Centralization is not working for areas like Bay St. George and something needs to be done about it.
That was the message Dave Kane, a resident of Stephenville Crossing, expressed while addressing the Liberal Opposition public consultation held at Hotel Stephenville on Jan. 31.
Kelvin Parsons, interim leader of the Opposition, said his party wants to hear about the concerns of local people.
“The courthouse in Corner Brook is a prime example,” said Mr. Kane. “There was no need of it when they already had a perfectly facility there. Yet we have a courthouse here in Stephenville with no accessibility and they have to hire the Holiday Inn to have court when someone in a wheelchair is involved.”
He said another example is the Newfoundland and Labrador Games going to the Avalon for the next three times, yet Stephenville didn’t get a look in when the town has all the facilities.
Other concerns
Mary O’Quinn of Kippens kept along the same theme of centralization hurting the area. She said all kinds of new seniors facilities are being built yet little work has gone into the Bay St. George Long Term Care Centre in Stephenville Crossing, with the exception of some painting.
She said that facility really requires more work than that, especially now that it’s more than 30 years old.
Laura Aylward, another attendee from Stephenville, said since centralization of the health care system took place she believes there is a push on by those in Corner Brook with Western Health to have control and that’s why things like delivering babies is no longer taking place at Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital in Stephenville.
“We’re an island and we need to enhance our transportation or we’ll be not much better off than a third-world country.” - Tom Rose
Madeline Cochrane of Kippens agreed and said once health services like obstetrics is gone, it won’t come back.
Tom Rose of Stephenville spoke about the importance of transportation and how there are no updates in the local area, especially when one looks at things like White’s Road leading into Stephenville from the Trans Canada Highway, which he described as sub-standard, even for a secondary road.
“We’re an island and we need to enhance our transportation or we’ll be not much better off than a third-world country,” he said.
Mr. Parsons said in fairness, the current government has had the biggest amount of road and bridge infrastructure put in than ever before in the province’s history. He said it’s unfortunate the Stephenville area hasn’t got much of it.
George Lee of Barachois Brook said he still believes there has been a conspiracy to close down the airport in Stephenville and that still continues today. He can’t understand why a government would put so much money into an airport that was already doing well and neglect another one.
Mr. Parsons expressed his appreciation to all who were in attendance and said he would be taking their concerns to the House of Assembly.
