No word on Bayside promise

To the Editor:

I noticed Premier MacDonald was in western Shelburne County the other week.

I imagine most of us were essentially unmoved by his provision of a contract to complete the Barrington bypass – finally fulfilling a tired, old promise!

More encouraging was our Premier’s broad-grinned support for the Digby ferry service. After all, local businesses, students and the tourism industry rely heavily upon this service. Thus, we might find hope in the Premier’s “confidence� that our ferry will be preserved.

However, the most shocking thing about our Premier’s visit to western Shelburne County is that he did not offer one word to our community on a timely expansion plan for Bayside Home in Barrington.

Given his election promise to add 40 beds to this facility, shouldn’t we have expected him to use his recent visit to reconnect with voters on this urgent matter of long-term care? Wouldn’t our Premier have done himself and our community a huge favour had he announced a short and respectful timeline for the expansion of Bayside Home?

In fact, public trust will only wane if Premier MacDonald remains silent or passive on his election promise to expand Bayside Home by 40 beds. If the pledged expansion drags on - like the Barrington bypass - then citizens will turn, in larger numbers, towards other political parties to secure what our seniors desperately need and genuinely deserve.

This begs two questions: Will our Premier provide strong, compassionate and expeditious leadership to our long-standing need for seniors’ beds in Barrington? Or, will he risk appearing passive and mute while other leaders lobby for quicker provision of such beds?

Unless Premier MacDonald fulfills his pledge to expand Bayside before the next provincial election, it might be difficult for him to find political support in western Shelburne County. After all, we hope for something different than another “Barrington bypass� experience.

After decades of neglect, our seniors deserve immediate action with respect to establishing long-term care in Barrington. In fact, most self-respecting citizens expect the MacDonald government to have 40 beds at Bayside before they head out to vote in the next provincial election.

Sincerely,

Shaun Hatfield

North East Point

Cape Sable Island