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Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, April 24, 2002 y Aocna Subscriptions $28.04 + $1.96 G.S.T. = $30.00/year Publications Mail Registration No. 09301 Agreement No. 40012366 • Publishing 50 Issues Annually at the Office of Publication We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs." 5310 Main Street, P.O. Box 209, Orono, Ontario LOB 1M0 E-Mail Address: oronotimes@speedline.ca Phone/Fax (905) 983-5301 Serving East Clarmgton and beyond since 1 937 Publisher/Editor Margaret Zwart The Orono Weekly Times welcomes letters to the editor on subjects of interest to our readers. Opinions expressed; to the editor and articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Orono Weekly Times. Letters must be signed and contain die address and phone number of the writer. Any letter considered unsuitable will not be acknowledged or returned. We reserve the right to edit for length, libel and slander. If your retail or classified ad appears for the first time, please check carefully. Notice of an error must be given before the next issue goes to print. The Orono Weekly Times will not be responsible for the loss or damage of such items. ■■• For the birds by Roy Forrester May it be coincidental that the demise of the Ontario Hydro Electric system as was nurtured for almost a century is coming to an end May 1, 2002 a few weeks following the resignation of Mike Harris as Premier and as a member of the Ontario legislature? Perhaps mission accomplished during the period from 1995 to the present, a period when private sector interests have been knighted as the only course for the future. It all started with the sale of 407 Highway for which the provincial government sold for half its valued price. Hardly a land-mark deal for the taxpayers in this province nor for the users who have been hit with continually increasing charges. It's all in the interest of private enterprise. A soft purchase price and an open market. Less than a week from this date, May 1, we enter a new era on the supply and pricing of hydro, a commodity which in Ontario over the past century has added greatly to our commerce and living standard. It was a period when local commissions elected by the citizens operated utilities delivering hydro at cost. It was totally in public ownership, provincially and locally. Under the new scheme it had been the provincial government's government's intent to sell off some $5 billion of the stranded debt that has been accumulated by Ontario Hydro. Investment dealers had expected to start selling early May. A surprise court ruling last week has halted the sale for the time being at least. It was challenged before the court by two Ontario Unions opposed to private enterprise involvement rather than the former public ownership. The Provincial government has a number of options to follow to offset the ruling. What course will be taken is as yet unknown but no doubt an effort will be made to proceed with the offer. The possible sale of the Options of $5 billion to private enterprise still leave hydro users in the position to have to pay off the loan and at an added premium. It would be the first inroad of private enterprise entering the hydro system in Ontario and it would be at an added cost to hydro users. It's another move to open up opportunities for Bay Street investors at a cost to the general public. The same is happening to our Health Care system. The inroads of private enterprise is at the door step. It's not for our health but their money purse. Privatization of hydro is happening in spite of the fact that Ontarians are totally opposed to the move from public purse to the private purse. This was evident at both the Newcastle and Bowmanville public meetings held by our MPP, John OToole. Very few hands rose in support of the Provincial government's action on privatization. Do speak up for our health care system as a public institution rather than a for profit venture. Letters to the Editor ) Changes in our own community hospital March 3, 2002 I, personally have spent much time in hospitals as a patient, but also as a caregiver caregiver or supporter. It is amazing amazing to see the decline in our health care system and how so many are suffering • because of it. I have to question question why the government has chosen to make cuts in such a necessary and vital insti tution. I feel proud to say, that Lakeridge Health Bowmanville, Bowmanville, has diligently tried to keep their emergency department open receiving people by ambulance between here and Toronto. Our community must be very proud of that. Let's talk about Just one unit. First Floor, Continuing and Chronic Care and WW.TmaWti-Cflti -Rehabilitation. Within the past week, they have lost Rehabilitation, not to mention mention the nurses being lost. As my father has been in the hospital since October of 2001 and we watch him fade away, I have also gotten to know many other patients. Many of them require rehabilitation rehabilitation so they can one day return to their homes. These patients don't know where they are going or when. Then there are the very chronic people who are entirely dependent on the nurses and now will have to wait even longer for the wonderful wonderful care that the Bowmanville nurses give. Bowmanville has a good reputation reputation for exceptional nurses. nurses. Have you noticed that we are losing many of our fine Doctors to the United States? Why is this? The Ontario Government has made such a mess of our health care system that even people waiting for surgery have died in the process of being bumped, over and over. Someone needs to be responsible responsible for all this. The sick should not have to be afraid and worrying about their destination. It is hard enough to recover. So what do we do, as citizens citizens of Ontario? Do we sit back and watch this happen, or do we somehow make our government aware that in many cases it almost appears to be murder because of their lack of empathy for the sick? Dear Marg I visit the Orono Park regularly regularly and realize how fortunate fortunate we locals are to have within our community such a distinctive, desirable setting. setting. I am angry and disgusted with what I conclude to be one four-wheel drive jackass living amongst us. This letter is to remind everyone of his or her obligation to report Wrong, and certainly in this case - criminal activities. Let us face the • facts: Almost daily, especially in the summer, evidence of unlawful unlawful activity in the Orono Park exists. I cannot believe that all these park problems occur unnoticed and am puz- How would they even know? They are the ones who can be in the hospital, have private private nurses, not only for themselves, but for their families, families, so they do have priority over the ordinary everyday person. As I think about my father lying in that ward during his (continued page 9) zied as to how our neighbours neighbours whose backyards overlook overlook the park have apparently not witnessed anything. If you do not wish to get involved and or call the Police, then I certainly question question your lack of action. I shall not judge your decision, but I implore you to let someone someone know so we can rid our community of these hooligans. hooligans. Our tax dollars repair and clean up after these vandals, so let's work together - get a license number, description, anything, and we will deal with if! Sincerely Kelly Adams Report criminal activities