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Orono Weekly Timnes, Wednesday, Septem ber 22, 1993 DAMN BOB RAB Over the past few years we have ali heard about cut-backs stated to be affecting service. And of course who hasn't heard about the cut-backs brought about by Bob Rae 's social contract. Up to this point cutbacks have had littie affect on our life or at least we had thought so. Does it really matter that the weeds along the road side now grow three feet taîl. Or possibly that the teacher now bias twenty pupils in a classroom rather than eigbteen. I would expect the snow on the roads will be a littie deeper this winter than last or the year before. And we may have to wait a littie longer for a non-emergency hospital bcd. But by-and-large life lias gone on with no real problemr due.to cut-backs, that is until last week. Over the past year we have become somewhat of a profess- ional, or at least have become profîcient in giving blood sample andi urine sample, for one reason or another. It bias happened at Memorial, Oshawa General, St. Michacis, and Toronto General. It's olti hat. It bas been pop-in pop-out. The job's done. One last time came up last week and once again sent to the lab for testing of blood and urine. A prick in the arm andi the blood flows. The usual procedure. Nothing new. Then comes the vial placed in your band, direction to the wasbroom and just wbere to place the vial wbcn tbejob is done. Alone and in the confines of the washroom we take our first look at the vial. It lias to be less than half litheSIZC (J any we had been gi% (-Ilbefore. Has there been a mistake or is this a jokc of some k uid. You take anoiliwr look and consider the consequences. You ask yourself, "Is this possible?" It certainly would be embarr- assing to enquire at the desk. Then the thought came there were other vials in the rack outside the washroom.- I pushed the door ajar, sneaked a peak and found the vials were the saine size. It was determined this was for real and I couldn't live the rest of my life in tie wasbroom. How fortunate that I do have two steady hands - how fortune I am maie -- and how fortune I could turn on the tap and shut it, off ail at the saine tiine. Damn that Bob Rae and bis cut-backs. The opening in the vial was no more haif an inch and the volume would be a little over that of the little fmger, Driving home I realized that this particular cut-back was not of the making of Bob Rae it hadn't shown up at Memorial, Oshawa and the other hospitals. In fact the clinic I had been directed to, MDS Laboratories, is one of private enterprîse and bas three outiets in the City of Oshawa. My problem was not witb Bob Rae but with the Association of nurses, teachers, firefighters and other union affiliates who invest their pension money in this private venture. I suspect this association of unions see nothing wrong in their cut-backs in their laboratory operations. But as we'ail know they sure can holler when Bob Rae puts his squeeze on the penny. And I shan't forget where it was suggested that I go to NIDS. One of the investors. Queen's Park ]Report 1from Gord MVills, MPP Durham EFast Happy 8O.th Birthday Dad and-G rampa from Gord Mills M[PP Durham East Last week, free at last firom the Legisiature, I was able to catch Up With every outstanding piece of correspondence. At the tine of writing this column every one looking for an answer to, their letter should have received one. If you have sent me a letter, and haven't yet received an answer, please let my office know. -On Tuesday, I wiil be going to Ottawa with the rest of the government members until Friday. This retreat gives me the opportunity to discuss one-on-one with the Premier and. Cabinet Ministers, the concerns you have spoken to me about over the last year. 1 will also be speaking to the Minister of Health about concerns the hospitals in the riding have, and also I will be lobbying bard-for the radiation treatment centre in Oshawa General Hospital. I'm looking forward to the retreat, and the opportunity it affords for informnai discussion not otherwise available at Queen's Park, when Cabinet Ministers are mostly surrounded with bureaucrats with lîttie time to talk. A couple of weeks ago, a rather nasty letter appeared in a local newspaper, which suggested that the government is not treating seniors in nursing homes with any degree of fairness. The letter writer went on to say that the government bas taken away the seniors dignity and placed them in a "poor house situation". And ail of these comments camne about because of a column 1 wrote for "Seniors" which I called "Age of Concern.". Let me for a moment set the record straight. At the moment 4001 of the health care budfget is currently spent on the e12% of the population 65 and over, and the cost per capita is increasing. More money than ever before, and that includes the Liberal and Conservative governments before us, is being spent to meet -pressing needs in long-termi care. By 1996, the government will spend $647.6 million each vear on long-term care, in addition to the $2.2 billion currently being spenL. People who live in nursing homes and homes for the aged, are responsible for the cost of room and board. The saine costs prevail if you are a senior living in your own home - isn't that right? isn't that fair? is that notion somehow seen as being "off the wall"? or worse yet, is it seen as taking away the "dignity of a senior?" as the letter, writer claimed. But even that basic charge wil be adjusted accordinig to the ability of the senior to pay. Wbat could be fairer? No one who lives in a nursing home or a home for the aged, is charged for nursing care, drugs and medicine prescribed under the drug benefit plan, nor are there any charges for personal support and quality- of-life services. I would bc pleased to provide anyone interested, with a copy of "Partnerships in Long-Term Care" if you care to Vijte to me or callmy constituency. office or the Queen's Park Office 697-1501 in Bowmanville, 325-4934 in Toronto. This policy frainework was the result of consulting witb 75,000 participants who made know their concerns at more than 3,00U public meetings across Ontario. That process of open govemnment in action, of course found little coverage in the Toronto tabloid but is it any wonder? In tough times, the Ontario government bas made tough choices that protect good programs and real needs. I don't sec anything socialîst about making Ontarians live only $10 billion beyond their tax revenues. The bitter criticism from our old union friends doesn't surprise me either. In fact I was fully expecting it, and in spite of the unions pledge to get even with us it won't be easy for them to flnd good alternatives. When British workers rejected their Labour Govemnment, they quickly found the alternative wasn't the good old days; it was Margaret Thatcher. Bill 111, was introduced last year to amend the Public Service Act, and expand the political activity rights of Crown employees for federal, provincial and municipal elections. The Bill will not be in effect in time for the October 25 federal election. As an interim measure pending the passage of Bill 111, guidelines have been developed incorporating the provisions of the Bill that are compatible with the Public Service Act. Providing you are not a Deputy Minister, you now have the right tu engage in public comments, you may canvass on behaîf of a candidate, you may be a ýmember of a political party and you may be a candidate in a federal or provincial election if on a leave of absence wîthout pay. Until next week remember, some people think blame is safer than praise. Take care ... Donation made to Municipality Larry Kotsoff, the CAO for tbe Municipality of Clarington, has recently resigned bis position. He will be moving, witb bis wife and family to B.C.- As a token of appréciation to tbe Municipality, be bas donateti to the Municipality an antique grand piano that bas been ini bis family for a number of years. Originally madie in London, England, the piano came to Canada in 1879. Council is very appreciative of. the gesture. In turn, a small plaque is to be placed on the piano, bearing the donor's name. Lucy Rybka-Becker NDP candidate (Continued from page 1) have a compétitive economy andi environmental policies. Rybka-Becker calîs ber campaign a grassroots one. They will not be spending a great deal of money and are doingz their best, to be very cost-efficient in these tough economic times. She bas been pounding tbe pavement trying to talk to as many IpeOPle as possible aboutber party's plans. Rybka-Becker bas gaineti some valuable experience through her career. She is currently employeti as a communications officer with the Ministry of the Attorney Géneral and is a memnber of the OPSEU Local 524. She bas worked for the Ontario governiment since 1988. She bas also serveti with the Big Brothers Association of Oshawa-Whitby, and the United Way. She is a past president of the Durham Féderal NDP Riding Association. Currently, she is vice-president of the Durham East Provincial NDP Ridîng Association. Love Gord, Lois, Kevin and Dwayne The, CLARKE CONNECTION MORE ITHAN A STORE A UNIQ UE EXPERIENCE ONE OF A KilVID-HANDf MADE CANADIAN CRAFTS POTTERY -.WOOD - SILKS - TOYS AND MUCH MUCH MORE MAIN STREE7; ORONO 983-9314 TUES. -FRLlto 6 SAT. 9to 5