Whitby Free Press, 9 Aug 1995, p. 1

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Landfll dumped inocreek vaey Page 2 Whiitby wonian 's Redmen. behind hm brother murdered major playoffs Page 3 Page 11 Defence caàriesu itykeiîs t i ie Page I Deficit fght supp orted by majoriy MP dai By ike Kowabsk Despite occasional grumbling, Durham riding MI' Alex Sheplierd believes most Canadians support Ottawa's plan for putting the country's fiscal house i order. Even thougli manyý have already feit the sting cf the govern.ment's cost-cutting agenda - and more is yet to come - the majority of Canadians accept it, Sheplierd insists. Corny, old cliche or not, most people see the wisdom in 'sliort-term pain for long-term gain', lie daims. And if tliey don't, the government will net be deterred from its course anyway, Shepherd promises. "One cf the reasons 1 went to Ottawa was te, get control over our debt snd deficit," the norti Whitby representative said during a recent interview in bis Oshawa constituency office. "The Martin budget is sMMllon target (te, meet its -$21-bilion deficit reduction goal)," said Shepherd. "But the outfall cf that is a restructuring cf faderai government expanditures." Cuts te social prcgrams, a decrease ini provincial transfer payments and the alimination cf thousands cf public sector jobs were. all part cf Finance Minister Paul Martins February budget. ALEX SHEPHERD While the full impact cf these measures. lias yet te ba fait, Sheplierd concedes, Martin liad ne other option if the government was serious about making a dent in Canada's multi-billion-dollar debt. "If you look at the daficit and debt problems, that's what's keeping the ecenomy ,from grewing," said Shepherd. "As a nation we must reduce the amount of ourborrowing", - most cf it from abroad, lie strassad. However, the governmant is limited as te wliera it can cnt, Shephard said. 'Basically, 75 per cent cf federal government spending istransfers te provinces and individuals ... CPP, UIC*...we. dont have tee mucli maneuverability," lie said. "Some people' won't be liappy, but tlie reality is we have te get on with it and 1 think most people are quietly supporting us." The Martin budget was just oe of many subjects the reokie hS' touched on during a discussion about Parliament's past session and a leok aliead te its Septeniber return. One- cf 98 Liberals sent to Ottawa from Ontario in the 1993 aleictien, the Port Perry accountant lias established a reputation as an independent thinker who makes decisions based on an issueps menite - even if it runs contrary te the party lime. Shaplierd was oeeof nine Liberal members te vote against the govemrnment's contreversial gun control legislation and oeaof 'tha first te opt eut cf the MPs' pension plan. Altliough lie supportad "90 per cent" cf the gun bils overail contents, Shaplierd cculd net vote in faveur cf it wlian the bill. came up for final reading. A projected .$250-million te $500-miflicn cost te create a national firearma registry was the kay facter in Sheplierds decision. SR PAGE 19 Counciliorsn pSh for 24-h. service By Mike Koîwaikl Two members of, the« Whitby General Hospitai board of directors are seeking reinstatement of 24-hour emergency service. A motion te that effect was put forward at the boardî' July meeting by Whitby councillors GryEmmn and Shirley, Scott. The moton was taibled and will be debated. at the board's September meeting. .But even though the board supports a return to 24-hour service - provided funds are available - there is no guarantee it will Paus. According to chair Jim Souci, the counciflors' proposa aso calls on Whitby General to-essentially remain an acute care facility- and that is not likely to happen. "The motion signifis the status quo and that won't fiy with the (Ontario) government and the majority of the board," said Souch. "Wre concerned about services, but remaining the way we are is not feasible," he said. In an effort to eut codaS,liospitai officiàls early last year closed. the emergency department betweexi the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. . They insisted at that the time that the decision was not connected te a controversial recommendation from a speciai committee of the Durham Region District Health Coundil. The committee, cliarged wit.h drafing proposais aimed at a restructuring- of Durham Region. hospitals, recommended that Whitby General become a rehabilitation treatment. centre servi ng the entire region. Local residents in need of surgery and emergency services would travel to expanded hospitals in Ajax and Oshawa, the committee's report suggested. The report was subsequently endorsed by the health council and forwarded to the Ministry of Health for ifs consideration. Aithougli the board supports a rehabilitation facility as an adjunct te some of the hospitalsa exristing'services, Souci stressed that it "will not accept a singular rehab role" for Whitby General. [n fact, the board will be sending a letter reiterating its position on the proposai te the health couni, Souci said. "Basically, the board's. position is 24-hour urgent care and ezpanded outpatient day surgejy because that'. where we shine," lie . *d. The only significant difference between urgent care, and 'a fi-service emergency department is.lack of a .traumfa* unit, Souci ezplained. Aithougi the healti ministryý lias yet te make a decision on the healti coundil report, -Souci is encouraged byr what'he lias heard from the1new -.Progressive Co hservative government. SU PAGE P hockey records sought By Mike Kowaisk A frustrated 'parent i. encountering difficulty in bis pursuit of a detailed breakdown of tlie Wliitby Minor Hockey Association's financial records. Wayne Walchuk lias been rebuffed ini bis efforts to obtain a more precise accounting of how the association MHRA) spends its money. To date, Walchuk, whose son has played house league hockey for the past four years, lias only been given the treasurer's report which is freely available at evely, WMHAU annual meeting. Until lie receives more specifle details, Walchuk will continue te feel that parents of children in house league are unfairly subsidizing those in -the two other categories - select and representative. While lielias no proof that bis concerns are valid - and WMHA ofcasinsist tliey are not - neither lias Walchuk been given anytliing te convince bimn otlierwise. -Ini addition, Walcliuk is upset that registration fees for' the upconiing season increased $10 even thougli the association liad nearly a $27,000 surplus last year. "I think ail the books balance," said Walchuk ini emphasizing that lie is net accusing pasf or present members of the WMHA executive. of wrongdoing. SEE PAGE 3

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