Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is being asked to step in and help with what’s being called a crisis in rural healthcare.
That request is contained in a letter to the PM from the mayor of Shelburne.
Karen Mattatall says she realizes the feds have a hands-off approach to healthcare delivery, leaving it to the provinces, but she’s become frustrated with the Nova Scotia government and that’s why she wrote the letter.
“They give the transfer payments to the province but there is the Canada Health Act owned by the federal government. What I’ve asked them is to please consider enforcing that act.”
She says Roseway Hospital’s ER is again closed.
“We will have seen over a hundred hours of closure in the first 14 days of January. It’s terrifying for people.”
In her letter Mayor Mattatall says ‘it is well past time for the federal government to stop the hands off approach and insist that the province provides every citizen their guaranteed right to access the health care services.”
Here is Mayor Mattatall’s letter:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Dear Sir
I am writing to you in an attempt to draw to your attention the health care crisis facing Nova Scotians and in particular residents of Shelburne County and other rural communities in our province.
I realize that the federal government chooses to stay arms length from provincial health care decisions and considers this a constitutional matter however it is my opinion that since the Canada Health Act is federal legislation, is it time that you step up and ensure every citizen their guaranteed right to access in accordance with your Act.
No where does it say that access is guaranteed depending on where you live in Canada.
Shelburne is a rural community however it is not geographically isolated but is in the unique situation of being isolated from access to necessary health care services given that we are over 100 km from the two regional hospitals on each side of us. In addition, in 2018, the Emergency Department at Roseway was closed nearly 1000 hours, totally unacceptable! To date during the first 14 days of January, Roseway will have been closed in excess of 100 hours!
The lives of every resident of Nova Scotia matters and we should not be subjected to this disgraceful lack of respect when doling out health care dollars giving the lion’s share to support the Nova Scotia Health Authority, again in my opinion, simply a bloated bureaucracy.
Southwestern Nova Scotia and in particular Shelburne County, contributes significant tax dollars to the provincial and federal coffers through the most lucrative lobster fishery in the country, yet our residents are forced to travel for every health care service they need with no consideration of the cost or regard for their safety by being forced to travel long distances in already stressful situations and often on dangerous roads throughout the winter months.
We have and will continue to approach the provincial government with our concerns however to date we have been told there is no crisis all the while watching residents suffering and struggling every day. Totally unacceptable in this country that boasts a healthcare system that we are told is envied around the world when in fact many parts of Nova Scotia are worse off than many 3rd world countries in terms of access to healthcare services in a timely fashion.
It is well past time for the federal government to stop the hands off approach and insist that the province provides every citizen their guaranteed right to access the health care services they require in their communities and that consideration must be given to geography and demographics not just regional centres when it comes to location of services.
Respectfully submitted
Karen Mattatall
Mayor, Town of Shelburne and very concerned citizen
