Over the past few years the Comox Valley and Campbell River Hospital boards have been requesting funds in the attempt to upgrade their hospital facilities.

When the Provincial Government finally announced, through VIHA, that a presentation of funds would be made available to not only upgrade the two facilities but also for the construction of a new regional hospital, what did the three local Area Directors do with this great news? All three Directors voted against the infusion of this capital for CVRD!

Do the principles and standards of these Directors include the increase in green house gases which will be created by all of our elderly and seriously infirm residents being transported to and from Victoria, Vancouver and other places for the necessary treatments which they will continue to require and is not currently being provided for locally?

This would seem to be in contradiction to comments voiced by Mr. Minaker at a public board meeting, when he actually claimed that the green house gases generated by a new hospital would increase and concluded that increased green house gases was a good reason for not voting in favour of this new hospital for the Comox Valley.

Ms. Suzanne Murray, Area A Director, says she plans to resign and will not run.

Mr. Barry Minaker, Area C Director, claims he wants to run again and try to complete his concept of the growth strategy plans that have begun this year.

Ms. Barbara Price, Area B Director, echoes similar sentiments as Mr. Minaker, yet to date has not clarified that she will run again for a seat on the RD.

Do the principles of these three Directors also include the increased hardship on families who must also travel to visit and support their loved ones? Do they completely forget about the sufferings of human beings in their eagerness to be seen as green?

One would hope the Directors’ concerns would be with those constituents, and for those families, who will and currently do require the investments into our local health facilities right now.

On this issue, I doubt that Mr. Minaker, or Ms. Price could find many residents who could support their apparent indifference to the current and future health issues of area residents who continue to suffer additional hardships because of inadequate local health services.

If I’m correct, they may find themselves with significantly less support than desired from the same group of area residents. It’s your health, hold them accountable, you decide!

I, for one, plan to do my best to ensure that they are held responsible and that they are unable to do any further harm to the regional district residents they were elected to serve.

Leonard D. Aylward 1490 Jackson Drive, (Area B)
Comox, B.C. V9M 4E5 250-897-2085 leonardaylwardshaw.ca