WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1980, PAGE 3 NDP candidate sayw. Tories aren't serions about health care By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff The man who hopes to put George Ashe on the unem- ployeznnt Une after the next provincial election has praised the recommen- dations outline in Justice Emmet Hall's review of the Ontario health care system. Hugh Peacock, candidate for the Durham West New Democratic Party, said recently that Hall's recomn- mendation called for the "irestoration of one-price medicine and a fiarier method of financing it. " "Hall completely endor- sed the NDP and the labor rnovement's campaign for the -preservation Of medicare in this province," Peacock said. Peacock added that Hall endorsed his party's position because he said that there should be no extra billing by doctors who try to collect more from the patient that the OHIP schedule and the elimination of premiums. "In effect, Hall agrees, Ontario has moved to a two price systein of medicine, placing an unfair burden on the sïck, the disabled and the elderly, " Peacock said. "Extra billing is a deterrent to use for these citizens. " Peacock claims that many Durham residents have to pay twice when they visit a specialist in another area. "Durham area residents referred to Toronto specialists for examination or treatment often now find that they must choose bet- ween paying extra or giving Up the appointment," he said. "Sorne choice. It sirnply Sims wil retire By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff Whitby Durham Board of Education Trustee David Sims announced last week that he wilI not seek re- election to the board on November 10. "I'1ve already served for four years as a trustee and I feel it is time for new people to corne on the board," Sims said. Sims said that the primary reason for leaving public life is to devote more time to his family and private law prac- tise. "public life is very demanding," he said, "and school board life is very demanding, " Sims is presently the chairman of the board's audit-budget committee and is responsible for super- vising a 1980 budget of $94 milion, a large portion of which is taken up by the salaries of the board's 3,000 staff memnbers. While he says he bas made no plans to run for another public office this year, he does not exclude the possibility entriely, in future elections. He also indicated that he has not and probablY will not endorse any candidate to filI his spat on the board. isn't possible to find doctors in the practise of anesthesia, urology or obstetrics who will accept payment in full from OHIP. " Peacock said that there is no doubt that a new system of compensation for doctors on the OHIP scheme must be found, although he does not believe that Hall's suggestion of binding ar- bitration is the rigbt one. "A 'neutral' third party rarely understands the needs and working con- ditions of a group of workers, whatever their skills, as well as the parties to the negotiations them- selves," he said. Peacock said, however, that he agrees with the justice's suggestion that those doctors who wish to practise outside the public health scheme should be free todo so. "But no part of the fee would be paid by the plan," he said. "'Those who choose to practise within the plan would accept paymnent in full from it, and not extra bill their patients." The candidate, a lobbyist for the Ontario Federation of Labor, also believes that premiums for the health system should be phased. "'These should be phased out and the cost transferred to income tax rates and cor- poration taxes where the prinicple of ability to pay is taken into account. "The well-to-do pay the same premiùm as the laid- off Firestone worker will, unless the latter knows about premium assistnace," Peacock said. Peacock lays the respon- sibility for the health care situation firmly at the feet of the present Progressive Conservative goverment in Queen's Park. "The Tory govermnent has neyer been committed to a truly universal. and ac- cessible health care plan," he said. "Wben Ontario relucantly joined the medicare systern in 1969, my colleagues and I in the NDP causus of the legislature fought hard against the proft-making role of the private insurance carriers and double billing by the doctors, both features that the Tories insisted upon." Peacock added, "They were finally forced to remove them. " He also charges that the conservatives are still not committed to the public health care system. ,,Stijl today, with the retention of high premniumns, perdiem charges for chronic care, cutbacks in hospital funding and failure to discourage doctors' extra- biuîing, the Tories are also negative as ever about achieving high standards of health care in Ontario. "Nor are they interested in extending coverage to dental care for eilidren, for starters, presciption drug benefits or proethetic ap- pliances and wheelchalrs for the dlsabled." Peacock charges that compared to other provinces such as Saskatchewan "when it cornes to public services Ontario you pay more, but you get less. " of DINNER THEATRE Openîng Night Sèpt. lSth# 1980 by JOE ORTON DIRECTOR: BLAKE HEATHCOTE "BriliIInt, Hilarlous, Outrageous, Wltf y Comedy."' Dinner 6:30 - Show 8: 30 Thurs.-Sundays 1411for dlnner & show Reservatoni y.l Boxoff ice open 10 a.m .tý8 p.m. Group Discounts. Sïta*dust Dinnewf 419 Brock St. North, Whitby 666-1621 I LauArranger SHOOTS INTERDST RATES DO VN Our daring and resourceful hero shoots interest rates on Personal Loans down to size. Save on any Personal Loan. Talk to the Loan Arranger at your local V&G Trust Branch. Ask Us.. .Pronto! WVTORt j~ANDGRE TRUST Since IS44 Whitby. 308 Dundas St. W. 668-9324 Tor. Lne 683-7189 Meniber. 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