Manor deficit incites Revolt

$1 million shortfall prompts municipal panic

by Michael Erskine

MANITOULIN-Manitoulin Centennial Manor is going to Island municipalities for the money to meet a $1,057,668 operating deficit this year. The news came at a special meeting of the Manitoulin Municipal Association in Mindemoya last Wednesday where the Manor board served additional notice they may well be back for another $811,444 next year.

The news stunned area municipal politicians, although board chair Gary Green pointed out that the Manor board has been keeping Manitoulin councils informed as the crisis developed.

Mr. Green explained the current situation to the MMA with the help of a Powerpoint presentation which outlined the history of the long-term care facility, the economic and social impact of the Manor on the Island, the factors contributing to the current crisis at the facility and how the board hopes to turn the current situation around.

Included in Mr. Green's presentation were quotations from the Homes for the Aged and Rest Homes Act RSO 1990 which made it clear the municipalities are on the hook for the deficit, but that has not prevented Killarney from refusing to pay its allotted portion of the costs.

Killarney was amalgamated in 1992 with its neighbouring communities and officially attached to the District of Sudbury, but is still bound by the original funding agreement say the board and other municipalities, and the Manor has been advised by the province to pursue the matter legally, according to Mr. Green.

"We will be going after them," he said.

In the meantime, the other municipalities are being approached for the deficit, including Kilarney's 'share.'

The Manor is funded through three revenue streams, explained Mr. Green. They include provincial funding, which traditionally makes up the bulk of funding through the case mix index (how much work is involved in care) and occupancy of beds; the residents themselves, whose fees run well under 10 percent of the operating costs, and the funding municipalities, which pay the remainder according to their relative apportionment.

The Northeast Town pays the lion's share at 32.826 percent, followed by Central Manitoulin at 21.7 percent, then Assiginack at 10.771 percent, Billings at 9.809 percent, Gordon at 6.531 percent, Gore Bay at 6.268 percent, Tehkummah at 4.783 percent, Burpee Mills at 4.761 percent and the Township of Gordon at 1.258 percent.

During the meeting, Township of Burpee Mills Reeve Ken Noland moved a motion calling on the Manor board to explore the possibility of privatization of the Manor or some other way of alleviating what he called an impossible levy.

"It will raise taxes in our township by 12 percent," he noted. Following the meeting, Burpee Mills council went even further, exhorting other municipalities to join in directing the board to move to privatization of the Manor.

Although privatization of the Manor seemed to be a subject difficult for the politicians to approach head-on, a day's reflection seemed to make the concept more palatable. For Reeve Noland and Northeast Town Mayor Chapman, however, the subject caused little trepidation.

"What is important is that we have the jobs and we have the beds," said Mayor Chapman. "It is of very little importance is who is managing it."

In a council meeting on the Thursday following the MMA meeting, Central Manitoulin council passed a motion stating that it is unable to financially support the Manor and requesting that the provincial government step forward immediately to take over the operations and management of the facility, including paying the cost of running the Manor and accumulated deficits "as this municipality cannot afford a 337 percent increase in its operating costs."

"The intent is that there has to be a different funding model," said Central Manitoulin Reeve Richard Stephens, who also chairs the Manitoulin Municipal Association. "The current model is not sustainable."

The only municipality to indicate unequivocal financial support for the Manor as of press time was Assiginack, and that township only indicated support for the next year. The Northeast Town also passed a motion indicating it would continue to pay its share this year, but Mayor Chapman said that the town was only willing to pay its share, not that apportionment which included Kilarney's unpaid levy.

Assiginack's motion also specifies a willingness to provide "its share."

The deep concern being felt by the municipalities is that no clear pathway to a sustainable budget seems to exist. This year's million-plus shortfall is to be followed by an over $800,000 deficit next year, should everything stay the same.

Even given an increase to full occupancy at the Manor next year, with a case mix index of 100 percent (each percentage point equates to $15,000 in funding), and the unlikely best case scenario of the province kicking in the additional $4,000 per resident promised in the last election, the shortfall next year will still be in excess of $400,000-roughly the accumulated deficit for the past three years running ($66,160 for 2003, $269,067 for 2004 and $140,018 for 2005). During much of the past decade, the funding municipalities have been shielded from those deficits by drawing on the Manor's reserves. Those reserves are now exhausted.

Assessing the Manor board's presentation, however, Mayor Chapman pointed to the lack of expenditure-side cuts as one of the most difficult issues for him.

"They only focused on the revenue side," he said. "There has got to be some attention paid to reducing costs."

Mayor Chapman pointed to the 80-percent-plus salaries and benefits line on the budget, some $2,801,352, as the most likely source of any cost reductions.

Estimates of benefit costs as high as 80 cents on the dollar paid out in salaries have been cited as one of the main issues. Sick time usage has been extremely high at the facility over the past few years, which in turn is reflected in the cost of paying for employee benefits. Benefit plans, unlike life insurance, are not based on actuary tables for the entire industry, but linked to costs at the facility. Basically, the Manor is charged the cost of providing the benefits plus 20 percent.

Those benefit costs are expected to drop dramatically in the next few years, and both the Manor board and Jarlette Management Services have expressed high praise for the co-operation and dedication of the Manor's employees in helping to reduce costs and meet Ministry of Health and Long-term Care regulations.

In the past, suggestions that the union and employee costs contribute to the Manor's woes have met with angry rebuttal from union representatives. The privately-owned nursing home in Gore Bay is also unionized and operates without a deficit within the same funding constraints as the Manor. The Manitoulin Lodge is, however, one of a chain of 12 homes owned by Jarlette Management Services.

Other issues identified as contributing to the Manor's budgetary difficulties include the facility's two-floor construction, which places a premium on staffing costs and, especially, the ministry's funding formula itself, which is based on 120-plus bed institutions. Facilities such as the Manor, which has only 60 beds, are placed at a disadvantage when assessing staffing costs to maintain ministry-mandated levels of care and reporting.

Despite the awesome appearance of the task of bringing the Manor's deficit into line, board members insist that the difficulties can be overcome and the operating budget brought into line.

Positive developments outlined by Mr. Green at the meeting included a commitment from Health Minister George Smitherman to review and assess nursing homes of the Manor's size in the near future.

The board has established a Financial and Human Resources Committee to ensure the board has closer ties to the operation of the home. Jarlette Services have been contracted to help deal with non-compliance issues and to train staff to ensure the home continues to meet ministry standards.

Board members admit to concern over the future of the home, especially in light of other communities such as Sudbury demanding more beds from the province. The Manor's 60 beds would free up allotment without having to increase the numbers of beds in the province as a whole-should the facility be closed. The Island, they point out, has more beds than the province's formula would normally assess.

Despite those concerns, Reeve Stephens dismisses the likelihood of such a closure. "There is no logical way they are going to close a facility when the need is obviously there," he said. "What they have to do is find a way to fund it adequately."

Other politicians are not so sure.

"The province has as much as asked us 'What happens to a business if it can't be sold and is losing money?'" said Mr. Green. The inference by provincial bureaucrats that the facility could be closed is clear, if indirect.

Despite such dire predictions, Manor board members insist the province is taking a proactive approach to dealing with the issues currently facing the Manor.

"They have bent over backwards for us," said Mr. Green. "They have made it clear they are willing to help us if we are willing to help ourselves."

Mayor Chapman and Reeve Noland suggest that perhaps nursing homes are an area for which public operation is unsuited, but others suggest the real culprit lies in provincial underfunding.

"We have a very dedicated and committed board," said Reeve Stephans. "But they can't make wine out of water."

But Thesalon's 107-bed Algoma Manor is managing to hold the budgetary line to a reasonable level, according to Algoma board member Brent Rankin. "We have had deficits," he admits. "But nothing like on the scale of $1 million."

Still, the Algoma Manor, which has 21 funding municipalities, is currently undertaking a redevelopment agreement whereby it will drop to 96 beds and become a non-profit home. As a 'non-profit' home, the Algoma Manor will no longer be able to come to its municipalities to make up shortfalls. Instead, it will gain the power to borrow money against its assets and future earnings.

The Manor board of management concluded the Wednesday meeting by asking municipalities to give it the time to deal with its operating deficits. Many of the municipalities, however, have responded publicly that they do not have the resources necessary to meet the scale of support called for in that request, and privately admit that, in light of past performance, they do not have confidence in the board's ability to meet the challenge of dealing with the problem or of the province's willingness to step up to the plate.

Kagawong Lake residents fear lower levels

Resist power plant's request for increased draw-down

by Tom Sasvari

KAGAWONG-About 100 residents of all areas along the Kagawong River expressed their opposition to a proposed increase in water draw-down on Lake Kagawong.

"Given what I am hearing tonight, the concerns raised, and knowing that we are dealing with a dwindling resource, facing global warning, I'm not in favour of taking more water. Instead we should look at what would happen if less water was taken," stated Joseph Gold.

Bernard Griegoschewski stated that the 18 inches allowed to be drawn out of the river is "excessive, and another six-inch draw-down would be devastating." He explained that, in researching precipitation levels in the area of Kagawong Lake, statistics show that over the last seven years the average annual rainfall has gone down 14.25 inches, which he said is not even close to the 18 inches Kagawong Power is currently allowed to draw.

Dave King of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) pointed out the Kagawong River is not the only area undergoing a Water Management Plan (WMP). He explained,  "the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act (LRIA) was amended, requiring all water power facilities in Ontario develop a water management plan."

"This water management plan is not cast in stone, and can be amended at any time," said Mr. King. He said Emile Masbou of Kagawong Power had the lead responsibility in providing the water management plan. "The MNR role is in making sure all legal obligations and compliances are met. The purpose of tonight's meeting is to provide the third opportunity in the water management plan for public comments and questions." He said that, despite the fact the preferred option is a drawn-down on Lake Kagawong of six inches, instead of status quo (as per existing lease agreement between the Township of Billings and Kagawong Power Inc.), "this is not an approved plan. It is subject to MNR review, and must meet all the guidelines of the district office, and then the regional direction."

Mr. Masbou said the mandate of a steering committee  "is to maximize the benefits of water among users." The preferred water management plan option, he said, "would see water flow at Bridal Veil Falls maintained at 400 litres (88 gallons). From September 16 to June 15, the turbine flow shall not fall below 800 litres a second. And from September 16 to March 15, the lake level shall not drop more than 24 inches from the high water mark," said Mr. Masbou.

Mr. Masbou added that the preferred option decreases the risk of flooding. "The flow out of the lake is limited by the dimensions of the riverbed and the dam openings, i.e., there is a bottleneck at the lake outlet. In the spring, water enters the lake much faster than it can be discharged, and the lake level rises fast. Water that cannot be discharged during run-off must be stored in Lake Kagawong below the flood line of houses at risk. The preferred option considerably decreases the risk of flooding houses."

"Will the preferred option be beneficial to fisheries? Yes," said Mr. Masbou. "The fingerling habitat will be greatly improved by implementing the preferred option. Maintaining a flow through the plant from September 16 to June 15 will facilitate migration upriver and improve spawning beds."

The preferred option will not adversely impact navigation or recreation, reduce air pollution, he said, adding that it will not cause water lines to freeze, because "winter residents have heat traced water lines."

Carl Jorgensen, of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), said that, since the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act (LRIA) is based on provincial legislation, the federal government has a very limited role of participation. "We can only provide advice concerning fish habitat. We provide written comments to the regional director's office. Specifically, the DFO is interested in the WMP concerning fish habitat on the Kagawong River, upper and lower."

Mr. Jorgensen said a "survey of the entire lake will be done, with remedial work to be recommended, if needed. DFO will be involved looking at the impacts of habitat with the increased draw-down. A draw-down of six inches is something we are going to monitor."

"There are real concerns with the fish and the habitat on the lower river, but the pros outweigh the cons in the plan," said Bruce Richard of the MNR. He  pointed out there would be an incremental phase in, of two or three inches one winter and two or three inches the next, and this would be monitored over the next 10 years.

Eric Cobb, acting fish and wildlife planning biologist with the MNR Sudbury District Office, pointed out the guidelines for the water management plan were set in 2002, and since the Kagawong River plan recognized there are other uses for the water, potential conflicts, and more information sessions occurring, the next step was to initiate the plan, which was done in 2004. A steering committee was formed including Kagawong Power, Billings township, the MNR and DFO. 

"Based on the issues raised at the previous public meetings, two options were proposed-remaining status quo or having an additional six inches of draw-down in the water, to incorporate into the draft plan," said Mr. Cobb.

"There have been comments made on having heat tracer water lines. But we don't have heated lines," said Gerry Mack. "This draw-down is going to affect an awful lot of people."

He also asked if the plan supersedes the agreement the township has with Kagawong Power, and Mr. Masbou said it does, and the MNR has the final word. However, Billings Reeve Austin Hunt said  this wasn't the case, since Billings has owned the water rights for this river system since 1885. The municipality has expressed its opposition to the preferred plan, because of potential effects on shoreline residents.

Mr. Gold stated his objection to the monitoring of water levels being left to Kagawong Power Inc. "My question is, how huge a conflict of interest is this to ask the owner of the power company to monitor the levels himself, with any shortcomings to be reported to the minister? My question to the DFO is that with everything that has been said, why not postpone this increase for a year, for research to be done. Why not do this increase draw-down if needed after the research is complete?"

Mr. Jorgensen said that "this draw-down would not start until next winter which allows us this spring, summer and fall to take a good inventory of the current conditions of what exists now."

Don Fennerty said residents want Kagawong Power to put in the monitoring system at the end of the lake, and to fix the docks that need rebuilding as well.

"There has been a lot of concerns raised about me monitoring the lake levels, but this is part of the permit requirements with the Ministry of Environment," said Mr. Masbou.

Mr. Fennerty felt that, "as a good business operator you (Kagawong Power Inc.) should provide monitors at both ends of the lake. Your business is viable now at the present water levels. Why do we need more and more draw-down?"

"I understood previously that there would be three gauges put on the lake and I hope this will be taken care of," said Mr. Hunt.

Brian Parker noted that last year's spring water levels was the lowest he has seen in 10 years, and the evaporation rate was very high. "What plan do you have if the levels are allowed to go down another six inches? Once the water goes over the dam or through the turbine, it is gone for good. You have not identified what happens if the water goes down and you are never able to recoup it."

Mr. Cobb said plans are being made based on normal conditions under the water management plan. "We will look at the historical data, and low and high water marks, before the plan is approved."

Jim Sloss, co-chair of the United Fish and Game Clubs of Manitoulin (UFGCM), who is also  a farmer on the south side of the lake, said, "you may be aware the UFGCM is concerned and dedicated to the fisheries on Manitoulin. My concern is if you lower the levels by six inches, or even two to four, we will see a further decline in the fishery-pike, for instance, because they have no access to the spawning area on the river."

"I am on the phone quite a bit with neighbours who live away from here in the winter, and they are disappointed with the time of year you hold these types of meetings," said Ed Burt. "A concern from one of the residents is that there was a large boulder out of the water last spring in front of his cottage, something that has never happened before. There is also a danger to aquatic life, and fish stocks. I don't know where the MNR is coming from with this plan."

The township has twice voted not to change the current agreement with Kagawong Power, those assembled were told by Mr. Hunt. "There are a number of reasons we have done this, one being we don't want to jump over the taxpayers' concerns. If the water levels are drawn down it is difficult to amend the contract.We don't want to change our agreement."

Billings councillor Sharon Alkenbrack encouraged the residents in attendance at the meeting to write letters and voice their concerns on the proposed water management plan option to the MNR.

The MNR will be receiving public comments until March 31, with a review to be done by April 1.

Net Pain

Hockey professionals analyze state of the game

EDITOR'S NOTE: In this third and final installment of our look at hockey aggression and injury, sports psychology student Ryan Mastin talks with an NHL legend, sports psychology pioneer Wendy Jerome, and NHL referee Dave Newells to assess the state of our sport, including Canada's recent embarassment in international play.

by Ryan Mastin

According to Ken Dryden, "We are all capable of anger and violent feelings...every person out there has the capacity for both feelings. What now? How do we behave after the feeling arises?" the former Montreal Canadiens goalie asks.

"I'd better temper my natural reaction because the penalty may be too great," Dryden reasons. "Maybe you respond within the rules, with the same clenched teeth, but it's acceptable. You're trying hard, digging deeper, beating the guy, burying him in the psychological, competitive way."

Whether hockey will ultimately be a safe and a fun game to play and watch cannot be firmly predicted, but the entire hockey community determines the culture of the game. On the ice, the players are making constant decisions that determine the outcome of the game; it is the opportunities they see in their mind that determine their success or failure in any and every situation. The moment a hockey player decides to hit another player in a fashion that violates the rules, is the same moment that player failed to take a better opportunity-like playing in the game itself.

In a study of 1462 recorded penalties in all 18 Stanley Cup final series from1980 to 1997, teams playing with less violence were more likely to win. Sport psychology research suggests that if you hit your opposition, whether cleanly or not, it will 'open the window' for further aggression or retaliation from the same opposition. In the subculture of hockey, there is an attitude which is 'winning at all costs"-everyone loves to be a hero and everybody loves to win, but how far will one go for guts and glory, for the Stanley Cup, the brass ring, or for glory of winning a fight or battle against another opponent?

Ken Dryden says that, "fighting happens because people get mad. But how come it happens with some players and not with others?" he asks. "How much of it is premeditated? And look at those games at Salt Lake City and at Turin-so full of passion and yet devoid of fights and even stick work."

Dr. Wendy Jerome, pioneer of the Sports Psychology program at Laurentian University in Sudbury, and active Sport Psychology consultant, thinks that aggression stops when we get penalized or negatively reinforced so that a player can associate his bad behaviours with being off the ice or in the penalty box.

She also feels that team Canada's poor performance at the recent Torino Olympics reflected a reluctance to abandon a traditional, gritty style of play in favour of speed and skill. "After watching our (men's) Olympic hockey team get shut out three times, not to mention get thrown out in the quarterfinal round when they were favoured to win the tournament, I think this was due to a different set of skills employed or styles used against their European counterparts," she remarks. "With such a talented roster, why did they have to utilize the 'dump and chase' method to get the puck in their opponent's zone? Given that this method is old and proven to be much less effective over 'rushing,' I think this gave an even bigger disadvantage as the European teams who beat Canada were faster-and it goes without saying that chasing after the puck against a faster opponent inevitably leads to a disadvantage."

In order for Canada to be competitive internationally, they must upgrade their style of play to a level that exceeds the European style of play. For example, Canadians must increase their skating speed and harness their stickhandling and poke-checking abilities. Canadian coaches should focus on developing the mental toughness of the game. Simply put, they need more development in their 'game reasoning' abilities. 

Dr. Jerome also stresses that, "power skating and figure skating lessons, for example, would give hockey players a competitive advantage by improving their balance and speed.  It would give them more opportunities to outskate their opponents and instill greater confidence in their skating abilities. Also, more practice on shooting the puck off the boards, down the ice or in the net." 

Dr. Jerome cites Wayne Gretzky's advice from his autobiography, noting that "finding out where the puck bounces off the boards requires a lot of shooting practice, but when you know where the puck will be after it bounces, that extra 'puck sense' to be at the right place at the right time, allows you greater opportunities to pick up the puck and complete the play."

Dave Newell, former NHL referee and one of the officiating supervisors for the league, also stresses the importance of developing better skating skills. He says: "hockey players should first be taught how to skate without their sticks! The best skating forwards in the world either took up figure skating or power (skating) lessons. A 10-year-old hockey player, who practises (figure skating or power skating), will skate circles around a player who has not had these types of training."

He further notes that "a greater amount of emphasis should be put on learning how to effectively skate backwards. Many defencemen don't practise skating backwards enough, which only leads to getting caught behind an opposing player's oncoming rush."

When asked how important it is for players to develop the mental aspects of their game, Mr. Newell replied, "It is just as important to be mentally tough as physically tough, because they go hand-in-hand." He adds that "the hockey player who displays more mental toughness scores the goals, and the hockey player who displays more physical toughness gets the penalties."

In hockey there is a perception among players that you can't back down from your competition; you can't look like a wimp out there. You have to convey to the other team that you are not intimidated by their aggressive actions and thus you retaliate to 'send the message.'

The questions that need to be answered are: What battle is the hockey player trying to win and what task does the player perceive he is accomplishing? What should the end accomplishment be?

Charles Cipolla of Little Current, who has played, coached and managed hockey teams at various levels, argues the 'win at all costs' attitude becomes more pronounced as one moves up the ranks because of all the peer pressure.

However, he thinks the emphasis should be on "having fun, while playing the best sport in the world. Perhaps," he concludes, "the answer lies in the level of engagement."

Zhiibaahaasing tire pile a critical concern

MANITOULIN-Island municipal leaders, in conjunction with First Nations chiefs, are urging the federal and provincial governments to help resolve the problem of a dangerous stockpile of tires on the Zhiibaahaasing First Nation, now estimated to number nearly one million.

"Concerns have been raised over the past number of years regarding the negative health and environmental impacts of allowing the tires to remain in their current state," reads a statement which was circulated at a meeting of the Manitoulin Municipal Association (MMA) last Wednesday. Concerns include the possibility of West Nile virus developing due to an increased breeding of mosquitoes at the site, and the potential for an environmentally-calamitous fire.

"The communities feel that even with the development of emergency plans, there is insufficient local capacity to deal with such a large-scale disaster," the statement indicates. The buildup of tires on the small West End reserve has resulted due to equipment malfunctions at the community's tire recycling facility, and has mounted to alarming proportions, with the Toronto Star declaring it the largest tire dump in the province in a story published last year.

The MMA is not recommending that the project be shut down, but rather says it supports Zhiibaahaasing in its endeavour to pursue recycling as an economic development initiative. "To this end, we urge both senior levels of government to work closely with the First Nation to determine the viability of the enterprise as well as the most expedient and acceptable resolution to the problem," the association states.

The statement has been sent to numerous government ministries and departments, as well as to the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal, provincial and local police forces, local members of parliament, and the chiefs of the six First Nations comprising the United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin (UCCM).

This latest call for action stems from a meeting held in mid-February between representatives of the UCCM and Island municipal leaders, with members of local police forces and the emergency task force also present.

Another meeting is set to occur on March 23, at which "a number of key provincial and federal ministries such as the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Health, Health Canada, Indian Affairs, and our local MP and MPP" are expected to be present, according to UCCM chair Patrick Madahbee.

The MMA statement issued last week encourages "the senior levels of government to come to the table with a plausible resolution."

Speaking after the mid-February meeting of the MMA and UCCM, Jack Carmichael, emergency management coordinator for the Township of Billings, noted that, "if these tires ever catch on fire, it would affect the entire Island, and we would all have to be evacuated. One lightning strike and everything would be gone, and it would affect the entire Island, not only because of the fire itself but the liquid from these tires would pollute the North Channel."

According to Kevin Mossip, deputy chief of the Zhiibaahaasing First Nation, the community is presently awaiting a decision from Aboriginal Business Canada on whether it will receive funding to develop a business plan for its currently-stalled Cockburn Island Tire Recycling Station. If approval is granted, "it would take three to four months for the business plan to be completed. If this proves to be a good project, which we believe it is, then we will look for funding sources," he said.

Mr. Mossip added that the business plan "talks about all aspects of the operation, such as finances and management."

The facility did recycle one load of tires after opening in the 1990s, but an equipment breakdown brought this activity to a halt. Meanwhile, the community continued to accept old tires, for which it receives between $1 and $10 per tire, according to Mr. Mossip.

Presuming an average of $5 per tire, the nearly 1 million tires present at the site would translate into nearly $5 million in revenue for the small community, which counts 128 members (including those living off reserve).

According to Mr. Mossip, however, "the revenues we received for taking the tires has been put back into the plant." He noted that "we have spent over $1 million for things such as purchasing machines, new trucks to pick up the tires, and wages-all toward getting the recycling plant operational."

The deputy chief also downplayed the risk of a tire fire, arguing that a tanker truck carrying oil would be more likely to tip over and start a blaze on Manitoulin than the stockpile of tires igniting. "If the bush around the community was hit with lightning, it could light up the tires as well, but this could happen anywhere-it is all part of the public's perception," he said.

The perception of most Island municipal leaders and chiefs, however, is that the potential for catastrophe is quite real, and that a solution to the problem must be sought immediately. "Time is of the essence, as the summer season approaches and the threat of a naturally-occurring fire increases," urges the MMA in the conclusion of its statement.

EDITORIAL

It's time to abandon prejudices against privatization

For all the public weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth currently being engaged in by elected municipal officials, the operating budget crisis facing Manitoulin Centennial Manor did not happen overnight.

For many years the operating deficit has been building, although until very recently its magnitude has been masked by the time-honoured tradition of tapping reserves, thereby preserving denial in the hopes that, somehow, something would come up in the future to save the day. Instead, the bill has now come due with a vengeance.

Perhaps it is time to set aside deep-held prejudices against privatization of some public services and recognize that there are things the private sector, by disposition, is very good at.

A board of management on which local municipal politicians hold control, will, by the definition of the beast, be consumed and preoccupied with keeping costs to the funding municipalities down. So many things impacting on a municipal budget these days lie completely outside of a local politician's control that, given the opportunity to reduce costs to their municipalities, the temptation to keep levies in check are immense.

Now on the face of it, this would appear to be a good thing, acting much like the profit motive to keep the bottom line in line, as it were. But in practice, once the possible had been accomplished, hopes, dreams and denial stood in for better judgment and a desperate situation was allowed to go too far before sufficient alarm was sounded.

True, councils were given all of the information needed to be forewarned of the volcano growing beneath their feet-the regular delivery of board of management minutes contained within them a clear seismic warning-but when it came to the number that mattered, the bottom line of what the funding municipalities were expected to pony up each year, those numbers were within reason and manageable. Harried councillors trying to deal with issues of downloading and ever-growing municipal tax levies rarely looked any deeper. They simply trusted their board representatives to handle the problem and got on with the job at hand.

Even when Northeast Town Mayor Joe Chapman and Councillor Sam Nardi approached the Manor board suggesting that they may need more than they were asking for, the board continued to use reserves instead of passing on the full accounting.

It is long past time to recognize that a small, free-standing municipally-funded long-term care facility may be impractical in this day and age, and to set aside our prejudices against privately run homes to explore what they may have to offer.

Provincial regulations dictate a standard of care that will ensure our elderly will be well protected, even if left in the clutches of the profit-motivated. It is even likely that economies of scale found in large private chains will allow for even better standards of care than that which is possible in a municipally-funded system. We are not saying this is so, only that the possibility that it is should not be ignored on ideological grounds.

We owe it to our elderly and infirm to ensure they are well-cared for and when it becomes clear that the system we are using cannot deliver that care, we must explore those systems which show promise of doing so, wherever they may lie.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Not enough textbooks at Manitoulin Secondary

Hard to get good grades without them

To the Expositor:

This letter is to let the parents of students at Manitoulin Secondary School know of an ongoing problem at the school. I am a student in my final year and plan to go to college in the fall.

However, I find that keeping my grades up is getting much more difficult this semester when there are not enough textbooks. I have three classes this semester and in not one of them are there enough textbooks for all the students. We have to share and consult on homework; this is not exactly ideal for graduating students who may not be able to have the book at home for an extended period. It is now over two weeks into the semester and we have had only one comment on the textbooks by our leaders as to when they would arrive, which was, and I quote, "your guess is as good as mine." There are some reasons schools lack textbooks and a main reason is that previous semesters' classes do not return them. Yes, this is obviously a problem that must be rectified more quickly through returns; however, the board must be prepared for this problem with extras. Though there may have been only enough textbooks for the previous semester's amount of students, and the new class may have more students enrolled, this problem would be evident well before the start of the new semester. So the school board should be prepared with enough books for all students. I will hardly believe that schools in Sudbury are having as much problems as we are getting textbooks for their students.

Justin Mallette

Mindemoya

Manitoulin offers great trails for snowmobilers

Big thank you due to landowners, volunteers

To the Expositor:

This week, we had the opportunity to travel by snow machine from Gore Bay to Espanola. When you have sunny skies and warm temperatures, you once again realize the beauty of the Island, which we so often take for granted.

The trails on the Island were great, and, as has been said before, that is due to the great landowners who allow us to cross their property and the many volunteers who build, maintain and groom the trails.

By continuing to have great trails and access to trails, we will be able to enjoy the Island safely and encourage visitors during the winter.

Although we might not say it often enough, a big thank you is due to the landowners and the volunteers for making life on the Island even more enjoyable.

Gerry Mack

Kagawong

Unneccessary impasse is now becoming ridiculous

Both sides should exercise dignity and respect

To the Expositor:

RE: Little Current's work stoppage.

The unnecessary became the unfortunate and is now the ridiculous.

Both parties in this prolonged, antagonistic dispute have some learning to do. The greatest teacher this world will ever know summed it up in one sentence: "In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you." If everyone lived by this premise, we would not:

-need policemen who carry firearms;

-have embassies burned because of a cartoon;

-have shootings on the streets of our towns and cities;

-have Canadian troops in Afghanistan;

-have ridiculous prices for fuel;

-have government sponsorship scandals;

-have courts too backlogged to function;

-have a labour dispute in Little Current.

Our councillors, especially those on the 'negotiating' team, need to address the real issue in the dispute-job security-and stop trying to look like generosity personified by offering more money than the employees asked for.

Our employees need to show good faith by not belittling council or councillors, in spite of the way they have been treated.

If all parties concerned sat down with the genuine desire to treat each other with dignity and respect; to treat each other the way they themselves would want to be treated if they were on the other side of the table; and to enter into meaningful dialogue on the real issues concerned, instead of name-calling, this whole strike would be behind us, and our friends and neighbours would be working again!

Rob Paxton

Little Current

Send your Dear Dave letters to Box 369, Little Current, Ontario, P0P 1K0,