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‘ The Walkerton Herald-Times. Wednesday, February 6, 2008 Recruitment committee presents five-year plan to councils BY LINDSEY KUGLIN qu Reporter Area municipal councils were given a grim reminder of the doctor shortage in Canada last Wednesday when the Brockton and Area Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee made a presentation to the Arran-Elderslie. Brockton. and South Bruce councils} The committee shared the latest information on the its efforts. some demographic facts. recruitâ€" ment strategies, and a funding plan. The committee came up with a five-year plan to build reserves so in the event that a physician is interested in coming to Brockton. The funds would he used for a “physician premium," which includes paying the receptionist. and office rent for one year. along with other incentives. “As the doctor crisis intensifies, incentives and reimbursement escalates." said committee accountant Dennis Reutz. The committee proposed that the municipalities contribute $500,000 over five years at amounts proportionate to their demographics: Arranâ€" Elderslie at 14.6 per cent. Brockton at 63.9 per cent, and South Bruce at 21.5 per cent. Some thought that the amount was not enough Winter Storm Snaps Hydro Poles in Town A winter storm that passed through the area on Jan. 30 leaving all roads in Bruce and adjacent counties closed also lefi a number of Paisley residenls in the cold for almost 18 hours. Most of Paisley lost power for about three hours around 1 am. but for the residents of the south west side of the village. it was almost 9 p to. before the lights were back on. Hydro crews were busy clearing and replacing three fallen poles along Victoria St. S. - on one of the to compete with the bigger surrounding towns. “When you're competing with monsters that sur- round us that pay hundreds of thousands into this - i hope this is enough. Little guys like us - we can't compete." Brockton Mayor Charlie Bagnato said. Brockton and area physician recruiter Nancy Gray-Starkebaum doesn't think that money is the only way to attract doctors to the area. She said the area provides a “wonderful lifestyle change". and said that she wouldn't have a prob- lem convincing an urban doctor, who craves a slower pace of life. that Brockton can provide that for them. “When you start throwing around big amounts of money, there‘s always going to be somebody will- ing to pay more." Gray’Starkebaum said. According to the plan, Brockton and area needs to attract live doctors over the next five years, two of those in 2008, and three more before 2012. Grayâ€"Starkehaum reported that Canada is cur- rently short 26,000 physicians. and the situation is growing more dire, as 3,600 are slated to retire this year. She also noted that a maximum of2,500 medical students graduate in Canada each year. , “The government at the federal level and the provincial level aren't doing enough to fix it." Gray-Starkebaum said, and asked the councillors to lobby on the commiLtee's behalf to come up with a plan to graduate more don- tors annually. Hard copies of the strategic plan winter. most windy. bitterly cold days of the . ‘ While many residents sought “ warmth with neighbours, some had to stay behind to manually bail out basements as sump pumps stopped. Cruig Badman were distributed to memhers of the three councils. who will each discuss the recommendations and vote on them individually. ‘ /or/ Musings with ohn by John Clark Since our good editor dubbed Dick Fitzsimmons the Mayor of Narva it has become a virtual beehive of news stories. The life of Elizabeth Webb. age 90 was celebrated just into the new year. She had retired to Hanover from the family homestead about 10 years ago and she was widely known for her mission work in Nigeria for almost 40 years. She was the last of a notable Baptist clan of the Glammis Narva areathat included Ruby, George Arthur and Stewart. The Fitzsimmons family made Brockton news when Bill Fitzsimmons and partner Sarah Diemert became proud parents of the area’s first New Year's baby. This event caps off an eventful and industrious year for the Narva farm boys. As the paper goes to press comes news that at the road 15 &20 corner (Narva) there was a serious two vehicle crash thought to be caused by fog. Perhaps the Mayor of Narsz should be petitioned for a new flashing light at this corner because of accident history. Can‘t youjust hear him sayâ€""l will get right on it." - Page 7 The Paisley Advocate March 2008 Top right: high winds. blowing \mm and icy roads mudc drhing difficult. in this car in the ditch nl Queen uml Bulaklmn uttox‘ts. Botlonl L In R: a lone h)dro worker surveys [In- dnllingi- along \‘irroriil . ln‘el: mint: ll hydrlrvrnn‘nlolz lhru' urn plllt‘\ llrt' llhIxIllt‘d. I‘huius L‘ liuilimu. ll [nun