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Regional: Cabinet tour still an opportunity
Commentary by Jeff Burgar
for South Peace News
One has to be curious what the Ed Stelmach government expects to learn from its whirlwind tours around Alberta.
Next week, a gaggle of cabinet ministers will hit the Peace Country. Among their stops, they will drop into High Prairie May 17 and then dash off to Slave Lake.
We understand they will do some visiting at the Golden Age Club, Northern Lakes College at Grouard and the Regional Health Complex. Actual plans are spotty at this point but will likely come together over this week.
So, what’s the point? As with other whistlestops around Alberta, there really isn’t much time to say or do much. Some more ministers seeing our hospital? Some more ministers chatting it up with some seniors?
Some people have their fingers crossed a hospital announcement might be made. High Prairie was already promised $40 million or so for a new hospital. Then, since there was so much foot-dragging going on over design work, the community was promised all inflation costs would be covered. Somewhere along the way, a teaching facility and a Job Corps integration was dropped. We had a real nice ground-breaking ceremony. A whole pile of dirt was moved. Another year went by. Another budget came, and the hospital was still in it. This year?
Well, another announcement would be nice. We’re sure someone will say we should take that one to the bank too. It’s all good fun, isn’t?
Meanwhile, the few local people close to the hospital are frustrated. The province hasn’t come through with the citizen input into medical services in rural Alberta that was promised. Every day, one hears of more cracks in the system. The cracks range from waiting list times, queue jumping like the Calgary Flames, medical equipment that doesn’t work, ridiculous suggestions that bingos be used to raise money for health care, and even questions about where the air ambulance service is headed.
It’s a never ending story isn’t it?
One such crack turned into a hole that swallowed up former Health Minister Ron Liepert.
The High Prairie hospital is a big issue in these parts. But, it’s not the only game in town. Local people tasked with greeting the ministers should be aware of this. Our community faces real issues, from forestry to education to industry to of course, jobs.
Meeting and greeting might be all that happens in the short time allowed. Even so, there’s always hope some real ideas might make themselves known.
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