R I C H M O N D H I L L’ S C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R S I N C E 1 8 7 8
Steve Papas
THE LIBERAL $1 STORE SALES /40 PAGES
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Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012
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Hospitals pay for delayed ambulances Mackenzie Richmond Hill exceeded target time by 16 minutes BY L.H. TIFFANY HSIEH
thsieh@yrmg.com
York’s three hospitals are being punished by regional council as motivation to improve ambulance turnaround time. York Region has budgeted $13 million in hospital capital funding this year, but will only allocate less than $12.2 million because none of the hospitals met the 60-minute ambulance turnaround target last year. Markham Stouffville Hospital, Southlake Regional Health Centre and Mackenzie Richmond Hill (formerly York Central Hospital) exceeded the target time by 6.5, 4.1 and 15.8 minutes, respectively. All three have agreed to the proposed funding arrangement. They recorded a combined average ambulance turnaround time of 68.8 minutes. That’s the time between when an EMS ambulance arrives at a hospital emergency room and when it leaves. The region proposes deducting more than $850,000 from hospital funding, calculated at $171.56 per hour based on each hospital’s performance. About $320,000 of that amount will be used to explore options to minimize delays in turnaround time. Under the agreement, Markham Stouffville Hospital would receive $3.4 million from the region this year; Southlake, $1.7 million and Mackenzie Health Richmond Hill, $1.2 million. See REGION, page 22.
STAFF PHOTO/SUSIE KOCKERSCHEIDT
DOUBLES, ANYONE? Richmond Hill Squash Club founder Doug Allen (left) playfully challenges Mayor Dave Barrow during the groundbreaking ceremony for a new doubles court. Minister of Recreation and Sport, Michael Chan, helped with the golden shovel honours. See story page 30.
Teachers told to wear black, stop coaching as protest BY TERESA LATCHFORD
tlatchford@yrmg.com
York Region teachers paused some voluntary activities in protest to a recently passed law. This week, the province passed a bill that forces a contract on elementary and secondary teachers across Ontario as well as 50,000 support staff, including those in York Region, bypassing the traditional bar-
gaining process. In response, teacher unions encouraged members to wear black and take a pause from extracurricular activities such as school clubs and sports yesterday to protest the recent passing of the bill. The York Region District School Board hasn’t cancelled any scheduled events, according to board spokesperson Licinio Miguelo. He also confirmed the board has
had a range of participation from union members across the region. “Those activities are anything that don’t fall under the collective agreement,” he said, mentioning the coaching of athletic teams and school clubs. “All of these activities are voluntary and teachers are not required to participate.” He explained the new bill is still being See ‘UNDEMOCRATIC’, page 25.
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