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Page 6- Halton Hills This Week, Wednesday, February. 3, 1993: EDITORI Editorial -- 7. 1. an article in a newspaper pre- senting the opinion of the editor or editorial staff. Should we have to pay for parking at community hospitals? By Wendy Long Chances are, at some point in the future when you visit an ailing relative or friend at the Georgetown or Milton hospitals, you may have to fork out for parking. Georgetown District Hospital and Milton District Hospital are in a very preliminary stage, stress preliminary, of looking into paid parking. A brief note on paid parking was included in executive director John Oliver’s monthly report to the Georgetown hospital’s board * of trustees, at the January meeting last Thursday. The report states that a request for proposals for paid parking was developed, in conjunction with Milton District Hospital, and sent out to possible suppliers of parking equipment. “Our hospital isn’t really even considering it yet,” Oliver said emphatically, “We don’t even know if it’s possible to do it.” He added that the board can’t have a discussion without receiving the preliminary information. It may turn out that the board may reject the proposal, although it is being considered as one alternative for generating revenue in the 1993/94 operating plan. However, Milton hospital’s executive director Brian Brady believes paid parking will be a reality “at some point”, whether short term or long term. “ft was first discussed in the hospital last year to apply against operating costs,” Brady said in a telephone interview. “It wasn’t done last year but we are still interested in it. We thought if both hospitals work together on it, we may get a better price for the equipment. We’re just looking at it, no decision has been made. That would come through the budget process.” Brady estimates the tender proposals should be received some- time in mid-February. “Tt [paid parking] is one of the last remaining areas of fundrais- ing for hospitals to use,” Brady said. director of the Halton District y Marlene Longdon, executive Health Council, affirmed this statement. She stated that hospitals are having to deal with rising costs and decreasing revenues. “People are having to be as creative as they, can in terms of sources of revenue...a few years ago hospitals kept up more closely with expenditures...there’s no money to do that anymore,” Longdon said. “The tax revenues are decreasing and the provincial government is coming up short.” Longdon said paid parking is a reflection of the desire to main- tain the principles of medicare. “Most hospitals do charge for parking,” Longdon said. “Tt has to be taken in context of the individual community. I don’t know the from context of your own community, but it relates to community val- ues. A right or wrong position isn’t available.” Surely paid parking for smaller community hospitals is ques- tionable. It may be acceptable for larger urban areas, where you can’t park anywhere without having to pay, but how viable is it for Georgetown and/or Milton? Will the side residential streets become alternate parking spots? After all, if you’re going to pay for parking at the socal hospital, even if it is intended to support a worthy cause, you . ight as well pay at the churches, schools and doctors’ offices. KKK- a product of created environment Dear Editor: I am not a supporter of the Ku Klux Klan. However I do feel that if certain levels of government in this country continue to bow to pressure from groups like the BADC and other levels of govern- ment insist on adopting hiring poli- cies that favor visible minorities, that these governments are creating an environment in which organiza- tions like the KKK will flourish. Yours discontentedly, Terrence A. Campbell ed Fireplace friends It was time to re-light the hand warmers and co: zy up by the fire.The Scouts each carried a hand warmer on their overnight winter camping trip as weekend temperatures dipped well below the freezing mark. Photo by Laura Salverda Grier wields absolute power over Niagara Escarpment issues Dear Editor, Something very disturbing is happening. In towns and cities all along the escarpment, letters and articles opposing the Niagara ent Landowners Coalition (NELC) are appearing in newspa- pers with totally incorrect and mis- leading information. Even more disturbing is the fact that these untrue accusations are drawing public attention away the real issues. Although I am tempted to jump to the defense of our group, it is better to use my time and energy to inform the pub- lic of the real issues. ‘The stark reality is that there is an act, presently in effect, which allows the Honourable Grier immense power over development in approximately 25% of the land in Halton Hills. An amendment is being processed to expand this area. The name of the act is the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act and the section which gives Ms. Grier the final say in ns in this area is sec- tion 25(12), which states that: “After giving consideration to the report of the office, the Minister may confirm the decision or he may vary the decision or ly decision that in his opinion ought to have been made and the decision of the Minister under this section is final.” The McNiven Road Ratepayers group in Halton Region have reported their bitter (and expen- sive) experience when subjected to this power. A religious complex was proposed for their neighbor- hood and they believed that it did not conform to the development criteria of the Ni: Escarpment earing was held with both sides hiring numerous consultants. The hearing officer, who had had many years experience, listened to all the evi- dence and ruled that the proposal did not conform to the Niagara Escarpment Plan and therefore would require an amendment to the Niagara Escarpment Plan. His decision was then sent to Ms. Grier. Ms. Grier decided that in spite of the hearing officer’s decision with all the evidence, the development could proceed with the existing plan. Under the present system, she has the legal right to do this. Her decision is final. The issue is not whether you are anti-development, pro-develop- ment or somewhere in between. The issue is whether one person down in Queen’s Park should have so much control over development in such a large part of our region. People who live on lands con- trolled by the Commission (and. many of these properties are miles. from the escarpment face) should have the same right to the democ- tatic process as the other citizens of our region. They should be allowed to elect the people who govern them and to appeal devel- opment decisions to an indepen- dent body whose decision cannot be overturned by a politician in 2 Our regional council has clearly expressed its concerns with Ms. Grier’s handling of the dump site selection process in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). They must also be very concerned that this same Minister has the final say in many of the development decisions in the region under the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act. We have a wonderful natural feature in our neighborhood and a good plan in place to protect it. Itis time the region took charge and requested the transfer of develop- ment control to the region. Let’s have this plan administered openly and fairly by a body that is accountable to the public. Yours truly, Lois McClure Co-Chair, Niagara Escarpment Landowners Coalition Letters Welcome Halton Hills This Week wel- comes your letters. Letters must be signed and include your full name and address. Names will be with- held on request. Halton Hills This Week reserves the right to edit, revise, or reject any letters on the basis of factual errors, punctuation, spelling errors or as a result of space limitations. Send your letter to: The Editor Halton Hills This Week 232 Guelph St., Unit 9 Georgetown, ON L7G 4B1 For Pete's Sake by Roe NAW, IT'LL REMIND ME How *B0UT We wT “FLATLINERS? 2 Nol! i] YOURE GETHIN on mY NERVES, PETE...