Editor,
This is my response to David Wolczuk's letter to the editor of last week. What he said about our healthcare needs to be said over and over!
It still hurts my heart when I recall how healthcare was taken apart methodically by the BC Liberals. One thing after another. Now, with the NDP government, I keep hearing on the news: new clinic in Williams Lake, new Cancer Clinic in Kamloops, new training and hiring for Care Aids, new billing method for doctors, incentives for doctors and nurses to work in rural areas, new paramedics, etc. I can't remember them all but I felt like, "This government is bending over backwards to try to get this all fixed."
The Conservatives have said they are going to be opening clinics. What, in a couple of days? That takes time too. Years and years. And those will be for profit! What does single payer mean? It means healthcare getting privatized. Even with a single payer system, if that means it is still handled as part of our universal healthcare system, those profits still need to be covered, and that will have to come out of increased taxes or decreased services in other areas. You don't fix healthcare by cutting services and funding, and then saying we need privatization because the present system isn't working.
And, by the way, I don't want a Premier who doesn't believe in climate change. Regarding the carbon tax, no one loves it! That doesn't mean it isn't working, which has gotten to be a popular talking point from conservatives and others. My research tells me that in BC "Per capita fossil fuel combustion is down and the economy has performed well relative to the rest of Canada." How can anyone still not believe we are in the midst of massive climate change??
You can't get die-hard Conservatives to change their minds even when faced with scientific proof of issues. But if there are undecideds out there, don't be fooled by the Conservatives!
Sincerely,
Maddi Newman
108 Mile Ranch
