MAILBOX Health care system at risk Dear Editor: 1 would like to correct some misconceptions raised by the re- cent provincial budget. First, the issue of capping indi- vidual general practitioners’ gross earnings at $300,000 has given the erroneous impression that this in- come is the norm, which of course is far from the truth, The average GP grosses $156,000, out of which -about 45% is spent on the overhead costs of running a prac- tice (salaries, rent, supplies, ete.). We are self-employed practi- Woners under contract with the Medical Services Plan to provide a service, We are not salaried civil ser- vants and feel entided to our autonomy in the way we practise. Had the cap been set at a million dollars, we wouid still find it ob- jectionable on principle. The second, more important point in the budget (which is all but ignored in the media) is the 2% cap over overall payments to all the doctors in B.C. in the com- ing year. If our payments run over this figure, we will be subjected to a claw-back. This is tantamount to asking a transit bus driver to take anyone wherever they need to go in the province, but that if he works beyond a certain amount, he will have to work for nothing. The 2% will barely cover the increase in population, let alone the ever-increasing demand on the health care system necessitated by an aging population and new technologies. The third point is the cancella- tion of our pension plan. Even the B.C. Federation of Labor was alarmed when the NDP govern- ment tore up this legally negoti- ated agreement. No consultation, just the heavy hand of govern- ment. Who will be next? Our hitherto excellent health care system is at risk; persecuting its main players is not the way to save it. Anthony Chan BCMA Local Action Committee North Vancouver Mailbox policy publish all letters. Published letters may be edited for brevi- ty, clarity, accuracy, legality and taste. Letters can be faxed to 985-3227 but still must be signed and fully addressed. N. Shore News LETTERS TO the editor must include your name, written legibly, your full address and telephone number. . Due to space constraints the North Shore News ‘ cannot THE NORTH SHORE NEWS recentiy asked West Vancouver residents about the Hillside/Caulfelld issue. . We asked a total of 162 residents “Do you support the decision to tear down Hillside School and build a middie schoo! in Caulfeild? The results were: Horseshoe Bay: 14 yes; 15 no. Dundarave: 3 yes; 17 no. Ambleside: 1 yes; 20 no. British Properties: 3 yes; 10 no. 70 People had no opinion, didn't know or refused to answer. The totals were 16.4% in favor of tearing down Hillside, 48.5% against. Pro-choice doesn’t mean pro-abortion Dear Editor: I am tired of the term ‘‘pro- abortion." { always understood the term to be ‘‘pro-choice.”” Every time people express an opinion that there should be freedom of choice they become “*pro-abortion,’’ which leads others to believe that all pro- choicers use abortions as a method of birth control or don’t even think twice about the fetus. I believe there are pros and cons to both sides because we do not live in a perfect world, but ! do ask one thing, picase do not label me pro-abortion when 1 am pro- choice. Anne Taylor North Vancouver Maplewood Flats Clean-up Saturday May 30 1:00 p.m. free Saturday Junc G 10:00 a.m. pre-registration required. B.C. Wolves up Close Sunday May 31 1:00 p.m. free Maplewood Flats Guided Tour Sacurday June 6 1:00 p.m. . pre-registration required. free Squirmy Wormy Garbage Gobblers Monday June 1 1:00-2:00 p.m. for parents and preschoolers pre-registeration required. $1.00 Organic Vegetable Gardening Saturday June 6 1:00 p.m. free Creative Newspaper Crafts Friday June 5 3:30-5:00 p.m. For children aged 8 - 12 pre-registration required. $1.00 Great Compost Mystery Puppet Show Sunday June 7 1:00 p.m. free co-sponsored by the North Shore Recycling Program. gly whe or more information and to pre-register phone 987-5922 Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre is owned and operated by the District of North Vancouver Sunday, May 24, 1992 - North Shore News - 7 JEAN MITCHELL Registered Massage Therapist is pleased to announce that Parkgate Massage Therapy Clinic is now open- Clinic hours by appointment from Tues.Sat. 224-3650 Mt. 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