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Statuis quo accepted at firwst blush, but problems Ioommg By IRENE GENTLE The Champion Halton Region wili likely play it safe when it cornes jto supplying ambulance services. A final regional staff report bas recommended stick- ing witis Halton's two current suppliers when the Region takes over downloaded ambulances Januasy 1 of next year. Tisat means Halton-Mississauga Amnbulance and Halton Hills Ambulance Service will likely still be driving the Region's front-line health care into the year 2000. Renegotiating contracta with the cur- rent suppliera. will make tise transfer of ambulances from a provincial to regional responsibility as painless as possible, explained Halton's cisief medical officer, Dr. Robert Nosal. "We clearly iseard tisat (councillors) wanted a amootis tranaition witis no risks to tise community," ie said. "Thsis pro- vides us with time and flexibility to really WaIIy look at longer terni options." Under the Ambulance Act, the Region bas until September to inforin tise Province of its plan for ambulance services. Tise Region wili tisen clmb into tise driver's seat on January 1, 2000. Tise report was unveiled at a recent Halton Ares Services Review (HASR) subcommittee meeting. HASR, which is comprised of ares counicillors, mayors and school board representatives, approved tise reconunendations. The report will now be passed on to the regional healts and social services cÔmmittee before landing at counicil for final approval. At firat blush, reaction seemed muted aitie HASR meeting, with some counicillors indicating tisey'd save comment for thse next go-round. An exception was Milton Councillor Wally Hunter, wiso objected to tise direction of tise report. Keeping tise statua quo would juat mean a continua- tion of poor service in Milton, hie argued. ."If human life is at stake here and we say tise statua quo is wisere we're going, I'mi not sure that's doing anything for us in remote areas," hie sald. Dr. Nosal reminded tise HASR sub- committee tisat tise staff recommendation buys time for more long terni decisions to be made. "The issues are complex," hie aaid. "Tackling tisen will take six years, not tise six monts we have." Tise response didn't appear to sootise Mr. Hunter, who opposed tise recommçn- dation, along with Milton Councillor Rick Malboeuf wisen it came tume to vote. They were vastly outnumbered by tise remalnder of tise subcommittee. Hunter The report wss meant to give Halton direction in its first stepa as operators of an ambulance service. It also served as a heads-up in terma of coats. According to tise report, tise service will coat the Region about $4.5 million annually attse outset. Tisat figure will only increase as Halton grows. In 1998, Halton's 13-unit fleet responded to 27,800 calla. Tisat number is expected to jump 41 per cent to 39,200 by 2004. Traditionally, ambulances have crossed jurisdictions to acisieve speedy response times. Wisile tisat was no trouble when tise cheques were aIl signed by tise Province, it could cause complica- tions witis Halton attse reins, said Dr. Nosal. By responding to fewer out of jurisdiction calîs tisan *se. ISSUES on page 7 t Thse Canadien Champion, Tuesday, March 16, 1999 -6- Lease Base ong4ntha 2000 Mp erya ...Ecs ioee chage C00 asKMtDow payentadmnhleamn ubettoS andl PST. F Srtyles dw pae ntadscrtydpstde ndlvr é D ow pa yment OnRd s rih a d P E 357 Queen St. Acton (519) 853-0200 (905) 453-8965 Purchase Finance uavaner u.oupe Astro Van (ISA / ISB Models) Lease Rate Up To36 Mont hs R c BO SALES HOUAS SERVICE HOURS CI VR L TO D M B E Mon.-Thurs . ....ân-pn Mon.-Fr ......6m4pnrO af m I6 S O B L Fridey ....... $ rm Tues ........ rp Saturday .....n'a4pMn Saturday.. ba.gotlm HWY. 25 S. AT DERRY RD., MILTONn o