So it's pretty galling that Niagara Health System officials call for the gutting of Fort Erie and Port Colborne hospitals, and removal of maternity services from Niagara Falls and Welland, under their "hospital improvement plan" released last week.

It should be called the "(St. Catharines) hospital improvement plan," of course. Or the "there-aren't-enough-of-you-and-you-cost-us-too-much plan."

But that's the way hospital brass speak. Vibrant, glowing words and suggestions that what they are doing is good for all of us.

The NHS got into this mess the same way many other publicly-funded institutions did: they got used to steadily increasing government transfer payments and never felt the need to run a tight ship. The province has given the NHS $80.8 million, or 39 per cent, more in the last four years alone, bringing its budget up to $350 million a year.

Judgement day came in June when the governing Local Health Integration Network told the NHS to put together a hospital improvement plan by July 15, outlining what it plans to do to balance its budget.

The NHS embarked on its journey to develop the plan, accepting public input until the night before deadline, then delivered a 311-page tome outlying the cuts and shifts in service it planned to make.

In presenting the hefty document (were those comments from right before deadline really taken into consideration?), health system brass said the main reasons for the change were "to improve Niagarans' health" and "to meet Niagarans expectations." We know many people were expecting the worst -- and got it -- so mission accomplished there.

It's easy for anyone in the ivory tower to believe the changes benefit all since they will be just minutes away from the Cadillac of hospitals. But those same decision makers should walk a few miles in the shoes of residents in the outer regions of Niagara.

In the end, five years from now, the proposed changes -- which, of course, do not include cuts to a bloated administration -- should result in a million-dollar surplus, the NHS says.

But while that's what the numbers will show on paper, there will be a large deficit in four of the five communities it is affecting, comprising about three-quarters of the population of the region.

Residents in Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Niagara Falls and Welland have to keep calling their mayors, councillors, MPPs and MPs -- and the Niagara Health System -- to make sure the "improvement plan" is rewritten.

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'FRUIT ROUTE' NEEDS TOWN OF LINCOLN INPUT

Peter Kormos' concept is noble.

It's no secret the agricultural industry is struggling. From plant closures to harsher restrictions and regulations, the problems our farmers are enduring have been well documented.

So, last week when Kormos suggested a "Fruit Route" be created up Regional Road 24 in Vineland, better known to locals as Victoria Avenue, the idea had to be genuine. He suggested to Ontario Transportation Minister Jim Bradley that the road serve as an alternate route to the QEW Niagara, leading up to Highway 20, to try and alleviate traffic -- particularly caused by construction in St. Catharines.

"It's cheap. Posting signage requires minimal investment, but I believe the rewards would be huge," Kormos said.

For Lincoln Council, however, the rewards are few and far between. For years they have worked hard to try and mitigate the impact of vehicle traffic, particularly that of trucks, on Victoria Avenue. A large volume of traffic already travels on the road, so safety has been paramount -- for other vehicles and the pedestrians who live on the busy street.

There was the reconstruction earlier this decade, providing traffic calming measures such as islands. Most recently, it was two years of meeting with residents, the province and Region to look at safety measures to prevent any issues arising from the transport of millions of tonnes of aggregate material down Victoria Avenue to St. Catharines over the course of two years for that same QEW project.

It's likely, as the Mayor suggests, Kormos is unaware this is the case.

Whatever we can do for our fruit industry to help it remain viable is great. It's likely the fruit stands and agricultural operations would benefit from wider exposure, but it's not just as simple as slapping in a few signs.

Lincoln councillors were concerned the signage may even serve as a fast lane through the municipality to Niagara Falls.

Serious consideration to coordinate truck and tourist traffic needs to happen. So far, it appears positive, as Mayor Hodgson said he is heartened that Bradley indicated the town will be involved in any discussions about transportation through the town.

"We do welcome tourists, but all those responsible need to ensure there is no conflict between haulage of aggregate and tourists through the town," said Mayor Hodgson.

Communication, if the idea forges ahead, is going to be critical. It would be disappointing for the town, and its residents, to find out about it after the fact as they did when the Region of Niagara selected Victoria Avenue as an alternative route to get to Canal Days in Port Colborne, August 1-4.