through. Think about it. Do you want to be told how to live, what to do With your land and your life from now on? Once this plan goes through (no matter what some smooth talking fellow tells you), it is here to stay, TTER and you will no longer be a "free" resident of East Wawanosh Township. The following are a few quotes from this plan draft and a few comments. You will find every quote in this draft plan. Quote - "you may submit your opinion" Comment - This was done at frequent meetings and they just went ahead anyway. Quote - "existing small holdings may be permitted to be used for residential purposes" Comment - Why permit- ted? Is this not a„ democracy? Quote - "administer and plan for Township of East Wawanosh under powers conferred upon them' Co: r ent -,Who conferred these powers on them? Cer- tainly not the residents who are now in danger of losing their rights to live 'as they want to; not as they are told to. Quote - "East Wawanosh Township is a solid pro- sperous agricultural com- munity" Comment - True. So why try to change it? Quote - "Positive steps_ must be taken to guarantee the future" Comment - If you can do this, perhaps Mr. Trudeau would step down and you can take his place. Quote - "basic principle of Secondary Plan to promote agricultural development and prevent land uses which are not" Comment - Why not credit us with a few brains and let us govern our own lives or will you allow us the same in- terference in your way of life? Quote - "recreational 'resource - It is not the intent of the plan to introduce or promote private recrea- tional development" Comment - In other words ,if you have potential private recreational facilities you would like to use, forget it - Turn to page 6 . • .yr._._.