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Page 4. WhIt2Y Fr9e Pross, Wednesday, May 3, 1995 Tory -leader critical --1Of hospital repoirt obrtG. Ecel R ~~~~~~~~- Serving You For 41 Years r ui rJi-c~' l H-otner Greenhiouses homegrown flowers * nursery quality* wide selection Hwy. 12 OPEN 7 North -of Brooklin DAYS A WEEK 9 am -7 pm6S6 Ample Parking6586 N MWHOTNER 1 SBrooklin 'E 7w y7] b Whitby By Mike KowabUl A proposed role chne for Whitby General Hositi1 has corne under fire from Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Mile Harris. A recent report on restructur- ing Durhamn Region hospitals waa criticized bIvHrrEsduring a visit te, Whitby on Monday i support of Î Torycandidates i the June 8 provincial election. Harris promised that a Con- servative government* would not impiement a controversial pro- p osIt convert Whitby General Hospital into a rehabilitative treatment centre without further review. Acute care services will remain a crucial component of the hospi- tai, Harris insisted at a press conféence in Durham contre candidate Jim Fiaherty's Byron Street South campaign office. However, the Tory leader was careful te avoid ulngont anY changes te the 26-year--oid faci- litys future role. 'They have our commitrnont that we won't accept the initial report we have seen,» Harris said in referonce te the 31,000 people who signed a petition againast the "We bleve, but are not cer- taiytat it was dictated by Queon's Park," ho said of the Durham Region District Health Council *study now awaiting government approval. If that is the case, then the "whole matter is open for review,"he said. Harris accused the health council of being «short-sighted» hi reommending thatWbitby Genoral becorne a rehablia*on treatment contre serving ail of Durham Region. (Whitby residents i need of emergoncy service or au~r wouldi go te, expanded hopts in Oshawa or Ajax, the study suggests.) "w, hole matter is open for review "'Ibis is a growth area, I think it wouid ho foolish to shut down hospitais now and then have to start building new ones,", said Harris. "Nothiýig rve seen telse me that wheni we look 10, 15 years down the road, we won't need acuto care services." But Harris did not blame the health council for proposing such measures since it and others in Ontario can only react to govern- ment initiatives, he said. «When we look at the studios being done, they've been driven bbea hortage of funding," ho Wiie a Conservative govern- ment will not increase health care spenkding -- nor will it slash funding either, Harris stressed - it will «seal" the health care "envelope " ho said. «IU wo fnd a dollar i savings, it will stay i the health care field. If a percentareof the sav- ings are neratdoaly wl 9=arI admitted there will ho a reailocation of resources and r.- structuring, but this will involve administrative and other- non- medical services. "Wde not iooking at a ration- ing of health services," ho said. -IUerW siturchly M Upg a e R e ak East candidate John OMoole and those from the Oshawa, Durham West and Durham-York ridinge Harris dealt primaril-Y with local concerne durmng his Whitby sto- PHoeetold reporters that winning most, if not ail five of Durham Region's ridinga, is essential te hie party's chances of forming the next government. (In 1987 the Liberals won three of the riai*g-, while i 1990 the NDP mad it a dlean sweep by capturing ail five.) Harris predictedthe Conserva- tives' message of lower taxes, reforming the welfare system and private sector job creation will ho well received m Durham. Commenting on other issues, Harris criticized the NDP for its handling of the proposed Lynde Shores hous ing project. «Wre frankly concerned that the government rushed inte exempting the development from an environmental hearing," 'ho said of plans for a community of 6 000 people neit te the Lynde "The enviromental, assessment procesa is not'perfect, but ites essetia"he said. hen you ,start exem p2tig go iu. auniito problems wit poticansdeciding it, not the experts." GO - Transit: The Tories will honour the governmentfs promise to rçinstate full GO train service i September. hIfact, a Conser- vative government will support Mm tainservice. Foreer $40y ou spend on subways, you get the same value for $1 spent on trains," said Harris. A Durham Region university: 'Tm not considering a university in Durham Region.-It' Up te the local commuànity.