Editor:
I am writing in response to the article in last week's Coast Reporter regarding the Mental Health staff team-building event. While I understand the need to scrutinize public spending and the problematic optics of such an event taking place at a golf course, I felt that placing it on the front page immediately blew this issue out of proportion.
Yes, these are tough times. And our mental health staff likely see that firsthand in a way that few of us do. They support the most vulnerable members of our society and likely do not do so for the perks and monetary compensation. Boosting morale and treating staff to some rare enjoyable team-building time is something that does not deserve front-page newspaper space.
During a week when news emerged that the provincial government will spend a million dollars on Olympics tickets at taxpayers' expense, I would respectfully suggest that we have more important government spending issues to focus on and to be concerned about than the small amount spent by our Mental Health service providers for a one-day, team-building event.
Jane Osborne
Roberts Creek
