The hidden truth

The stalled construction of a new health facility in Lab. West has the provincial NDP leader questioning government's lack of action.

Lorraine Michael contacted the Aurora last week to express her displeasure with how western Labradorians are being left hanging for answers.

As the budget year runs out, she wonders what happened to the $1.8 million that was allocated for site preparation and design work.

Whose design

is it anyway?

"What Government said about that $1.8 million is that it was to continue with design and preparation work for a new health centre in Lab. West," she said. "If they are doing the design, who is doing that design? Who are the consultations taking place with? That preparation should have been done over the summer."

Michael says she is suspicious the design isn't done and it's looking like the government won't be living up to the budget commitment, which is only the first step in the project. She says it's time for MHA Jim Baker and the premier to lay the information out to the people.

"I find it very disturbing when government dangled-and I am using that word very deliberately, 'dangled'-the promise of the hospital in front of the people of Lab. West during the by-election in 2007 and the general election in 2007," the NDP leader stated. "I find it very problematic that Mr. Baker wasn't able to give any information at the rally to the people of Lab. West in regards to this budget item. I would suggest that he is just a backbencher with the government and he doesn't have the freedom to ask these questions."

Hearing Kathy Dunderdale, minister of natural resources, speak on VOCM's Open Line show, following the rally, was surprising to Michael who says, Dunderdale was not the appropriate person to react and comment.

"My question is, what was the minister of natural resources doing talking about this, why wasn't the minister of health on talking about this, it's a health issue. And, why couldn't Mr. Baker give some information? Even what Ms. Dunderdale said was very vague and certainly didn't answer the question, how can they do site preparation now in this budget year."

The NDP leader says the onus is on the local MHA to give the answers or at least find them because it's his job to act on the concerns of his constituents.

"The MHA has the responsibility to get that answer for the people and if he is not giving it, then why isn't he giving it?" she pressed. "I think the people have to go over his head and go to the premier as far as I am concerned, and demand some answers. It's just unacceptable."

Michael said she questions why the MHA didn't have better information to offer the people at the rally when he had prior knowledge of it taking place.

"He is the one people chose to put their faith in," she said of Jim Baker. "He is the one they chose and the people of Labrador West should hold his feet to the fire. It makes me angry because the people, after choosing him and putting their faith in him, this is how he is treating the people up there. I can promise the people of Labrador West if they had chosen Darrel Brenton, this is not what would have happened. Darrel Brenton would have sought answers for them; even if they weren't the answers the people wanted to hear, he would've, at least, had the answers for them."

It's a clear sign the government is continuing to ignore Labrador West, according to Michael, who says it causes her to be suspicious of what's really going on especially when it's a promise that people felt would be carried out.

"It blows my mind because, it seems to me, the government is taking Labrador West for granted," she charged. "They are refusing to give the answers. Surely they know what they are doing and why they are doing it, they are just refusing to give direct answers. Why isn't the MHA fighting for these answers?"

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