Zurich Citizens News, 1977-01-26, Page 16Page 16
Citizens News, January 26, 1977
By JACK RIDDELL
MPP Huron -Middlesex
In mid-December, Provincial
Auditor Norman Scott tabled his
report for the year ended March
31st, 1976. As a result of in-
formation contained in this
Report, the Government plans to
introduce legislation this spring
to deal with the question of
ownership of private medical
laboratories by doctors, giving
rise to conflicts of interest. The
Government has been promising
the regulations since last spring.
The Provincial Auditor said in
his report that the Ontario Health
Insurance Plan (OHIP) has paid
out millions of dollars in claims
without properly checking their
validity. He states that existing
legislation makes prosecution on
fraud charges almost impossible.
Government and medical
profession rules have been too lax
in permitting doctors to operate
private labs which have made
claims on OHIP, which according
to July 31st records cover
12,748,793 participants in the
plan, although the province's
population a year before wasonly
8,226,000.
Apparently the Medical
Review Committee of the College
of Physicians and Surgeons of
Ontario —setup in 1971 to rule on
cases of improper payment —
has yet to issue decisions on 175
Government looks at private labs
cases, some dating back to 1974.
The Review Committee
recommended recovery of money
in 115 cases, but no action in 254
others, failing to explain its
decisions when OHIP evidence of
improper payments was rejec-
ted. One possible explanation for
delay in settling cases . which
come before the Review Com-
mittee is the fact that many cases
are extremely complicated.
One physician was ordered to
repay the Ontario Health
Insurance Plan a total of $489,000,
according to the Auditor's
Report, which devoted 14 pages
to the Health Ministry and abuses
of the $800 million OHIP fund, No
reason is given for the Review
Committee's order for the
repayment of $489,000. During its
five years of operation in the
Committee has recovered $1.1
million.
The Auditor also reported that
overpayment of family benefits
by theNIinister of Community and
Social Services has passed the $19
million mark. The largest
amount - $8.6 million represents
unrecovered portions of over-
payments that were outstanding
when recipients were cut off.
Administrative errors were
blamed or $857,000 of the losses
during the past three years and
legal action is being considered in
another 86 cases for which
overpayments total $563,000. At
least $70,000 has apparently
disappeared in the form of
replacement cheques for others
that have been lost or un-
delivered,
The Provincial Auditor also
discloses that although the
government has a building full of
meeting rooms at Queen's Park,
the Ministry of Culture and
Recreation prefers the comfort
and service of Toronto hotels.
During the past year, this
011A Junior D standings close
Ministry ran up a tab of $18,466
holding 40 meetings at 16 city
hotels.
"Some of the billings did not
indicate the purpose of the
meeting nor the names of those
attending," said the Auditor,
"We recommended that the
facilities of the Macdonald Block
(the Queen's Park meeting
centre) be used for meetings
whenever possible and that the
Ministry develop standards and
guidelines to regulate the cost of
food and beverages provided •at
meetings, luncheons and other
hospitality -related functions."
.Old Fort William. being built
for the Ontario Government as a
tourist attraction in Thunder
Bay, has cost more than twice the
originally budgeted price. The
cost to the end of last March stood
at $12.7 million. The construction
contract signed fiveyears ago was
for $5.5 million, subject to an
increase of not more than ten per
cent and increases due to inflation.
Costs have also run far over
approved limits in a related
project. The Government agreed
to have a university prepare
manuscripts and technical
reports on the fort, setting a limit
of $200,000. By the end of March,
the cost had hit $242,000.
In another controversial
project in Northwestern Ontario,
costs of buying and renovating
Minaki Lodge have hit $9.4
million. The Province bought the
lodge in 1974 to protect Northern
Ontario Development Cor-
poration loans on the property
when the owner was unable to
meet mortgage payments.
The Report also reveals that
the Government gave an ex -
Deputy Minister, seconded to
serve as Chairman of the
Regional Municipality of Sud-
bury, $23,375 in severance pay
when he resigned over a dispute
with a council member. He was
Ha wks efeat Seaforth
Hawks
The standings of the Ontario
Hockey Association Western
Junior "D" division continue as
close as ever. The Mitchell
Hawks are in first place with 42
points, the Tavistock Braves are
second with 41 points and the
Exeter Hawks are another point
back in third position,
In their only outing this week,
the Hawks had little trouble in
defeating the Seaforth Cen-
tennaires 8-1 at the Zurich arena,
Sunday night. They met
Thamesford at the Zurich arena,
Iast night, Tuesday.
One of the most important
games of the season for the
Hawks comes up Friday night
when they travel to Tavistock to
meet the Braves. Sunday night
(upport the Hawk
OHA
JrExeter
ZURICH
ARENA
® °D'
Hockey
Sun., Jan. 30
Belmont
VS
Exeter
8:QQ p.m.
ZURICH
ARENA
they will be at home at the Zurich
arena at 8 p.m. to meet the
Belmont Bombers.
In Sunday's romp over
Seaforth, the Hawks scored all
eight goals before their op-
position was able to chalk up
their only score. Eight different
Hawks shared in the scoring.
The two Exeter first period
goals came within 48 seconds of
each other. John Van Gerwen
blinked the red light on a pass
from Ken Pinder at 2:06 and then
quickly Gerald Weido converted
a pass from Dave Kinsman.
In another scoring flurry, John
Van Gerwen and Pinder fired
successful shots for the Hawks.
Assists on both goals were
provided by Noel Skinner.
Jim Ferguson notched the fifth
Exeter goal at 12:59 on a pass
from Don McKellar and Kim
McKinnon scored with the assist
going to Phil Knight with one
second left in the period.
The score went to 7-0 at 5:21 of
the third period on a three-way
combination. Fred Mom-
mersteeg was the marksman on a
play started by John Van Gerwen
and Ken Pinder.
Captain Steve Jennison wound
up the Exeter scoring at 8:22 with
assists going to Brian Taylor and
Gerald Weido.
The lone Seaforthgoal was
scored by Bruce Blake.
The two Exeter stars were Jim
Ferguson and Matt Muller.
subsequently dismissed from
Government service, after 27
years of employment with the
Province, and was given no
explanation for the dismissal.
The Provincial Auditor stated
"the payment of this severance
allowance did not appear to be
based on the Public Services Act
or Regulations or anystated
guideline."
This Government has a ten-
dency, confirmed by the Auditor,
to operate by means of
Management Board Orders —
Cabinet spending orders which
have not been passed by the
Legislature. Apparently, in the
fiscal year 1975-76, the public
interest necessitated the spen-
ding of $289,905,005 by this
means. There were 93 separate
orders for amounts, ranging from
$15,000 to $57 million.
I have had several inquiries
from farmers regarding the
alleged import control of farm
chemicals by this week, but on
checking with the office of the
Federal Minister of Agriculture,
the Honourable Eugene Whelan, I
find that the Minister has met
with the various farm
organizations but nothing has
been made public.
Snowarama
Sun., Jan. 30
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