Dental fee guide lacks teeth

Our NDP government appears overjoyed with the 8.5-per-cent reduction in dental fees in the new guide. This now means Albertans will only be paying 35 per cent more than people in other provinces for common dental services.

Hardly a windfall for Albertans. We should all be so excited as Health Minister Sarah Hoffman. What was missing in the press conference was whether the dental association would now be allowing their members to advertise their fees, which was the original intent back in 1997.

The association currently forbids its members from advertising their fees for service. The new fee guide is also voluntary, which begs the question whether Albertans will be asking their dentists if they follow the fee guide.

The new guide does not go far enough. If Alberta dentists are not allowed to advertise their fees for service, like other competitive businesses, they should be fully regulated like they are in other provinces.

J.W. Halliday, Edmonton of what constitutes prohibitions as signalled by a traffic control device.

The signalling device indicates permission to cross by displaying an icon of a figure walking. When the image disappears and is replaced by an orange palmout hand (flashing, solid, or with a countdown displayed), crossing is prohibited. I am surprised the two police officers did not use the moment to teach since education is a high priority with the EPS.

The countdown allows drivers an indication of the time available to clear the intersection. The fine is minor for prohibited crossing, while for a motorist going through a red light, the pain is somewhat greater.

W.B. Hopchin, Edmonton