People over Politics health care rally in Shelburne – 300 implore McNeil government to provide adequate local health services
Photos courtesy of Rob & Marta Stork, Bruce Bennett and Peter Drew
More than 300people rallied in solidarity in Shelburne Saturday to protest the lack of adequate health care for the region.
Notably absent from the rally: premier Stephen McNeil, Health minister Randy Delorey, Health Authority CEO Janet Knox, MP Bernadette Jordan, NS political party leaders.
Some of the messages seen on signs at the rally:
- Heart attacks & accidents happen any time. We need access to ER 24/7. It’s our right as Canadians and Nova Scotians
- Janet Knox (Health Authority CEO); if I made $369,000 a year, I could afford a private clinic!
- Shelburne County is part of Nova Scotia, too!.
- Don’t make your next road trip in an ambulance.
- Roseway Hospital: 0 Kms – Bridgewater: 105Kms – Yarmouth: 96Kms
- My name is Sue and I deserve local access to healthcare services!
No passenger service planned for retrofitted Yarmouth Airport
from saltwire network: “The board has basically moved away from the thought that we would get passenger service restored on a regular basis. They see chartered flights as a more reasonable recommendation,” interim manager Alain Muise said.
A four-year agreement between the airport and the three local municipalities is in its final year.
In May 2015, the Town of Yarmouth, Municipality of Yarmouth and the Municipality of Argyle approved the inter-municipal agreement, in which units committed to a funding amount of $770,000 per year.
The funding — and approvals of the airport’s strategy and business plan — are approved annually by an Airport Oversight Committee. An audit committee was also appointed.
While there is no regular scheduled passenger air service the Yarmouth airport is still a busy place. Usage includes private planes, private charter flights, EHS LifeFlight, Coast Guard and military search and rescue aircraft, 14 Wing Greenwood and other users. This past year the hanger at the airport was also used in the filming of the movie The Lighthouse.
Health problem for Stephen McNeil?
Premier Stephen McNeil continues to prove he has a health problem.
The symptoms include:
- refusing to admit to a widespread health care crisis under his administration
- calling complaints about health care by Cape Breton citizens ‘”just noise”
- blocking investigation of Freedom of Information authority into misuse of email system by former Health Minister
- bullying Queens-Shelburne MLA Kim on floor of House as she defends constituent rights to adequate health care services
- refusing to attend health care rallies in Shelburne and Cape Breton
- refusing to allow Health minister Randy Delorey to attend health care rallies
Laziness claims in Queens really about apathetic business owners?
“People here are lazy. They don’t want to work. They’re happy collecting welfare.”
That’s the Queens County gospel according to some — but certainly not to journalist Scott Costen, publisher of the Queens Observer.
Since moving here, he says he’s heard “this litany of complaints more times than I can count.” But he says it doesn’t ring true to him. The problem, as he sees it, is not lazy people. It’s apathetic business owners and managers.
He describes local businesses repeatedly mounting expensive public relations campaigns highlighting the number of unfilled positions they have, paying for newspaper ads, courting media coverage and “carpet-bombing social media platforms.”
In all of these initiatives, he says, there’s been a nasty undercurrent of blaming and shaming the unemployed and under-employed.
Michael Moore plotting escape to Canada?
If things go awry for Michael Moore following the release of his latest politically charged documentary, the progressive provocateur says he has a plan to escape potential persecution in the U.S.: He’s moving to Canada.
It’s a pronouncement so common among aggrieved American liberals that it borders on a political trope. But Moore says he’s serious about his plot to vacate the U.S., and not only because of his long-standing affinity for Canada.
For Moore, the prospect of becoming a political refugee seems starkly plausible under the leadership of U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he portrays as a geopolitical threat in Fahrenheit 11-9, set to hit theatres Friday.
Risky reticence for Cecil Clarke?
Cecil Clarke won’t say if he’ll resign his job as Mayor of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality should he win the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party leadership next month.
It’s hypothetical, Clarke correctly points out, adding he’s earned a reputation of doing the “responsible thing,” and that won’t change if he wins the leadership.
Okay, except politicians, particularly those chasing votes, spit out hypothetical statements faster than blackjack dealers flip cards. “If elected, I will . . .” What makes this different?
Firefighter’s Fun Fest–Sable River | Sept 29
South Coast Today 