The Wingham Advance-Times, 1976-03-04, Page 1I ... - . 1 1-1. - # . . . ." . .
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FIRST SECTION Wingham, Ontario, Thursday, March 4, 1976 25c Single Copy
,Hospital closings set rural Ont,
k R dd 11 t 11ac i e e s Co. cone���i
By Dave Sykes raised from other sources rather tery as a source of revenue but the people of Toronto really closing as 'monstrous'. He added
Jack Riddell, Liberal MPP for than closing hospitals. questioned why the more than $20 didn't want and the goverriment that the only alternative for
Huron -Middlesex, told the month- "if there was a seven per cent million in revenue couldn't be was also spending Money for health care was London since
ly session of county council tax on tobacco the government used for hospitals. snowmobile trails. Wingham hospital was operating
Friday that the closing of hospi- could raise $40 to $50 million per He pointed out that $24 million Clinton Hospital board vice- over 90 per cent occupancy and
tals in the county is setting rural year," he said. "If we can afford was spent on the extension of the chairman viewed the economic Exeter could not satisfy the needs
Ontario back 12 to 15 years. luxuries then we certainly can Spadina Expressway, a project impact of the Clinton Hospital of the people.
"The closings of hospitals in afford to pay for them. "We must deplore the tech -
Huron is a slap in the face to rural He added that a 10 per cent tax niques of the Minister in the
Ontario," he said. "What we faceon tobacco would mean a $70 closing and as long as Clinton is
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now is setting, rural Ontario back million revenue annually. Riddell there health needs will have to be
12 to 15 years." questioned the government's pri- met," he said. "There must be
He explained that Huron was
orities claiming the province did -•alternatives and Clinton Hospital
now forced to bear the brunt Of n't need McMaster University would certainly consider a chal-
the Health Minister's restraint Hospital in Hamilton and Um N lenge to cut the budget."
program and the closing of hospi- versity Hospital in London. Mr. Menzies suggested that the
tals was drawing from the "I could name several more more logical approach would be
lifeblood of the communities. He hospitals we didn't need but now
to cut out inefficient units in
A5.
also added there is evidence of
the community hospitals are 71T County hospitals and adamantly
poor planning and consideration being sacrificed," he said. "We
stated the town had a good case
should have been given to a cen- do have problems and need re- against the closure of the hospi -
tralized hospital in the county. straint but the government has tal
Despite poor planning he be- its priorities mixed up. "The closure of the hospital
lieved there were viable alterna- Riddell explained that it was would be a tragedy to the com- LAST THURSDAY PARKER CAMPBELL was presented with a recliner -rocker in recog-
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tives to complete closure of just further evidence of the cen- munity if the decision is not re-
hos
e- nition of 50 years of continuous service with the Lloyd -Truax Company. At age 15, he
started with the company and was transferred to Walkerton after Lloyd's and Truax's be -
hospitals in the county. He tralizing tendencies of the gov- versed," he said. "If there was came amalgamated. Eldridge Truax, retired plant manager, made the presentation to
claimed there were too many ernmenf and the province would J4 sufficient co-operation from all
hospital beds in Ontario and only be inviting trouble through the hospitals in the county we Mr. Campbell, who is now a foreman at the Walkerton plant. The Truax company will be
Huron County and suggested that centralization. Riddell was also wouldn't have io close." 100 years old this May. Mr. Campbell is only the sixth person to put in 'more than 50 years
every major hospital could have incensed at the hospital closings Mr. Menzies said that Health of active service.
sections closed. He insisted that in view of the needless spending Minister Frank Miller has not
the government has priorities of other government agencies. He made it clear that his Ministry
mixed up and funds could be disagreed with the Wintario Lot- can only withdraw funds since it
does not own the hospital and the
Prov. r e s t r a 'J
services of Huron county hospi-
`tals ints may d emand
spill into other counties.
March to Queen's ParkCouncy councillors debated for
more than an hour as to the
course of their action and juris- 50% increase in school taxes
to take place March 9
diction on the matter. Clerk-trea-, After considerable discussion sibly $10,000 in utilities and a tation driver education, night
surer Bill Hanly told council the
Monday afternoon, the Huron sizable amount in the reduction of
Hospital officials and concern- Since Mr. Miller's announce- school fees, extra -curricular use,
County has no jurisdiction over County Board of Education re- about five in the secretarial staff.
ed citizens protesting health care ment of the closings, a mock fu- of schools, secretarial assistance
the hospital and can only support ferred recommendations from Elliott said the secondary and conservation of energy,
closures and cutbacks in Ontario neral depicting the death of the 4
the efforts of other groups. Coon the in Stratford last Wednes- ten hospitals, sarcastic impres- M� - the budget committee to a special school principals in the county In the matter of grass cutting,
'
day night to march to Queen's sions of the health minister and cil passed two motions, one: that meeting to be held Monday, had agreed to a 10 per cent cu all playing fields and rough
Park March 9. The decision for songs being composed, all show the council support the hospital March 15. The budget committee back on expenses and although it acreage areas would not be fer-
board and the Town of Clinton in
the protest march came after protest at Mr. Miller's decision. suggested a number of ways in wasn't unanimous there was a tilized and not kept like lawns.
their efforts to keep the hospital which costs can be reduced. Sup- feeling they could live with
representatives from the five Last Wednesday's meeting in For custodial supplies a freeze
hospitals facing April I closures, Stratford showed only one thing open and also that the Medical erintendent of Business Affairs, another 10 per cent drop. would be put on to the extent of
Officer of Health •land the County Roy Dunlop said the proposed Principals Ask Voice
one psychiatric hospital facing — that tho�se concerned are will- Health Unit present a brief to the cuts would reduce the overall A delegation of elementary $5.50 per pupil at the secondary
staff and bed reductions and one ing to go to the top in fighting the AT AN ASSEMBLY HELD at Wingham Public School government giving reas,�= v level and $4.50 per pupil at the
� _, _*t to budget by only about one per school principals h
P health laboratory, met be- closums. Also discussed at the Friday, Caryn Mann was the recipient of tho T. S. Beattie �4) eaded by elementary selsocils. Effielft,tAid
R, 6 Bruce Robertson of Howick k Cen-
hind closed doors. meetifig were possible, lawsuits trophy on her public speaking topic Camping in The Back- close health institutions in ur n cent. this was about a 10 per cent cut
County and the board suggest a]- Dunlop said he anticipated the tral School asked to be allowed to from a year ago.
The original protests first arose which. may be filed against the yard. The J. H. Kinkead was presented to Ken Deichert on ternafives to closing in consults- gross budget would be up about 20 discuss the budget restraints Regarding transportation, the
after Health Minister Frank Mill- government. his topic Preparing A Topic. The presentations were made tion with the hospital planning p before they become official. The
er announced the closure of the :Many of the 50 townspeople by Principal John Mann'. per cent from last year. Although manager would be directed to in-
Goderich Psychiatric Hospital. present at the meeting felt there council. the provincial government had brief said, "We note that some of vestigate and report on potential
Since then, more than 1,500 con- were sufficient grounds for a put a ceiling of eight per cent on the proposals for budget cuts are savings if the maximum walking
cerned citizens have been joining legal case against the govern- expenditures "it's impossible to very close to the students and the distance for pupils were at one
forces and a meeting was held at ment. But, lawyers for the in- stay at that figure. We had teach- day-to-day operation of the mile for secondary schools and a
the Huron Central Secondary dividual hospitals concerned are Hospital exempted from restraints er contracts last year go up about schools. We wish to express our half mile for elementary school
School on Feb. 25. In his decision still at work trying to pool their 30 per cent and this carries concerns and request the oppor- pupils.
through into this year." tunity to contribute some input In driver education it was sug-
Mr. Miller said the closure of the activities for the hospitals involv- The Ministry of Health has as- orial Hospital, Chesley Hospital through the individual boards,"In discussion of the proposed and suggestions. Since there is a
Clinton hospital was decided "be- ed. Meeting organizer Paul Car- sured the Wingham and District and Goderich Psychiatric Hos- he said. "The Thursday meeting cutbacks Chairman Herb Turk- management factor in our role gested the per pupil fee be in
to $35 from the present
cause it was a reasonable dis- roll of Goderich said the next Hospital that no cutbacks in pital will meet in Seaforth March was only an exploratory discus-
helm said; "We don't want to let we suggest we should have some rate of $25 effective the beginning
tance from the four other Huron move would be to unify protests either beds or budgets will occur 25 to formulate and finalize steps sion. " the quality of education deterio- involvement in the decision -mak -
County Hospitals. throughout the entre province. in 1976, it was learned last week. which are to be taken against "At this point in time," he said, rate but we want to assure our ing process. We believe that the of any new class. of
The closures have been an- Although the hospital is clear of Health Minister Frank Miller's "we have no facts or figures with For extra -curricular use
nounced to reduce the !expected taxpayers that the mill rate will Huron County Board of Educa- schools, the administration pre -
possible cutbacks, Executive decision of closures to reduce which to work. We are not to- be held as much as possible. tion is approaching the budget
I., billion health budget by more Director Norm Hayes is skeptical health-care deficits. gether yet as a whole." Mr. pare a survey of policies and rate
Wingham Police than $40 million. The restraint about the future. "Although we Turkheim said he hoped a decisions in a very conscientious schedules for community use of
Hayes said the executive direct- proposed increase in levies to the manner and we would hope that facilities of neighboring school
program is affecting 10 hospitals are exempted from constraint Although executive directors of ors would be in a better position municipalities of about 50 per no sources of information would
and more than 2,000 beds. If the action for this year," he said, the five hospitals facing closures after the March 25 meeting. boards, community centres,
find stray dog people concerned are convinced "we don't know if that will be the met in Clinton Thursday after- "As far as we know, absolutely cent could be cut to about 30 per be overlooked in establishing halls, etc.
the ministry has acted irrespons- case next year." noon, no . concrete progress was no one is supporting the clos- cent. priorities that satisfy all levels of The total amount of secretarial
The Wingham Town Police re- ibly, the public hopes to convince Budget Committee Chairman the system." assistance in elementary schools
port that the dog which bit 15 the ministry itself. But, it still remains that others made. Mr. Hayes said Friday ores," he said. He feels the clos- John Elliott said the budgetary Exeter Public School principal be reduced from 757.5 hours per
are not so lucky. It was learned none of the directors came up ures and cutbacks will likely restraints would remove all Jim Chapman added, li'What we week in September, 1975 to the
year-old Debbie Hanula of 134 The first step to be taken to last week the executive directors with conclusions. "Before pre- bring about adverse conditions in extraordinary expenses and re- are asking for is more inside in -
Charles Street on her way to sway the ministry is to arrange of Clinton Hospital, Doctors' Hos- senting our case to the Ministry, the economy. "I feel that the September, 1973 figure of 581.5
school Feb. 17 was found last Fri- more meetings with Premier pital in Toronto, Durham Mem- the decision has to be cleared closures are devastating to the quire a 10 per cent cutback in formation and a chance to give hours per week.
day. The dog, they report, has William Davis, Mr. Miller, NDP -towns. ordinary expenditures. some input."
economy of these small The conservation of energy
been sent to the Wingham Vater- leader Stephen Lewis and Liberal Dunlop said it was almost im- The board agreed to have the included cutting classroom tem-
inary Clinic for a rabies leader Stuart Smith. The second, All the hospitals, up to this point, possible to estimate at this time budget committee chairman and peratures to a maximum of 21
to advertise in Toronto's news- have had excellent levels of hos- what savings would come about other members meet with the degrees Celsius (70 Farenheit),
examination. the 'Wingham papers, the third to declare pital care. I can't see how the from the proposed cutback. He principals Wednesday afternoon. keep classroom doors closed, cut
On Feb. 28, closures won't hurt the economy
Police investigated only one March 9 as "health-care concern Jan . snow remova said formula decreases would The proposals from the budget down on lighting, turn off all non-
motor vehicle accident. Robert day" in Ontario with a mass in some way. I'm just afraid the save about $230,000 and addition- committee for cutbacks included essential ventilation units and
McDougall of 95 Water Street demonstration in Toronto and the •labor pool will drastically dwin- a] savings would come from grass cutting, custodial supplies, exhaust fans on weekends.
struck the Simpson Sears build- fourth step —the last ditch step dle," he said. driver education of $6,500, pos- budget, items, transpor- Plan Metric Workshop
ing on Josephine Street causing — to 90 into court. eats intobudget A metric workshop for Huron
$500 damage to the building and Attending last Wednesday's Board of Education trustees will
an additional $400 damage to his meeting were representatives The unexpected high costs of committee budget of $2,493,600 be held at the board offices in
car. from Clinton Public Hospital, winter snow removal may mean which is up $83,000 from lastClinton on March 17.
The department laid four Doctors' Hospital, Toronto, Ches- a delay in the paving',of Road 19 year's actual budget. The total Approve Drinking Age Rise
charges under the Highway ley Hospital, Durham Memorial from Ethel to Highway 86 until ministry share is $1,415,6 and
The Board supported a resolu-
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Traffic Act during the week. Hospital and Goderich Psychiat- 1977. the county share is $1,07 tion from the Lambton County
ric Hospital, all of which face Huron County engineer, Jim Council approved a budget Board of Education asking the
April I closures. St. Thomas, Britnell told council that winter from the Library Board of Ontario government to raise the
Psychiatric Hospital and the control costs for January were 59 $301,000 an increase of nearly
minimum drinking age from 18 to
Damage of $1000 Woodstock Public Health Lab, per cent higher than last year and $40,000 over the actual budget of ... .. .... 20 years. During the discussion,
facing cutbacks, were also rep- amounted to nearly half of the last year. Tentative approval was .....
Cavlev Hill asked, "What does
snow removal budget. The Janu- given to the budgets of Social
resented. Willett Hospital in this have to do with education'
in car accident
Services Committee totalling
ary total in 1975 was $67,000 as
Paris was not represented be Do we have any problems""
The Wingham detachment of cause a board meeting conflicted. compared to $107,206 for this $378,200 up $31,000 from last e R. 1'. Ritter, principal of F. E.
the Ontario Provincial Police year. The 1976 budget is $230,000, year's actual and theplanning Madill S.S. in Wingham was in
were called to the scene of an Britnell explained that it was board budget of $137,800. attendance and was asked for his
accident Saturday, Feb. 28 on premature to predict the final The planning board budget is opinion. He said, "We have a
County Road 28, south of High- MVCA gets winter control costs but the an increase of $40,000 over last hotel and taverns in the area and
way 87. Vehicles driven by trends indicated an over -ex- year due mainly �to the increase we do have a problem with
Donald R. Charles of RR 1, Gor- $33,000 grant ture of 50 to 70 per cent or as in staff this year. students going there at noon
rie and Wayne L. Nickel of Fordmuch as $160,000. The Ministry of All the budgets submitted to hours I wouldn't want to belittle
wich were involved in the colli- for conduit Transportation and Communica- council have been given tentative the problem It is getting worse."
sion, damage being estimated at A $33,000 Ontario government tion has advised the road com- approval and the master county A His sentiments were echoed by
mittee that no more subsidies will budget will be prepared within
the collision
$1,000. Injured ,in grant will be awarded to the trustees Dorothy Wallace of
were Mr. Charles and two Maitland Valley Conservation be available and any over ex- the month by the executive com- Goderich and Clarence McDon-
passengers in his car, Ronald L nditure would have to be mittee. All committees have at-
- Authority to alleviate flood prob- Pe aid of Exeter Both said similar
Ward of RR 1, Wroxeter and Ken- lems in Listowel, Natural Re- handled entirely by the county. In tempted to stay within the guide- 0 1 problems existed in their towns.
neth Pennington of Gorrie. sources Minister Leo Bernier has some cases it would mean the lines with their requests but if the il t The board gave permission to
During the week of Feb. 2.3-29, announced.. cancellation of road construction total budget needs trimming then principals I of schools in Clinton
the detachment conducted 19 in- Preliminary engineering projects, individual committee budgets %_1 1�r and surrounding area to allow
vestigations. More than 31 studies indicate that the repair Due to the costs of snow may be discussed at council for students to take home letters for
charges were laid under the and improvement of an existing removal the tender for the paving additional cutbacks. THERE WERE SEVEN WINNERS named Feb. 20 at the public speakinq contest held in their parents to sign in opposition
Highway Traffic Act with two conduit on Middle Maitland River Of Road 19 will be delayed until the gymnasium of Sacred Heart School. Winners are back row: Lizann Morrison, Grade 7 to the closing of the Clinton
charges being laid under the is the most "feasible solution to the final winter control costs can and 8 class on Lucy Maude Montgomery; Sharon Brophy, senior class on Teenagers; hospital. The letters when signed
Liquor Licence Act and one frequent and serious flooding in be determined. If it is feasible the —David Cubitt, who has been Natalie Campeau, junior class on Bears; Grace Schmidt, junior class on Laura Ingles are to be mailed directly to
charge under the Criminal Code. Listowel". .1 tender may be called in late employed by the Wingham Wilder. Front row: Leo Kinahan, senior class on The Mysterious Monsters; Anne Premier William Davis or drop -
There were seven collisions The Authority will initinto tip- summer of this year or may be hraneh of thp CanRdian Imp -ria! Kernghan, junior class or, Mothcr Teressa of Calcutta and Rachelle Campeau, senior class - Clinton doctor's
— I I ped off at anN
which caused an estimated $505 tailed design engineering of the delayed until 1977. Bank of Commerce, has been on The Discovery of Insulin. There were three winners from the junior class of nine and
office. the Clinton town hall or
in property damage. conduit before calling tenders. Council approved the road transferred to Collingwood. four winners from the senior class of 10. Clinton h.)spital.
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