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Chronicle Staff Mark Bryson Simplified process A rapid ease-by-case clearance of the 21,500 people in Canada seeking refugee status is essential to ensure a simplified refugee determination program gets off to a healthy start without a crippling backlog, Waterloo MP Walter McLean said Saturday. McLean, minister of state for immigration, told local reporters and ethnic groups at Waterloo Inn that the proposed streamlining of the refugee determination system, announced in Ottawa last week, will put an end to the four-to-five year process claimants must currently go through. The new system, he said, will ensure the process begins within seven days, with a settlement reached within three months after arrival in Canada. . McLean outlines streamlining of refugee program The new scheme will cost an additional $30 million over the next two years to bring on an additional 150 staff members to both clear the current backlog of applicants and set up for the initial period of the new system. This. according to McLean, will eventually Mark Bryson Chronicle Staff Waterloo fire chief John Staller was forced to put out an unexpected blaze Monday-the burning questions of Ald. Andrew Te- legdi. "he tete-a-tete confrontation took place after Telegdi questioned the city's policy of not informing lodging house tenants about the safety of their homes, even upon request: A --. - _ "The problem I am having is that the Ontario Fire Code is put in effect for the tenants. yet if they initiate a complaint against their landlord, you are saying they don't deserve to know the results. 1 think they do, don't you?," he questioned. Telegdi informed council that he was aware of 15 lodgers who placed a complaint to the fire department in January and are still waiting to find out what the actual violations are. Statler then informed Telegdi of the procedure. "Its always been a policy to look into it (the complaint) within 24 hours and it we find violations, we'll give him (the landlord) 90 days to comply or we'll take him to court," said Staller. 7 "No," feplied Stalfer. “if they' (the tenant) initiated the claim, then they likely know what's wrpng with the building," he _sa.id.. . Ashe "etiiet later told reporters that in the last six months he has taken "four or five" landlords to court and has won all but one case. In most cases a judge will give a further extension to comply, said Staller. He also told Telegdi that by keeping a "secret file" after a complaint has been initiated, the fire department is protecting the tenant from possible repercussions from the landlord. If they really wanted to know, he said, then the only course was to ask the owner. “I don't think the owner will tell them," was Telegdi's reply. Telegdi's pursuance of the issue was greeted with both support and anger by council. "I don't see the problem with putting Aid. Telegdi's concerns on the table because it's a fairly valid topic to be discussed. But I don't think cross-examining and criticizing the chief is the way to do it," said Ald. Brian Turnbull. Telegdi's request to change the policy also got support from Ald. Lynne Woolstencroft, who wondered how such a change could be made. - Chief administrative officer Don Roughley told her that the change could take place anytime council saw fit. _ _ - -. _ _ Telegdi then raised the ire of Mayor Marjorie Carroll when he suggested that Waterloo's fire department is understaffed in comparison to other cities of its size such as Vaughan, Petertrorough, Kingston and Niagara Falls. Carroll said such comparisons would mean nothing because Niagara Falls and Vaughan are "three times bigger in land area“ than Waterloo and Kingston was made up of "old buildings" which were more prone to fire. "As for Peterborough, I can't comment," she said. Staff and council will discuss the policy before it is aired again. The debates were sparked by Staller‘s annual report for 1985 which he presented to counéil. Friday. May 30, at 2:30 p.m. the City of Waterioo's Local Architectural Conservation Mtrtort (plummet: 1L.NY? yin iiiGiG JrGueuisiindting the Elizabeth Zeigler Public School on Moore Avenue a historical site. Architecturally the front facade is fascinatingly-aceented by a beautiful front entrance between two towers. _ - _ - _ A -- "fiiii" designation also marks the 10th anniversary of LACAC Elizabeth Zeigler School will be the tttth designation in the City. Telegdi puts _,i','siiiioi'ii' Staller on 5 iiil the hot seat , T I Zeigler School a historical site translate into a saving as he predicts that after five years the system will cost $14 to $15 million a year, down slightly from the current annual cost i?f $16.5 million. Under the current system, a person' seeking refugee status must go through a process which could take up to nine steps including three avenues of appeal. A claim could take up to five years to complete. "7333‘; Hm; their" claims are iietermined they are married with children and well-rooted in the country," said McLean. 7 - - - - V "fiGiGdoirie usually end up as landed immigrants on compassionate grounds. _ . "fifirii'GriG;rsiArsystern wipes out two levels of appeal but McLean says all cases will be heard in a "non-adversarial" manner. -. _ "Claims will be handled the most generous possible way with the benefit of the doubt going to the claimant...obviously if we make a mistake we're sending someone to their death," he said. -rriiiiiiiihts of the proposed system include: --an oral hearing for claimants on question of merit, Optimism all around at Freeport fund launch Chronicle Staff The first step in "building to secure the future" took place Sunday afternoon at Waterloo Region's Freeport Hospital as local dignitaries gathered to officially launch the hospital's $3.6 million building fund campaign. The campaign will complete a $37.5 million pioneer project that involves construction of three new buildings and expansion of the facility from 137 to 350 beds. At Sunday's lawn party gathering, John Sween- ey, MPP, Minister of Community and Social Services, presented campaign chairman Don Post with a Wmillion commitment from the Ontario government, while Lynn Myers, chairman of the Regional Finance Committee, promised an addi- tional $7 .5 million. The Hospital Board of Directors has committed $1.4 million from its endowment fund. The remaining funds are expected to be contributed by citizens and corporations, primari- ly within the Region. Getting the public campaign off on a positive transf, note were pledges from the Mutual Life Assurance beds t Company of Canada and the Hospital's volunteer reserv services organization of $250,000 and $180,000 re- care h spectively. Con: Fi I tions Actual fines for contravention of the licensing by-law would be determined by a judge; however. the by-law can and should indicate the maximum penalty, which is $2,000. "Existing staff complement within the fire department is insufficient to implement this program and an additional fire prevention offteer will be required by August l, 1986. The Property Standards By-law officer (to begin work June l) may not be available for other Building Depart- ment duties and, therefore. contract employees may have to be considered to-meet anticipated workloads." it reads, tcouncif immediately supported the August WATERLOO CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY. MAY 28, 1966 - PAGE 3 --independent decision making by a specialized Conven- tion Refugee Board, --two-member panels which offer the benefit of the doubt to the refugee claimant, -a non-adversarial setting for the hearings, --an appeal by leave to the Federal Court of Canada, and, --limitations on access. As a disincentive to people coming to Canada who are not refugees, those who arrive after May 22 of this year are on a "fast tracking" process and will have their cases heard immediately to prevent further backlog. McLean says the new system, when in place will be able to handle 1,000 claims a month. With as many as 900 applications a month coming in, McLean says the reason for the switch from the current system, which is geared to handle 100 cases a month, is obvious. Half the current backlog is in the Montreal area. The Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton area has 250 claimants waiting hearings. Clarence Hafther, a patient at Freeport, used the occasion to make a personal contribution of Pat Henderson, Freeport Hospital Administra- tor, said the completion of the Health Care Village "will mean tremendous benefits for both the patients at Freeport Hospital and the citizens of the Region." The 350-bed facility will address the shortage of more than 200 long-term care beds in the Region. Freeport Hospital's Health Care Village will, as much as possible, duplicate normal life patterns for the patients. Offices are housed separately to take advalxtage of lower cost construction requirements. Cons ruc- tion costs will be 17 per cent less than that of a traditional chronic care hospital. When completed in the early part of 1988 the project will permit the closing of the outdated Scott Pavilion at Kitchener-Waterloo Hospital and the transfer of 82 patients as well as the return of 55 beds to Cambridge Memorial Hospital currently reserved for chronic care patients occupying acute care beds in the three area hospitals. Construction is slated to begin in September. hiring.) The jury at last week's inquest called for similar regulatilals which would make it necessary for the city, In lords, tenants and local universities to become involved.Among the nine recommends tions was a request for a city hall-initiated awareness blitz to raise public awareness of the Ontario Fire Code, through media, brochures, property tax statement and stringent enforcement and penalties. Sunday to mark the Beginning of Freeport Chronicle photo Waterloo Fire Chief John Staller said Monday that the recommendations of the jury seem to be "fair" and he predicts the city's task force will incorporate many, if not all nine. (Continued from page 1)