The Village of Perth-Andover, located in rural New Brunswick, has been hit by another nightmare as the Province has decided not to restore full services to their hospital.
In March of this year, the Village of 1,700 was hit with a devastating flood that literally destroyed home and businesses. One of the hardest hit facilities was the areas’ hospital. Once the eight-foot flood waters receded from the inner wall of the hospital, the destruction was unreal, leaving sections unusable for care purposes.
The provincial government promised that it would rebuild or redevelop the health care structure to its original functions but have now put a halt to those promises.
This now has caused the elimination or reduction of 53 positions to this community of 1,700 citizens.
It does not only affect CUPE members and family, but has an economic blow of three quarters of a million to this community as well. These members buy and shop locally, thus supporting local businesses and they will no longer be able to do so.
CUPE Local 1252 will be setting up meetings with the powers to be to have these services reinstated and if unsuccessful, will make this an election issue for Premier Alward in 2014.
CUPE 1252 Provincial Coordinator Ralph McBride believes that this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to health care in rural New Brunswick, with the cuts and reductions those areas may endure.
A community already reeling from a devastating flood trying to rebuild should not have to deal with government cuts as well. It is not right and, in my opinion, shows no respect to those citizens or that community.