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Vol. 128 No. 15 PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1994 Copy 65¢ @1e+4ecsn 28 Pages Doctors close offices By Kelly Lown Port Perry Star The Medical Associates of Port Perry will be closing its of- fices during March Break, in compliance with the Social Con- tract. A statement released from the Medical Associates stated although they do not wish to close, as the patient's care is their prime concern, they are forced to close the doors. The Ontario Government's Social Contract, which includes doctors, is reducing the level of services in many areas, includ- ing health care. - Under the Social Contract, Ontario's doctors must cut close to $150 million from the health care system by taking unpaid days off. ; Although the Port Perry offic- es as well as the Oshawa Clinic and Glazier Medical Centre in Oshawa have all announced their doors would be shut for the same week in March, "itis nota region-wide Social Contract during March Break days off situation", according to Dr. Romas Stass, president of the Durham Medical Society, of which Medical Associates is a part. "It is left up to each munici- pality as to when it is," he: said. According to Dr. Stas a limit has been put on money allotted for health care and if the doctors exceed it, the money must be paid back. From the doctor's point of view they may as well take the time off. "The public should be aware funding for health care is being cut. The areas being cut are al- ready underfunded," Dr. Stas said. Dr. William Cohoon, spokes- man for the Medical Associates, said the situation has come to this because no one could come up with a method of addressing the over run of costs. "We were given no specific di- rection, but we were told that Turnta Page 10 Gord Mills proposes GO bus service from Whitby to Port Perry By Scott Anderson Port Perry Star Scugog's MPP is lobbying the transportation minister for im- proved transportation links be- tween the township and south- ern Durham Region. Durham East MPP Gord Mills told the Port Perry Star last week that he met with Gilles Pouliot earlier in the week to discuss an improved link between the two areas. Mr. Mills' proposal called for GO Bus service Monday to Fri- day. The proposed route would start at the Whitby GO station, travel along Highway 2 to Re- gional Road 2 and north to Port Perry. It would continue on to Blackstock and down Regional Road 57 to Bowmanville, before completing the loop to Whitby. Mr. Mills would like to see this service offered at least threetimes a day. Although he expressed the immediacy of the need, Mr. Mills will continue to have ongo- ing discussions with the minis- ter concerning the issue. The MPP said there was a need for the service right away, arguing people in the area are unable to access services offered only in the Oshawa and Whitby areas. "People can't get anywhere, they can't access the services to the south," hesaid. Though not denying a need for such a service, Scugog May- or Howard Hall does not favor the proposed route. "I don't think it will work. I can't envision how it would work in this situation," he said. Instead, the mayor believes a better route would be along Highway 12 between Port Perry and Whitby. He first proposed this to the Liberal Transportation Minis- ter five years ago. "That, to me, is the second best scenario," he said, adding his preferred choice would be a GO Train between Burketon and Toronto Despite his skepticism to the idea, Mayor Hall supports the need for improved transporta- tion links in the area. "I can't deny for one minute that people in Scugog need some sort of bus service." Scugog needs $50 million to repair road deterioration By Scott Anderson Port Perry Star Scugog's roads are deteriorat- ing and more than $50 million is needed to repair the damage. A report prepared by the con- sulting firm of Totten Sims Hu- bicki indicates the township has an immediate roads construc- tion need of $43 million. When a five to 10 year study is factored into the picture, this figure jumps to $57 million. "That tells you the existing condition of our roads," said Mayor Howard Hall. According to Mayor Hall, in 1982 the township's roads were rated as being 85.5 per cent ade- quate, but 10 years later in 1992, this figure fell to just 55.7 per cent. "The need is now," he said. "Now only halfour roads are ad- equate." The mayor said there was a need for the provincial govern- ment to inject a substantial amount of money into the local economy to help maintain the roads. Last year it received ap- proximately $1 million, but the mayor believes more is needed. "We just can't afford to spend 100-per cent dollars on roads, we need that subsidy. We have other things to spend 100-per cent dollars on than roads." Mayor Hall argues the town- ship is not being treated fairly by the government concerning transfer payments. He maintains the township is unique in that there is a lake in the middle of the township in- terfering with the proper main- tenance of the roads. This caus- es the service costs to be significantly higher than other communities. "We're not being treated fair- ly when you compare us to other communities which don't have these impediments," he said. Mayor Hall was able to voice these concerns to Gilles Pouliot, Minister of Transportation, at a meeting in Toronto arranged by Durham East MPP Gord Mills last week. Mayor Hall, along with Roads Superintendent Ronn MacDon- ald, met with the minister and other government representa- tives to discuss Scugog's situa- tion. With the aid of maps and 'reports, the Scugog contingent argued the point that "the roads are deteriorating and in need of repairs." And the mayor went away from the meeting confident his concerns were heard. "I think the minister recog-- nized this time that there might be a legitimate concern," he said. Although no commitment was made, the minister has as- signed his staff to study the matter. March is Kidney Month - Watch For Canvassers a a PR ER po ---- ID A ---------------------- i a A, Tei yu > tn mln oT tt Teo