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Mixed messages lead to mass confusion
Chris Clegg
South Peace News
Events last week must have High Prairie and area residents shaking their heads.
What in the world is going on with the High Prairie Hospital’s construction?
Sparks flew at town council’s meeting May 13 when George Keay, the man Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pearl Calahasen appointed to oversee the project locally, attended as a private citizen.
“From (town council’s) perspective, what’s happening with our health facility?” asked Keay.
In short, Mayor Rick Dumont replied he is confident everything is on track.
“When I hear something different, I’ll let you people know,” said Dumont.
I agree with Dumont everything is on track, except for needless construction delays. The government has not told anyone any costs at the hospital have been cut. We’ve all heard the rumours about healthcare cuts in Alberta but the fact is, the High Prairie Hospital construction project is not one of them.
But what is confusing is Dumont’s comment later regarding costs.
“Do I have any inside information on those numbers? No. If I did, I wouldn’t share them with you, anyway,” Dumont told Keay and council.
So much for working together! If Dumont receives the numbers later, he should share the information with the public. Why wouldn’t he?
Which brings us to CAO Larry Baran’s comments on CKVH the next day. The first point he made was Keay is not keeping the town and M.D. councils aware of what is going on about the hospital.
What? After Dumont said the night before he was talking to ministers by phone and E-mails? Dumont reassured everyone he is aware what’s going on and is not worried. Why accuse Keay of not keeping everyone informed?
However, Keay did admit later he had a letter from Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pearl Calahasen on efforts to recruit a surgeon and anaethetist. This letter was not in council’s hands. Perhaps this is what Baran was referring to, not the hospital construction?
Matters became further muddied earlier on May 13 when the High Prairie community health council met. Town Councillor Wilf Willier agreed with Keay’s stand when he told the CHC when the government replans, “that means stop”.
Immediately, I reminded Willier that CHC members raised the same concerns last December and January after receiving a letter from the health minister stating all projects were under review. At that time, we questioned what was going on. The M.D. motioned in January to write a letter to the same effect.
And what did town council do in January? They didn’t even place the letter in their agenda. Instead, Dumont presented the letter in his report and assured everyone everything was OK.
And, Baran wrote in his report the whole matter was “much ado about nothing”.
Fast forward to May 13. Dumont and Baran’s stand has not changed since January and, in short, completely contrary to what Willier said at the CHC meeting. It appears council can’t agree.
Today, Keay is convinced the government is stalling and replanning.
“They’re going to replan, (but) this is just a stall tactic,” says Keay. “As a community, I don’t think we can afford to be stalled anymore. We’ve been stalled for two years now.”
After hearing all this, what do you think? I can surmise three facts:
* construction is stalled. We can all see that.
* the Alberta government has not announced in any way, shape or form that the local hospital has been cut or downsized in any way. I agree with Dumont and am confident the government will keep its promise. Many, like Keay, do not share that opinion, however.
* we just can’t work together. Why would Baran make a comment that Keay is not keeping them “aware” of what’s going on if they know what’s going on? After all, Dumont says they are working hard in keeping in touch with government. It appears Keay and Dumont are not talking and they should be.
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