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Regional - Boutilier not the only victim
Commentary by Jeff Burgar
for Smoky River Express
Ah yes, this story of Guy Boutilier.
Boutilier, the hyper-active MLA for Fort McMurray - Wood Buffalo, was one of the brighter lights in Ed Stelmach’s government. Although his resume indicates a steady decline in power, going from Municipal Affairs to Aboriginal Affairs, he was still in the cabinet. He also sat on the Treasury Standing Committee.
So, did he do wrong by voicing the need for a long term care facility in his hometown?
Did he do wrong by breaking the tradition of party solidarity, speaking out in public even while other MLA’s just grin and bear the semi-fiasco called Alberta Health Services?
Two different answers, depending on which side of the closed door called caucus meetings you happen to sit.
Deputy premier Iris Evans has been silent for four years in Sherwood Park over a new hospital promised there. Sherwood, Alberta’s richest community, is hit hard by the oil patch slowdown. Maybe she is able to keep a lid on her people. Maybe they are able to understand, from their own personal experience, that times are tough in Alberta. Maybe she is able to whisper, whisper, nudge, nudge to people of influence in Sherwoord Park they are on the top of the list for a new hospital. Maybe.
Lesser Slave Lake’s Pearl Calahasen isn’t talking either. High Prairie is also on a list somewhere for a new hospital. Another four years?
The concerns expressed by Boutilier are exactly the same that can be expressed across this province. Patients who should be in long term care are taking up beds in hospitals. This is because there’s no room in the long term care facilities. Where do the people go? Also backed up into senior lodges. This plugging of the system is hugely concerning residents, staff and local politicians.
Then there are doctors. From Falher to Slave Lake, physician recruitment committees are outraged two new doctors for the region were denied privileges. The government excuse is an exercise in bafflegab and misdirection. People at the top of our health system say they are crying for ideas and innovation. As soon as these doctors were presented in an new plan, it was basically shot down in flames.
Outside the caucus door, Boutilier isn’t the only person burning up in Northern Alberta.
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