The following letter was sent to Premier Gordon Campbell and copied to Coast Reporter
Sir:
I applauded your gutsy leadership concerning the gas tax; I even know where you are coming from re: the hamonized sales tax (HST), however, your treatment of the paramedic situation seems to be a truer test of your real aspirations.
Providing these professionals with a $2 per hour on-call allowance can lead to a serious reduction in qualified personnel. That ambulance trip is probably the most important component in our healthcare apparatus. That trip buys time for the rest of the system to get engaged in the business of providing patient care. Paramedic certification requires investment in time and dollars.
When you treat ambulance staff with disdain instead of providing leadership in the solutions needed, you are indirectly involving the rest of us. And, I resent this greatly. I am not a bully. I do not endorse your treatment of our ambulance personnel. Also, turning over this mess to the regional health authorities unsolved will only create further inefficiencies.
In the last two weeks I have been transported by three ambulances, the last one from Ladner even though I live in Gibsons.
Premier, we are all aging, even you.
Finally, I do appreciate the leadership required to get B.C. back on a stable socio-economic platform, however, some elements in your government appear to thrive on the 'survival of the fittest.' This is just not good enough. A mature government, above all, treats its citizens fairly and with compassion.
Anthony Richmond
Gibsons
