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' ! 8 - Omno Weekly Times, Wednesday, June 7, 2000 Continued from page 7 Exotic animals mais will be housed adjacent to the pond on Mr. Creed's property, stated Anne Anderson, of 161 Tamblyn Rd. "I want to state categorically, categorically, this is not just a drainage creek, it is a viable water course. It would be a travesty to have animals urinating urinating so close to this beautiful beautiful water course," she stated. Rob Franklin, planner with the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, did not object to the proposed rezoning, stating in a letter, the area involved contains no known natural Heritage or Hazard features, therefore the Authority has no objections or concerns with this application. application. Zoo Check Canada, in a letter to the Mayor and Council wrote stating, "if the proposed zoning amendment is approved, and an exotic animal facility opened, the Municipality of Clarington will be unable to exercise any control over the type or numbers numbers of animals held, or the conditions in which they are kept. Zoo Check felt that Creed's property was not large enough to adequately house and care for more than a few relatively small animals. animals. The noise from Hwy 35/115 may also be problematic, problematic, they feel. An over abundance of mature lions and tigers was another concern raised. Since the baby animals used in educational educational programs, there is the question of what to do with the animal once it matures and is no longer adaptable to interaction with humans, especially children. It is increasingly difficult to find appropriate homes for these animals. Creed had opportunity to respond to concerns raised, and addressed the water quality quality issue by stating, "e coli is not found in animal urine, it is in feces," A simple thing in the construction of the enclosures enclosures can prevent the feces from getting into the water." He asked that the municipality municipality put further restrictions in the rezoning, not allowing him to keep animals larger than 10,0 kg, and that the zoning, zoning, if granted be only for a three years period. "If I do not abide by the conditions, do not grant second zoning," he stated. Due to the fact Creed had taken the public meeting sign down from his property, in anticipation of a rescheduling of the meeting, the posting did not meet the by-law requirements. To overcome this, Planning Department will hold another public meeting, meeting, at the time the final report comes before council. This preliminary report was referred back to staff for further further study. PARLIAMENT HILL ALEX SHEPHERD Is oür health-care system broken, and in need of major surgery? This was the subject of a health-care forum I convened convened last week. ■ Most of the publ ic believes there is something wrong with the health-care system and fret that a quality system will not be there when they require it. » When confronted with these concerns, few people have any idea on how to go about fixing the system. The doctors and healthcare healthcare professionals who made up the panel talked about "unconscionable waiting lists," for basic surgery and the integration of the system causing a hindrance to access. They spoke about the bureaucratization bureaucratization of the system leading leading to inefficiencies in the use of health-care workers precious precious time. Canada is one of the highest highest spenders on healthcare in the industrialized world. We are fourth to France, Germany and the United States. Money is pouring in from the top from the federal and provincial governments, but the bottom line is that it is not flowing to the patients and the administration of the system. L|rarararairiir3ian3l3fFiigfgiBlBigiBMgi^MBlBMBigMBMEiagMBMBI P ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING I I I | of the Clarington Older Adult Association Wednesday, June 14th, 2000 •, 10 a.m. at the Clarington Beech Centre 26 Beech Ave., Bowmanville* Ontario 1 I ! I 1 1 m n3IBIBllnliaFl[Fllr3li3[[3[r3lrHrl|i3iaig]BMBIBlBIBJBlBllMBIBlBl@lBJBIBIglHBIMj People are led up with the We also have to use infor- healthcare that is not going to petty polities about more mation technology to help be resolved by simple solu- money. They are looking to people have direct access over tions such as the current argu- their politicians to provide the Internet to health care ment about money, reasonable plans on how to information. This will reduce I would like to thank the fix the structural problems doctor visits and improve - panelists for taking part in my that exist in the system. people's general level of well- forum: Dr. Martin Barkin, for- One of the panelists, a doc- ness. Technology can also be mer deputy minister of health tor and former deputy minis- used to better track patient for Ontario and chairman, ter of health for Ontario noted health and health history. Sunnybrook and Women that normal doctor-patient Panelists said, and I agree, College Hospital, Janet ratios would normally be that we need to move more Harris, CEO, Durham Access about 2,000 patience per doc- into the area of homecare. to Care, Dr. Charlene tor. This is preferable to most Lockner, physician leader, This figure extrapolated patients and cheaper on the General and Family onto Ontario's population public purse. Medicine, Lakeridge Health would result in 5,000 practic- But Canadians also.have to and Dr. Robert Davies, chief ing doctors. In fact Ontario take into consideration the of medical staff Lakeridge has over 9,OOO.Other panelists strain this has on families and • Health, said even more doctors are that families feel this makes As well I would like to needed. them the unpaid health-care thank all the members of the Clearly we need to impose workers in governments' public who took the time to an accountability framework quest to contain costs. come out and take part, to re-invent healthcare in The final position that We all came away with a Canada. People don't want to arose from thè forum is that better understanding of where know how much money is the system has to be stream- healthcare is and where we being spent, but rather, how it lined at the physician level, want it to go. is being spent. Doctors should be doing less I met with the federal min- We must also start moving administrative work and more ister of health the next day to toward measurable results in patient care. discuss public and panelist improving the over-all sys- Government has created a comments rising from the tem. huge structural problem in forum. 210 King Street East, Bowmanville (905) 697-9949 Email us at: dsgmm@home.Gom Check out our Web Site at: www.dsgsystems.Gom