The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 20, 2000 - A13

$1M budget boost UP Money
| hinted for health here

SKEENA NDP MLA Hel-
mut Giesbrecht is predict-
ing the local community
health council could get a
budget boost of about $1
million this year.

That’s about what the
council, which operates
Mills Memorial Hospital
and Terraceview Lodge,
received in the last budget
year.

And it helped cure a
perennial deficit problem. |

“I have an inkling of
what the amount will be
and I think I°ll be in the
bal! park,” said Giesbrecht
last week.

“It lagks good.”

Giesbrecht said he
asked for more than what
the health council did in
its budget submission sent
to Victoria earlier this
year.

The health council

closed its 1990-2000 baoks -

March 31 with a tiny sur-
plus of $11,532 on an ex-
penditure of $19.819 mil-
lion.

Still, the health council
took in $100,000 more in
revenues than it had cai-

culated in its budget to’

begin with. Had that not
taken place, the council

would have been in a defi-
cit position again.

As it was, Mills did run
a deficit of $23,000 but
that was buffered by a Ter-
raceview Ladge surplus of
$35,000,

Ophthalmology ranked
high on the priority items
listed by the health coun-
cil in- its budget request
this year to the provincial
government.

Mills has been subsi-
dizing eye care surgeries
by taking money from
other areas,

But it’s been shifting
away from that and the re-
sult is that the surgical
supplics budget for eye
Operations will run out by
December.

And without a surgical
practice, the sole ophthal-
mologist here says he'll
have to leave.

Local health officials
officials this week are ea-
gerly waiting to hear how
much money they'll be al-
lowed to spend.

The ‘Terrace Area
Health Council, as is
been the case with all
other health authorities in
the province, been opera-
ting without a budget since

Helmut Glesbrecht

the new 12-month fiscal
year began April 1,
Instead, the health
council was told by the
province to operate at last
year’s expenditure levels.
Local officials had ex-
pected to hear what their
budget might be last week.
But the fine paints of a
very recent deal between
the province and the fed-
eral government delayed
the budget preparations
briefly.
As well, Dosanjh called

Tha. [oie
the legislature back 1o
work Sunday to enshrine
into law $250 million,
some of which is coming
from the federal govern-
ment, for hospital opera-
ions and equipment pur-
chases.

Broken down, the $250
million works out to $180
million for health care: au-
thorities and $70 million
for equipment purchases. -

Giesbrecht said the de-
cision to call back the le-
gislation may delay for a
few days details of the
budgets for health care au-
thorities.

Of the $70 million for
new equipment, $66 mil-
lion came from the federal
government as the first
payment of a multi-billion
deal it worked out Sept. 11
with the pravinces.

Under that deal, the
federal government will
boost the amount of tax
money it sends to the pro-
vinces for health care by
$23.4 billion over the next
five years.

It’s expected to work
out to $3 billion for B.C.
over the five year term. It
fully kicks in as of next
year,

Plan for second obstetrician
becomes a bit more tenuous

DR. GBADE Ayoade, who
is being courted to fill a
vacant obstetrician slot
here, left for his home in
Ontario last week and no-
body knows if he’l] return.
Health care administra-
tors and others had high
hopes Ayoade wauid be-
come the second full-time
obstetrician here,

Speaking before he left.

Sept. 15, Ayoade said his
family will have to first
visit the area before’ any
‘moving decision’ is*iMtader'

when to make a visit. A
decision to move here will
be one made by the whole
family,” he said.

Ayoade arrived here
Aug. 24 and signed up for
a temporary (called a
locum) posting until Sept.

Ayoade also listed two
main medical reasons that
would factor into a deci-
sion to not return ta Ter-
race.

“The bed situation is
unacceptable and is below
the standard for the com-
munity and it’s a disser-
vice to the community,”
he said of the approxima-
tely 25 beds Mills tries to
function on nowadays.

trician
. Ayoade.

“We'll decide if and
when to make a visit. A
decision to move here
will be one made by

the whole family,” says .

Ontario-based abste-
Dr. Gbade

Ayoade also said there
wasn’t enough operating
room time for physicians
ta’ propertly cde‘ for ‘their

| OMpattentys 78] | iginiai tse i
“We'll ‘décide if and —

Despite those problems,
Ayoade said the medical
contingent has very good
doctors and nurses here
and that the hospital is
fine.

“It’s an excellent com-
munity,” said Ayoade of
Terrace.

The obstetrician said
there also appeared to be a
misunderstanding between
himself and health care
administrators here over
what was expected of him
when he arrived,

“It was a minor detail. I
came here with the under-
standing that was to be
here two months as a
locum and during that time
the hospital would take a
look at me and I would

take a look at the hospital
and the community,” he
said.

“T hadn’t it in mind this
would be a permanent de-
cision to move here but
the hospital administration
had the impression that I
was coming here to stay,”
Ayoade continued,

He and the hospital
then worked out an arran-
gement whereby the eva-
luation on both sides
would: take three weeks,
from-Aug, 24-to Sept.15,
Mills Memorial admin-
istrator Dieter Kuntz said
he expects to get a letter
from Ayoade soon.

He spoke to Ayoade be-
fore he left Sept. 15 and
said a number of that a
number of issues were dis-
cussed.

“The jury is out,” said
Kuntz of the probability
Ayoade will return.

Ayoade’s departure
places the community
back to where it was sev-
eral months ago — having
just one obstetrician, Dr.
Lani Almas,

But because she can’t
work and be on-call all the
lime, that means some
pregnant women who need
caesareans may, depend-

Birthd zy

TT”

9990

‘Contact: Vida or Carrie “ann

Terrace & District cre u
4550 Lazelle Avenue.
ire B.C. va 186:

"Fax: 250- 636. 9713:
Email: vcarson@tde

Dieter Kuntz

ing upon the circum-
stances, find themselves in
an ambulance on the way
to the Kitimat hospital.
The hospital had solved
that problem partially
when a general practitio-
ner, Dr. Willem Fourie,
became certified ta do
caesareans this past sum-
mer,
But he’s on safari in
Africa until mid-October,
Ideally, said Kuntz,
he’d like to have two aob-
stetricians and two caeser-
ean-certified general prac-
titioners. “It would give us
some depth should same-
body leave,” said Kuntz.

games

FEDERAL POLITICIANS

are taking credit for the
billions of dollars to begin
flowing to the’ provinces
for health care, saying it is
a result of turning around
Ottawa's financial picture.

But detractars point, out
that the money isn’t'new,

it merely restores what -

was ‘taken. away. in’ the

early 1990s wher the then= ~

newly elected Liberal gav-
ernment of Jean Chretien
cut. costs to balance the
federal budget.

The provinces also ar-
gued that federal health
care cuts put them in the
position of coming up with
more money themselves.

GIVE SOMEONE
A SECOND CHANCE

Discuss organ donation with your family.
“Tue Kipney FOUNDATION OF CANADA_ xe

L

‘Trees That Play

sponsored by: CF Martin & Ga., Josephus Harps, The Wood Enterprise

TONE WOOD CONFERENCE

September 29 - October 2, 2000
Wells BC, Canada

For Forest-based businesses, Wood
Processors & instrument makers
Research Presentations * Panel Discussions ¢
* Exhibition =
Visit our website at www.imarts.com

ISLAND MOUNTAIN ARTS

1-800-442-2797 wellsforest @unliserve.com

Centra, BC Nadhern Development Commission, Forast Renewai BC,
Human Resources Development Canada

_/

to Jol

You Have a Right

n a Union

Labour laws restrict
legal activity and
protect your right to
organize

HROUGH participation
ain IWA - CANADA work-
mers have fought to gain
recognition of their con-
tributions to the eco-
nomic well being of their com-
munities. Our members recog-
nize that a Union contract can
effect the terms and conditions
of going to work every day.

We have proved, for over 50
years, that Union representa
tion can provide workers with
the right to be treated with dig-
nity and respect. Union con-
tracts can also provide higher
wages, improve working condi-
tions, achieve better benefits
and provide job security...

AS an organization’ we-
believe that there is just as
much of an obligation to organ-
ize workers as there is to serve
present members.

Joining a Union is recognized
as a basic democratic right pro-
tected by law in this country.
Our federal and provincial
labour laws guarantee that
workers shall have the right to
join the Union of their choice.

It is illegal for your emptoyer
to try and interfere with your
democratic right to join IWA -
CANADA or any other Union.

However your employer is

ef

allowed to express its opinion
about our organizing drive. But
under labour laws employers
can't use “coercion, intimida-
tion, threats, promises or
undue influence.”

Employer Threats Illegal

Remember that it is illegal
for your employer or their repre-
sentative to fire, discriminate
against, or discipline you to
influence your decision making.
It is also illegal for your
employer to threaten to do
these things.

Laws are in place to protect
your rights and IWA - CANADA
can help protect those rights.

Join with other workers

By joining IWA - CANADA you
will be joining the thousands of
Canadian workers in our Union
who enjoy the security of collec:
tive” ‘agreements. '

During an organizing drive
there are many rumours fioat-
ing around. Don't be fooled by
rumours.

Get the facts for yourself.
Talk to an IWA - CANADA repre-
sentative and find out exactly
where we're coming from and
think about who has the most
to gain or lose by your decision
to join the Union.

Call IWA Local 2171
Terrace Office 635-7314
or toll-free

1-800-304-7434.

Said on elect first Ghote Vadabint Clit produ and rnber 2 2000
Package nites and is rot svadabie on soF-0P3, group rats Scam he oe hn ohn ak ae Oil avaiable 8 Gartson Wegonik Tavalisceiens ii Censda. | -

2000 for tssval up t0 Apri 2001, Ofer vaikdon brochure

eyo af VACATIONS

Las Vegas

Departure: Oct. 29

Aladdin Hotel we vr ve ve ve

4 nights

‘774

Special Golf Deall

Departures: Nov. A, At, 18, 25

Manzanillo Exclusivet alt inclusive!
Las Hadas Resort ve ve tr ve ve

Includes daily untlimited golf!
Departures: Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28

Puerto Vallarta Exclusive! Super Aft inclusive!
Melia Puerto Vallarta fever ve

fst) 7 nights 14 nights
cc) 1184 *1734

. — , nants “nie Preriisy
at $1774 $2954"

All prices me adult per piraan, ‘baued o an ‘an ‘ote. Al ‘piices reflact ‘atl apricable enily bucking savings and the Cartson Wagonlit Travel offer of $75 p.p.
fio bookinga only Theos & Travel rolated tu04 extra nme conditand/rostichans may apoty Ask for details

Your z xperience begins with ours.

Suite 2 - 4736 Lakelse Ave., Terrace

ose een!

or visit us on-line @ www.carlsonwagoniit.ca