To the editor:
The St. Paul Medical Centre is a vital project for this community, and I am proud to be working hard with local partners to bring it to reality.
I am surprised that Wildrose Alliance candidate Shayne Saskiw is uninformed as to the details of this project, and fails to appreciate its importance for the residents of St. Paul and area. I am disappointed that he does not share the community’s vision for this as a truly collaborative project with the potential to expand access to services, promote wellness, and sustain growth in northeastern Alberta. These issues go beyond jurisdictional boundaries.
The province does deliver health care services, as Saskiw states. This is a responsibility our Progressive Conservative government takes very seriously, which is why we have committed to five years of stable funding for health services. Mr. Saskiw’s party has stated that they would reduce planned health care funding by almost $350 million this year alone. They have also stated that they would reduce our investment in infrastructure by over $2.4 billion, but have refused to reveal which hospitals, medical centres, schools and road projects they would abandon or cancel. Their local candidates repeatedly promise more money for particular projects, while their leader pretends that spending can painlessly be reduced province-wide. I do not believe the constituents of Lac La Biche – St. Paul – Two Hills will be fooled.
While Mr. Saskiw may not be fully aware of our local needs and priorities, I would at least expect him to know that the federal government does participate in funding health care in Canada, and has for decades. However, all other provinces will receive at least $805 per person in health funding from Ottawa this year. Alberta will receive only $558 per person – a shortfall of $936 million that our government believes must be addressed in the interest of fairness for all Canadians.
But this is not about federal-provincial issues. As Premier Stelmach has repeatedly said, we can no longer afford to work in silos. This is about doing what is right for our community. It is about seizing the opportunity for all levels of government to come together in partnership and invest in the future of St. Paul and area. That is what I have urged our Member of Parliament to do, and that is what I will continue to work towards.
Ray Danyluk
Minister of Infrastructure
MLA, Lac La Biche – St. Paul – Two Hills
