PAGE 4 WEDNESDAY JUNÉ 8, 1983, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby Voice of the County Town Michael ian Burgess, Publisher- Managing Editor The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. blished every Wednesday by M.B.M. Publishing and Photography [ne. Phone 668-6111 The Free Press Building, 131 Brock Street North, P.O. Box 206, Whitby, Ont. TIMOTHY SAINES Community Editor ELIZABETH NOZDRYN Advertlsing Manager Second Clas Mail Registration No. 5351 Tory candidates seramble for votes Conservative leadership candidates are headed into the back-stretch as they continue their quest for the big prize - opposition leader and ultimate- ly, a likely term as this country's next prime minister. The big blue Tory machine has been very much in the spotllght In recent weeks as some candi- dates verbally abuse each other, hoping to sway delegates to their sides. Approximately 3,000 delegates will register at the Ottawa ice arena tonight as the campaign nears its final hectic moments. These delegates wili, be greeted by red, white and blue posters and banners, hung throughout the arena, even coating the washroom walls. This ls one leadership race that the best candi- date may not win. Joe Clark, at least on the basis of what he says, may be headed for another victory as other serlous candidates, Brian Mulroney and John Crosbie joust for position In hopes of unseating the former leader. Clark, of course, had his chance as prime minis- ter before, but was unseated on a nonconfidence vote. As it turns out the issue which led to his deposition, raising gas prices dramatically at on- ce, was eventually carried through by the Liberais, in a more graduai manner. But ls Clark the best cholce to represent the Tory party? If he wins, he will undoubtedly fare well in On- tarlo In a federal election, but can he woo the French voters in Quebec. We still think not. Brian Mulroney has the capabliity to win a por- tion of the Quebec vote. He rose from poverty in a small Quebec town to become an Industrial king. Ho represents a symbol of the underdog who makes good and as a bonus, he can speak French. But alas, Mulroney has been keeping a low pro- file for the last week, a time In which Crosbie, Clark and the darkhorse candidates have been rallying support. Mulroney may still pull this thing out and he may turn out to be just what the doctor ordered for the country. Crosble has the deck stacked against him in Quebec. He is unilingual, but can speak some French. In an attempt to offset criticism he will speak French In his convention speech. The last time the Newfoundland MP tried to speak French publicly was during his budget address as finance minister in 1979. The House of Commons burst out laughing. If Crosbie can overcome this deficiency, he could be on his way to a majqr victory. It's still anybody's guess who'll win the cam- paign as supporters of all three major candidates are already claiming victory. Anybody want to place a little wager? LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Ajax residents will pledge Dear Sir: From time to time, I notice-that through your paper, a column is provid- ed to politicians to comment on mat- ters of local Inter- est. Your May 18th edition contained a "Letter to the Edit- or" having a title "Do Ajax Residents Pledge to Ruddy?" As you are aware, the Whitby Free Press Is readily avallable to many citizens of Ajax, and I would like to re- spond to this letter through your paper if 1 may. At the outset, i would like to state that if the fund rais- ing committee for the J.O. Ruddy Hos- pital wishes to ap- proach Ajax resi- dents for financial contributions to- wards the expan- sion of the second floor facilities at Whitby, I believe this to be most in order. Today, funding for heatlh care capi- tal facilities and operational costs, to a large extent, are provdied by the Ministry of Health, with capital funding supplemented by local resources. Be- cause of the con- strained funding now available, it is essential that health care facili- ties no longer be re- garded as merely for the use of a lo- cal community, but rather as facilitiés for the general population requir- ing such care. Indeed, when-the second floor facility at the J.O. Ruddy Hospital has been completed, 18 chronic care pat- ients wili be trans- ferred from the Ajax & Pickering Generai Hospital to the J.O. Ruddy Hospital, thus creating 18 ac- tive treatment beds, which will serve many patients during the year. As your readers may know, the Ajax & Pickering areas are the fastest growing areas in the Region of Durham. It is un- fortunate that the Ministry of Health has advised that capital fundin'g will not be available for the expansion of the Ajax & Picker- ing General Hospit- al until 1990. At the same time, we should take a look at where some Whitby residents obtain their health care services. Where do Whitby mothers go to have their babies born? Not to Whitby. in fact, 122, or 15 per cent of the babies at the Ajax & Pick- ering General Hos- pital in 1982 were born to Whitby mothers. 408 pat- lents representing 3,250 days of patient care of all types were from Whltby in 1982. And co-operation between the two hospitals has been evident in the shar- ing of temporary unused hospital equipment from the J.O. Ruddy Hospital to the Ajax Hospitai to relieve the uver- crowded conditions at Ajax. And so, as can be seen, the Ajax & Pickering General Hospital is also serving Whitby resi- dents. I have never heard a comment that they should be excluded. Let's use today's and tomor- row's health care facilities for all of the population requlring assis- tance. Let's not re- strict it to a single community. And if the J.O. Ruddy Hos- pital fund-raisers wish to contact Ajax businesses and residents for assistance, i be- lieve this to be quite in order. Sincerely, R. Campbell, for Bill McLean, Mayor, Town of Ajax. MARRIAGE Mr. and Mrs. William Edward D'Eail announ- ce the marriage of their daughter Jacqueline to Douglas Wayne Bruce on Friday, June 10,1963, in all Saints' Anglican Church, Whitby. The couple will be honeymooning in Ber- muda and plan to reside in Port Elgin. ý9 mlp a