A2 - The Terrace Standard, Werlnesday, March 9, 1994

Hospital head has —
surgical worries

Heimut Giesbrecht
from front

Tale

A guarantee of al least day
surgery, backed up by specialists
from Terrace, might have made
the decision somewhat accept-
able, Giesbrecht added.

Despite attempts by the provin-
cial government to contain health
care spending, Giesbrecht did ac-
knowledge that the decision to
hire an orthopedic surgeon for
Prince Rupert will cost extra
money.

kkkkk

A leiter from Ramsey to Gies-
brecht announcing that Kitimat
will keep its orthopedic surgeon
also contained statements about
regional decision making.

“Once the (regional) board is
established in your region, I know
they will carefully assess how to
provide efficient care, including

orthopedic: surgery, for the
Kitimat-Terrace area,"’ said Ram-
sey.

*'T know the people of Kitimat
have a keen and long-standing in-
terest in health care, and will
work co-operatively to make the
regional health board a success,”
he added.

Firehall
wanted

JACKPINE FLATS residents
want a second Thornhill fire ball
built in Thornheights.

That would put Jackpine Flals
within five miles ofa fire hall and
could dramatically | ‘lower “home
insurance piemiums, says Jack-
pine Flats Community Associa-
tion president Denise Bone.

“Irs growing some so much
out there,’’ she said, “There are a
lot of young people out there —
new people with big homes —
who want those homes projected
and don’t want (to be paying these
high insurance rates,”

The addition of a second fire
hall within the five mile insur-
ance limit could reduce insurance
for some homeowners from
$1,300 to $600,

Bone claims the second fire ball
would also greatly improve the
fire hall response time to the
Thornhill beach area.

“T don’t know if we have any
support in Thornhill,” Bone said.

The ( Kitimat-Stikine regional
district has agreed to carry out a
feasability study to look at the
idea.

But if a second fire hall is put
in, regional district directors want
to find’ a way to make it benefit
people at Lakelse Lake as well.

Another group of area residents
are expected to have a smoother
road (to getting betler fire pro-
tection.

North Terrace residents along
Kalum Lake Drive, aud residents
of Braun’s Island are labbying for
Terrace fire protection to be ex-
tended to them.

Right now Thornhill
Volunteer. © Fire = Departanent
responds to calls from those areas
— even though the Terrace fire
hall is much. closer — because
they live outside city limits.

A proposed = fire protection
agreement between the Kitimal-
Stikine regional district and the
city of Terrace would allow Ter-
race firefighilers to take over re-
sponsibility for North Terrace and
Braun’s Island.

That, says cily administrator
Bob Hallsor, could cul house in-
surance premiums in half for
those residents.

“We won't know for sure until
we crunch the numbers,’ Hallsor
said, But he predicied those resi-
dents could enjoy a substantial
savings even after.the new costs
of fire protection are added.

It remains to be scen, he said,
whether insurance companies will
agree lo rediice the premiums of
some residents who: live just
beyond the insurance limit of five
miles from the Terrace fire hall.

Fire depatiment officials are
planning to meet with insurers lo
try to reach an. arrangement on
that, said Hallsor. -

the

THE HEAD of the Prince Rupert
hospital board is worricd there
won’t be enough money or work
for two northwest orthopedic
surgical services,

Tan Cornish made the comment
last week after healih ministry
Paul Ramsey reversed a decision
to send Kilimal’s orthopedic
surgeon to Prince Rupert.

lustead, Prince Rupert will now
get ils own orthopedic surgeon.

The original decision was based
on a 1992 northwest health ser-

“Vices review. It didu’t raise the

idea of two orthopedic surgeons.
Although Cornish said he was
happy for Kitimat, he’s not sure

having two orthopedic surgeons
is best for the region,

“Tt blows a hole in regionaliza-

tion, I have, as a taxpayer, to be
very concerned about this deci-
sion,” said Camish about the
costs involved of maintaining two
services.
“The decision they made is
purely a political decision — and
an expensive political decision at
that,’ he added. °

The provincial government will
put the Prince Rupert arlhopedic
surgeon on salary. That’s -dif-
ferent from the traditional fee for
service payment plan.

‘A salaried surgeon is the only

way it will be possible from —

Prince Rupert’s’ point of view”?
because the Kitimat surgeon al-
ready has.an established practice,
said Cornish.

“T lake exceplion to having to

lay off staff and close beds on_

one hand and on the other hand
have the | government — spend
money that needn’t be spent,” be
added.

The move to leave | the
orthopedic surgeon in Kitimat
cane afler massive protests Crom
thal city,

“This type of _ political
makeuvering annoys me,” said
Commish.

Politics had an influence
in Kitimat surgical situation

SKEENA MLA Helmut Gies-
brecht has acknowledged that
politics fad a say in Kitimat
keeping its orlhopedic surgeon.

There were massive protests of
the plan to move the surgical ser-
vice to Prince Rupert.

And more than a few prominent
NDP supporters condemned the
move in public and in private.

They included former NDP
provincial constituency associa-
lion president Frank Rowe and
current president Rob Goffinet.

Isabel Colebrook, president of
the Kitimat NDP, told Ramsey at

a February mecting in Kitimat
she was ashamed to be a New
Democrat.

“Long time party members
were upset,”’ said Giesbrecht.

“You've got to listen to that
stuff,’’ he added.

Giesbrecht himself issued a
press release highly critical of
Ramsey’s origina! decision.

“YT don’t think the ministry ex-
pected the reaction to be quile as
strong as it was,”’ be said,

The decision might have been
convincing had the government

THE Bavarian Inn Restaurant

~The friendliest “Inn” townl -
Make our place “Your Place" to enjoy an evening
of intimate dining and reasonable prices! -

ALASKA KING
CRABLEGS
Served with baked potato, fresh
spring vegetables and herb
garlic butter

*19.95

SCALLOPS FETTUCCINE
“CALIFORNIA”
Sundried tomatocream sauce
and scallops, served on
spinach fettuccine

°15.95

MARCH SPECIALS

For Reservations - 635-9161 #
4332 Lakelse - Terrace

STUFFED FILET OF SOLE
“SUR MER"
Tender filet of Sole wrapped
around crabmeat, scallops -
shrimp & garlic, topped with
hollandaise sauce served with
saffron rice & vegetables

*16,50

Open For Lunch
Tuesday - Friday 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Dinner
Monday - Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

defended itself with some com-
pelling arguments, Giesbrecht
added.

“If it’s a tough decision, I need
some reason to justify it. I
couldn’ t £ind it and our members
couldn’ t find if,’ he said.

Giesbrecht, who was told of the
plan to move the service to Prince
Rupert, just hours before it was
released, said ‘he thinks the
government has learned a lesson.

And thal is that MLAs should
be more involved when cabinet
ministers make decisions.

1968 - 1993

(DRIVE A HARD)
BARGAIN

TPP $11 864 + Taxes, TOP $2,274 + Taxes. 5 Year/100,000 Km Warranty

Thornhill Motors

Western Fashion Roundup
held at
The Terrace Inn
sponsored by
Country 8’s Square Dancers

Refreshments & Door Prizes
Entertainment

Cromarty & Comp any
Caterers

Banquet & Party Rentals

Dishes, Bowls, Wine

Glasses, Coffee Mugs,

Cutlery, Coffee Urns,
Banquet Tables

Complete Food & Beverage
Service for all Occasions

635-7065

mazDa
IrJUsT FEELS RIGHT

You Can Own A Brand New
25th ANNIVERSARY EDITION MAZDA 323

Power windows, an locks, AM/FM cassetle stereo, rear spoiler,

Lease For Only

°274.

per month + taxes

“The Dealer Who Cares”
DLR# 7041

635-7286

RQ 3040 Hwy 16 East

rad

stabalizes.

THIS YEAR
Feb /94 | MAX, MIN, BAIN SNOW SUN
26th Ff =12,1 0.0 44 0.0
27th ~2.B -B3 1.0 17.4 ° 0.0
28th 5.2 -2.8 8.4 2.8 0.8
Mar. 7st 6.8 OF 21.2 0.0 29
znd 4.9 08 20.4 0.0 0.5
3rd 58 09 2.4 0.0 1.8
4th 26 34 6.6 2.2 5.3

ROAD REPORT ==

With the unusually mild temperatures we have experienced at the end of January, our company has
had to remove the compact to prevent damage to the gravel roads, We are experiencing some frost
coming out, causing muddy conditions with some potholing. Please drive carefully until the situation

To report problems call 638-1881.
After hours or out of town call toll free 1-800-665-5051,

——_—— ee heclieendinediaedin Merlino onl |

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
NECHAKO ae eee ae spy ENR
a NORTHCOAST

SU RVICES

( aM yiudtion

“ we
ad j
Your Road Maintenance Contractor

ra

Marje Cromarty |

i

k
{
I,
{