The front page of the West Quebec Post’s March 28 edition reported the so-called “Regional Action Plan to revitalize the Outaouais” by the CAQ government – while the Journal reported CISSSO’s plan to cut 727 positions from our health system, which is already in deep trouble, unable to provide even the basics of health care to our region. Maybe the “Action” in the plan is to return the 727 positions, plus another hundred or so more, to bring our health system up to—at best—third world standards? (One neighbour gave birth on the side of the highway outside Quyon because our regional hospital had its obstetrics unit shut down by the CAQ.) No, that’s not the plan.
They are cutting $900 million from healthcare in West Quebec and giving us some job-training options, probably in the city, in exchange. The CAQ plan is to “showcase” our “colours and riches”. It includes a list of clichés—without once mentioning health care. What an insult.
Is there anything more important than our health? Maybe education, jobs and housing, yes, and these are mentioned. But in all, the CAQ’s “Action Plan” is a complete insult to us. Yes, health care is expensive, but because it is expensive, do we expect our government to ignore it? Yes, an insult!—a magician’s trick, the CAQ hopes will distract us from the necessity of functioning health care. Premier Legault obviously believes we are stupid. Perhaps because many of us do not speak good French, we’re obviously dumb and we’ll buy anything dangled in front of us while the essentials of life are crumbling around us.
Frustrated with years of Liberal inaction, many of us voted for the CAQ. Now we know better. If any of us votes for Mr. Lacombe, Mr. Lévesque, Mr. Bussière, or any CAQ deputy, we will be proving that we are as stupid as they think we are.
Please, neighbours, wake up! Vote for anyone EXCEPT the CAQ when we go to the polls next year.
Frederick Daniels,
Shawville
