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www.durhamragion.com : K Garry Minnie: 'Our aim is to create health-care teams.' Teresa Williams: 'We would expand existing community health centres.' THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, SEPTEMBER 17,2003 PAGE A3 Durham riding candidates speak out on health care BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer DURHAM - In an area where not having having a family doctor is commonplace among residents, health care is emerging as a provincial election issue. Better co-ordination of services, expediting expediting the licensing of qualified foreign- trained physicians, increasing medical school positions and providing alternative types of care could lead to better access to health care for residents, say candidates of Durham riding. With much of the riding regarded as under-serviced by doctors, there is a need to look at options, say New Democrat Teresa Teresa Williams, Liberal Garry Minnie, and Progressive Conservative incumbent John O'Tbolc. Mr. O'Toole says his party would create 750 positions across the province for nurse practitioners, who are trained to do some of the same jobs as doctors, including Pap smears and diagnosis of minor illness and injury. He says he'd like to see three or four of the nurse practitioners come to Durham to help fill the medical needs of residents. All three also point to a noil-traditional form of medical practice, in which doctors, nurse practitioners and other health-care professionals work collaboratively. These would help solve service shortages, the three candidates say. "Wc would expand existing community health centres, arid add 100 new ones," says Ms. Williams, noting her party feels there's a need for "health care reform for the whole province, not just rural areas." This type of centre is the way of the future, future, say the other two candidates. "Our aim is to create health-care teams, which will encourage doctors to join a team that will be a community-centred team or effort," says Mr. Minnie. Such a system would allow different health care professionals to work collaboratively collaboratively to provide more efficient service, says Mr. O'Toole. "I think we're going to have to continue to work with collaborative medical health networks, for example, with a doctor as the care manager, in-taking patients with the help of nurse practitioners," he says. Making it easier for foreign-trained doctors doctors to practise here is very important, say all three candidates. "We will remove barriers for qualified foreign-trained physicians so they're practising practising medicine, not driving taxis," says Mr. Minnie. Improving matters locally is very iiri- portant, says Mr. O'Toole. "Locally is the best way to look at health care," he says, noting, under his party, the cancer centre at Lakcridge Health Oshawa is moving forward, dialysis services services have been expanded at the Whitby Lakeridgc site, and redevelopment of the Oshawa site has begun. Cutting waiting times for treatment and ensuring public services are available arc very important to his party, says Mr. Minnie. Minnie. "We will meet maximum waiting time standards for cancer and cardiac care, and we will shut, down private MRI and CT clinics, and replace them with the same services services in the public sector," says Mr. Min nie. Ensuring necessary services are available is important, says Ms. Williams. "There are so many procedures and items that have been removed from what OI IIP covers now that I'd like to see some put back on," she says. Also running in Durham riding is Cathy McKecverof the Freedom Party. R EQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (RRAP) CMHC Financial Assistance for Landlords in Ontario Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is providing an opportunity for Landlords ' j under the Residential Rehabilitation -a Assistance Program (RRAP). Limited funds are available in 2003 to repair or rehabilitate a rental or roominghouse property to a minimum level of health and safety or to convert non-residential properties into affordable rental or roominghouse accommodations. Landlords must submit applications by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, October 24,2003. Applications received after this time will not be considered. To obtain an application package: Call: I-800-704-6488 or e-mail: rrap_ontario@cmhc-schl.gc.ca Please note: Application submission does not guarantee financial assistance. TMHCtfrsCHL Canada Durham candidates to go head-to-head at debate in Courtice Sept. 25 COURTICE - Durham's provincial election candidates will gel a chance to square off at an upcoming debate. The debate, hosted by the Clarington Board of Trade, the Courtice Area Ratepayers Association and the Clarington Clarington Business Group, will take place at Faith United Church, 1778 Nash Rd., just east of Courtice Road, on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m. Participants can either send questions to the board office in advance of the debate, or ask questions from the floor at the debate. . To send questions electronically, electronically, visit the ÇBOT events page at www.claringtonboard- oftrade.com or email sheila @claringtonboa rdof- trade.com. For more information, call 905-623-3106 or fax 905-623- 3413. Wiir\ V 4 3 a S ! * i & 3 \ I ; £ 'i 3 / V.UK. 6/ ! ONTARIO PROVINCIAL ELECTION YOU CAM VOTE BEFORE OCTOBER 2 6LEd x ° If you are qualified to vote and your name is on the Voters List, you may vole before election clay at any advance poll in y our electoral district. Ballots cast at advance polls will be counted at the close of the regular polls on election day. If you have not received your Notice of Registration card and you would like to vote at an advance poll, you can apply for a Certificate to Vote at your Returning Office or at the advance poll location itself when you go there to vote. ADVANCE POLL VOTING WILL BE HELD M In your Returning Office front Saturday, SEPTEMBER 20 through Friday, SEPTEMBER 26 (Sunday excluded) between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m At Area Advance Polls Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 24 Thursday, SEPTEMBER 25 Friday, SEPTEMBER 26 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. In DURHAM ^ Returning Office MM 1-ill llwy2li.Courtice ^ 9II5.-Ltfi.3300 or 1.8f>6.2-i2.302i • litisltltile Collegiate Inst, 2(>5 Harmony Rit N, Oshawa • Port Perry High School, Hit) Rosa Si, Port Perry • Newcastle Community 1.1 all, 20 King Avc, Newcastle • liowmamillc High School, 49 l.ihcrly St N, llowimui ville FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL US AT 1.888.0NT.V0TE (1.888.668.8683) TTY: 1.888.292.2312 (for deaf/hard of hearing) E-MAIL US AT VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT info@electionsontario.on.ca www.electionsontario.on.ca Published on behalf of electoral district Returning Officers by John L. Hollins, Chief Election Officer If you require a sign language interpreter, Ontario Interpreter Services (OIS) makes them available to voters across Ontario on a first-come, first-served basis. Call OIS at the Canadian Hearing Society office nearest you to determine their availability, or contact Elections Ontario for additional information. If you have friends or relatives who have difficulty reading, please make them aware of the information in this notice. KEEPING YOU INFORMED % MILLS PONTIAC BUICK GMC LTD. All ptleae plus lim. Heine* and idmlnlilnlion liai "WHERE YOU GET MORE THAN GREAT PRICES" 06000 FIVE STAR • Sales • Leasing • Parts • Service "Convenient Customer Shuttle Service" 799 BLOOR ST. W., OSHAWA 905-404-0525 www.durhamchrysler.com