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NNN ita" il PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, April 18, 1989 -- 7 THE CAMPAIGN As just about everyone in Scugog Township knows, the local hospital is soon to start a major expansion, one that will cost something in the order of $8 million. An intense fund-raising campaign is in its final stages and dpeaseniy has been successful. This . expansion will be paid two-thirds by the provincial government. The remainder comes from other sources, mainly public and corporate donations. | must say honestly that one aspect of the fund-raising campaign troubles me. That is the re- qeust from the fund-raising committee for $400,000 spread over three years) from Scugog Township. hat would be $133,000 annually for three years from property taxes. The council this year has ear-marked $50,000 for the hospital expansion program. In-commenting on this topic, | want to make it perfectly clear that the hospital expansion is a needed one and once completed, will be of great pent to this community and the people who live ere. _ But | have a problem with municipal tax dollars being spent for health care. _ In my view, the dollars raised by the municip- laity through property assessment should be spent on roads, recreation facilities, parks, police and fire protection, snow removal and so on. Health care is a provincial responsibility and that is where the tax dollars should come from. In saying this, | don't blame the local fund- - raising committee for asking for the grant from the Viewpoint by John B. McClelland municipality. The committee had a target to reach and had to tap all potential sources.lf there is blame to be levelled, it should be at the provincial government for its funding formulas for hospital ex- pansions. If the province is prepared to approve these things, it should be prepared to pay a sufficient share so that local fund-raising efforts do not have to tap dollars raised through property assessment. On the flip side of this, | would be equally as concerned if our local Township council tapped the hospital's operating budget to pay for a new swim- ming pool, arena or road repairs. What we are seeing is an over-lapping of fiscal jurisdictions. Health care is not a municipal respon- sibility any more than the Hospital Board should be paying to fix pot-holes. Lord knows the property owners in this prov- ince are being asked to pay for more and more ser- vices these days, and | wonder just how deep they can continue to dig into their pockets. And these same people are paying for health care through federal and provincial taxes on income, goods and services, and OHIP contributions. The province tells use there is a crisis in health care funding. | believe that. School boards tell us there is a crisis in their funding levels. But property tax levels are reaching crisis levels as well. Our hospital needs to expand, no doubt about that. My problem is where a small chunk of that money Is coming from: your property taxes. Still on the topic of health care, the provincial government has floated out a suggestion that it may put some kind of a ceiling on the money paid to physicians in Ontario, similar to plans already in place in British Columbia and Quebec. | am not really sure just how this capping sys- tem would work if put in place. Presumably it would mean that if a physician reaches a certain income level in a specified period of time, his/her fees would be reduced for the rest of the year. Would you work under these kind of terms? Not bloody likely. If this capping is put in place, you'll probably find a lot of doctors reducing the number of hours they work on a weekly, monthly or annual basis. You may end up calling your doc for an appointment and find that he/she is "taking the day off." Quite frankly, | think the province has no choice but to bring in some kind of a "user fee" for health care services, including visits to the doc's of- fice or the emergency room. That would generate some revenue and might reduce the number of people who trot off to the see the doc every time they get a mild headache or a sore throat. Tinkering with physicians fees by slapping on some kind of a cap would open up a whole new kettle of fish for all of us. | don't think I'm alone when | say that a lot of Canadians feel the tax burden imposed by ALL lev- els of government is at the breaking point. They are saying enough is enough, Sure, when it comes to government services, we all like the Cadillac. But when we can't afford the Caddy, we have to settle for the Chevy, or maybe even a bicycle. Most people have to work four to six months a year just to pay all their taxes. Remember - When? 70 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 24, 1919 It was decided at a special meeting of the Council to oil queen - Street this year instead of using water to keep the dust down. . "A reception and presentation were accorded to Port Perry returned soldiers on Wednesday, April 16th. The Ladies of the town had made bountiful provision for the soldiers and their parents in the Methodist Church. 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 27, 1944 The Literary Program given by Grade IX was under the direction of Mrs. Rapson, Mrs. Coulter and Mrs. Bielby. The pro- gram consisted of a play and musical numbers. Mr. Thomas Wilson had the misfortune to have his brooder house completely destroyed by fire on Friday night. "Ma Simpkins of Simpkonsville," the play staged by the young people of Greenbank in the Town Hall was enjoyed by all in attendance. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 22, 1954 In recognition of the life-time record of High Point Snowdrop Supreme, a Blue Seal Certificate of long time production has been awarded to her owner, B. Webster, Port Perry, by the Holstein-Friesian Association. A unique occasion was carried out at the regular meeting of Fidelity Lodge, AM & AM on Tuesday. It was inspection night for R.W. Bro. Chas. M. Wallace, D.D.G.M. of Oshawa. He was accompanied by a number of visitors from Oshawa and Bowmanville. During the meeting V.W. Bro. Harry Wallace made the presentation of a sword on behalf of his four living brothers in memory of their late brother Earnest D. Wallace who was killed during World War I and at that time was a member of Fidelity Lodge, Port Perry. 30 YEARS AGO o Thursday, April 23, 1959 = The Fire Tanker Committee with representatives from Ux- bridge, Scott, and Reach met with representatives from the Ux- bridge Fire Department on Friday. It was agreed that a new truck for the tank was necessary. Tuesday evening the sound of rattling tea cups and gay chat- ter mingled with 70 Island people enjoyed lunch in the Head Memorial Tea Room after an evening of bowling. The ice on Lake Scugog went '"'out" quite suddenly on Sun- day, April 19, 1959. (Turn to page 11) Letters to the editor Port Perry not in a time capsule To the Editor: There have been more than a few emotional letters written to the Star of late -- praise for the direction in which Scugog is mov- ing, admiration for the beauty and friendly atmosphere of Port Perry, frustration and anger over vandalism, despair and disbelief over forced relocation and con- cern about the changing identity of the community. I guess Scugog does this to its citizens. It has always been a beautiful pocket of Southern On- tario, just far enough removed from Toronto and the industrial belt of Lake Ontario to maintain its unique, pastoral, small town identity. J. Hyndman is perfectly cor- rect! The town is changing and if Term used was not appropriate To the Editor: In response to J. Hyndman "Port Perry Changing' April 11, I feel he is being very unfair in his cynicism, especially the use of the term "Vinyl Village." The time for reaction to changes is not "'after the fact." His criticism should have been voiced during the planning stages of these new developments. Sure, many of us are soméwhat disturb- ed with progress. I would still love to be oe to park on the main street of Port Perry or be able to (Turn to page 8). he opened his eyes and exercised his intellect, he would understand the dynamics of change which all of Southern Ontario is experienc- ing. Woe is one! Inner-city re- development, 401 traffic explo- sion, regional population crisis, street gangs, strip plazas, racial tensions, drugs -- its changing all right! Mr. Hyndman would in- deed like to build a dome over Port Perry, excluding of course, "Vinyl Village!" This family chooses, instead, to recognize the phenonama of regional growth, applaud the council's foresight and sensitivi- ty to the needs of all people who have chosen to live in Scugog and to welcome responsible growth, particularly when developers to- day strive to harmonize their communities with the established Smile For The Day flavour of the town. In many cases, Victorian Village is a big improvement over some previous architectural designs. Would J. Hyndman have had the same con- cerns if the Victorian homes had been finished in brick or board and batter? Instead of $219,000 they might sell for much more. That's affordable? I believe the families who have chosen Victorian Village as their home are as interested in the welfare of Scugog as its older residents. Why did J. Hyndman move here eight years ago? For the same reason that people have moved here eight years later. Life does not evolve in a time capsule. Sincerely, Richard and Catherine Block, R.R. 1, Blackstock "We can't be overdrawn. I still have three blank checks left.