Editor:
Residents on the Sunshine Coast are still waiting for a response from Mary Ackenhusen and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH). It’s been nearly a month and a half since 200-plus residents, speaking out at a public meeting at the seniors centre, told the VCH representatives that they need to start over again and work with the community to deal with the issue of care for seniors.
Dozens of letters to the local papers, thousands of signatures on petitions to the provincial government cannot be ignored. The present proposal to shut down Totem and Shorncliffe and replace it with a for-profit facility just won’t fly. In fact, it doesn’t make sense to elected municipal officials and the majority of residents on the Sunshine Coast.
This major dispute can only escalate. It needs to be resolved. Vancouver Coastal Health needs to rethink its position. They can’t continue to try to bully their way over the wishes of people on the Sunshine Coast. Mary Ackenhusen, you need to show some leadership, take the sensible second look, get the community on board and find sensible solutions that are good for our seniors, good for our care workers, and good for all of the community.
Ray Haynes, Halfmoon Bay, vice chair, Sunshine Coast Senior Citizens (COSCO - BC)
