Two Columns - Rich & Poor?

I was unable to "Blog" for the past 5 days! This post was intended for November 23rd, 2008

Over the past several weeks and months, various organizations and individuals have made the news, by realistically seeking public opinion on I suppose their many social/health care request of government, based years of recommendations from research on and for programs and services that protect the poorest and in need persons in our province.

In most or all of these stories, the end result has been negative.

Ross Wiseman downplayed the need for "Mental Health" facilities and programs for youth, while at the same time spent hundreds of thousands in marketing to remind us not to abuse our kids.

Ross Wiseman has ignored individuals whose lives have been turned upside down with the current home care policy!

The Williams government announced a newer oxygen program this spring, but as of yet, it still has not been implemented!

While we understand the importance of corporate, public and private business development in any region, I ask, at what point does it become proper for government to invest in anything but crown operations.

The following is a very short list of announced government investments, that remain
questionable.

• Progress Software for computers $325,000
• Grand Bank-based Dynamic Air Shelters Ltd $500,000
• PanGeo Subsea, $500,000
• $8 million interest-free loan to Terra Nova Shoes
• Other Ocean Group Inc – Game Software - $2.4 million over 5 years
• East Coast Music Association: $225,000
• Cruise Association $50,000 for Marketing Efforts
• Golf Newfoundland and Labrador $45,000 To Support Education and Marketing
• Women’s Film Festival $40,000 in Financial Support
• East Coast Trail $728,000 in Provincial Support for Extension and Maintenance
• The Performing Arts $132,200
• Funding to Help Preserve Wonderful Grand Band Television Series of $10,000
• Newfoundland and Labrador’s Visual Arts Sector - $68,000
• Literary Sector $124,500
• Beyond the Overpass Theatre $25,000 for Operations
• Railway Coastal Museum $50,000 for Operations
• $29,000 in Operational Support to North Atlantic Aviation Museum in Gander
• Ironman 70.3 Triathlon Receives $100,000 in Support
• Publishing Industry Benefits From $200,000
• Summer Cultural Events $300,000
• North Atlantic Fiddle Convention $50,000
• Marble Mountain Infrastructure - $1.2 Million
• Funding for Celebrating Bartlett 2009 $200,000
• Them Days Inc. Receives $200,000 Funding to Ensure Protection of Unique Archival Collection

Maybe I am a little naive, but what does any of these investments do for our province or it's people that private funding or investment wouldn't. Newfoundland and Labrador has supported 1000s of white elephants over the years, but in today's world, we are denying our poor of essential services and at the hand of waste.

Brudder

Nurses Again!

I was unable to "Blog" for the past 6 days! This post was intended for November 22nd, 2008

A VOCM Question of The Day!

Do you think the Williams government would be justified in taking the 20% over 4 years off the table if the economy keeps struggling? Why or why not?

Yes Indeed: Healthcare has become the provinces biggest expense and being as diverse as what it is, our government must rely on common sense approach in recognizing what is too much, in one diversity, and what is not enough in another. Equally however, government must recognize the dire need to re-establish systemic self management, rather than rely on top heavy, costly, mismanaged and duplicated health authorities.

Newfoundland has approximately 500,000 persons in this province served by four health authorities. Each of these authorities serve to: 1. Duplicate management cost by four times, with more than $600,000.00 in four executive director salaries, and more than 4.6 million dollars in executive office salaries and benefits for the authorities alone. 2. To confuse otherwise unilateral provincial policy, by allowing obvious variances in the delivery and or assessment for services.

Newfoundland isn’t a big land mass, political system, or populous. But we are huge in Health and Education Authorities, and Political District offices. One management team, for each service will save this province hundreds of millions of dollars in duplicated services.

Though nurses are a very important component in healthcare, I believe there has to be an accepted threshold in what we are willing to pay our nurses, and other public service workers. Surely we must consider individual diversities, but I am sure that the baseline salary of $50,000.00 for an R.N in this province is enough.

A nurse earning baseline $50,000.00 now, will be earning $60,742.66 in four years. We have to stop somewhere.

The common person do not realize that in this particular case, one-on-one nursing care in hospital for patient is about 30 minutes per shift. Family members primarily do the rest for most bed ridden patients. If the patient is able to get out of bed, wash and dress themselves, one-on-one is to hand a pill, do a blood pressure or check a temperature.

In a 12 hour shift with 5 duty nurses per unit, @ 30 Minutes Max, there would need to be 120 patients at any given time being cared for. Since that patient number according to research, is more like 25 patients per unit, then the need for more than three nurses per shift would be over extending.

Some food for thought, a homecare worker, responsible for all care, including medical is paid $9.29! Who works the hardest? Who gets paid more?

Brudder

Is it Sleight of Hand or Simple Fuddle Fawking A System

I was unable to "Blog" for the past 7 days! This post was intended for November 21st, 2008

Is it sleight of hand or simple fuddle fawking a system, from both sides of the nurse’s dilemma, (or said dilemma) to get media attention? It seems Ms. Forward needs to take a step back and read public knowledge, and catch up on a few open line shows. Simply put, she does not have the solidarity she believes she has from her membership.

On the other hand, the nit picking health authorities are out there placing reprimand and suspensions down on nurses in one area of the province, while not in others. Shouldn't these health authorities all be unilateral in all actions, including disciplinary?

In an earlier entry I wrote about the wasted public cost of duplicating these boards and authorities, now we can add confusion. If regional authorities are set up to operate under provincial legislation, then a unilateral system must be used. I believe however, the realities of these authorities are such that the left hand does not know what the right is doing. These boards make/change policy when they need/want to. If a photocopy letter looks real, most defendants won't question it.

The debate is real no doubt between both sides, but the reality Williams is bullying the union, while the union is bullying him, the boards, their own nurses and the patients they serve. In any labor dispute the only loser are the workers. Ok, we go on strike for two or three months! We lose our income, and then we accept a half deal after having lost more than we started with, and in four years we do it all again.

Oh My!

Brudder

Interesting Perspective

I was unable to "Blog" for the past 8 days! This post was intended for November 20th, 2008

I have been listening to Randy, Bill and Linda for a few decades it seems, and though, as many would agree, the topic areas are interesting, current but shadowed by lack of knowledge or understanding of them.

We garble at just about anything, human nature I suppose, but today one man’s garble got me thinking. He actually had a great concern, question and foresight.

He was discussing how a family member had been ill and recently separated from her husband at 60 years old. As I best understood the situation, this lady was now able to go to work, but only in a labor type and minimum wage capacity. Her previous illness made her dependant on medication that would be out of her reach in a minimum wage job. Apparently, she applied to HRLE for support/subsidy after she’d started working. She was turned down. Her 30 hours a week at $8.00 was more than the cut-off threshold would allow. The gentleman said “my relative was offered by a social worker to quit her job, not only would they pay for her drugs, but her rent, utilities, special diet, medical taxi, and to boot $600.00+ to live on.

Well just imagine! Never mind, you do not have to, what this man said is true, not just of his family, but of any family. This is across the board policy that fits anyone in this or any similar situation. The policy really reads; “all or nothing”, which really is nothing.

I am not the best mathematician, but come on, if we take 100 people and give them basic income support with drugs built in, it will cost approximately $1,470,000.00. But does cost stop there? Absolutely not, each year you can add $48,000.00 for administrative cost, utilities, special considerations and needs $200,000.00. An approximate total of $1,718,000.00, all or nothing dollars and all they ask for was a drug card. $180,000.00 a year!

Is Newfoundland and Labrador broke, or is it simply a matter of our fiscal and program policy being written and delivered by clueless idiots. This isn’t rocket science, but it is black and white, and it’s easy to read!

Brudder

Down With The Walls & More!

I was unable to "Blog" for the past 9 days! This post was intended for November 19the, 2008

The Telegram:

"The provincial government is seeking input from tobacco retailers and interested individuals and organizations on the banning of power walls, which are large retail displays of tobacco products."

About time it came I say, these power walls serve as a constant reminder to everyone, but especially youth, that these products are ok to use, no matter at what age. Cigarette sales fall under similar laws and policy as what does alcohol, except the policing of is very lax.

The provision of tobacco to persons under 19 is an offense, meanwhile a kid seen to be smoking by authorities, is seldom to never confronted.

Newfoundland & Labrador’s policy on the marketing of these types of revenue generating products and services are two sided and contradictory. It awes me that we’d promote good mental health by warning of the dangers of VLT, while at the same time promote ALC Christmas scratch & Win. The same is near that truth with tobacco products.

Families often send their kids to the local corner store for a container of milk, loaf of bread or some wieners for the hotdogs. Irony is, right next to the chocolate bar the kid can have with the left over change is a rack of smokes, and the cooler he gets his pop from is full of beer!

Maybe selling all alcohol, beer and smoke products should be restricted to retail outlets that restrict minors from entering, such as NLC stores.

Tobacco, alcohol and gambling products are clearly costing our province millions in health and addiction services. Is it time to re-think?

Brudder

The speaker spoke and the answer is no

I was unable to "Blog" for the past 9 days! This post was intended for November 18th, 2008

The Telegram - November 18th, 2008

"That means the Opposition Liberals will not receive the additional resources they deem they are entitled to — and which a consultant also recommended they get — for staffers and research.

Roger Fitzgerald, Speaker of the House of Assembly, cast his long-awaited vote today on the funding issue that was deadlocked along party lines.

Earlier this year, the legislature hired an independent consultant to review caucus funding levels. The consultant recommended additional cash for all three parties.

Last month, the Progressive Conservative members of the House of Assembly management commission voted to give themselves the full amount of the consultant's recommendation: an additional $126,000. The NDP also got the full recommended amount: an extra $124,000.

Those votes passed unanimously. But the governing PCs voted to block additional cash aimed at helping the Liberal Opposition hire researchers and caucus support staff.

The consultant recommended an extra $162,000 in funding; the Liberals instead got just $12,000. That meant it was up to Fitzgerald — a Conservative who as speaker does not sit in the party’s caucus — to break the tie. He did that today, voting down the extra funding for the Liberal Opposition. Complete story and reaction in Wednesday’s Telegram."

Can it be any more obvious? It strikes me funny however in a satirical kind of way that the Williams team would fear the Jones team enough to make sure this kind of thing could be even remotely be able to happen.

"what exactly is it that the government of Premier Danny Williams finds so frightening about a tiny rump of an opposition. Telegram Editorial“

"I don’t think there’s anybody on the face of the Earth (that) believes that Roger Fitzgerald made the decision he made on his own,” Randy Simms, VOCM OPEN LINE

I am a loss at why a private consultant was hired, if his/her recommendations were to be ignored. I believe this is a sad day for democracy in this province. The move further exemplifies the total reign of power that Williams has over his caucus. I am not sure there are any fear in this man.

I am ashamed of our government practices.

Brudder

A Party?

I was unable to "Blog" for the past 9 days! This post was intended for November 17th, 2008

Province plans party in March to celebrate becoming a have province The Canadian Press

"Newfoundland and Labrador plans to hold a party next year to celebrate its new found status as a so-called have province, the office of Premier Danny Williams said Monday. A spokesman for Williams said celebrations are planned for March 31 that will feature the province’s music and culture."

I thought at first, this cannot be real, A celebration for who? Will every Town, City, Out Port, Bay or Inlet get to participate? Maybe not! Danny do you want to celebrate?

Take the few million you will spend in that venture and along with a fair share of our new found wealth and put it into the crisis areas that need a hand up. Home care, home oxygen, increased income support, housing. Danny, Newfoundland and Labrador will surely celebrate with you if you show more of the compassion you promised pre-election!



Brudder

Christmas Recession

I was unable to "Blog" for the past 10 days! This post was intended for November 16th, 2008

Here it is, another rain filled weekend, mist on the pond and not much to do but wade through water puddles and count what limited blessings we have, without falling into a moral recession.
Our world leaders, economists, and mega resource developers are crying pain and even foul over the thought that we may enter into a global economic recession, while on a local level our government warns us, and despite our new have status, cash surplus and fairly stable oil prices we may want to tighten our belts.

As I write here, an article on the NTV weekend news, just noted a story on a decrease in Christmas spending. It was somewhat apparent just how un-magic the magical spirit of this season has become. One gentleman said, “last year we spent five or six thousand dollars, but yes, it will be less this year”. We are entering into a recession, and afterall, christmas is all
about presents.

I can picture that on the cover of a card right now! Little Dick & Jane dressed in fine silk, momma in her mink coat while dad carves the golden egg from the slow roasting goose in the oven, cooking alongside the 25 pound prime rib, in the stainless steel oven from the kitchen adorned with it’s own christmas tree, mistletoe and imported wine and chocolate.

How many of the big spenders, including members of government drive by the undecorated homes of its most vulnerable in our society and wonder what it would be like to be them? When poor, we dream of riches, does it work opposite?

I always feel uneasy and unsettled this time of year, yet my spirit and soul find more solace in defending our poor, than supporting our rich. Thanks for the offer to eat lobster and caviar on Christmas Eve Mr. Big Spender, but I have already committed to sharing a can of mixed nuts and big-8 soda at another friends housing unit.

Brudder

Hot or Cold?

I was unable to "Blog" for the past 11 days! This post was intended for November 15th, 2008

Whatever happened to government’s $6.9 million home heating assistance program, the program, promised a year ago to help low-income families deal with the high cost of home heating, hasn’t been followed up on it seems. “Last year, we all heard the stories about seniors, disabled and low income earners going to malls, friends houses and even spending time visiting a friend of a friend of a friend in hospital, just to stay warm, because they could not afford to keep the heat on in their homes.

In a “have” province, government should have a plan to deal with this reality, or a bigger plan to force PUB to cut deep into profits” The three-year plan to provide funding to the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation to create a Residential Energy Efficiency Program for low-income households would help low-income families with energy audits and insulation to cut their heating costs, and I wonder when or if this year’s home heating rebate will be announced.

“Where is the promised energy efficiency program? And when will government announce its home heating rebate? Last year government increased the income threshold to $40,000 with no eligible family receiving less than $100. that was good but there needs to be a long-term plan for dealing with the rising cost of home heating fuel.

Government should bring the rebate back up to the 2005 maximum of $400 and it should be the same for electricity, and other fuels, as it is for oil.“The pressure to conserve and be energy efficient does not just rest with consumers, because so many of them can’t afford the investment. Government has a big role to play here and they are falling down on the job,”

Brudder

VON Dropping Clients?

One of the largest costs in home care provision, is the delivery of it through third party agencies such as VON and others.

A little realism can go a long way in trying to understand something most people don’t. Home support workers in most case scenarios are not overworked either from physical or mental exhaustion, as would be described by the agencies that represent them. The masses that require these services will tell you; Many examples of the reality are ones that describe the large majority of workers as being under qualified to over work.

As one gentleman I spoke to, now using private care explained, I used four local agencies here in St. John’s before going private, and of them all, the only qualified person ever in my home was I. I had a rotation of two persons a day, and most often that meant upward to eight or ten different faces in my home per week. That is crazy all by itself he said.

I don’t know what the rules say, or for that matter, if there are any rules on hiring even, from an agency perspective. I do know that it appears the only prerequisite required to be a home care worker with an agency is to be a 19 -75 year old dropout, who has a drivers license (or not), a certificate of conduct that declares they have never been “caught” committing the crimes they did, and have loads of experience in sitting around all day waiting for their client to need a drink or go pee!

Now please understand, I am in favor of any amount of home care provision for a person, only god knows when a human needs to pee etc. I am simply saying that for those who work an eight hour shift in home care, with five of those sipping tea, all supported with a grade eight education, $9.30 cents per hour isn’t bad given the minimum wage paid to a janitor at most public establishments.

Lobbyists, advocates and unions are choking off a fundamental service from the person most vulnerable in this province, our seniors, our disabled and our sick.

Each day we see or hear of groups representing the interest of these people, but outside of particular membership, should groups be allowed to advocate for provincial change or speak on behalf of a public community? Of course not!.

A week or so ago, NAPE’s Carol Furlong was busting her chops on unionizing home support workers. For the love of god Carol, grow up. If I am hiring a union worker, I want a contract; they’d want security, benefits, workman’s comp etc. I don’t know Carol; you must first understand the design of home support programs in private homes. How many people will feel like relinquishing their homes up as commercial work sites and all that falls into place with that? City and Fire regulations, excessive home insurance, business taxation, health and safety regulations, the list is endless. Think, Think, Think!

Greed, commercialism and a higher rank on the scoreboard to popularity for being amongst peers in the realm of news making in affecting change, positive or negative is what motivates these people to push hard enough as to lose control of objectionable debate and create pain for others that they cannot heal.

“Speak from what you know, not from what you don’t”. Far too often, the story is in the tea leaves at the bottom of your cup.

Agencies offer a fantastic and over marketed service with pretty brochures, full of stock photography that portray everything but the truth. While Mr. Can Do Little is expecting a promotional Blondie from the guts of CBS ER, he is sadly presented with a toothless beer keg from CBC Trailer Park Boys.

A worse truth is! Agencies getting near double in pay per hour and more than that are some cases, while the worker get’s the government sanctioned rate.

Here is what needs to happen; government would create a database of submitted resumes from all potential home support workers in the province, using the least important skill/education/ability required, up to the most advanced skill/education/ability required.
Persons seeking home support would then be assessed based on physical/respite requirements with their assessment data being then cross matched with the available human resource from the registered workers for an appropriate match.

This list would only be used as an aide for clients and provided by health authorities to clients as a non mandatory provision that a client must only hire from the lists attached.

Government would distance itself from the actual legality of being the employer, by redirecting the cost of hiring to the client or designate for self managed care. Then, close all accounts with agencies, and save the hundreds of thousands of dollars in wasted cost to paper pushers.


Brudder

The Cost Of Doing Repairs

Recently I sat in an open forum, where the discussion was over the condition of public housing in the city. Tenants were very concerned about significant mould build up, heat loss, leaky roofs and rotting windows, and these issues were the more minor of the lot.

It was at the point where one lady had told her story of rodents and cockroaches that got my real attention, in fact, she'd brought along a plastic bag with a few dead mice and a decapitated rat she'd killed herself. No trophy, but she got to tell her story. Needless to say, the man of the hour could not make it, nor did anyone from housing. A feeling of sadness and question entered my mind, could this be real, could conditions be this bad, especially in this province of "have"?

Yes indeed, no guessing, no question just in your face reality. I had opportunity to visit a tenant thereafter in the courts near MUN. it was like walking into a re-run of the Walton's. Character, appeal, quality, adequacy, efficiency, or healthy was zero. The first thing I noticed was the kitchen cabinet doors, made of plain D-grade plywood, painted so often with oil paint, that the half inch plywood door was now an inch thick.

I wondered why a government like ours would allow their public property to become so devastated, where instead of beautifying the housing units to enrich self pride and esteem for their tenants, they allow for their tenants own economic disability, to be used against them.

Late last year, an announcement was made by Minister Skinner that a retrofit of 10 housing units in the cities west end would take place over summer and fall of 2008. The amount of $339,000 was provided to repair roofs, windows and doors, as well some exterior board replacement on otherwise brick exteriors.

Given the type, size and quantity of the said windows there were 42, if all were replaced and they did not appear to have been, each window would have cost $189.00 providing government pays what you and I do. roofs, five in all, and a local roofer estimated about $6000.00 for all material, siding material for all five building estimated $9,000.00 for type and amount used, lumber for eves and Misc. $800.00, miscellaneous, $2500.00. Estimated $26,000. - $30,000, for materials, $310.000 for labour.

I may have deviated a tad, because what I really wanted to talk about was the $310 thousand bucks spent to repair the exteriors of these buildings. I drove by a few times, a community watchdog of sorts, and though not to be laughed at, I did. At the one unit it seemed that the congregation of workers had gathered, eleven in all. One guy, on the porch roof caulking a window, two more sitting on the roof, feet hanging off the eve. One dude was eating his Twinkies, the other with his hand in his pocket playing with his. On the ground, two lads sitting on the tailgate of the truck dragging down a few cameos, another two tarring shingles, while the old ones still attached to roof, two more boys holding a ladder that nobody was standing on. The funniest however were the two white helmets standing around making sure the others were getting paid to eat, drink, smoke and be merry.

This project started in August, it is still ongoing as at Saturday. What a heedless thing to ask Newfoundlander and Labradoreans accept. This is robbery in the biggest way. These five buildings, with eleven crew could have done first all eves two days max, roofs five days max, windows, four days max, siding upper level only 10 days max. Twenty one working days, one month, while so far it's near 90 days. Is it me that feels this is wrong, or is this an acceptable practice now that 90% of all public works initiatives are labour cost?

Is government sending out a message to it's most economically challenged that hey, we'll give away the real money to the guys outside not fixing your house, but as far as you go on the inside, boil some more rice, if you can find some without rat shit or roaches that is, and continue on with your miserable lives.

Shame, a real shame!

Brudder

God Made Me Blind So I Could See!

Has there ever been a more powerful and sentimental statement ever spoken? If so, I have never heard it.

During a recent chat with a dear friend of mine, who is suffering from two severe medical challenges, one of which is a brain tumor and the second a severe inhibitor known as claustrophobia. This condition prevented her from receiving timely treatments to correct and treat the tumour. Claustrophobia is something hardly understood by the masses, but far to often made fun of by the same. Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder in which someone has an intense and irrational fear of confined or enclosed spaces. A person who suffers from claustrophobia may break into a panic when inside an elevator, a bus, an aeroplane, a room with lots of people or any confined space.

The required treatment for her brain tumor was first two surgeries to be followed by 30+ radiation treatments, with a particular and terrifying twist for my friend that she would need to wear a full and enclosed face mask, while at the same time being strapped to the treatment table for each of the 30+ treatments. For her, This was like and by compared, a Hannibal Lector scene in The Silence of the Lambs.

Have you ever been given a choice to do something, where your fear of that something was so powerful, that even thinking about having to make a choice to ensure you lived made you so sick, it was still more frightening than the thought of dying?

My friend was there, and had decided not to do her treatments, because the thought of being strapped and face tied to a table was more terrifying than dying, despite all medical warnings that death would be eminent without that tumor gone! She was simply too terrified to go on.

My friend took some time to weigh the options, and upon a decision to at least try the treatment, she was met with the realization that it would not happen for her; the claustrophobia would seemingly rule the outcome.

Three months went by, and quite suddenly my friend lost sight in her second eye, she had already lost complete vision in her left eye a year previous. The right eye vision loss was practically over a few days, and a strong message was seemingly sent. An immediate bell went off, and it became quite apparent for her and necessary for her doctors that the treatment would happen, and more sooner than later. If for no other reason, it would likely serve as a life preservation measure, even if sight restoration may not be in her future.

Sadly, three more months worth of delays would happen before her specialist and the cancer centre could co-ordinate pre-treatment tests, schedule 30+ treatments and get things in place. By that time, the optic nerve had become quite compressed and any hope for renewed vision, seemed more hopeless.

Finally, five weeks ago, A second attempt at treatment began, and was successful insofar that the claustrophobia was not hindering the progress. An old adage seemed to prove fruitful, "If Your Eyes Don't See It, Your Heart Won't Feel It". It seemed now that the vision loss aided in a rest of peace in the fears caused by the claustrophobia. By not being able to see, it became easier for my friend to accept the treatment.

Today begins her sixth week of treatments, and despite many very low days, this trooper has expressed a valiant effort in becoming well. , After six months of no sight, my friend is now showing some great signs of regaining her lost vision in her left eye, or at least part of it. More importantly, it now appears the treatment is having a very big impact on the tumor, this is welcomed news indeed. At last, there is hope, said my friend, “I believe god took my sight, so I could see”.

What spirit, what testimony, and strength in a belief must a person possess in order to first feel the power of a stronger being, but secondly, to be able to use it in such a time, while facing a personal challenge that for most would have to be created by a darker force.

Conviction and a belief in the power of god, of love, of family and of self can allow to hold overwhelming weight in your heart and hands. Just when you believe you can't you will. Today we believe, if we lose our job we'll starve, our house, we'll freeze, our toys, we'll be bored. Do we not live in a world full of temptation and heart felt contempt for fellow humans to often?

My friend taught me a very valuable lesson, that lesson is, when you see danger or sense fear, simply close your eyes, but open your heart, your mind and your faith. God will take you the rest of the way.

Keep the faith!

Brudder

Stem-cell freezer malfunctions at Eastern Health

Effects Unknown

And here we go again, marching to the beat of the warriors drum, humming the oh well we screwed up again tune. It's only 29 more lives we are talking about.

"Equipment from time to time does malfunction said Louise Jones, Executive Director of Eastern Heath. This happens to be a catastrophic malfunction," she said. Eastern Health has sought outside advice to try to determine whether the change in temperature would compromise the stem cells. "We don't know if we have an issue. This is a theoretical issue. The science is not there," Jones said.

My single most question is "why"? Why are we as a people not demanding a very fine tooth and nail investigation by an independent review and paid for by the Feds, of not just Eastern Health, but all health authorities in this province.

We can argue I suppose the Senior Clink Wiseman may be honored in saying that the Department of Health don't get involved in this kind of issue, to which I say bullshit.

"We knew the freezer was at the end of its life" - My god redeem me from my thoughts. Louise Jones, you stupid arrogant woman, to go on public airwaves and downplay the seriousness of what is happening here. Why don’t you ask Terry Gulliver to hold the door open for you, so it don’t hit your ass on the way to the unemployment office.

What part of we knew the freezer was at the end of its life did not ring a bell in the empty space between your ears. Your lab was already under attack by potentially unsafe equipment, but yet your policy & procedure allowed for "safe keeping" in unsafe equipment.

In essence, your lab took only one human stem cell sample that will be required to kick start the life back into a near lifeless body, and literally stored them in a freezer that may or may not continue to run. Under your procedure guidelines, would it not be safer to take several samples, stored in different freezers, different sites, under different power grids, and all supported by adequate back-up power sources. My good god, you can’t even begin to make me see the “equipment do break down argument”.


Ross Wiseman, you are a shame, “The department doesn’t get involved” you say. You're damn department provide the budgets; you pay nurses, doctors, lab techs and janitors. You are involved, and if you can’t fix it, then you should get the hell out.

Brudder

Williams Apology According to Jones

The post below in it's entirety belongs to Brian Jones - Desk editor - The Telegram.
Editorial 11/01/2008

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The danger that can result when powerful people surround themselves with sycophants was on clear and horrible display this week when Premier Danny Williams testified at the Cameron inquiry.

Williams’ apology Tuesday won quick accolades and earned him a headline spot on that night’s CBC-TV broadcast of “The National.” Several cancer victims and advocates expressed appreciation for the premier’s apology and his sincerity in doing so. To Williams’ credit, it was the decent thing to do, and it is indeed a rarity in Canadian politics — you don’t often see provincial premiers issue blanket apologies about anything.

But the details are a problem. I keep trying to visualize Williams in the premier’s office, bouncing his planned apology off underlings.

With a caucus that consists of only one spine among 43, and a bevy of “I can’t remember” staffers and “I don’t recall” assistants, it isn’t likely that anyone within earshot of the boss would have piped up with, “Uh, Mr. Premier, are you sure you want to say it that way?”In Wednesday’s Telegram, under the headline “Premier apologizes,” the first full quote attributed to Williams sounds striking, but upon a second, closer reading hits you between the eyes like a Phillies’ baseball bat because of its astounding implications: “Patients who are involved in this process are the pioneers and martyrs who are paving the way for a better health-care system at the end of the day.

”Unfortunate phrasing"

Picture a tentative, somewhat reluctant hand being raised. “Uh, boss, do you think maybe you should rephrase that?

”There are no pioneers or martyrs here. There are only victims. That statement is so insulting and offensive that it almost negates the legitimacy of the premier’s apology. A pioneer is someone who willingly sets out to be among the first to do something or go somewhere. Albert Einstein was a pioneer. The Beatles were pioneers. The voyageurs were pioneers. People who get cancer are not pioneers.

A martyr is someone who willingly risks his or her life — or, at least, gives up his or her comfortable life — in pursuit of a task or an ideal. St. Boniface was a martyr. St. Sebastien was a martyr. You could even say that Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy were martyrs. But people who die of cancer are not martyrs.

They were victims, period — first of medical mistakes, and then of a bureaucratic cover up. It is ludicrous to suggest, as Williams did, that the people who were victimized by the hormone receptor testing scandal were “paving the way for a better health-care system. ”This is insensitive spin at its worst. I’ll hold off, and leave it to others to ask that the premier apologize.

Easy answers

Many observers were probably wondering, as I was, what happened to inquiry lawyer Bern Coffey, who up until this week has been determined and tenacious in his questioning of witnesses.

The day Williams was on the stand, Coffey apparently decided to stay home and send his nicer, gentler twin brother — also named Bern — to fill in for him. On a day when the public most needed Coffey’s estimable skills as an interrogator, he instead chose to let the premier use the inquiry as a podium.

Lest we let dramatic apologies make us lose sight of the issue, there are two main occurrences that the inquiry, and the public, must confront. First, there were errors in the lab. Second, those errors were later hidden from patients.

People can probably forgive the mistakes. Forgiveness for the ensuing cover up won’t likely be as forthcoming. This scandal arose because people made decisions and took certain actions — or, if you prefer, took no action. It did not arise due to “pioneers” or “martyrs. ”Statements of banal contrition will not suffice. After all, as Williams said, “We’re talking lives here.

”Brian Jones is a desk editor at The Telegram. He can be reached by e-mail at
bjones@thetelegram.com.

A Have Province?

You know how the definition of a national party leader kept changing prior to this election?

First, the Greens couldn't have a leader in the debate because they didn't run candidates in all riding's. Then they did.

Then they couldn't have anyone in the debate because they didn't have a member in the House. Then they did.

Then they couldn't have anyone in the debate because they didn't have a candidate who'd been *elected* as a Green candidate.

Well, the excuses sort of stalled there when public opinion got in on the act, but, you could see that the definition of a debate-able leader was a moving target.

I wonder if these "have" and "have not" definitions aren't much the same thing? Moving targets? What exactly defines a "have" province? We have a chap living in a tent in Nain -- in November.

We "have" hundreds of kilometres of roads -- in many cases the only road in the entire region in fact -- that are still dirt roads.

We "have" hundreds of communities under constant boil water orders.

We "have" far to many disabled persons being denied adequate access to goods and services.

We "have" hundreds of kids falling through the cracks each year.

We "have" hospitals where patients cram the toilet paper in the gaps around the windows and count themselves lucky they have families to bring them extra blankets.

We "have" a legal system that allows deadbeat parents an extra eight or nine months of being deadbeats because we can't get them in front of an overworked circuit judge -- all at the cost of some child's quality of life.

None of that sounds like a "have" province to me. I don't know much about oil revenues, and all that stuff, but, I do know that there are a lot of people in this province who likely don't feel that their lives "have" improved in the past few years.

There's a section at the top that is doing better, and a wider gap between them and the pair of working parents who, despite their pair of 40-hour weeks, can't see how to get their rent paid and new school clothes for their children. Their salaries "have" stalled, but costs continue to spiral. I think "have" and "have not" have a political meaning on a very broad scale, but governments in this province still have to narrow their focus to the very difficult time many of their constituents continue to have.

Brudder

Newfoundland and Labrador off equalization - At First Glance

CBC NL

Newfoundland and Labrador reached a milestone Monday by becoming a have province for the first time in its history.

The federal government released figures that showed for the first time ever the province would not be receiving equalization payments from Ottawa.

The province's new status is due to oil revenues, corporate income taxes, commodity prices and retail sales.

Premier Danny Williams called it a momentous day for people in the province.

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What are we so proud of? A reluctant, but yet enthusiastic Premier went before the mic today to sing his praise, that for the first time ever in Newfoundland and Labradors history, we were declared a have province. The backbone of the announcement also declared that we would not be in receipt of any equalization payments for at least the next two years.

At whose expense does this announcement fall on, for example we hear tear jerk stories of how ill prepared the province is to fully and quickly reduce poverty, or to be able to increase payments for programs and services that would enrich the lives of the provinces sick and poor.

Williams said "This is a very proud day for Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans, I can tell you. We received information today from the federal government at the finance ministers' meeting that as a result of changes in the figures that as of today — which is a notification — but effectively this year Newfoundland and Labrador is a have province. That's a momentous day for the people of this province."

"Change in the figures" lovely heart of Jesus, let us examine this further, maybe A+B+C=N.
(Nothing) Who changed the numbers and when? Maybe it was Fabian Manning. All in one week we are given Mackey, No Equalization, and Fabian Manning's appointment. None the less,,Danny says, let's move on, on a go forward basis with Ottawa. Not much else to do I suppose! Pride won't allow Mr. Williams to admit we have been beaten, the goose egg that he sent to Ottawa was not a goose egg at all, it hatched and it was a monster, stamped will destroy NL.

Brudder

Who Are To Blame

The text below tells an incredible story, one not yet finished for a child of fifteen years. No matter what the outcome is, who are to blame? Does a child simply decide to get drunk, steal a car and put her life and the lives of the public at risk without some underlying reason.

Last week, I wrote about youth and the issues and challenges they face today, in a calculated piece targeting Ross Wiseman. I am not sure I was as clear as I should have been, in relaying my points. A follow-up post is coming soon!

Take a look at the story below! Really, "Who Are To Blame"?


Brudder


RNC in St. John's have laid several charges against a 15 year old girl following a lengthy incident in the metro area. At about 9:45 last night police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in the Durdle Drive area. They were also informed the driver was impaired and headed toward Mount Pearl. Police say the vehicle was later found on Topsail Road and the driver turned out to be a 15 year old girl. Police say they tried to stop the vehicle but the driver refused. RNC say as an officer tried to approach the vehicle at a red light in traffic, the driver then exited the lane and attempted to hit the officer with the vehicle. A chase to the downtown area immediately followed but quickly came to a conclusion when the vehicle ran into the Oceanex building on Water Street. The driver then allegedly fled on foot but was arrested a short time later. However, things didn't conclude there. The girl is alleged to have kicked one officer and spat at another. The 15 year old is now being held at the Youth Remand Centre for a court appearance later today. She will be facing charges of theft of a motor vehicle, impaired driving, flight from police, dangerous driving, assault with a weapon, assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, breach of undertaking and failure to comply with a probation order.

RNC in Corner Brook had their hands full with a number of youth. Police say a 15 year old from Benoit's Cove has been charged with one count of robbery following an investigation into an incident that on Cobb Lane in Corner Brook April 20th. Police say he's been released to appear in court at a later date.

Following a curfew check at a residence on East Valley Road in the west coast city, a 16 year old boy was be charged with two counts for breach of undertaking. The charges come after he allegedly breached one of his curfew conditions within his court order.

Finally, four young boys have been issued warnings under the Youth Criminal Justice Act in connection with a complaint of mischief in the Broadway area of Corner Brook. All four have been released to their parents.