Letters: November 27

L&A Ambulance Feasiblity Study, Bob Taylor

I Resign From Politics, Jerry Ackerman

L&A Ambulance Feasibility Study

I found some errors and questionable conclusions in the Lennox & Addington Ambulance Feasibility study

That the study comes from urbanites unfamiliar with the culture, demographics and geography of rural L&A - and North Frontenac for that matter - gives me cause for concern. That L&A staff will review the study and report to council gives me even more concern. What about involving the patient in this cure? 

They have omitted giving the council much of the significant history of ambulance services. In order to see where we are today and where we are going, I submit it is just as important to determine just where we have come from.

Given the study’s ramifications on health care in Addington Highlands, North Frontenac and to a degree Central Frontenac, public meetings should be held before any conclusion is reached by L&A Council.

L&A Council’s decision could well have significant if not severe repercussions on residents of North Frontenac, most specifically the former municipality of Barrie Township and to a degree Central Frontenac (Kennebec), yet the study indicates no formal discussions have been held with them.

One recommendation in the study is that the Northbrook base be moved closer to the Frontenac county line. The Northbrook base is slightly more than 1 km from the county line as it is. What would it accomplish to build a base closer to the county line for the suggested cost of $800,000? Did they not see that the Frontenac County line and Highway #41 are almost one and the same from Northbrook north.

Unfortunately, Tony Clement, then Ontario Health Minister in the former Harris government, dismantled what was recognized and boasted about by his and previous Ontario governments as the best emergency health care system in North America, a seamless system whereby the closest emergency vehicle responded without administrative jurisdiction. Downloading land ambulance to upper tier government has caused the boundary/financial problems we have today, not to mention that costs have increased fourfold.

Bob Taylor

The study can be found online: visit L&A County Land Ambulance.

I Resign from Politics

It's mid-November now. The lake has frozen over, and all the waterbirds have left for the south......not quite! Two days ago there were four loons and one bufflehead in the partially frozen bay. And yesterday a single loon -- on the other side of the lake.

I am like that last loon --- leaving behind my 15 years of political activism, resigning any responsibilities for any political party. Enough of my life has focused on trying to right the wrongs of Canada's political system.

My meagre talents have not changed the system. Nor have those of the party leaders. Canadians are now, and can expect to be "governed" from ABOVE -- by the corporate and financial executives whose interests override those of the common everyday interests of families and friends. We will have less and less impact on the decisions that affect us mightily.

When  the "kings" decide they require a renewal of their mandate to manage our affairs, they will call for a phony endorsement from the ever-diminishing portion of the citizens that suppose the political arrangement is satisfactory. Nothing will really change.

My personal energies will henceforth be directed to community building. This will mean sharing what my neighbours and I understand about finance, food, investment, business management, and spiritually-sustaining family environments.

Jerry Ackerman