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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1985-04-24, Page 24 Page 2—The Wingham Advance -Times, Apr. 24, 1985 OFFiCIA L OPENING,AT NEW FIRE HALL—W. H. Gilkinson, a former Wingham-area resident and member of the local fire department who has since gone on to become chief of investigative services with the office of the Ontario Fire Marshal, was present to cut the ribbon and officially open the brand-new Wingham Fire Hall as Chairman William Crump and other members of the Wingham Area Fire Board from Morris, Turnberry, East Wawanosh and Howick townships looked on. A large crowd turned out for the official' opening, which includ- ed an opportunity to tour the impressive building con- structed jointly by the five member municipalities. Extended sep. school funding issue at all -candidates meeting Extended funding to Roman Catholic high schools was the main topic of discussion at an all - candidates' meeting held last Tuesday evening at the Wingham Town Hall. Although the issue of extended funding largely has been ignored by the three party leaders throughout the campaign for, the ,May 2 provincial election, the three candidates in Huron -Bruce all addressed the matter at last week's meeting. Marc Forrest, a teacher at the F. E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham, said he feels extended funding to Catholic high schools will create an increased tax burden and asked, "Who's going to pay?" New Democratic Party candidate Norma Peterson of Kincardine said her party supports the principle of extended separate school funding, but not at the ex- pense of public high school and teaching positions. Liberal incumbent Murray Elston of Wingham said his party also supports extended separate school funding in principle. However since no details regarding the cost or manner of implementing the plan have been released since former , Premier William Davis's an- nouncement of last June, Mr. Elston said his party and the people of the province are at a "great disadvantage". "There are times when you can't toe the party line," said Progressive Con- servative candidate Mike Snobelen of Ripley, who added he is very concerned the legislation may create division along religious lines. Mr. Snobelen predicted the matter eventually will end up in the courts. "The province might just as well refer the case to a court of appeal for a ruling." The candidates were pressed again later in the evening about a recently - released TV -Ontario poll Which claims the majority of residents are opposed to extended separate school funding, contrary to govern- ment findings. Mrs. Peterson said perhaps people are annoyed by the way Mr. Davis made the announcement, while Mr. Elston said a referen- dum on the matter "might be of some benefit". "Give me a chance to be your representative and we'll see what we can do," said Mr. Snobelen. REDISTRIBUTION Patricia Bailey, Wingham's -deputy reeve, anked"theenn- didates whatthey would do to prevent the proposed re- distribution of the electoral riding of Huron -Bruce. Mr. Snobeleii said he supports redistribution of the riding if it is warranted and fully supports the concept of "one county — one MLA". "I believe in the principle of representation by popula- tion," agreed Mrs. Peterson, and said if the numbers war- rant it, the riding should be redistributed. However Mr. Elston said he has fought redistribution. "Rural Ontario can stand all the voices available...If we lose one rural spokesman, we have lost one too many." Some ridings in Northern Ontario have as few as 30,000 constituents, he argued, while some city ridings have as many as 90,000. Mrs. Bailey said she also is concerned -about the proposed cuts in indirect subsidy to day care eentres, scheduled for 1986, which would send -rates to $22 per day per child. "I understand the government is reconsidering the matter," answered Mr. Snobelen, adding he would be in favor of further study on day care funding. Mr. Elston said he has fought the closure of day care centres and his party would provide additional funding to start up new centres and not just in cities either. The NDP supports flex- ible, accessible day care, said Mrs. Peterson, and she is not in favor of cutbacks in day care spending. OHIP PREMIUMS Mr. Elston was asked about his party's proposal to eliminate OHIP premiums and how the government would pay for such a program. A Liberal government would end extra billing by doctors and therefore be eligibleto receive $50 million in transfer payments being witheld by the federal, government Since Ontario refuses to outlaw extra billing, he answered. Mr. Snobelen was quick to point out the two levels of government still are negotiating over, those payments, which /are not considered "lost" until 1987 and they *ill not be lost, according to Mr. Snobelen. Mrs. Peterson said her party has the same com- mitment to eliminate OHIP premiums as the Liberals. On the question of how to stop foreign buyers from purchasing prime farm land, Mr. Elston said the Liberals are against non-resident, foreign purchasers. He suggested buyers only be allowed to purchase a set number of acres if they in- tend to remain non- residents. Mr. Snobelen said he understands why farmers would be tempted to sell to foreign buyers, in fact he said he sold a farm to a foreign interest. Even though the concerns in the farming community are valid, Mr. Snobelen said he feels the situation is starting to correct itself: farms are starting to come back on the market and often at a reduced price. The NDP would "legislate an end to non-resident and foreign ownership because it is killing the family farm," said Mrs. Peterson. HOSPITAL CARE "What is your stand on local hospitals?", Mr. Snobelen was asked, in' a question which alluded to Premier Frank Miller's fight over the closing of local hospital beds several years ago when he was health minister. Mr. Snobelen said he believes the hospital system in the province today is a favorable one and he would not be in favor of closing treatment beds. Mr. Elston said he fears the "touch of Frank Miller" and predicted more hospital bed closures in the next two years. Mrs. Peterson's biggest concern with the health care system today in the,province is "U.S. companies running our hospitals for profit, not people": She also said she would be in favor of ex- panded funding for home- care programs. Mr. Elston was asked how he could criticize gas prices in Ontario when they are "the fault of the former federal Liberals". The MPP replied he feels perfectly justified in critizing the Ontario govern- ment's ad valor= gas tax policy, especially since the provincial tax increased to 37 cents per gallon in 1984, from 19 cents in 1981. Mr. Snobelen said he sees no reason why the provincial gas tax should not be ad valorum, that is, increase automatically whenever the price of gasoline increases. The NDP opposes automa- tic increases in government tax, said Mrs. Peterson, and that includes the ad valorum tax on gas. In answer to a question about the closure of the Ripley high school during Mr. Snobelen's term on the Bruce County Board of Education, he defended the decision because with 120 students the board could not justify keeping the school open. ABORTION The abortion issue was raised at the Meeting and each of the candidates outlined his or her views on the matter. Mr. Snobelen declared he is ''pro -lite, while Mrs. Peterson said she supports the right of the individual to make "a private, moral decision" on the matter. Mr. Elston said abortion cannot be used as a method of birth control, but it should be the decision of a woman and her doctor in the case of rape or if it threatens the life of the mother. "I am opposed to the establishment of free -6 standing abortion clinics," said Mr. Elston, "Do you support alcohol sold from local stores?"! the candidates were asked. Mr. Snobelen "Absolutely not." The Liberal party has come out in favor of \ selling domestically -produced wine and beer from local stores, said Mr. Elston, but it would draw the line at hard liquor. The people selling the wine and beer would be licensed under Liquor Control Board of 'Ontario guidelines regarding the selling of spirits. Mrs. Peterson said she personally is not in favor of selling alcohol from corner I/ stores as some data released by the LCBO recently claims it could contribute to alcoholism. The candidates all mad closing' remarks before the meeting adjourned Hospita The Wingham and.District Hospital Board has approved the 1ppointraent to the medica-litliff of Dr. Andrew Shelbus, a specialist in adult and children's allergies. The appointment was recommended by the medical staff, with Dr. Walter Wong informing the board that Dr. Chelbus comes very highly qualified, with a long list of appoint- ments at hospitals including the Hospital for Sick Child- ren in Toronto. He told the board•that the doctor plans to hold clinics here one day a month initially, possibly increasing the frequency if needed. 0-0.0 The board also approved a recommendation by the medical staff that selec registered nurses an registered nursing assistants be permitted to place a maximum of one skin suture in patients coming to the hospital with minor lacerations. This would eliminate the need to call a doctor for very minor wounds, although a doctor would still be called if the cut required more than one stitch, if it were on the face or if the patient objected to being stitched by a nurse. ,0-0-0 The board deferred until its May meeting discussion of a proposal for changes to the hospital bylaws which would, among other things, raise to $5.00 from $1.00 the yearly fee required to join the hospital association- and vote at the annual meeting. The contribution required for a life membership would also rise to $500 from $100. The proposals are part of a general review of the bylaws by the management coni- mittee. However action was deferred because a number of board members had not brought along copies of the proposed changes. 0-0-0 With $87,515 still needed to attain the $400,000 goal in the hospital fund-raising campaign, the fund-raising committee plans to send out another bulk mailing in an effort to put it over the top. The mailing was delayed, however, when some board members objected to the tone of the accompanying letter. The letter suggested that if every household were to give an additional $20 the goal would be reached. But Marilyn Wood and Mary Lou Thompson, members of the board's public relations committee, said it would not be fair to ask for more money from people who may already have given all they could afford. Eventually it was suggest- ed the letter be reworded as a reminder to those who may not yet have contributed or an invitation to those who want to give more. Two men charged with bank robbery Two Hamilton men have been charged in connection with the robbery of the Royal Bank at Ripley last month and police said additional charges against them are Tending in connection with the robbery of the Bank of Montreal at Hensall last week. James Robert Smith, 28, and Donald William Green- away, 26, were arrested by OPP officers in Toronto last Saturday and charged with armed robbery. The arrests concluded a month-long investigation by the OPP criminal in- vestigation squad under the supervision of acting -Det. Sgt. Harold McKittrick, who formerly served with the OPP detachment at Wingham. The Ripley bank was robbed March 22 and police reported that three men escaped with about $10,000. In another robbery last Friday, three men escaped with about $5,000 from a bank in Hensall. In both cases the getaway vehicles had been stolen in Hamilton. A third suspect has not yet been charged. MEDICAL RADIATION TECHNOLOGIST WEEK April 28 - May 4 Whereas the Ontario Association of Medical Radiation Technologists is celebrating its 50th an- niversary this year. And whereas it should be recognized that these are highly skilled individiiale who have attended a fully approved and accredited training program and whose main role is to assist physicians in ob- taining valuable medication information by the use of radiation. Now therefore, I, William Harris, Mayor of the, Town of Wingham do hereby .declare the week of April 28 - May 4 as Medical Radiation Technol- ogist Week in the Town of Wingham. William R. Harris Mayor rd briefs "I don't think you have to worry about offending anyone," Alex Graham, who gave the fund-raising report, told the board. "I b9ught a record from People's Church five yeaki ago and I get a letter every week asking for mOney." "Yes, but what do you do with that letter?" another board member responded. 0-0-0 In response to a question from board member Robert Middleton, Administrator Norman Hayes said he really does not understand why admissions to the hospital declined by 15 per cent during the past year. "If the physicians would admit more patients to the hospital it would change the figure," he commented, adding he does not know if people are healthier, if they are going somewhere else or if more are using the out- patient services, which have shown an increase. Asked by Hans Kuyvenho- ven if hospital funding might be reduced, Mr. Hayes said he does not expect this to happen, though he was not as emphatic as on past occa- sions. It is possible funding could be reduced if equiva- lent_patients days fall, he said. So far this has not hap- pened because the length of stay is up. "Whatever we're faced with we'll manage with," he concluded. 0-0-0 Earlier Mr. Hayes had reported to the board on a meeting of CEOs and board chairmen from 185 hospitals which he and Mrs. Vair had attended at the OHA Centre in Toronto. The question of hospital funding was discussed, he said, with warnings of problems ahead if the level of funding does not increase. Asked what this could mean to the Wingham hospital, Mr., Hayes said he does not expect the impact will be very hard. He suggested letting "the big boys do the fighting for us", since the larger hospitals will be hardest hit. He -also noted that, "We've done reasonable well this year." The financial report showed the hospital with a surplus of $487,000 for the past year, more than double what it had anticipated. Please turn to Page 3 MIKE SNOBELEN YOUR PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE IN HURON -BRUCE A chance to be heard A vote for Mike Snobelen, P.C. in Huron -Bruce, Is a vote for a DIRECT VOICE to the P.C. Government. A direct voice for agriculture - Mike is a farmer - He knows the problems. The conizerns of our farmers will be heard. A direct voice for the Bruce Energy Centre. As your representative in a P.C. Government, Mike will work DIRECTLY with government to realize the potential and jobs so long talked about. "FOR A POSITIVE VOICE FOR HURON -BRUCE" ELECT MIKE SNOBELEN / Gary Courtney Official Agent FORME LOVE OF GOD. G1VE, The uniform is like a beacon on the street. It signals help. Compassion. Caring. - But not many'people know how r• much it talces to be a' ier in the . SalvatiOWArittYnie intnlhtil h�ttfs.- ,The incredible patience. The brutal situations. Taking responsibility for those 'whom society is unable to take responsibility for. Providing help, and then hope, for the people who need it most. - " But they know. Anyone whose life the Salvation - Army has touched knows. And we ask for them, that you give. As much as you can. For the love of God. For more information, please contact: Salvation Army - Captain B. Linkletter - 357-1367 Campaign Blitz - May 6, 6:30 p.m. Co giS , I C. Re-elect ELSTON A VOTE FOR ELSTON IN HURON -BRUCE IS A VOTE FOR... v- EXPERIENCE Murray Elston and the Liberal. Party are committed to build- ing a better Ontario and an educational system that will produce quality results. Ontario is blessed with well- trained and enthusiastic in- structors; and students who are eager to take advantage of the new opportunities pro- vided by our Changing ' technology. Murray and the Liberal Party believe we must develop these ingredients to provide an education system second to none in the world, A Vote for Murray Elston is a vote for a Liberal govemment that would bear a larger share of the cost of education„ to ease the burden on local property taxes. A stronger, more affordable educational system, under a Liberal gov- ernment, would guarantee work for thousands of young people. Murray Elston and the Ontario Liberal Party are committedto meeting the needs of the future by investing now in our young people ENTHUSIASM v- ENERGY v- EMPLOYMENT EDUCATION v- ENVIRONMENT Huron -Bruce NEEDS Murray Elston He Cares! IBE For election information call: Wingham - 357-1964' 357-3228 Kincardine - 396-4453 Port Elgin - 389-4224 389-4242 Sponsored by the Provincial Huron -Bruce Liberal Association • Vern Inglis Chief Financial Officer