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Page 8, Vih1itby Free Pros, Wtacfresday, Decomber 22,1993 Hospitail role discussed wha ftbyT usiess1,-LAA FROM PAGE 1 Dr. Neil McAlister, chief of medicine, would not comment at this time. 'Tve no concerns about the report because it's nof written,» said McAlster. "As far as speculating, I don't know what good that would do. We would only ho spinning our whoels," ho said. According te McPhail, the con- mittee has discussed «any num- ber of possibilities» with "that (conversion) being one» of thom. «Nothing has been decided," lho said, adding that the committee was te have met again Monday te discuss the matter. "Nothing is finalized until, 'A' we make it (recommendation), and 'B', the health council approves it,» McPhail said. 'The health council will either accept it or reject it. Hypotheti- cally, if it's acceptedtit'skuîteo the minister and Itikta would take somo time,» ho said. Wvhitby. councillor Marcel Brunelle is a member of the hospitai board of directors and Dur arnRegion's representative on the healh council. "No final decisions have been made. Ail we're dealing with hsaa regprt,» said Brunollo. I have concerns wth leading peo<le off on a goose chase,» ho When the health council began roviowing the role of Durham Region hospitals, thore was foar that one would have te, close, Brunelle said. "But now we have te think that the roles will have te change, ho mnore spocific and economical,» ho said. "But let's net start deciding if Whitby Genèral Hospital will ho this and that until aIl the im- pacts are known. It's wreng te saythis will happen.» Ifthe hospital is te change from a «eneral treatmnent institu- tion, a decision must ho made on the more tha.n $5 million raised for a planned expansion of the Gordon Street facility, Brunelle agreed. "Funds were raised for dif- forent kinds of oquipment and exansion. That judgtnent that wilhave te ho made hofore any decision,»ho said. In fact, this may ho cited as one reason te koep Whitby General operating in its current form, Brunelle noted. "Suppose it (report) does say that Whitby become a rehabilita- tive hospital. But with the fun- draising it might make botter sonse for Whitby te be something ellselho said. Afthough Brunelle noted that financial reasons have prompted the provincial government te, change the way health care is deliverod in Ontario -- "the s ys- tom can't even support itself" -- hoe stressed that «thiis is a long way from boing a done deal.» Director of development Marc Kealey said Whitby General wil continue te operato as a general hospital. But if the health council recommonds that it become an acute care hospital, «we'd be dolightod,» said KoaIey. "Not only can we live with it, r'd bo delighted," hoe said. "At least we'd know what our destiny would ho.» Bomb threat at court Police evacuatod the Whitby traffic court and several neig- houring businessos last Wednes- day aiter roceiving a bomb throat. Entrances te the Rostland and Garden Street plaza where the court is located were blocked off for a cou ple of hours while offi- cors soarchod the area. The threat was actually made by phone te Metro Toronto Police around 9:14 a.m. A caller said there was a bomb at the Whitby courthouso. The message was relayed te, Durham Rogional Police, who in- itially thought the caller was referring te the provincial courts, located at Durbam ]Region head- quartors on Rosslandf west of àGdon. A search there didn't turn up anything, but officers found an unclaimed briefcase at the traffic court. Businesses on the teop levol of the plaza and directly bolow the court were cleared and the bomb squad was called te the scene. They spent about 15 minutes checking eut the briefcase, which contained only garbage, bofore givine the all.clear. Police suspect the briefcase was planted in a hallway of the court by the caller. Brooks, Whittington are pleased to announce the re-location of their offices to: 326 Dundas St. East, Whitby e Li N 2J1 1 (905) 430-1755 David J. Franklin Barister and Solicitor is pleased to announce the re-location of his office to: 326 Dundas St. East, Whitby * Li N 21 (905) 668-8651 e (905) 686-5246 ADVERTISING POLICY The Whitby Free Press is a business which derives almost ail ts revenue from advertising in one form or another. For abviaus self-interest. we want our clients' adtve-ting ta work. Our policy is ta reach as many homes in Whitby as possible (usually more than 99%) and ta pi-avide local high-interest content that ensures that people read the paper and honce the advertising as well. We urge readers ta patranize aur advertisers in order that we can provide even better coverage in the future. We also stress creativity. We wulI pi-avide aur prfessianal experience ta advise dlients on ways to0 make their advertising more effective, but for a praduct that cannot be repossessed, there are no gLaiantees. We strrve ta avaid er-ors, but when we make them. a correction will be made in a subsequent issue or a discount affered. The newspaper's legal hiabýiiy is ont y for the actual space accupied by the errai-. Advertising is sold accord'ng ta the space tl occupies. No additianial charge is made for arwror t ayaut and hence the newspaper retains the copyright on ail its original wodL~ The newspapOi- reserves the rght loi refuse advertising which it tlnds ab1ectianable or detnmeftal ta its business. Miracle strike now in fifth week There's ne end in sigh ethe five-week-old strike by6,500 Miracle Food Mart workesin- cluding those at two Whtby steres. "I wish I had something< te roport," says Jim Hobbs, spokos- person for Locals 175 and 633 of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). (But) there's nothing happening right now.» No new taîk. are planned. There have been ne nogotiations in the dispute since workers voted 80 per cent in faveur of rejeting the company's latest o fier De c. 11. That offer called for a $2 an heur wage rollback, store clos- inga, layoffs and other conces- siens, accordîng te the union. Fui 1-time Miracle cashiers earn $16.16 an heur, part-time cashiers $13.79 and moat-cutters $18.10 under the current con- tract. A&P Canada, Miracle's owner, has repoatedly refused te com- ment on the strike. "The results speak for them- solves » commented United Food and domýmercial Workors Inter- national Local 175 and 633 pre- aident Michael Fraser after the vote. «Clearly theý membership has spoken; th ha offor was net accep- table... and this union will con- tinue te work tewards a aettlo- ment that is acceptable.» The vote sonda a clear message te A&P, Fraser says. "I believe the mandate... ha very powerful indeod. I juat hope the employer is listening,» ho aThe members of Locals 175 ad633 are net about te ho taken advantage of and this strike is still about jobs and di gity ." Worlors at Whitby~s stores have concentrated on picketing the A&P store acrosa from Whitby Mail, blocking delivery truckS and handing eut flyors te customers. Police say there have been minor problems at the store but nothing major and ne incidents of violence. The Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) Local 222 recontly passed a motion asking members te honour UFCW picket linos. The Oshawa local is aise asking members te, join the pickot linos Fridays and Saturdays, the busiost shopping days of the weok. DOWNTOWN BUSINESS Improvement Area marketing assistant Marcy Marchuk holds some of the $3,000 worth of booty up for grabs in the annual stocking draw. More than 90 businesses donated gift certificates and other items for the promotion. The diraw will take p lace today (Wednesday), the Iucky winners wilI be notified of their goodfortne omorow. Photo by Mark Reesor, Whitby Free Preos UIincrease too much for some businesses: chamber .4 If the federal government implements the proposed incroaso of 7.1 per cent in unemployment insurance, even the present level of employment may be difficult to maintain, says the Whitby Chamber of Commerce. 'We have been working with and for our membors during these difficuit oconomîdc times," says Lynn Woods, prosident of the Whitby chamber, "and the proposod U.I. incroase is a hurdie that some businesses may not be able to jump." "At a time when somne businesses were, aiboit cautiously, considering hiring in the new year, increasing the coet of employing more people is counter-productive," says Deb Filip, chamber general manager. '?ayroll taxes and job creation, like oil and water, do net mix." The chamber says the current Act croates disincontives to work; Iengthens the average duration of unemployment; promotos the Watchj, The system that provides... *Unscheduled homo visats ensure quality care for your chiki " Fuly ýtrained providers recoive ongoing Agency support " Reliable local back-up covers Provider illness or holidays " Complete insurance covorage " Income tax receîpts *Children six weeks and up " Full or part-time For more Information oeil: 686-3995 a ioensed Agency devlopment of less stable, seasonal employment; discourages labour mobility; and encourages intermittent labour force attachment. The Whitby chamber has joined the Canadian Chamber of Commerce with an objection te, the incroase and insists that the government pass legislathon.early in 1994 te fix the Unemployment Insurance Act and cut bock on its uncontrolled spending. It ha net difficuit te project that an increase in any payroll taxes te overburdened employers may ho the catalyst in another sharp downward spiral, thus, of course, adding te, unemploymont," commenta Woods. The Whitby Chamber of Commerce represents noarly 500 businesses in Whitby. Clarificaton A headline in last woek's edi- tien may have given the impres- sion that C&C Sound is closing down. The business is actually relo- cating fromn the downtewn te the home of Chris Catton. OHMSR15^NDO 5cB CA1rrON