"4 The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, March 24, 2004.

s >TA NDARD |

_ ESTABLISHED APRIL 27; 1988

PUBLISHER: ROD LINK .

_ ADDRESS: 3240 Clinton Street Terrace, B oe v8G 5R2:
"TELEPHONE: (250) 638.7289 » FAX: (250) 638.8432
WEB: www.terracestandard.com. ©

oe newsroom@terracestandard. com Apes

_ Freezel

: WHO. SAYS. advertising doesn't: work? } Not. the
provincial Liberal. government, judging from the:

" retreat by physicians of demands for feé increases.

which would: have. taken’ hundreds: ‘of millions of
‘dollars from taxpayers to satisfy... Cg Me
Under heavy: criticism’ for. ‘Using | tax monies in
such a fashion, the: government has for several
_ months’ ‘inundated TV: vand: radio. ‘airwaves and °
newspapers. with messages: saying. it has pumped
many. millions of.;dollars:: into health: ‘care. In

particular, the: ads. pointed out that B. C's ‘doctors:

have. done: quite nicely, thank you, with the’ last
round of fee increases.’

Dollars’. to. “donuts © “the - province « “then

commissioned opinion polls. to. gauge ‘the success | 3
of its message that doctors are among the best paid |.

Liberals ramp up gambling

in Canada when it comes: to’ ‘fees ‘and’ ‘benefits.

‘And moré dollars to. donuts. the: physicians | --VieToRIA -t's bizar’ to

themselves ‘also did some: polling to weigh. their: 7

‘chances for more ‘money.

The combination of ads anil polling must have:
come out'in the government’ s favour. Otherwise; |:
doctors would not have agreed s SO. > quickly toa fee .

freeze for. the next two years.

‘Mind you, the “play-t me or trade t me’ comments.
made by British Columbia Medical ‘Association .
president Dr: John Tumet in January when: he, :
blithely: suggested. the: provincial: government
could simply: ‘borrow: all thait'it needs ‘to pay, his ;

members did not. help. .

- Those | ‘comments . struck’ at the: heart. of the: :
"- provincial Liberal: philosophy. vand. political gt
strategy. Despite - the’ almost. mystical | power ake

physicians “have: in. society; there. ‘was “No ‘Way.

the: province . would stray from: its ‘foundation: Vy party which opposéd expanded
| stone :provit s- WaBe, incteases for’ | :
anybody, i in: ithe: public . sector And. thére,'was no:

- way. doctor demands for money: would get -in“].

‘the: way. of the: province’ S politically- -mandated: Tr
balanced - budget, Particularly. with’ an. election ai

coming.1 next year...

But the. two-year . fee’ freeze” doesn't ‘Thean-
. everything i is hunky. dory. between. physicians; and |
> the province.. Doctors are’ already talking: about

their expectations in 2006.

‘

They're also: putting | pressure on the province to ©]
‘make health ¢ care reforms: and 'to- reduce waiting, T
- lists. Thisi is a clever tactic because a good | portion, - i_

10, Prince Rupert. -

The’: communities’.
pS be: getting ‘casinos.
. government hasn’ tyet abandoned
its oppositions to-slots-in bars..

= entertainment centres,” as-the BC
“Lottery. Corp: now wants: to Start
“calling them.

“to: gambling: :

a compared to other provinces...

‘gambling.

: woul taro out
oa kings;

The: : Liberals

~ that -has.”

were

‘of every dollar the provincial government steers. |. ae

~ to patient care will.end up ‘with, the doctors.”

~ A-case in point came the day. after the doctors ee
. announced their agreement to the fee freezé. The -
7 province announced’ a. $20: million package for : .the’same time our province uses’
"a range. of items- including’ more surgeries’ ‘and. | 9

medical: procedures. ‘Translated it means. more if

"money for-doetors. ~

A small. peace: offering? A ‘consolation n ptize? i aa

| Perhaps. But if: ‘patients. benefit. and. ‘the doctors . :
and government f find a away: fo. save face, that’ S
OK with us.

"PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Rod Link: -
‘ADVERTISING: ‘MANAGER: ‘Brian Lindenbach *

- NEWS? Jeff Nagel.
oe “NEWS/SPORTS...
an NEWS /CONMUNITY: Jennifer Lang:

7002 WINNER

; ER FRONT OFFICE: Darlerie Keeping & Carol’ McKay
CCNA BETTER . "CIRCULATION SUPERVISOR: Teresa Ross

~ NEWSPAPERS ©” ~ ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS
cme ~ Bert Husband'&, Debbie Simons:

oO -COMPOSING:: Susan Credgéur |
AD ASSISTANT: Sandra Stefanik:

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Serving the Te race and Thoriill 4 area. Published on Wears af sach wack at a0 Cinten ste al, Terrace, ,
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-_ Stories, photographs, illustrations, ‘designs find typestyle hi ii the Jerrave Standerd ate ihe oioperty of the copy:
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Reproduction in. whote or In ait, ‘without sititteri parmissten, fs specifically prohibited...
Authorized as second: class mall pending the Post Ottice Deparment, lot payment of postage in cash

gear Niwerirans
era tri aAtiaea

erie Estemtthe ta Vibes

‘Special thanks. to all our. contributors and correspondents i

Cpe ts “for their. time and talents ‘’

PRODUCTION MANAGER: Edouard nf Credget. of

“more‘blood than’ ‘we donate. ;

> when money | ‘became tight:.
- Beyond Kelowna, -.
2 George i ig the: ‘only site: ‘of ablood_:

B.S

“of | edvernment
inobile:.- donor: clinics”: because.

.. care. From’ that, each. province:

Canadian. Blood Services,”
“Al provincial.”

“no. strings” aré “attached to our -
funding: The federal’ ‘government:
gives each provincial government...
a jump’ suni‘to be spent on health:

hands over an “amount to’ Support:

“government ”
“monies. given. to’ Blood Services,

see the party that promised: to...
» Stop’: gambling * ‘expansion Br) a
planning on slots in every corner. < |. |~ °°

* of the province, from. Fort Nelson aa

That's’ the: next "phase in the ~
~ government's s“ plan’ to bel ‘more :
re money from gambling: . mo
. Womt: :
And ‘the

coc Instead: ‘the next -step is: to .
put slot machinés in local ‘bingo a
“halls, - “OF: “community: ‘gaming

There’s : ‘hothitig ‘inusua. vin
government’ S° ‘Decoming addicted: -

B.C. isn’t even: ‘that: bad yet, .

~ But it’s. downright weird’ that o
_ now: Ahey’re on: their: way.) 0

~. PAUL WILLCOCKS |

“elected,” there were. 2,400 ‘slots’
in’ 10 casinos.’ “By the ‘end of.
this year, the Liberals. will: ‘have.
-- doubled the- number ~ of “slot;
machines. {T he Liberals also: said.
~ they Opposed’ slots at. race. tracks |

during, the. lection _cathpaign:

“And, ‘whenthey.: LOOK “ov
gambling - “netted $562: milli

ing’ . for the government, The'Liberals:

“ent: “in . three. - years, » to $850

million: this year.’

forest. industry. -
Their:

“Coleman .told: an open’ cabinet

ae families. "
"Nice words, “but! “what's
happened. since?-. ; ;
_'» Anstead "of . “stopping. «the
: expansion, the’ Liberals jumped ”
heavily. into ° othe. Bambling” !
- business... ore
Whe ‘the: “Libera

‘BRITISH: COLUMBIA donates 2
“less blood ‘than any province. At =

"Even if we-all, wanted to donate’ m
mores we can't. Nor.can. we |”
[| pressure government: to restore :
| -mobile donor clinics to our-area,
"Canadian: Blood Services i is an ".]
independent éntity-funded by tax”
dollars: but answerable:to no.one. |}
; ~ Respongible. for. all: blood. dorior
‘-¢linics. in Canada,’ it: cancelled. “pe
- mobile clinics some.ten years ago. f°}

. Prince. fae
me THROUGH BIFOCALS
- donor. clinic ter, all of northern oR

We: ant Tobby. ‘any’ “evel = ni
“re-establish ".

niceting, that the NDP: ‘indicated -
5 to)
, Sometime,

some - -cusino ©

“that they

_CLAUDETTE SANDECKI - ,

cein Ottawa” ‘There, Blood. Seivices.
‘decides where and. how to al locate “
«ts funds throughout Canada.

Currently. Blood ‘Services: has,

- the expansion. would. break these
“ty Vague promises: ‘and the province ae
_ might get sued, he. said: .

oa government ” ‘that has:

‘tipped’ up’ “real “agreements.. -Atid
it's: simply | net credible. : >The!
“ Liberals have worked ‘to “expand
- the 'scale and scope of. gambling;":’
2 they®. ‘ould © ‘have’ slowed’. the: -
" _ -expansion. !
“by: holding - proponents - to their *-
/- Original - plans: “and”: schedules,

M FROM THE CAPITAL Me

bingo halls, providing: gambling’

- already”: pumped:
billion into slot machines i inBc:
: last yea) are

‘taming the expansion ites the

deficit this. j year, not a.surplis. ©
eociv so” have increased, that’ by: 50-per- -_
"New - > Bra:
campaign: :promise’--was ‘clear: -
“Stop the expansion of: “gambling:
increased : “gamblitig :
addiction ‘and ‘pul new strains on,
ee “1.0 government. revenues: “as: the

o even more: ‘gamblers... through.
uh advertising. and-ppealing games.

“ They:-want to crack: the Slo The BC Lottery Corp: says'59 per.

“billion profit ‘mark in two years, -

making” gambling - as “important “corporation | in.a'typicalr month:

. 65."per-cent over: the “hext. four”.
“official “ekplanaiion ‘years:

“ig: ‘Jame. ‘Solicitor, General ‘Rich people’ “persuaded - 10” “gamble. =

Most of them. will: _just waste a ~
“bit of: money, But: according ‘to
‘the ‘corporation's: ‘own’ figures,

about 8 ‘000 will, become e problem Oot

Operators,
“could -

. ‘clinics ‘in population: dense’a areas - s
_ teduces their costs.: ‘Costs include:

- procedures «.

~waining. on. "a:
*~ Staffing ‘is regulated | by" ‘Health :
. Canada, =. ; eg

complex
~ cancer ‘victims, -major-suigeries,.. «
arid high number’ of: Highway.

donors -took | centre ‘stage two.

-MLA: Sindi- Hawkins visited’ the:
; legislature following: two month :
~~ Of treatment for: leukemia;
“Hawkins. begged: everyone. On.
‘become: donors.’ ‘You must “be
between the ages ‘of 1.7 and- 60.
> Regular: donors. can: ‘donate ‘until,

-they. reach: Ty. at
‘chosen: to: hold: clinics’ in “major, :-”
_ ciligs: only, where. they have a’.
large’ population. to draw. from, a
”. good roster: of, regular donors. a

“prospects” of adding ° many” new
Aonors to their list.” ‘

. “those of us ‘living: ia the: northern
“half. of = the -: ‘provinée~ cannot
‘donate sinless’ ‘we: ‘drive to. Pringe

_. someday. chave™ slots. - -Fréezing gamblers, joining. 75 000 existing
‘problem gamblers.in B.C, :
. The: ‘Liberals ‘used ® to. “put
“those péople first: ‘They’ warned
‘about the damage t to: families, t
increased | crime, loa sharking:
and suicides. :

That’s:’ ‘why! ‘hey’ Said “AO
: gambling expansion, ’: 3
‘2 The BE Lottery: Coip. | ‘just
doing. its: job, and doing. it. well:
enough — that. the: corporation’
‘was : honoured © as: the 2003 ‘BC
~. Marketer of the Year;

* It's: an ‘ironic: claim. ‘from. ae
happily’;

vlegally. “and fairly...

Many would-be gone by now,

ee | has “an: 18- -person marketing
_ The. défence certainly doesn’ te “department, and. ‘ae $F L0-rhillion:
“cover: the- plan. to® put - slots’‘in *

+ budget just to Bet more. people |
‘play louerieg and Keno.’
opportunities . in’ many - more: =: . But: “should scare*:
towns-and neighbourhoods. (We-. that ‘the ‘best marketers ‘in.
about -$3.2-: : whole. _ Drovince, ‘are. promoting

“~ufiderstandable.

think that i arena eh. ies
& ¢ The ip-fiop i
bieahaking” Ari: “199 Gordo

‘They’ Te looking ito. recruit"
‘that: the: Liberals. ‘inight waffle:
~on. gainbling.- “We fought: tooth
“and .-nail against’ their: rsplan: to:
cent of B.C:-.adults bat. with. the: bring. _ Vegas-style,-

~ Its: goal, is to get ‘thatiup: to -We

That? 5» another 200, ooo ‘feferendu The social. ests ‘of.
gambling” expansion - = increased '
“erime;.- broken, | families sand:
-increased - poverty: - _ are: simp
(00 high aprice to. pay.’ :

Willcocks @ ultraneét.ca:-

special: “equipment”, “screening 4
for _ prospective’ clinics. :.
donors, ‘and updating eniployees’ 2) Mobile: donor -cli

regular; basis. ° - g-up, in “strange ‘locales
“dealing with .. ‘refrigerated:
o“transport of: fresh ‘blood,
"screening ~ “of,

“B.C.'S. “heavy” “demand on
blood ‘supplies’ comes: from our]
‘procedures: * treating”

away: from their homes;
“The -: “present.
arrangetient leaves: i
‘We' Thay". want .to- ‘donate;: “b
qualified. to donate. even hav
relatives in ‘need: ‘of donor’ blood, ¥
yét.we have: ng way. to. respond.
~ All we. can dois. pledd «with: .
-Canadian. “Blood | Services, - 1800.
+ Altavista. Dtive; Ottawa,’ Ontario’,
_KIG.2485;"Addréss.. the. chie
‘executive: officer: ‘Dr. I
“Sher. (pronounced Sheer), ‘Phon
him at 613-739-2300.dreniail hir
a through: wily: bloouservices., ca:
Hawkins lamented the: shortage. ‘Trouble. is, even. if we: could”.
of blood donors. ‘Did: Sshe-realize: ~spersuade Victoria 10; hand. over
>more: health: dollars : ta: Blood
Services, we” ‘have ho. “guarante
“clinics ‘would’ spring ‘tip closer to.
» us, Our’ money: could fund. mor

accidents.
B.C.’s »

shortage of. ‘Blood

. Weeks. | ago. “when. “Kelown

«gods in into a pool at its.head office © -Conceritratinig. theit “donde. * ood: ‘Service’: rises <0. cin in. Halifax. cys |
YouR DATA Does NOT: yy WEwLL-Tesriey AGAINST NCAR WIE APPLY TO. Your. :
AGREE WITHOOR |) YOUATTRE HEARING AND. MAI DepAermient.FoR fy
Crtmunity KNOWLEDEEY 4 MAYTAKEWISTO CORT CATERVENOR. FUNDING ney Ee

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