• QUEEN'S PARK: 22-year career to end ( Steve Peters eyes life after politics ERIC BUNNELL incumbent Janet Golding in QMIAgency the 1991 mayoral election. (He was re-elected mayor He entered public ser­ in '94 and '97.) "Steve was vice at age 25 as the young­ always approachable,• Bar­ est alderman ever to be wick said Tuesday. elected in St. Thomas. "You had a hearing Now, middle-aged and before him and he always having fought and won tried to help. Thatwas abso­ elections as mayor and Lib­ lutely certain.• Although be eral MPP for Elgin-Middle­ · dropped Peters from his sex-London, Steve cabinet after stints Peters is contem­ as agriculfure and WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER3, 2010 1 plating his future. labour ministers, The 47-year-old Premier .• Dalton IIi EHWTH: Health minister works to improve its wasteful reputation who currently is McGuinty compli­ Speaker at Queen's mented his former Park announced minister. Tuesday he won't "Steve has Electronic records soar seek re-election always embodied next fall when the very best of Ontario goes to the Steve Peters what public service polls. is all about, and I - at $28,000 subsidy "For many years, am very grateful I have thought for his contribu­ about pursuing my inter­ tion," the premier said. ANTON ELLA ARTUSO "boondoggle" because of a damning ests in education and busi­ Though they wear differ­ QMI Queen's Park Bureau Chief provincial auditor's report that found ness," Peters said. "If ever ent political stripes, Tory evidence of waste, blown targets and I'm to start a second career MP Joe Preston agreed with Ontario taxpayers put almost mismanagement of the file. in the private sector, now is Barwick that Peters has $154 million into direct subsidies to Matthews said electronic health the time." been easy to work with, and physicians - or $28,000 per doctor records are vital to the future well- . First elected in 1999, his he said Elgin-Middlesex­ - to encourage them to switch their being of patients and the health-care will leave at a time when London has benefitted. paper records to electronic records. system, and it's her job to improve the provincial Liberal fortunes "He cares genuinely Health Minister Deb Matthews said reputation of eHealth Ontario. are ebbing though Queen's about the 110,000 people Tuesday the number of physicians The minister visited the Taddle Park observers say he'd be that he and I both (serve), who signed up Creek Family Health Team in Toronto a shoo-in for re-election· in and it just shows - and it's has leaped by 80% on Tuesday wliere electronic health Elgin-Middlesex-London easy to work with someone over the past year, records have been in place for three but he'd likely return to who bas that type of abil­ with 5,500 doctors years. Toronto in a reduced role ity." Preston said offering electronic Lead physician Pauline Pariser, as a backbencher - either Peters on Tuesday said health records to said the electronic records warn of in a minority government, he doesn't want to be more than five mil­ possible medication errors, prompt or in opposition. remembered for bricks­ lion patients. her to offer preventive care, such as a However, Peters said and-mortar. "My focus I "We've got more flu shot or colorectal cancer ~reeDing Tuesday in an interview has been to serve people physicians with based on the patient's age, and con­ and put people first . I none of that is a factor. IDeb Matthews electronic medical nect her to the results of diagnostic "This is not a decision can rhyme off all kinds of records than any tests at a nearby hospital. that's based on polls or buildings and investments other province in "It certainly has improved qual­ anything to do with the that have been made, but the country; she said. ity of care for patients, and I think Liberals; he said. for me, I hope my legacy There are still 10,500 physicians it's really improved the working life Tributes to the MPP is people recognize I was who aren't plugged in, and Matthews of the family physicians because it's flowed freely - even from truly committed to public said some doctors, especially older a much more satisfying way to prac­ one-time political foe service:' members ofth e profession, may never tise: Pariser said. Mayor Cliff BarWick. A The Times-Jourrud take the plunge. Tory MPP Christine Elliott said one-term alderman, Peters The subsidies offered to Ontario eHealth progress on has been slight. defeated both Barwick and NOVEMBER 10, 2010 I doctors are less than those given to "The point of eHealth is to allow physicians in Alberta and the United physicians and other health profes­ States. sions to be able to communicate and It's expected most Ontarians will that's where you achieve the efficien­ have an electronic health record by cies," Elliott said. "It's ~ood to ba~ 2015, but the ultimate goal of creat­ doctors (with) electroruc fieatth rec­ ing a lifelong record that follows them o!ciS,l;tn It ~oesn ' t mean vepr much if as from doctor to hospital to other tlieV~'t talk to each other. health-care providers isn't in sight. - Arid NDP MPP France Gelinas said The name eHealth Ontario has the office computers don't connect become synonymous with a $1-billion doctor to new care information. \ HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY ( FORRESIDENTSOF:W,ESTELGIN SATURDAY OCTOBER 30, 2010 9:00 am -1:00pm ~ERE:DUTTON/DU~CH ROADS GARAGE 136 CURRIE ROAD, DUTTON WASTE ~ES: Paint/ pigments/ coating residues; miscellant:ous waste inorganic chemicals; varsol/white spirits & petroleum distillates, thinners; halogenated pesticide & herbicides; miscellaneous waste organic chemicals; aerosols; waste oils & lubricants: . fluorescent tubes/ bulbs; electronics; used tires ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED: Commercial waste; Farm chemicals; Large containers Large containers will not be accepted. Containers must be able to be placed inside a 45 gallon drum . Used oil containers must be sealed, and must be able to be handled by one person. Please have your driver's license available for proof of residency in West Elgin or Dutton/ Dunwich. For Further information call the Municipality ofDutton/ Dunwich at (519) 762-2204; or the Municipality ofWest Elgin at (519) 785-0560. Space pro':'ided through a partnership between industry and Ontario Municipalities to support waste diversion programs. Municipal ~mployees may get photo ID Jesse Cnockaert Councilor Richard Leatham agreed The Chronicle with Kalita, calling photo ID's "a must" in his case. The West Elgin municipal council will "I know the Fire Department were • investigate getting photo ID tags for talking about getting photo ID. When municipal employees, te help them deat they're going for fire inspections or better with the public. smoke alarm inspections, they had At the Dec. 16 meeti:ng. the council dis­ that same issue. They'll get dressed in cussed whether or not to get photo ID's their uniforms, but ifyou don't have for municipal employees. Sometimes, photo ID, it's not necessarily municipal employees need to enter peo­ accepted,~ said Bernie Wiehle, Mayor. ple's homes, and Mike Kalita, Water The council already has one quote Superintendent, said tbatiD's could make of $2,500 to get photo ID's for the var­ it easier for people to believe municipal ious departments. The council will employees are who they say they are. ask Jeff Slater, Recreation Superin­ "Somebody new in town might ques­ tepdent, to get more quotes from tion who you're saying you are," said other companies before they malce a Kalita. decision. - Warwick has campaign meeting in West Lome Jesse Cnockaert "It was actually a very charged and exciting seminar. People The Chronicle were getting a buzz at the doorstep," said Warwick. ( Warwick returned to West Lome and held a campaign-organ­ Graham Warwick, the Federal Liberal Candidate for Elgin­ izing meeting at Tasty Sweets bakery in West Lome on Jan. 2:7. Middlesex-London, is back from the 2011 Winter Caucus on "Whether there's going to be an election, our leader spoke to Parliament Hill, and he's interested in doing what's right for the that We can't trigger an election, butwe're not going to prop this Canadian family. government up. yYe're going to oppose it and defeat it;' said On Jan. 24, Michael Ignatieff, liberal Leader, gave a speech in Warwick. · Ottawa where he rallied the liberals and criticized Conservative During Ignatieff's speech, he emphasized a need to listen to attack ads. the Canadian family, and to have fiscal responsibility. He noted that for every dollar of disposable income, the average middle­ class Canadian owes $1.50. Warwickalsowasn'tinfavouroftheHarpergovemment'splan to use $6 billion this year on corporate tax income reductions. "Whatwe're hearing is that families are struggling to keep their cost ofliving, save for retirement, finance their kids' education and care for their aging parents. So we're focusing on addressing those economic pressures;• said Warwick. Warwick said that connecting to theyounger generation is one of his personal goals. To that end, Warwick has worked on his social media, including accounts with Twitter and Facebook. Read more about Graham Warwick online at www.Gra­ hamwarwick.liberal.ca. Campaigning for the Canadian family Graham Warwick (Centre), the Federal Uberal candidate for Elgin-M"Iddlesex-london, held a campaign meeting in West Lome Jan. V. Warwick was recently back from attending the 2011 Winter caucus in Ottawa. On left is Warwick's Campaign Manager/Youth Director Craig Waltefworth, and on the 19rt is Jonathan Wotf; Riding President letters to the editor I,.