The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, July 28, 1999 Page 4 Elle Canadian Statesman Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Climie and W. R. Climie 1854 -1878 M. A. James, 1878 -1935 • Norman S. B. James, 1919 -1929 G. Elena James, 1929 -1947 • Dr. George YV. James, 1919 -1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited Also Publishers of The Clarington/Courticc Independent P.O. Box 190,62 King St. W., Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 Tel: 905-623-3303 HOURS: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m, until 5:00 p.m. Fax: 905-623-6161 Internet - statesman@ocna.org Publications Mail Registration No. 07637 For 145 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher-John M. James Assoc. Publisher - Rick James Plant Manager-Rick Patterson Ad. Manager-Brian G. Purdy Editor-Peter Parrott Production Supervisor - Ralph Rozema, Tim Bovvers, Kevin Britton, Suzanne Christie, Sharon Cole, Roy Gray, Laurens Kaldeway, Steve Kraayvanger, Barb Patterson, Sean Pickard, Tyler Sellick, Jim Snoek, James Stephenson, Vance Sutherland, Matt Syer, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Editorial Laverne Morrison Brad Kelly, Jennifer Stone, Michelle Wyton Office Supervisor - Angela Luscher, Junia Hodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Pleasance-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherford, Michele Rutherford $ 65 Million Question It's pretty easy to see why the so-called 905 municipalities municipalities which surround the City of Toronto aren't getting their share of health care funding. Funding assumptions seem to be based on conditions that were in place in the middle of this century. At that time, much of our health care expertise was based in the big city hospitals of downtown Toronto. Back then, there was the assumption that patients in outlying areas could always be referred to the city for more advanced care. However, much has changed since the days when places such as Bowmanville and Newcastle were remote farming communities. The combined population of Durham, Halton, Peel and York now numbers 2,476,154, according to 1996 census data. And Toronto's population of 2,530,232 is not much larger. Moreover, each year the 905 municipalities grow by about 60,000 people. As a matter of fact, there's a good chance that the 905 regions have already exceeded the City of Toronto in total population. And yet, the imbalance between funding for Toronto and funding for the surrounding regions continues. It's as if we're following an old pattern of big city versus rural backwater. backwater. It's a way of thinking that has been wrong for at least the last two or three decades. That is why, although over 20 per cent of Ontario residents residents live in the GTA/905 area code, only 10 per cent of provincial health funding goes to area hospitals. Almost one-third of patients arc referred out of the GTA/905 area for in-patient services, Fortunately, some steps have been taken to correct the imbalance. For instance, there will be extensive redevelopment redevelopment of the Oshawa hospital site and the development of a new cancer treatment centre in Oshawa. But even these commitments are likely to be two or three years away from turning into reality. In the meantime, it will take continued lobbying to keep these projects on track and to see more money funnelled into the 905 regions. And, while we're at it, this might be a good time to take another look at new facilities ■ for Memorial Hospital. Bowmanville. Renovations there arc about 10 years old and the local emergency department is already feeling the strain as cases are directed here during,the busiest times at nearby hospitals. Besides, one must keep in mind the fact that Clarington is growing in leaps and bounds. The statistics we have quoted above are from a GTA/905 healthcare alliance newsletter which looks at a projected funding shortfall of $65 million for GTA/905 hospitals. The hospitals in the 905 area reported a collective $65 million shortfall in their operating plans for the Ministry of Health. With growth occurring at breakneck speed and with efficiencies efficiencies through consolidation already in effect, there really really isn't any other solution except for the provincial government government to give 905-area hospitals the cash injection they require. And, a long-range philosophy of funding 905-area health care based on its population is long overdue. When it comes to health care funding, we no longer have a big city of Toronto where health care dollars must be concentrated concentrated and a surrounding network of rural whistle-stops who must make do with home remedies. The reality is that we have two parallel cities of 2.5 million million people each who deserve equal amounts of health care funding. It's about time the provincial authorities looked at health care needs of the GTA in that framework. Will the provincial powers-that-be provide the funding? That's the $65 million question. The Kennedy Coverage Was too much media coverage given to the deaths of John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife and sister-in-law? The answer is both yes and no. Some people assume that the amount of space devoted to a particular news item is based strictly on the importance of that item. Of course, it's not that simple. For one thing, it is only with the benefit of 30 years' hindsight that we can even begin to understand which issues on the front page of today's major daily papers are important. important. The untimely death of JFK Jr. would have unquestionably unquestionably been front page news by anyone's standards. He was the bright, popular and talented son of one of America's best loved presidents in one of America's most prominent families. And, of course, he was forever linked to the tragedy of his father's assassination. But, it's the page after page of daily coverage and the live broadcasts on the scene of the plane crash (hat some people question. Was (his excessive? Of course it was. But, the fact remains that JFK Jr. was a celebrity and therefore, his life attracted considerable interest among the consumers of our mass media. The print and electronic media, who live and die by their readership and ratings knew that the death of one of America's favorite sons would rank high in the public interest, interest, And they covered the story accordingly. No doubt, their ratings soared. The coverage of JFK Jr.'s death was driven strictly by the public's interest. While it would he nice to think the public will read newspaper articles and watch television coverage of peace talks and economic conferences, the facts paint a different picture. People are not just interested in news that informs. They arc also interested in stories that make them cry or make them angry or make them laugh. They are interested in what shocks them and surprises them, They are always interested in the world of celebrities and glamour. By objective measurements, the JFK Jr. tragedy ntlract- ' etl excessive media scrutiny. But, by any measurement of human nature, it attracted exactly the amount of attention one might expect. x ), 1 didn't IMAGINE II' u M QUITE CERTAIN THAT I s/iw A STRIP-JOINT . AROUND HERE" LAST WEEK/ em _ a CLARINGTON'S NEW STRIP-CLUB ADVERTISING AND LICENSING BYLAW IS IMPLEMENTED. Conference Sought Solutions to Child Poverty Issues by Bob Willsher Trustee, Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB Most board employees are enjoying holidays at this time. The board office will be closed for the weeks of July 19 and July 26. Arrangements have been made to take calls to the Board Office but with staff away most issues will have to wait until they return. I have received a number of calls form the residents about damage to school property by a few young people. This is unac ceptable. We all pay our tax dollars dollars to provide these facilities to be used, not abused. The Board i encourages the community to use schools when students are not in session. It is important that we not lose the ability to have an open approach to the use of school grounds for leisure activities. activities. If you sec anyone damaging school property I urge you to call the Durham Regional Police Department. I would also like to hear from anyone who has a concern concern about this issue. I had the opportunity to attend the Canadian School Boards Association annual Congress this month. Some six hundred delegates delegates from across Canada attended attended the meclipg. I was there on behalf of our Board and also as a voting delegate for the Ontario Public School Boards Association. The conference theme was "Educating Active Citizens." It was an excellent experience. It was interesting to hear so many different perspectives. Yet the issues across the country seem to have a familiar ring. Much of the vision for education in Canada is being driven by a common political ideology. Much of that vision has a narrow focus back to the economy and business. business. I found Ken Osborne," Professor, University of Manitoba to be a most interesting speaker. He pointed out the importance of understanding the Canadian historical perspective when considering education reforms. He said, "When you don't know, your own history you Continued on page 5 Thoughts Unlimited by Rick James The 1999 Darwin Awards It's that time of year again.. For those of you who don't know what the Darwin Awards arc - they arc named after evolutionist Charles Darwin and arc awarded annually to those people who were so stupid that they did mankind a favor by removing themselves from the gene pool. The Runners-Up #1 - LOS ANGELES, CA. --Ani Saduki, 33, and his brother decided to remove a bees nest from a shed on their property with the aid of a pineapple. A pineapple is an illegal firecracker which is the explosive equivalent of one-half stick of dynamite. They ignited the fuse and retreated to watch from inside their home, behind a window some 10 feet away from the hive and shed. The concussion of the explosion shattered the window inwards, seriously seriously lacerating Ani. Deciding Mr.Saduki needed stitches, the brothers headed out to go to a nearby hospital. While walking towards their car, Ani was stung three times by the surviving bees. Unbeknownst to either brother, Ani was allergic to bee venom, and died of suffocation en route to the hospital. #2 - Derrick L. Richards, 28, was charged in April in Minneapolis with third-degree murder in the death of his beloved cousin, Kenneth Richards. According to police, Derrick suggested a game of Russian roulette and used a semi-automatic pistol (instead of the more traditional revolver). #3 - PHILLIPSBURG, NJ. An unidentified 29 year old male choked to death on a sequined pasty lie had orally removed from an exotic dancer at local establishment. "I didn't think lie was going to cat it," the dancer identified only as "Ginger" said, adding "He was really drunk." #4 - In February, according to police in WINDSOR, ONT., Daniel Kolta 27, and Randy Taylor, 33, died in a head-on collision, collision, thus earning a tic in the game of chicken they were playing with their snowmobiles, #5 - MOSCOW, Russia- A drunk security man asked a colleague colleague at the Moscow bank they were guarding to stab his bulletproof bulletproof vest to sec if it would protect him against a knife attack, It didn't, and the 25-year-old guard died of a heart wound. it6 - In FRANCE, Jacques LcFcvricr left nothing to chance when he decided to commit suicide, He stood at the top of a tall cliff and tied a noose around his neck. He lied the other end of the rope to a large rock. He drank some poison and set lire to his clothes. He even tried to shoot himself at the last moment. He jumped and fired the pistol. The bullet missed him completely, and cut through the rope above him. Free of the threat of hanging, he plunged to the sea. The sudden dunking extinguished the flames and made him vomit the poison. He was dragged out of the water by a kind fisherman and was taken to a hospital, where he died of hypothermia. Ill - RliNTON, WASHINGTON, USA. A Renton, Washington man tried to commit a robbery. This was probably his first attempt, as suggested by the fact hat he had no previous record of violent crime, and by his terminally stupid choices listed below: • The target was H&J Leather & Firearms, a gun shop. • The shop was full of customers, in a state where a substantial substantial portion of the adult population is licensed to carry concealed concealed handguns in public places. • To enter the shop, he had to step around a marked Police patrol car parked at the front door. • An officer in uniform was standing next to the counter, having coffee before reporting to duly. Upon seeing the officer, the would-be robber announced a holdup and fired a few wild shots. The officer and a clerk promptly returned fire, removing him from the gene pool. And, the 1999 Darwin Award Winner is... THOMPSON, MANITOBA, CANADA. -- Telephone relay company night watchman Edward Baker, 31, was killed early Christmas morning by excessive microwave radiation exposure. He was apparently attempting to keep warm next to a telecommunications telecommunications feedhorn. Baker had been suspended on a safety violation once last year, according to Northern Manitoba Signal Relay spokesperson Tanya Cooke. She noted that Baker's earlier infraction was for defeating a safety shut-off switch and entering a restricted maintenance cat- walk in order to stand in front of the microwave dish. He told co-workers that it was the only way he could stay warm during his twelve-hour shift at the station, where winter temperatures often dip to forty below zero. Microwaves can heat water molecules within human tissue in the same way that they heal food in microwave ovens, For his Christmas shift, Baker reportedly brought a twelve pack of beer and a plastic lawn chair, which lie positioned directly in line with the strongest microwave beam, Baker had not been told about a tenfold boost in microwave power planned that night to handle the anticipated increase in holiday holiday long-distance calling traffic. Baker's body was discovered by the daytime watchman, John Burns, who was greeted by an odor he mistook for a Christmas roast he thought Baker must have prepared as a surprise. Burns also reported to NMSR company officials that Baker's unfinished beers had exploded. Simple Solution to Y2K Here is something 1 bet you hadn't thought would be an issue for Y2K. According to most manufactures, you won't be able to use the programmed recording feature on most pro-1999 VCRs. However, do not throw away your old VCR in the year 2000. Simply set it back to 1972 because the dates will fall on the correct correct days for the next 28 years. By the year 2028, I'm sure most VCR machines will be collecting dust with eight track tape players, players, j