OP/ED: Leggett pens open letter to premier re: health cuts

by Rob Leggett on 24 Feb 2010
in
OP/ED: Leggett pens open letter to premier re: health cuts

Shame on you Mr. Gordon Campbell!


Our children and those who are sick are being pushed to the side because you are unable to see anything outside of your Olympic blinders. You have failed the people of the province whom you are supposed to be serving, and for that you should be ashamed.
My hospital is struggling and people are being made to wait for much-needed surgeries because of a lack of money; my children’s schools are being threatened with closure because the board of education is unable to balance their budget  ... and you still see fit to spend billions on a two-week party that will benefit a very few.


The Olympics are, of course, an incredible opportunity for the participating athletes to showcase their lifetime dedication to the sport of their choice, and the select few who were able to purchase tickets or get free ones from the Friends of Campbell Group must be in awe at the level of competition. But I do not believe that B.C. was ready to host such an expensive event, given our current state of affairs.


You seem to lack an ability to understand the needs of the people, such as quality education, adequate housing and investment in our health care services and professionals. We do not need entertainment…we can provide that ourselves.


Surgeons, anesthetists and specialized OR nurses are warning the public of the drastic cuts forthcoming to the regional hospital, the school board is looking at closing schools as a possible solution for saving money and yet I witnessed truckload after truckload, helicopter after helicopter, shipping snow to Cypress – at what expense?


You have left your legacy on this province, but will it be remembered in a positive light? Will you be able to justify to my children, why you mortgaged their future; their education, their health services, for the sake of a sporting event?


Shame on you Mr. Gordon Campbell, for being so blind and self-involved that you ignore the needs of the many to satisfy your own reckless desires.

I urge everyone to speak out about the drastic cuts at KBRH, write your MLA Katrine Conroy, Katrine.conroy.mla@leg.bc.ca and especially Gordon Campbell premier@gov.bc.ca

or via traditional mail at:

The Honourable Gordon Campbell
Premier of British Columbia
Box 9041
Station PROV GOVT
Victoria, BC
Canada
 

 Tell them this is not acceptable.

Comments

Rob Leggett Hits a Home Run !

by rgkbc on 24 Feb 2010 at about 20:32.
Mr. Leggett, It is not often that I find myself agreeing with your positions, but in this case you have ' Hit the Nail on the Head'. Since arrivng in Castlegar in 2004, I have tried to support projects that had a chance of bringing some lasting positive Olympic Legacy to our area, in face of what most likely will be a financial 'train wreck'. Even the Provincial Funding ( Our own tax dollars) for Castlegar's Spirit Square, turned out to inadequate to complete the project, and the project was completed, with modifications to the original plan, thanks to the Tax Payers of Castlegar. A report from the 'Barons' of Wall Street today, concludes that the Provicial Debt of BC, including the unbudgeted items such as the over-kill of 'militarism' (F-18's on the runways etc.) , and shipping of snow to Cypress, will be at least 4 Billion dollars, or half of the debt currently being carried by New York City. Sure ... we all celebrate Sport ... we all support our Canadian Athletes ... but what are the essential services that we are now being called to 'do without' for years and years and years until the Party of the Century is paid off. Schools? ... an operating room in Trail? .. more and longer waitlists for urgently needed care? ...and what else? Did we miss the fact that it took Montreal 30 years to recover from their "Olympic Hangover" Do you think that the Taxpayers of Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada will say it was 'worth it' when they learn that ALL of the expenses of the IOC's "Oympic Family" were paid (as required by the orignal contracts) by Canadian Tax Payers. When VANOC starts 'tumpeting' the news of local spending ... let's remember that the money spent by the 'Dignitaries & Their Guests & Families' ' came for the most part out of the Taxpayers pockets. As did the funds for all of Olympic Legacy Projects. In this case, I believe that Mr. Leggett is not only 'right' but also 'correct'! Raymond Koehler 619 - 9th Avenue, Castlegar, BC V1N 1M5 250.304.2157