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VWlitby Ffee Press, WednbsdaY, Séptem6er If. 1994 ,Page 29' Drumm says province behind. hosp'Ital.proposai B yMike Kowalouki T7he Q ntario gvrment bas been accused ofbeng the 'driv- ing force' behind a controversial p roposai te, change the role of WitbyGeneral Hospital. Whitby councillor Joe Drumm rejects government dlaims that a recommendation te convert the bospitai inte a rehabilitation treatnuent centre is strictly a local decision. Based on his research, Drmm said the Ministryof 1-ealth appears te be firmly beind a proposai to take acute care bealtb services eut of Whitby Generai. "I don't knoW for certain who's driving it, btit I think it's the p rovince,» Drumm teid The F'ree Jeess. "I think it's important that people should know how this ha ened and who's doing it,» hie Drumm's opinion that the miityis behind the hospitai proosa stems from bis study of minutes of meetings of a commit- tee of the Durham Region Dis- trict Health Council. A steering committee of the council -- a publicly-funded body $1,OOO raised for hospital A golf tournament held Aug. 28 by The Lion and the Unicorn Pub in Whitby raised more than $1,000 for Whitby Generai Hos- pital. It's tbe second straigbt year that the pub bas donated the proceeds from the teurnament te the bospitai, and «given the mood being created eut there by some, it's a truly generous act, " says Marc Kealey, vice president of community relations and deve- iopment at the hospital. -Pub proprieter AI Smith says tbat there bas been pressure put on hlm by some peopile in Wbitby te not support the hospital. "I know that the 'hospital la going througb changes and for the most part we ail are, itfs how we deal with the changes that makes us different. «However, I arn a firm believer tbat whatever the outcome, îny business is in Whitby, and I support the hospital,» Smith is quoted as stating, in a bospital press release. which advises the health minis- try on local heaith issues -- released..a discussion paper in May on the future of acute care health services in Durham Reg*on. Al consuitant's report recom- mended the conversion of Whitby General into a rehabilitation treatment centre serving the entire region. In July, Drumm requested the minutes of ail steering committee meetinR and ailmeting bet- ween te committee and bat council.* Although foroed te file his request under Ontario's freedom of information process, Drumm recentiy obtained most of the material he was seeking. The remaining information wiUl be sent at a later date, Drumm said. According to his research, the «first tinie, the rebabilitation centre proposai was mentioned was last October, Drumni said. But while he cannot prove conclusively that the rninistry set the agenda for the steering cern- mittee's findings, Drumni sus- pects this is the case. He refers te Health Minister Ruth -Grier's recent visit to PC health critic meets hospita officiais 1Jim Wilson (MPP Simcoe West), health critic for the Ontario Conservative.- Party, visited Whitby Generai Hospital iast week te, discuss healtb care. 'We bave a number of concerns about the future of the heat care system ia Ontario and how we fit in, se obvlously we want te bear direct from those who are or will be in a position te make decisions," said Marc Kealey, vice president of community relations and development at the hospital. The hospital was previousiy vstdby Lyn McLeod, leader of bhe Liberal Party of Ontario and Ruth Grier, Minister of Heaith. "We know that the general election in Ontario is several montbs away, and we want te adequateiy understand what each party's health care platform is, and, of course, its impact on our bospital. "We are going through some incredible change, and eacb party bas a position on how that change will be managed. It's our responsibility te inform ourselves and the community we serve,"~ said Kealey. Wilson met with members of the bospitai board, administration and union representatives in the board rooni. Whitby General as an example. "The Minister of Heaitb said the decision wiil be made by the bealth council and she wili rub- ber-stamp it,» said Drumm. "But it's important that we know wbo tbey (health council) are and the power they bave," he said. The health council is a 16- member body chosen by the pro- vince. Whiie some of its members are nominated by otber agencies - eWhitby councillor Marcel Brneile, for example, represents Durham Region on the bealth council -- the government cani rejet the nominees. Te health council, in turn, selected the 15 steering commit- tee members based on provincial criteria which stipulated the committee's rmakeup. Former Whitby Generai Hospi- tal board chair Ed Buffett and Ashburn résident Jean Acbma- towicz are menibers of the steer- inu committee. I don't think the general pub- lic is tetally aware of the kind of bammer that the bealtb council bas,» said Drurnm. "In my opinion the province is driving this. but I think they will HENRY ST. H.S. We're midway through the second week of schoei and a]ready things are picking up. If the first week was any indication of the rest of the school year, my guess is that well ail be pretty busy. Thanks' to the- guidance department for extending their bours until 7:30 p.m. for two days last week. With long lire ups just te make an appointmnent, this ailowed students te, change their courses promptly. Hopefuily new everyone is happy witb their schedules. Rumour bas it that iast Friday a Grade 9 student voiunteered te be a wall ornament for 45 minutes. Paul Heinrich and Mary Ann Murray guessed the right axnount of jube jubes in the jar, 320 muist be a good number for vol]. Grade 9 students took advantage of the clubs' and teains' orienrtation in the new gym on Friday. Everytbing went well, let's hope everyone gets involved. Don't forget that tomorrow, Thursday, is picture day and it's aiso the kickoff te, the Hawks football senson. The game starts at 6 p.m. at the Civic against Pine Ridge. Cbeck your school calendar for upcoming events. Until next week. be the rubber* stamp,"ý he sala "If the peopie in this- corn- munity want te keep the bospi- tai, they wili have te, get tuhis. commnittee and council to agree." A spokespersonfor Gnier was not available for comment. But in previous interviews, Durham Centre MPP Drummond White insisted that the hospital proposai is not a "done deal" and the recommendation can be rejected. Wa-qteirfowl watch at Shores on Sunday The Central Lake' Ontario Conservation Authority wili hoid its annuai Waterfowi Viewing Day on Sunday, Sept. 18 at Lynde Shores Conservation Area. .Members of the public are invited to gather between 1 and 4 p.m. on the northeast viewing, platf'orrn of Cranberry Marsh (reached by foot travel only along the road extending south fromn the parking lot). Answers to Whitby Trivia from page 15 1 . The f irst tournament at the Whitby Lawn Bowling Club was on Aug. 29, 1928. 2. Mount Zion Masonlo Lodge was founded at Borelia, now part of Port Perry, in 1852, and movodi to Brooklin four years later. 3. William Sinclair (1810-1899) founded Glenrath farm on the site of Camp X in 1861. 4. It cost Sheriff Nelson Gilbert Reynoldc&: $70,000 to build Trafalgar Castle, compared to $6,000 for a bank and $2,000 for a good house in 1859.. OB1TUARY NEMURKAR Neil Cameron Murkar of 224 Warden Wilson Ave., Whitby, wbo received the Peter Perry award as Whitby's outstanding citizen for 1959, died at Sunny- brook Medicai Centre in Toronto on Sept. 5, 1994. He was 64. Mr. Murkar was very active in cburch, sports, service cub and other community work since he began bis optometry practice in Whitby in 1953. He belp d organize and operate trbe Whitby Rotary Figure Skatingf Club, and bad ternis as yresident of the Whitby Miner Lacrosse Association, Whitb intermediate and Whitby Red Wings junior lacresse clubs. He was founding president of the Whitby Minor Basebail Associa- tion. Hie was a member of the Whitby library board from 1956 te 1968 was chair of the Whitby United Way and a member of the original Whitby Social Planning Council. He was the youngest president in the bistery of the Rotary Club of Whitby in 1957-58, and wrote 'A Haîf Century of Service,' the book commemorating the club's Sth anniversary in 1953. He was a Paul Harris Fellow in 1979, the Rotary club's most prestigious award te a member or service. He was a prominent memnber of St. Mark's United Church, including positions such as chair of the committee- of stewards, chair of the board of trustees, past assistant superintendent of the church schoo, clerk of ses- sion, and eider. He was bora on April 8, 1930 in Pickering, son of William C. and Tryphena Marie (Brown) Murkar. The family pubiisbed the Pickering News for more than 75 years. He attended the Pickering public and continuation schools, Scarbnrnugb Collegiate Institute, University of Toronto and Col- lege of Optometry of Ontario, graduating in optemetry in 1953. He received a docteer of opteme- try in 1961. He married Carole Blues in Toronto on Sept. 15, 1955. He is survlved by bis wife, son Cam (and bis wife Teresa) of Newcastle, daughter Karen (and ber busband an Auliera) of Toronte, granchîdren Mattbew and Anthony and brother Barry Murkar of Peterborough. He was predeceasec by brother Craig. Mr. Murkar rested at the W.C. Town Funeral Chapel, and a memoriai service was held at St. Mark's United Churcb in Whitby on Thursday, Sept. 8, Rev. Brian Gee conducting. Cremation. Contributions te the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation. NEILOC. MURKAR, IN 1953 PHOTO BARBARA LE GROULX Barbara Jean Le Groulx died on Aug 27, 1994 at Oshawa Generai Hospital. She was 68. Born Barbara Jean Killian in Weyburn, Sask., she lived in Oshawa for seven years. She is survived by son Robert (and his wife Diana) of Whitby, son William of Edmonton, daugbter Linda of Ottawa, grandeilîdren David, Jan, Mat- thew and Leslev, brothers Mel- vin of Toronto, lielmer of Peter- borough, Eldon of Marmora, Ont. and Dorlyn of Weyburn, Sask. She was _predeceased by ber husband El zear (Joe) and daughter Donna. The fnerai service was heid from the W.C. Town Funeral Chapel on Aug. 30, 1994, Father Caihoun offlciating. Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society. 6 Generations ofï Service, Quality & Tr-ust " Faxnily Monuments " Granite or Bronze Markers " Cemetery Lettering " Sandblasting Stafford Monuments 318 Dundas St. E. Whitby 668-3552 After Hours 668-4460 or 721-9882 Home appointments gladly arranged