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Waterlioo MPP calls for municipal reform by year end Waterloo MPP Elizabeth Witâ€" mer predicts that the year 2000 will bring much of the same as 1999 in terms of tax cuts and the economy. But she hopes thai changes to local municipal governance is something that gets dealt with by the end of the year. Witmer was asked for her preâ€" dictions for 2000 in an annual survey of local politician done by the Waterloo Chronicle. While most of the predictions focused on maintaining Ontario‘s strong economy by balancing the provincial budget while adding an economic stimâ€" ulus with additional tax cuts, she also offered some views on the most contentious of local issues â€" municipal reform. Witmer said she continues in her hope that a local solution could be found to municipal reform. She also hopes for a speedy solution that would be in place before the end of 2000 "I hope that a decision will be made this year," she said. "I think it‘s important that a deciâ€" sion be made because I think we need to bring some closure to the issue." The debate about municipal reform has raged for the better part of the last 25 years here in Waterloo Region Elizabeth Witmer Bob Vrbanac Chronicle Staff But she stayed away from sta ing what her preferred optic was, saying it was still up to loc politicians. "Certainly the province h. But she stayed away from statâ€" ing what her preferred option was, saying it was still up to local politicians. "Certainly the province has indicated that that was their first choice," said Witmer. "That local politicians in the region could sit down and make some decisions on how to best serve the needs of the people of the choice," said Witmer. "Tha local politicians in the regiot could sit down and make some decisions on how to best servi the needs of the people of the Region of Waterloo and do it it the most efficient and costâ€"effec tive manner." While municipal reform still seems to be derailed, changes to the local health care system are still on track. The cardiac care centre at St. Mary‘s Hospital, and the cancer care centre at Grand River Hospital are both on schedule to meet the needs of an aging local population, said Ontario‘s health minister. While municipal 1 seems to be derailed, the local health care still on track. The c "The cardiac centre at St. Mary‘s will open and the cancer centre will be under construcâ€" tion, and the MRI will become operational this year as well," said Witmer. The government will also be acting on some of the findings of the McKendry report on physiâ€" cian resources in the province of Ontario. There are estimates that more than 40,000 people locally don‘t have access to a family docâ€" is o ;l._‘::'i;' i * M Je A‘;" t thallae. .. se h hi tC e > ui . Ype s rare. * ; : h ht 22 ie e . l 1995 h x : â€" f tor There is a need for at least 24 more family doctors to locate to the area and set up practice. There is also a need for specialâ€" ists to fill in for retiring doctors as well as take up some of the additional duties of the new healthâ€"care services in the region. "We need to make sure that we have the appropriate number of healthâ€"care professionals and we also have to make sure they are located in areas where they are needed," said Witmer. "We also need to make sure the longâ€" term strategy takes into consideration what kind of specialists will be needed as (Continued on page 9) Waterloo council still hopeful for local solution to regional reform The solution to municipal restructurâ€" ing will have a "made in Waterioo" tag on it if local council, including Mayor Joan McKinnon, has anything to say about it And when regional council meets this afternoon in attempt to put the issue to rest, McKinnon said she will not be sidâ€" ing with the other municipal mayors Instead she will stand behind her own councils wishes "I fully support a local solution to the issue," she said following Monday night‘s local council meeting. "The easiest way ‘ L sls l nu ie P l x vo o PMA i2 44 h i . **~ .% a22 es j e $ ons R " ho ; yjek) ’ R I ‘l s s â€" e e i $ o Q’ ~ ; i P e P a C A o ol i § U p: } 2A | . oo hy â€" e "~ #4 0 MX ”';“/’ t>. o rs k. k’:!v@ _ Te P A 4 ~â€" *A e f (MMy. ze C & + 4 s ::'3"3‘“ ~o. s trin 3} \’,A‘_%:‘ 6 ~",‘.\;‘;'_‘ ". s & . »uci,‘*l, F. s . TeA T T MeIR0 A t > m V mm P Ti I q'& 7 ® o,i““c < ""-‘:"“”" s se }(: f: â€" 2e *#: 4 . s '.Q'ra‘:'&"’up iez Eho ber. on PSRA Ar i. wegt, Frm § N Hsrittar ‘a . $ .im"‘“‘unuiw-m}? per o Lindsay Hutcheson, a scientist with the Mad Science group of Kitchener, gives Josh Barnes a scientific "shower" during a day camp held at Waterloo Pentecostal Assembly Church Friday afternoon. Chronicle Staff ad scientists would be to let them (province)come in and do it, and then say, ‘oh, look what they did to us‘. Isn‘t that a cop out?" During the session, McKinnon explained that by the end of an all mayâ€" ors‘ meeting earlier in the day, the majorâ€" ity supported the proposed solution of bringing in an advisor to decipher the issue and provide enabling legislation by this April in order to have any required changes, whether it be a oneâ€"city, twoâ€" city, or threeâ€"city model, in place for the upcoming November election "There was a consensus, but it was without this mayor," she explained, adding the other mayors seem to have .(/;l//e{y Dependable service since 1959 46 King St. N., Waterloo 886â€"2040 CLOSED SUNDAY & MONDAY TUESDAY â€" THURSDAY 9â€"5:30 FREE PARKING AT FRONT & REAR OF STORE taken a "let‘s just bring in an advisor, do it and get it over with" attitude "I agreed with part which included comprehensive public consultation, which is what we‘ve been asking for all along. And this was the first time that all governance models will be taken into consideration. It‘s the tight time frame to do all of this in that I couldn‘t agree with "I was the only one who expressed the wish for another option, which put me in somewhat of an awkward position. But 1 told them that 1 would have to take the issue back to my own council." Showing outrage over the mayors‘ (Continued on page 9) Alarn D I'yéy & '( C .77//?11/1//'(' //W/ /.///1 a/ LAâ€"Zâ€"BOY® Andrea Bailey photo