Health minister’s air ambulance comments misleading: MHA Dean    

Marshall Dean, MHA for The District of the Straits-White Bay North, says the minister of health continues to mislead the people of the province in trying to justify his reasons for removing the air ambulance service out of St. Anthony, rather than face up to the truth that it was a retaliatory move.

Dean was responding to the minister’s appearance on an Open Line show earlier today where he stated two of the reasons for the relocation were first, because of so-called pressure from the Opposition and secondly, that residents from the Town of St. Anthony refused to work with government after the decision was announced.

“The minister continues to put forth the falsehood that the Opposition asked through a petition to have the air ambulance moved from St. Anthony to Labrador,” says Dean.  “Hansard will show on December 15, 2009, the request was made by the Opposition to have an air ambulance stationed in Labrador, but not at the detriment of St. Anthony.”

“The minister also stated the people of St. Anthony would have been better served had they worked with government to address their concerns. The minister conveniently forgets that the people of St. Anthony traveled from their hometown and waited on the steps of the Confederation Building until 5 pm one day for a meeting with the premier and the minister, but it was not granted. They also traveled to Corner Brook on another occasion to meet with the premier and he never showed.”

The MHA points out that The Northern Pen newspaper published an open letter to the minister this week asking for responses to six questions that had been asked of the minister since April. “If the minister wants to talk about cooperation, how can he explain his blatant disregard for public accountability?  The people of our region have a right to have their questions about an important issue answered by the government.

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