‘Greedy little mitts’
Dear Editor:
As a patient of Dr. Hosdil in Rockwood for 25 years and then a patient of Dr. Martin of the East Wellington Family Health Team since her retirement, it is quite a shock to learn, once again, that I am without a physician, along with roughly 2,399 other residents of our community.
I’ve been ill since 2007 and require fairly regular care as, I’m sure, are the others who have been cast adrift. It was absolutely disgusting to learn that this situation is being caused by a lack of government funding.
I am incredibly happy that Dr. Martin is able to retire and I wish him well. He’s been an asset to our community and a consummate professional whose knowledge, compassion and courtesy will be sorely missed.
Our services have been pared down slowly and steadily in Ontario to such a point that “Profit over People” should be the new Ontario government mantra. This province was seeded by rural residents and we should not be cast aside simply because we do not live in cities. I simply do not understand how our government can treat our doctors, nurses and the residents of Ontario with such a lack of regard and a lack of respect.
While I support – in part – the federal Conservative Party’s “Blue Seal” initiative to allow qualified practitioners from outside of Canada to practice here once they are thoroughly vetted, that is a bandage for our current health care crisis, not a cure.
To a layperson, both our provincial and federal governments seem to have their greedy little mitts in every aspect of our lives and enjoy taking profit from it whenever and wherever that is possible, but they aren’t returning the favour. Having spent the best years of my life working as a civil servant, I recognize that there are good and bad in all but I’m not necessarily talking about the people who work in government, I’m talking about those who make policy and those who are largely making policy work especially well for them.
Our tax dollars should more than cover the basic essential services. As our governments are making cuts everywhere, it is the people of Canada who are bleeding – and our governments are bleeding us dry!
As an aside, it has now been decades since we were promised wired-in internet that is still largely unavailable in many rural areas, including mine. Yet we are required to conduct all of our government business online, but I digress…
Sam Alexander,
Wellington North
‘Don’t get sick’
Dear Editor:
The crisis in family medicine is getting worse with no workable solution in sight as Ford’s government continues to show doctors it doesn’t care about their working conditions or salaries.
You just need to call your doctor to book an appointment to know that family medicine in Ontario is in crisis.
About 2.3 million Ontarians don’t have a family doctor, and that number will rise as our population increases and family doctors make the painful decision to leave the profession or retire after years of sacrifice to get their degree and the burdensome cost of their education!
In a recent survey, three-quarters of Ontario family doctors polled self-reported that they are considering leaving the profession. And many are at their wits end dealing with ever-increasing costs and workloads with no help in sight.
Last week, doctors in Ontario received a new piece of bad news to add to the pressure.
The Government of Ontario sets aside a certain amount of money for medical care. Ontario’s population increased by half a million people, but no increase to the budget for care was made, so doctors are required to pick up the slack.
In an environment of increased costs, an exhausting workload, impoverished morale and the loss of a sustainable workforce, this crisis says in big letters that the government will not or does not care about its doctors.
Don’t get sick.
Gerry Walsh,
Erin
‘Critical expectations’
Dear Editor:
The County of Wellington is hosting a housing symposium this week. For many in the community, including myself, the symposium is a much-needed opportunity to define the complex problem of homelessness, addiction and mental health in our city, and develop a broad plan of action.
Some concerns have been raised about the lack of transparency and information around the symposium’s agenda, participation and overall objectives. While I share some of these concerns, I also have a mandate that requires me to relentlessly pursue positive progress. In that spirit I offer the following:
It is important for the business community that the symposium be successful. The complex challenge at the center of the symposium is one that affects businesses in Guelph. Businesses are community members who care. They are individuals with families and friends who are impacted by these challenges. And yes, they are people who invest in this city and whose businesses are negatively impacted by this growing challenge – especially in the downtown.
From my perspective there are three critical expectations of the symposium:
– a transparent plan of action;
– clear accountability; and
– community participation.
It is my sincere desire to see the County of Wellington led housing symposium be successful. I respectfully offer these ideas and expectations as a productive contribution on behalf of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce network.
Shakiba Shayani,
President and CEO,
Guelph Chamber of Commerce
‘Peaceful’ protest
Dear Editor:
I don’t think Alberta’s premier needs to worry about apologizing to the federal Liberal government in any way as she is defending the economy of her province and has every right to do so. It is too bad that she had to go to court to confirm the rights the premier has in her own province. The Liberal and NDP are wrong about this.
However, I do definitely think that the Liberal government owes Canadians an apology for enacting the Emergencies Act with regard to the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa and freezing Canadian bank accounts and cancelling any Canadian donations reaching into Canadians’ bank accounts. All of this was an overreach of the government.
As a senior, I remember when Trudeau’s father, Pierre enacted the War Measures Act – however that was because the FLQ had killed Quebec Cabinet Minister Mr. Laporte, who was found, I believe in the trunk of a car, dead, and the FLQ was conducting “terrorism”. Military forces, tanks were sent in. Canadians questioned the use of the legislation even then because it is not to be used lightly.
The rally in Ottawa was a peaceful one. The Liberals should apologize for not meeting with Canadians standing outside in freezing cold weather waiting to talk in Ottawa. It was disgraceful.
The Liberal government should have heard the issues through a meeting and solved the problem rather than using force under the Emergencies Act. This was not appropriate.
An apology is due to Canadians in a democracy by the prime minister, and most of the world is watching. I am sure democratic countries would agree, the Emergencies Act used by the Liberal government and any supporters of this overreach, such as that of the NDP, was wrong.
Going to court to appeal the decision on the matter is a mistake also, and a waste of taxpayers money and is another misuse of power and money by the Liberal party supported by the NDP party.
Many Canadians want new leadership. We just need the NDP to support what Canadians want and provide a non confidence vote to call an election to restore “common sense” to the leadership of Canada, our nation, which I hope will always remain under God, justice and truth.
Carolann Krusky,
Fergus
‘More sensible’
Dear Editor:
RE: Watters hopes to see a childcare centre open in Belwood, Jan. 25.
Wouldn’t it be more sensible to extend the child care centre next to the museum in Aboyne, where you have town water and sewer and land? Also where the larger population is with Fergus, Elora and Salem expanding?
In Belwood you would have to purchase land, drill a well and put in a septic system.
J. Alexander,
Fergus