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Air ambulance shouldn't be in St. Anthony



Published on June 14th, 2010
Published on July 14th, 2010
Staff ~ The Aurora RSS Feed

Dear Editor:

Please allow me space in your in your newspaper to comment on the ongoing debate on the relocation of the air ambulance from St Anthony to Goose Bay.

Despite what was said in the beginning that there is no need of pitting town against town, it is time for the communities of Labrador to make their position known. My personal feeling is as a resident of Labrador West; while not the best decision, it is better to have it stationed in Goose Bay than St. Anthony.

Topics :
Dear Editor , St Anthony hospital , St. Anthony , Labrador West , Goose Bay

Letter to the Editor -

Dear Editor:

Please allow me space in your in your newspaper to comment on the ongoing debate on the relocation of the air ambulance from St Anthony to Goose Bay.

Despite what was said in the beginning that there is no need of pitting town against town, it is time for the communities of Labrador to make their position known. My personal feeling is as a resident of Labrador West; while not the best decision, it is better to have it stationed in Goose Bay than St. Anthony.

I would prefer if it was stationed in Labrador West, especially when we don't have the diagnostic equipment like a CT scan. How would the people of St Anthony feel if they had no CT scan, no air ambulance and only one part-time surgeon? Well that's what we are dealing with in Labrador West.

How many people would have to die in Labrador West waiting for an air ambulance before St Anthony would agree with the move? We already had two in the past year. If we are to believe the government when they say they can't afford a third air ambulance, then the people of St Anthony should take the position that this is unacceptable and agree with the move. Instead of that they are fighting tooth and nail to keep their air ambulance and basically saying, 'to hell with the people of Labrador'.

Much is being made that it was political decision to move the air ambulance from St. Anthony and it was punishment for the people because the present government had lost a by-election. I was touring the Northern Peninsula as a tourist last July and I was surprised to learn that the airport was 30-40 minutes, depending on traffic, from the town of St Anthony. Is that added to response time when you are relying on the air ambulance to save your life? If so, that is unacceptable and I would say it was a political decision to put the air ambulance in St Anthony in the first place. The people of St. Anthony should keep in mind that if a road ambulance were to leave the St Anthony hospital the same time as the air ambulance would leave the Goose Bay airport the plane would be on the runway of the St Anthony airport waiting for them.

Stephen Boone

Labrador City, NL

Comments

  • Username
    grace
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:33

    Dr. Varda, a well respected Doctor out of St. Anythony did an endless number of Medivacs just to clarify that point. He later joined the protest group and wrote letters to the Premeir advising him that removing the Air Abmulance from St.A would create fatalties. People, I hope that we can turn this debate into a discussion where, outlying areas of Nfld & Lab(our side of the over Pass) fight togther for health services for all . Way too soon our specialist flight teams will all be in St. John's. Ask the government, I am sure they will speak the truth to u and never break a promise.

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  • Username
    Getting Real
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:33

    No no, certainly personnel from SA goes with a patient from there.Obviously, I know and have heard of one person making numerous trips in one day to GOOSE that is, where are their trained personnel at this time?. Not on the medevac I hear....Maybe you should get out your map Goose isn't clearly in the centre of our province, you do know that the critical patients go to SJ's right?
    Either way, SA OR Deer Lake would be better for this area than one in Lab West, although it is great for you.
    And if there is trained staff from Goose waiting to go home all the more power to them, but I have a feeling there isn't many. Time well tell I guess!!
    And that crack at Marshall Dean is a tad bit juvenile don't you think.Since when does personal issues be brought to the work/public life.I bet you like to keep yours at home where it belongs not for someone to speak publicly about it, then we have a whole new issue to deal with on your hands.
    Maybe you should take advice from your new web name and seriously Get Real!

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  • Username
    NL resident
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:32

    I do beleive that the response time from St.Anthony airport is calculated and taken into consideration. I would also like to say you cannot deprive one area to fulfill another's needs. No doubt Lab West needs and Air Ambulance but taking it from St.Anthony or any other area does not seem like a proper act to follow. Nobody wants to see Labrador suffer but with no Flight Team in Labrador- in end causes a longer response time when it has to travel elsewhere to get a team and return again for patient care. I don't understand the logic, if the plane has to travel from Goose to St.John's to recieve a team,As opposed to a shorter flight time when stationed in St.Anthony.

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  • Username
    sabbyjoker
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:32

    laughing from nl I know it must be frustrating to lose a service that you once had and I know a lot of people (some of them just trying to be rude)commenting like to to tell you to get over it. But I know from experiance that its not that simple. I'm not a big fan of our government and it seems like when they get stubborn there is no way to change there mind. It seems you will be fighting a loseing battle. My advice was maybe to concentrate your efforts elsewhere and fight for a third air ambulance to be staioned in St. A. I just can't see this aircraft ever moving back to St. Anthony. The move has already taken place, employees have been told to sell there houses and move to Goose.(and I do believe they should have been compensated more the they were). Job postings are out for flight specialists for Goose Bay. Unfortuneatly for St. A this is a done deal. I still believe the best advice was your own advice and maybe you should concentrate your efforts elsewhere.

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  • Username
    get real
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:31

    No trouble to find out what any district has gotten, just have to take the time to look for it.

    I have certainly taken a drive to Conche, and i also know this particular government spent over 6 million dollars on that road in the past 6 years. How much did the previous government spend on it when they were in power? Believe me the Conche road is in much better shape now...can't help the fact that it rained for a whole month and it couldn't get graded.
    No doubt about it there are lots of roads in NL that need improving...it just takes time.

    Yes i agree it was not a smart move to vote out the existing party in a bi election. I could see it if the district was not getting anything. I just saw no reason to it. I would feel the same way if the Liberals were in power. Sometimes you have to put the people above colours!!

    And if you don't want your towns to become filled with seniors you have to learn to help yourselves. The government is trying to look after the interests of all the province. It is up to each region to decide what is best for themselves. All i am saying is that voting in an opposition member at this time was not a bright thing to do.

    As for the air ambulance being an issue, its an issue in the St Anthony area only. You are the laughing stock of the province. I hear lots of people, in all regions of the province, say they got what they wanted...CHANGE!!

    Way to go Marshall...keep those emails coming!

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  • Username
    grace
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:30

    Remove the veil. What are your names. Who is getting real from NL for example. Speak your truth under your name and lets be man and women enough to own our voices and opinions with courage. As for the medivac teams, they are health teams with a few seminars. Nothing new and brillant there other than that they are to expect to grow in numbers, form a professional association and ALL be based out of St. John's in the future. Rational being more, better trained in a concentated area which only St. John's will provide. Aren't we making too much of this super specialty. God we need those people and we need them trained but we don't need to bury life under a bureaucratic blanket of msy, nyp, saass. Sounds like when we had to change garbage men to sanitary engineers...no disrespect for our medical teams intended.

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  • Username
    grace
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:29

    Do you know what a properly trained medivac team looks like. ..For starters they are medical doctors and nurses that ride airplanes providing critical care in the air rather than on the ground. This was what was provided by the St.Anthony hospital. One would think that you people believe that You are getting a whole new service. Just repackaging my friends sorry. Also, I fail to follow your logic....because Ontario is a mess, we should say that let NFLD be a mess too... oh yeah...I get it why don't we just model ourselves after poverty stricken Africa. Then we would all be equal. Go for the lowest common denominator if u like. Most humans strive higher.

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  • Username
    grace
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:28

    I ask the people of Labrador to expand their thinking and stop buying into the government BS which says that someone has to do without for someone else to have. This is like saying that I must go hungry, if you are to be fed . This is absolutely crazy. St. John's is rolling in dough anytime that Cupids need to be celebrated, Outer Ring roads, new Health Sciences, Juno's, hosting British Royalty the list is endless. And just look at us..small minded little people that we are ...we will not fight fight St.John's together for our services..we take from each other. Townies deserve to laugh at this and roll in their richsness.

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  • Username
    Penny
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:25

    Of course people are moving home, numerous of families along this cost have their spouse working and commuting to Alberta and/or overseas. Why not move home is this a bad thing now??
    Plus this is not all about St.Anthony-that hospital serves The Straits, Roddickton and surrounding area, St.Anthony and area plus the South Coast of Labrador and often time Blanc Sablon and area too.(depending on circumstances)
    You are being to political about a matter that is strictly suppose to be saving lives. Yes I know it has to be politicians to decide these matters BUT, stop bad mouthing people who decided to vote Liberal. Also ,you might know not everyone on the coast voted that way. It was a tight race in which the PC's were just behind. Take in consideration to those who didnt' vote and those who did vote PC, punish those and laugh as well.
    Maybe you should have stopped at the comment days ago when it was suppose to be your last!

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  • Username
    Resident
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:25

    WOW, listen to all you know it alls. we don't even have hospital here, we live in an isolted community. At least St Anthony have doctors and probably a CT machine,( we don't) and can drive to the hospital. Ignorance

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  • Username
    get real
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:24

    It amazes me to see how some people think about this issue. The air ambulance is there for emergencies, it is impossible to have one everywhere in the province. The fact is that the plane in Goose Bay is more central to the area that it caters too...namely the Lab West-Goose Bay- Northern Pen area. And there are times when the other plane is down and it will have to cover a greater area, but thats the advantage of having a newer more faster aircraft.We can all pick out problems that it will encounter, no good for anyone to say it didn't have problems while it was stationed in St Anthony.
    We all have to remember that things change over time, at one point the St Anthony hospital was the headquarters for all of Labrador. Over time this has changed, Goose Bay has its own new hospital and Lab West will eventually get one as well. The St Anthony hospital has lots of services and will continue to provide great service to the people, but not to the extent that it did years ago.

    Lets face the facts the air ambulance stayed in St Anthony because of politics, just ask Chris Decker and Trevor Taylor, they fought tooth and nail to keep it. Apparently the majority of the people decided last fall that they didn't want things to stay the way they were, they wanted change. Well you should be careful what you sak for, you might just get it!!

    And yes there will be problems with the service in Goose Bay, just as there was in St Anthony. But people should remember there was no medivac team in St Anthony either. Eventually the medivac team will be in place and the plane will be able to service the whole region as best it can.

    And Grace the people in Ontario are certainly having a good laugh! Go check out what your government has done for you lately!

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  • Username
    Dave
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:24

    I agree with Grace...if a region needs something and the government won't assist in providing it; then look to your fellow Nflders and Labradorians to help put pressure on the government. Sitting back waiting for services to be ripped away from another region and gloating about it is not doing much for the people of this province. If we are divided on issues like this then we have no hope of ever coming together when governments start trimming the budgets. Rural and remote areas of Nfld and Labrador should stand as one and demand better services.

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  • Username
    Sabbyjoker
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:24

    Grace from Ontario, I don't know what the medevac team looks like in Ontario but I can assure you that in NL they are trained nurses and paramedics not doctors, and this was absolutely NOT provided by the St. Anthony hospital. Do not twist facts. There was no flight specailist team in St. A. The staff there did medevacs voluntarily as they do here in Goose, there is no difference in the level of training. The people of Labrador simply asked for medevac services not the aircraft from St. A. The government made this decision. Then we were encouraged to join St. Anthony's fight to get a third air ambulance instead of relocating the present one. If we did that we might have never got an aircraft, so I encourage the people of St. Anthony to follow there own advice and fight for there own medevac services. As for where the flight specialists comes from, who cares as long as the government follows through and puts it in place which it seems like they are. By the way there are health professionals in Goose Bay with resumes already handed in.

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  • Username
    Just Saying
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:24

    Eastern Health states- Ideal candidates will also have a minimum of 3 years current experience as either an Emergency care or Critical nurse; or
    accredited Advanced Care Paramedic or Critical Care Paramedic with a minimum of 3 years experience -in a high volume
    performance-based system.
    The only areas in the province as far as I know who even have ACP's would be St.John's and area. St.Anthony has asked for this type of flight team for years and trained indviduals wanting to work there, but again what did they ever get...Nothing but a service torn away.
    Hats off Goose Bay you got what you want!!!!

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  • Username
    Getting Real
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:23

    Oh dear, there might be rose colored galsses lingering around but not on these eye's I guarantee that.
    It's people like you and your rather rude remarks and cover up's (that you aren't so good at doing so) that make people so hasty twoards each other. As for Marshall Dean's voice I think I remember him being thrown out of the house for voicing his strong opinion, thus as Yvonne Jones has been doing also.
    I fail to see how anyone gave the service away and why you'd even say that.I'm pretty positive area residents realize how important this service is, as it has saved many lives and it's a shame you think the people of The Great Northern Peninsula do not know that. If you had researched any of this you might know and fail to be so biased.
    I'm done batteling with you whoever you are you obviously its a complete waste of my time and YOURS.

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  • Username
    Penny
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:23

    Well I for one think this is no laughing matter and those who are talking like it is should be ashamed of themselves whoever you are.
    Of course it makes sense the Straits and White Bay North district did not vote PC.
    Do you have any idea how many services they have ripped away and have TRIED to rip away from that area. Why on earth would anyone want to keep voting for people tearing services away from the District.
    If the people of that district didn't have heard voices last year this time, they would have much more torn from them than the Air Ambulance.
    Why don't you think of that side of the story. The Jones Team helped greatly in many issues, Why don't you look that up and consider being on their side of the story or looking at things from their point of view. Hell I'd of probably voted Liberal too.
    I can see some people are just mind set in laughing at this matter and peoples right for change. Change does not always mean you want a bad thing,heck in most cases people want change for the better.Am I wrong?
    Please don't sit there and boast about ones gain and laugh at ones losses.For you yourself may be in a losing situation one day, and then you will not want to be bad mouthed or the laughing stock then will you???
    Have a GREAT day!!

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  • Username
    Resident of the GNP
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:22

    I would like to ad that the letter above is putting the point across as a Western Labradorian. I don't argue for one minute you need an Air Ambulance. You do.
    But on the other hand imagine having that service for endless years and having up and removed in the blink of an eye. The only problem I see with the letter is lack of knowledge on his behalf. St.Anthony airport is in a centralized location to meet the needs of all surrounding areas. Not just St.Anthony itself. Nobody is saying the hell with labrador, and if they are that is completly wrong!
    Thank-You

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  • Username
    Resident
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:21

    You both just stay there is Ontario and troll your own local paper and put yourselves to work fixing your own problems. I'm sure you are needed there

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  • Username
    get real
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:21

    Go to the government website...you can see every press release for any district and the money that was put into the district.

    I don't live in a dream world, i live in reality. I know how things work.

    No i don't think the district was punished for voting Liberal. I am saying it did not help that there was no one sitting around the caucus table to fight for the service. Remember Yvonne wanted the review completed, she got what she wanted. Plus over the past few years that district has been treated favorably by this government. All i am saying is that other districts will avail of some of this now.

    As for the Conche road, those pictures being shown were taken back in April. It has improved since then. As in all paved roads and chip seal you will always have some deteriated sections. Maybe if the previous administration had spent some money upgrading the Conche road, the pavement would have been there in the past 5 years. I hope they eventually get their pavement too.

    I guess you don't talk to many people outside the region. Time to take a road trip over Route 430, just see the improvements over the last few years.

    Vote whichever way you want...all i am saying is you have to be smart about it. If you think thats voting in an opposition member during times when the government is about 80% in the polls, so be it. Just take off those red glasses and look at things realistically. Don't worry you will get your opportunity in a few years its just i think the district took a step backwards.

    I certainly don't think its a laughing matter when it comes to peoples lives. I said that people across the province are laughing at the way things happened this fall and the way some people in the region are reacting now. Too bad some people were not so smart a few months ago. They wouldn't be in the position they are in now.

    As for the facts, i am sure they will all eventually come out. Some you might not want to see or hear but hey anything can happen in court.

    Have a good day.

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  • Username
    Jackie
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:21

    O.K. There is only 1 way to solve this mess!! Give Labrador & St.Anthony a med-vac....

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  • Username
    get real
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:20

    I guess you were not around during the 90's when there were all kinds of cutbacks to the public service, one of the floors in the hospital was closed, the school board was moved from St Anthony, etc.
    I know in the health care sector the board was moved to Goose Bay in the past few years and the name was changed, but other than that there are over 30 more jobs in the hospital now than there was 6 years ago.

    You must not have visited St Anthony in the last couple of years if you think everything has been stripped from them. There has been more money invested in the St Anthony area in the past few years then any other time. All you had to do was look around at the new houses being built and young couples moving back to the region.

    My question...what services have been stripped?

    Well when you want change it necessarily means you don't like whats happening. If you wanted change for the better you certainly don't know how things work.

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  • Username
    grace
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:18

    Where can I sign up to lobby to get you a proper Hospital with properly trained medical people. I am serious, I will put my know it all ways at your service and will lobby ruthlessly and relentlessly on your behalf if you would give me some background on who is doing what and who to contact. I care about everyones health care, not just myself and my loved ones.

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  • Username
    Dave
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:17

    According to the ad I read today, they are now hiring 12 medical specialists for Goose Bay but the hiring won't be done by Labrador Grenfell Health, it's being done by Eastern Health.

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  • Username
    Janna
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:17

    I understand completely what sabbyjoker is saying, but with some people's rude comments(I may add that's a fair share on both sides) isn't getting anyone anywhere.But one must expect rude snarls twoards this letter to the editor in The Aurora, as it is completly one sided and written with little knowledge of the St.Anthony region. You have to read no further than the title to see that!
    I for one do not agree with this quick removal of our Air Ambulance service and relocate it in Goose, But I also know Labrador does need one as well.I can easily see both sides as a current resident of the NP with most of my extended family in Labrador. I think there could have been more logical thinking and time consumed into this decision -as both areas would have been satisified.

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  • Username
    My Opnion
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:16

    I hear, now I know that might always be right..But a patient in Goose Bay who had to be sent out was waiting 2 days for Medevac and personnel....I don't see any improvement here and if this is in fact true what was the point on this move again???
    All the more power to the Govt. to fill these new positions but they had better be filled fast for any improved service to Labrador and the Northern Peninsula.
    And that no one can argue
    Thanks.

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  • Username
    ComeOffIt
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:16

    Did u read the reports??
    - recommendation #1 should of been the addition of a flight team, it was stated as the most critical issue in this report
    not once was response time from 1 airport to another discussed.The numbers were very lopsided, comparing St Anthony to Labrador as a whole( check out appendix A and compare the numbers for St Anthony directly to Goose Bay)
    Report did not compare Goose bay to Lab City.Cost of moving and operating the aircraft was not discussed. The consulting firm had medical experience but there was no Aviation experience , those people know the big picture in flying!!There was only suggestions made as if the aircraft were moved to goose bay, a lot of assumptions that the recommendations would be followed to the tee.Every recommendation was based on population numbers, in that sense the aircraft should go to Lab City not Goose Bay, or St John's has the largest population on the island so every government service should be in St John's.Though there is a bio included there is no contact info for this consulting firm.Funny????
    Finally this consulting firm made a shot at the end to procure further work at the end concerning our road Ambulance program

    BY if that don't sound a wee bit fishy then someone had better open their eyes...Shall I say to those that are wide shut!!!
    Some people shall stop being so down right rude and put their know it all ways to good use..Hey are you a politician?????

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  • Username
    Getting Real
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:15

    Yes I do agree it is what it is BUT if Goose has the same personnel SA provided ,then why are certain trained members of SA still providing the medevac with patient care??? That for a fact I know and it has been done numerous time since the move. I also know there are trained persons from this region currently working in St.John's and were waiting the opportunity to re-locate to SA and now cannot because the service is no longer being stationed here!
    It's not the fact of people seeing the service fail in Goose Bay,(I hope it improves) its the simple fact people are worried with longer flight time's thus far, the service is just not being improved.

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  • Username
    get real
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:14

    Dave...you seem to have all the answers. Maybe you should check your facts. Almost 80% of the entire government budget is spent in Rural NL. Now i am not saying that everything is perfect but it is hard to catch up when certain regions were neglected for so many years. And do you know what district got the most per capita over the past 6 years, it was the Straits - White Bay North. And you talk about wanting change...there was only way to go. The majority didn't want the money and services that was being put into the district. And the leader of the opposition called for a review of the air ambulance services, she knew what was going to come out of a review.

    You only have to drive Route 430 to see what road improvements have been made over the past few years. As for schools closing, its the sign of the times. Back years ago every harbour had its own school but as things advanced there was no need for a school in every community. And as for people moving away for work...we have always done it and i am sure that no matter what government is in that will not change.

    This government showed respect to the people on the tip of the Northern Peninsula, too bad they didn't return the favour. In saying that, you are free to vote as you please, it is a democratic society. But i don't think you should expect any favours. Thats the way things work, will never change.

    You should check with members of Clyde Wells cabinet, the air ambulance has always been a topic of discussion. Again Chris Decker held onto the service as did the previous cabinet minister that the district had. The independent review showed that it should be in Goose Bay and that is where it is. Those are the facts, whether you like them or not.

    And as for the air ambulance services, they will still be available for the people on the Northern Peninsula.

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  • Username
    SouthCoast
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:14

    I for one do not see the logic in longer flight time,And I do not how anyone here does see that advantage. There's no Flight Team here(yet) and from what I am hearing, the trained staff aren't willing to up and re-locate to Goose Bay.
    If the Government manages to get a trained team in Goose, my incling is they wont be Newfoundlander's or Labradorians.

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  • Username
    Dave
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:13

    If you are referring to me as (one of both) then you surely can see that I live in NL. You actually sound like what we call an insensitive mainlander who cares only for your own needs. Again I say; all Nflders and Labradorians who live in rural and remote areas should stand as one and demand better services for ourselves. Taking services from one region and moving it to another is not doing anything for our unity and it does nothing make services better.

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  • Username
    Resident
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:13

    Well said, and right on the mark. I'm sure we all feel this way here in Labrador West. Thanks.

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  • Username
    get real
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:12

    Getting real...i don't need a map of the province, i stated that Goose Bay was in the center btween Lab West and the Northern Peninsula. That is the region that this plane mostly covers.

    And the comment about Marshall Dean was just that, a comment. I would hope that an effective MHA would be good at writing letters and emails. I thought Mr Dean was a public figure now, but i guess its only at his own convenience. Personally Marshall Dean is laughing inside at everything that has taken place...right up his alley. What a great voice you guys elected!!

    The thing about me is that i look at things realistic, not through a pair of rose coloured glasses. Maybe you should have looked at things more strategically awhile back instead of thinking you have all the answers now.

    Too bad you didn't all realize before now how important this service really was to the area. But then change is always good...right? Be careful what you ask for, you might actually get it.
    The service was not taken away...you guys gave it away.

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  • Username
    get real
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:12

    There was no medivac team in St Anthony. They had doctors, nurses, or LPN's who went on the plane with the patient but it was not a fully trained medivac team. They have the same in Goose Bay as they often did medivacs to the North and Southeast Coasts of Labrador.
    Who cares who hires the medivac team or medical specialists as long as they get them. I for one am glad the government is quick to have the ads out to fill the positions. Looks like a few people would like to see the service fail in Goose Bay. I do not care where the air ambulance is stationed as long as it can help people, whether that be in Labrador or on the Northern Peninsula.

    The government has made the decision, we elected them thus we have to stand by the decision. Case closed!

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  • Username
    Resident
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:12

    Going back to the letter above.....it is an excellent letter and has merit not politics. Maybe a few commenters should read it, and pretened you live live here while reading.

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  • Username
    Getting Real
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:12

    If you do not have a proper Hospital and a shortage of medical staff, including Doctors and surgeons.Why aren't you more concerned about getting this before hand rather than argue who get's what.When in reality you are putting all of rural NL under, MAKE NO WONDER the Govt. places everything in the more urban areas.Atleast they all agree on the issue , here we have 2 rural areas arguing over the one issue. Pleasseeee!!!

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  • Username
    Dave
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:11

    I don't know where you got the idea that I think I have all the answers because I never said I did and will never say I do. You seem to have them if you know 80% of the money goes to rural regions and Straits - White Bay North get the most per captia. Can you point me to where I can see those facts? I see you also can read the mind of Yvonne Jones.

    Take a drive to Conche and tell us how the road is; take a drive in Southern Labrador and tell how it is. I'm sure there's hundreds of roads that need upgrading and pavement around most rural communities all over our province.

    I see you agree that by not voting in a PC member was not good for the district. Are we to expect similar distaste from government in other by-elections across the province? Vote for them or no favors?

    When services are taken out of small communities there is a snowball effect. All I see is for the future are battered communities left with senior citizens who dread the day they may have to be put in a seniors home hundreds of miles away.

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  • Username
    get real
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:11

    Getting real...i certainly hit a nerve. Certainly not being rude, just stating the facts. I know as much about this issue as yourself. It is so easy to blame someone else when in reality we should all look in the mirror.

    As for the comment about Marshall Dean being thrown out of the house, give me a break! I guess if this is the voice you wanted, you got it, a voice in the wilderness. And as for Yvonne Jones, she got what she asked for and then decided to suck in the residents of the GNP into thinking i only wanted the 3rd air ambulance . She should have been run out of town! Its too bad you don't realize how the system works.

    As the old saying goes you don't know what you got til its gone. Too late to close the barn door once the horses are gone.

    My last comment on this...hard to help those who don't help themselves.

    Have a good day.

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  • Username
    SouthCoast
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:11

    If everyone in this province stood by each and every Government decision and said case closed ..now that would be laughable, just think about it. Then we wouldn't have any opposition fighting for many services that has already been provided thanks to them.
    Time to think real.

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  • Username
    grace
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:10

    I ask the people of Labrador to expand their thinking and stop buying into the government BS which says that someone has to do without for someone else to have. This is like saying that I must go hungry, if you are to be fed . This is absolutely crazy. St. John's is rolling in dough anytime that Cupids need to be celebrated, Outer Ring roads, new Health Sciences, Juno's, hosting British Royalty the list is endless. And just look at us..small minded little people that we are ...we will not fight fight St.John's together for our services..we take from each other. Townies deserve to laugh at this and roll in their richsness.

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  • Username
    Laughing
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:10

    SabbyJoker, If you think people of St.Anthony should take their own advice and fight for their own Air Ambulance... Why can't they fight for what was once theirs and ripped from them? I'm sure if it was vice vera you would do the same.

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  • Username
    Dave
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:09

    Obviously, you can't provide links to back up your statements because you don't have any. You failed.

    I don't know what dream you were in when you traveled the road to Conche because it is about the worst road anyone can find. The people can't get companies to bring in goods because they refuse to go over the road. All you have to do is Google; Conche Nfld Road.

    Once again you agree that the district was punished for the way they voted in a by-election.

    Learn to help yourselves? Good answer.

    St. Anthony is the laughing stock? Only on the internet where people hide behind a nickname, CBC, Here and Now had all positive responds because people had to use real names and to get their comments used. When it comes to peoples lives, I don't think it's a laughing matter, just because some people are too ignorant to know what is the truth. And then you tie it all in with the by-election...hmmmm, once again you back the region up by saying it was punished for going liberal.

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  • Username
    Dave
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:09

    You wanted change ...you got it.

    What do those words have to do with the issue. To me that's a slap in the face and adding insult because people exercised their right to vote for whom they wanted. There are other issues besides the Air Ambulance that swayed people's votes as well. Our current government cannot effectively deal with the issues of rural Nfld and Labrador. All the resource revenue is not helping rural regions at all, if it did people would not be leaving the province to look for work. Schools would not be closing, roads would be paved, homes would have clean water and sewage systems, gas, oil and hydro would be the same price for all, etc.

    This government merely sticks a wet bandaid on rural problems. This is not a Have-province, there may be have-regions, but the majority of Nfld and Labrador is no better off now than they were before the present government and the revenues they inherited from other governments hard work.

    Moving the Air Ambulance has showed us that the present government is not so transparent as they boasted they would be. Instead they are arrogant and vindictive and show no respect to anyone who stands up and demands better services or to keep services they already have.

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  • Username
    Dave
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:08

    Perhaps people should be reminded that the St. Anthony airport serves people on the Northern Peninsula and not just St. Anthony. It is located so that it is central to the communities in the region. There's not only the St. Anthony hospital but the one in Flowers Cove and in Roddicton as well.

    Should the people of our province now expect health care services to be reshuffled because one region thinks it deserves the services that another region has? I think what should be happening is new services added to regions rather than stripping them from others. If we agree that regions with larger populations should get services from smaller region populated regions then I guess everything should be located in St. John's.

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  • Username
    Just My Opinion-
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:08

    It's d@mn sure Labrador West needs an Air Ambulance,BUT do NOT sit there and say St.Anthony does not need one nor say we are thinking the hell with Labrador that is just ridiculous.
    Would you think that for one minute Lab West rallys more for their own additional Air Ambulance and agrees St.Anthony needs their's too, Maybe would see the Govt. to understand this one sided decision they have made might not be the best one for BOTH areas???????

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  • Username
    get real
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:07

    If there is a patient getting on in St Anthony why shouldn't the St Anthony personnell go with them. Makes sense to me since they already made the 40 minute drive from the hospital to the airport with the patient. No matter what happens now someone is going to find something wrong with it. Funny thing about this is that the people in Labrador always had to wait for the plane, it is not always going to be parked where it is needed right away, there is going to be some waiting period.

    As for people relocating to St Anthony for these jobs, its a little too late for that now. Maybe they should complain to about 90% of the people protesting, they are the ones that wanted things changed. I guess now people who want to move back to Goose Bay will have the opportunity.

    BTW...lets see what Marshall Dean can do. I hear he is really good at writing emails!

    And Jackie, look at a map, if there were 3 planes would it make sense to put one in Goose Bay and one in St Anthony. Maybe Deer Lake would be the best place if there was a 3rd plane...oh was that suggested before??

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  • Username
    get real
    - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:06

    No one bad mouthing anyone on how they voted, just stating the facts! All the things that happened and all the money invested in the district over the past 5 or 6 years just didn't happen, it was because there was someone in there to fight for these things. And this included the air ambulance service, how do you think the new plane got stationed in St Anthony?

    Again i don't care if you vote Liberal, PC, or NDP...all i am saying is that it would have been better if the people voted strategically. I am certain that if there was someone sitting around the caucus table this service would still be in St Anthony. Thats how it has stayed there over the past 20 years. Is this right or wrong? Who knows!!

    Its not about punishing anyone...its about winning as a district and losing as a district. No matter how close the voting was a majority of the people did not like what was happening in the district. I didn't expect the govt to reward the district for sure!

    And as for the air ambulance service, its an emergency service, its there for emergencies. Its not there for routine trips around the province. Whether thats in St Anthony, Goose Bay, or St John's, it doesn't matter. No one life is worth any more than the other...lets hope everyone works together to make it work.

    And Penney it is a free country, you can vote as you want and people can comment as they want. Didn't think there were any restrictions! I guess there are some things some people do not want to hear.

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