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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAJICH 29,1989, PAGE 27 Brandt criticlizes GO aceessibiliY. waits for surgery By Debbie Luchuk Ina visit to the west Durham Region' area last Tuesday, Ontario Progressive Conserva- tive leader Andy Brandt visited the Brock West and Brock South landfill sites, the Wihitby GO station and a local heart special- ist. After a tour of the landfill sites, Brandt visited the GO station to meet with the disabled and others and discuss the lack of access to the train for the disabled. «We're talking elderly people, pregnant women, many people in addition to the handicappedi who can't use the facility that has been funded with government funding, " Brandt said of the station. Brandt criticized the provincial Liberal government for the lack of handicapped access to the train, and said, «It's much less expensive to spend the money at the beginning than much later in time." He attested that the train cars are overloaded («as many as 30 to 35 people are standing by the time t he train gets into Toéronto") and questioned why the govern- ment did not order more cars to be put on the litu when the new stations at Ajax a.nd Whitby were built. Another issue he identified was the lack of parking at the station. "The government is tryinig to bu some additional parking here, but they should have taken this (parking needs) into account from the beginning," Brandt said. He said that wider use of public transit should lower the environmental damiage to the atmosphere, and that transit should be encouraged by provid- ing handicapped access, more cars and more parking. «There's a lot of pressure for the government to expand the 401 . 1m not saying I'lm opposed to this, but there has got to b e an emphasis on mass transportation to save the environmient,» Brandt said. At Dr. Naresh Kumar's office in Whitby, Brandt discussed the waiting lists for heart surgery across the province. "A doctor has a waiting list of 100 patients and in somne kind of way, he has to Pla God in determining who wil have a fatal attack," Brandt said. He said that in the region, u-.proximately 130 peopl' go ti, <Jeveand each 'month -.o ..ýt heart surgery there, rath:.i than wait for surgery in Ontario. «They are apprehensive, they are under stress, and their fanilies are under stress. They have deci- ded that they would rather mort- gage their home and live by gomng to the U.S. (for the ope- ration). «We have a waiting list. If an urgent case cornes up, we Tnove less urgent ones down the list. A valve replacement could be per- formned within three months at the soonest," Kumar said.. "I find people here are very tolerant. But if they don't shout loudly (about the lack of health care), (they) won't get anything done.» Kumar said there is no way of knowing whether a person on an elective (least ili) list could drop dead if surgery is delayed. Brandt attested that if the number of procedures could be increased by 20 per cent, if nurses were given a better work- ing situation the health care situation wouÏd be improved. The Progressive Conservative leader was the guest speaker at the Durham W est Progressive Association's annual meeting at the courthouse in Pickering that evening. Salome Bey in concert on Sunday ANDY BRAUDT (left), leader of the Ontario's health care system with Dr. Ontario Progressive Conservatives, Naresh Kumar. was in Whitby last week to criticize Vince Ohprecio-Free Press photo The Durham Regioin Concert Association will present Salome Bey in concert on Sunday, April 2, 8 p.m., at the Oshawa Little Theatre, 62 Russett St., Oshawa. Tickets are $20- and* are avail- able at Thomas ûiouse of Music, 1820 Dundas St. E., Whitby, or at the door. For more informa- tion cali 723-1058 or 576-3528. CALL A FL>19D IFE S I Y MR.TRIM COMPLETE LAWN AND GARDEN MAINTENANCE] PRUNING & LANDSCAPING 623-9711 (Long distance celasrf unded) AL'S DRYWALL " Ornamental design ceilings " Plaster work e Painting & decoratiflg " General çontractiflg I_68-8958 666-1657 __ Scotty A FOFREEQUOTATION CALL HERB TRAN DSSQUEEGEE KING IWINDOW CLEANING .LTD. Residentiai Windows, Screens Cleariing uvestrough& lmn Sdg BRIAN DEEGAN DENTURE TH ERAPY CLINIC HARWOOD AVE. S. AJAX, ONTARIO 683-6074 SMALL APPLIANCES REPAIR SERVICE Compete smail home and commercial appliance repair. Authorized service for Black & Decker, Proctor-Silex, Eureka, Melitta. Specializing in vacuums & pol- ishers, power tools, air con- ditioners, dehumidifiers and Iawn mowers. 220 -A3ilSt- WVhlitby. C>nturic 430-8378ie epir All M. k- CO PEEUEU -$3.'5 *............NGMACINE FRM $49.0 - 711-8 PATRICK'S GENERAL SIERVICES Reno vations and improvements from your basement to your roof Outside work always available Phone 430-1422 z- WHOLESAILE] & RETAIL