12 ~ Wednesday, September 8, 1993 ~ North Shore News

Kevin Gillies

INQUIRING REPORTER

SCHOOL OFFICIALLY opened across

reached with

(NVSB). To the relief of parents, students (some any- way), teachers and administrators a tentative agreement was reached shortly before the Labour Day

How dv you feel about the schools opening on time?

John Ward

North Vancouver

1 am thrilled that they are opening on time — absolutely. Al! of this should have been handled

through the summer and |

not at the children’s ex- pense.

School

Peter Kempf

Squamish

1 think education is im- portant and the schools should be open.

the Lower Mainland yesterday for thousands of students. The North Vancouver Teachers’ Association (NVTA) was threatening to withold their services if a contract was not

North Vancouver District

deal, 44

long-

Elizabeth Servant

North Vancouver

I think it’s good because people need an educa- tion. I'm glad my kids are going back because they can see their friends and interact with people their own age.

weekend,

Bruce Tyler

North Vancouver

I think it’s good and that a strike would be silly.

_ Students are a lot easier

to deal with on the North Shore. Over town. they are a lot more violent.

thus averting a strike. Although to press time, the teachers’ union had not commented on the the NVSB had ratified it, and the situation ap- peared less tenuous than before. Details of the three-year deal would’t be released until both sides of the dispute voted on it. In the meantime, schools are expected to open on time.

Fannie Wakelin North Vancouver

I think it’s good they’re.

opening on time.’ Last time there was a strike at my school, | enjoyed the time off, but looking back it seemed pointless.

Collins vows to keep medical system in good health

-THE CANADA Health. Act will, not be opened up to ‘user’ fees, Capilano-Howe Sound MP and _ federal Health Minister Mary Col- lins promised_recently.

By Surj Rattan ‘News Reporter

Collins made the statement ina . speech she delivered to the Cana- dian Medical Association in _ Calgary... . Collins ‘said both she and Prime Minister Kim Campbell. are op- posed, to user fees for ‘‘medically necessary insured services.” “And this is not a policy that is borne out of dogma or inflexibility, but ‘rather. a position that — is upheld by all available evidence. “User fees do not cut down on ‘unnecessary .demands for service.

‘They, merely establish. a new divi-" sion: those. who can afford to pay

and‘ those who cannot,’’ said Col- lins in: her Aug. 23 speech. I She added that the federal gov- ernment’s commitment tothe ac- cessibility of the Canada’ Health Act is as firm as Ottawa’s com- mitment to four other governing principles: © comprehensiveness; @ universality;

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Collins said that using the Canada Health Act as a the federal govern-

such as -efectiveness and afior- dability of medical services.

She added that Canadians should be assured that the coun- try’s health-care system is not on the verge of a breakdown.

“Canada’s health-care system remains the finest in the world, copied by some, envied by all,”’ said Collins. | ‘

_ While she admitted there is not enough money available for all of the medical. services the public demands, the problem must be dealt with on a ‘‘government-wide basis, not merely by focusing on

health or education or the en- vironment.

“Having said that, however, we, in our sector, must have a plan for dealing with the new re- ality of the 1990s.

‘‘Where do we start? Clearly the Status quo is not sustainable.

“First, we must have a common goal, and for me the highest pri- ority should be directed at im- proving the health of Canadians in the broadest sense so that they can lead full and fulfilling lives,’' said Collins.

She added that Canada’s health-care system should not be divided into ‘‘a dozen different syste ."‘ and that ali Canadians should have equal access to qual- ity health care.

“Collins said this means main- taining Ottawa’s commitment to

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the health-care system, which, i 1991, $2,500 per Canadian per year.

She added that Canada needs to get better value for its money from the nation’s -health-care system. ;

“The good news for Canada is that, contrary to popular belief, health care costs are not spiralling out of control,”’ said Collins.

She added that the question that needs to be answered is how to maintain the health-care system

“which has*become the envy of .

the world.”

“1 do not pretend after . less than two months on the job to have all the answers to that qu2s- tion. *

“But 1 do have a pretty good idea of where to find them, start- ing right in this room, with you,

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the physicians, and with other front-line workers.”’

Collins said the public must ‘also : take more responsibility in adop- ting and maintaining — healthier | lifestyles. ; :

“We ‘must distinguish between health care and health. _

‘Individuals must. keep fit, reduce personal risks and. take.

care of their emotional as well as

their physical well-being. : “This may not always bé possi-

ble, but Canadians should at-least «+;

be aware of the costs and ‘the © consequences — of » their actions,” said Collins. a

She noted that more and more Canadians are smcking less, .exer-. : cising . more and ‘watching what. they eat.

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