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lan Kirkby Chronicle Staff The decision of the Supreme Court of Canada Jan. 28 overturning the federal abortion law has already had repercussions for women in Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo. The therapeutic abortion committee (TAC) has been disbanded at Kâ€"W Hospital under instructions from the provincial government. The committee previously apâ€" proved all abortions at the hospital. The Supreme Court ruled that the delays caused by the committee process posed a health threat to pregnant women. The Board of Directors of Kâ€"W Hospital will be examining the issue of increasing access to abortions for local women, said president Joe Demora in an interview with the Chronicle. According to Demora, issues the hospital will soon examine include the proper role of hospitals in providing Anxious to delay any possible implementation of a ward system until after the November municipal elections, city representatives prevented Waterloo citizens from making their case for a ward system before the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) Monday. Considering that certain members of council and the bureaucracy never miss a chance to speak of the soâ€" called openness and democracy of Waterloo municipal politics, this action was stunning. The OMB hearing was called because 201 citizens of this city signed a petition expressing their desire for a hearing on implementing a ward system. The majority of city council had voted to direct its staff (read Chief Administrative Officer Don Roughley and city solicitor Bill White) to request the Ontario Municipal Board "to approve a review of our electoral system which would allow for full participation"‘ of the public in a possible implementation of a ward system after the 1988 municipal election. This was the city‘s response to a concrete proposal from two experts on municipal politics â€" UW profesâ€" sors Robert Williams and Terrence Downey. With Mayor Marjorie Carroll on holidays when the scheduled twoâ€"day hearing began Monday, Roughley and White were on the front lines for the city team. But, rather than allowing the Waterloo citizens to make their case, then present the city‘s opposition to it, the city team made a brilliant strategic move. They made a motion to adjourn, claiming the city needs to consult its electorate on the issue. Based on the information in front of them, the OMB agreed, rescheduling the hearing on wards for Jan. 23, 1989 â€" after the upcoming municipal elections. One OMB member also warned the city that a referendum might not be the best way to gauge public opinion, but Abortion ruling aftermath Currently, only one local physician performs abortions at Kâ€"W Hospital. As a result, Planned Parenthood Waterloo Region refers twoâ€"thirds of women seeking abortion outside of the region â€" mainly to London and Hamilton. abortions, what resources would be required to continue and expand services, what demand exists in the communâ€" ity for abortion services, and "the role of hopitals versus other independent clinics." Demora said he "wouldn‘t be surprised if there was some inquiry about setting up (an independent clinic such as that of Dr. Henry Morgentaler) in the communâ€" ity." He believes that with the Supreme Court decision, "physicians are now free and community organizations are free, to organize centres outside hospitals to provide abortions." But perhaps it is to be expected of this administraâ€" tion, for the ward issue has been kept in the background by this council. It is only now an issue because 201 citizens (and a couple of responsive councillors) decided to make it one, regardless of council‘s desires. Oct. 29, 1986 â€" Prof. Williams urges the city‘s futures committee to consider a ward system, but Mayor Marjorie Carroll declares it outside of the committee‘s mandate. April 27, 1987 â€" Council votes to create a task force essentially to study the ward issue, with members to be named later. No task force was created; instead an internal twoâ€"person committee studied the pro‘s and con‘s of a ward system. June 22, 1987 â€" Above internal report completed, but with no recommendations. Report is not released to council or the public. rather for council and interested citizens to come forward with their own proposals. In effect, the city had prevented its own citizens (and eminently qualified citizens at that) from making their case for a ward system. Some dedication to public input! Recall some of the manoevres which kept Waterloo from any possibility of wards before the upcoming issue. They make interesting reading. Nov. 14, 1986 â€" Carroll announces support for a study of the electoral system. However, council decides that week to delay study until after the city budget in finalized in March 1987. April 6, 1987 â€" The OMB sends a letter to all municipal clerks noting all wardâ€"boundary applicaâ€" tions must be filed by year‘s end to allow consideration for Nov. 1988 election. C f)& ? ( If s s t . 9 Z7 CX _A G @ €, 2. 5 € } ;\\ 8 3 The Calgary Winter Olympics may be a long way away, but the cheering and excitement can be found in Waterloo schools. Students of Sir Edgar Bauer school held their own Olympics with outdoor games under Friday‘s wintery conditions, left. This young student was passing off the ball in the overâ€"under relay race, while above, Elizabeth Ziegler Grade 3 students Zoe Trohatos, left, and Kyros loannou carry the Greece banner into their school‘s opening ceremonies, Monday. LET THE GAMES BEGIN WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 1988 â€" PAGE citizen input on question of wards because (as Roughley told the Chronicle "we wanted to deal with this properly, to involve our citizens in this". Feb. 15, 1987 â€" Roughley and White, interpreting council decision, ask OgdB to allow city time to seek The city had the opportunity to involve citizens from Oct. 1986, and always found a reason to delay or to "study"‘. If the business development department at city hall was run in similar fashion, can you imagine the state Waterloo would be in?" A backwardâ€"looking council got away with yet another delay Monday. This time, it also prevented citizens from having their say. Some open government. Oct. 21, 1987 â€" Above report presented at ward workshop attended by council, city staff and two officials from Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs. Council agrees to consider issue again in three weeks. Dec. 23, 1987 â€" Williams and Downey submit a petition to OMB along with a proposal for a mixed system, with seven councillors elected in seven wards, and three elected to sit on regional council. Nov. 2, 1987 â€" Despite Carroll‘s previous instrucâ€" tions, futures committee recommends that city considâ€" er an electoral system mixing ward and atâ€"large representation. Nov. 12, 1987 â€" More than a year after being told that council would look at a ward system and feeling betrayed, Williams and Downey present council a petition with 201 names asking council to apply to the OMB to divide the city into wards. forwarded to OMB Dec. 7, 1987 â€" Council approves staff report suggestâ€" ing a referendum in 1988, and if wards are approved, implementation for the 1991 election. Report is with lan Kirkby As for the offer by Dr. Morgentaler to train physicians in his method of abortion by suction, Demora says, "this hospital has been performing abortions for a long time. I don‘t know that our technique is much different from any others‘." (Continued on page 4) ‘"‘Time is important for these women," said Monica Bennett, executive coâ€"ordinator for the organization. Additionally, all University of Waterloo students who approach student health services to obtain abortions over the past several years have been immediately referred to London. "If (a physician) doesn‘t want to perform (an abortion| you can‘t make it a part of their job description." said Demora. "If the hospital decides to provide increased services, we presumably would find another physician," he added. Isobel Lawson photos