CORNER BROOK, N.L. — CORNER BROOK — Heber Oldford stood in the cold holding a sign reading “Broken Liberal Promises” in Corner Brook on Monday afternoon.
He was one of about 30 people who joined a protest at the Sir Richard Squires Building calling on the provincial government to make good on a promise to put a PET scanner at the new regional hospital being built in the city.
It’s a promise that was publicly made by former premier Dwight Ball when he was leader of the Opposition in 2014. But just last week, that promise was put in doubt when Health Minister Dr. John Haggie said the space to accommodate the machine would be in the hospital in the event it is determined there is a need for it.
Gerry Byrne, the Liberal MHA for Corner Brook, countered that by saying there will be a PET scanner at the hospital, but not right away, because the hospital and its services have to go through a commissioning and accreditation process, and to purchase a PET scanner and have it sit idle during that process doesn’t make sense.
"I’s time that Corner Brook has something that we don’t have to travel for." — Heber Oldford
Oldford is a cancer patient.
“I know what travelling is all about, and expenses. And it’s time that Corner Brook has something that we don’t have to travel for,” he said.
“If we’re talking about losing doctors and we’re talking about losing nurses and everything else, give them something to work with and we wouldn’t be losing our doctors.”
Oldford’s surgery to remove his stomach couldn’t be done in this province and he had to travel to Ontario for the operation. He’s currently undergoing chemotherapy.
"I’m froze to death,” he said as he held the sign in the -3 C temperature. “But if another voice means helping the cause or getting the PET scanner, by all means, I’ll come in a snowstorm.”
The protest was organized by Graham Downey-Sutton, the provincial NDP’s candidate for the Corner Brook district.
“The people of western Newfoundland cannot wait another four, five or six years for this promised PET scanner. This PET scanner needs to be delivered now,” Downey-Sutton said to those gathered after the group walked from Margaret Bowater Park to the government building.
“Let’s order it now,” he said to loud applause, and called for the building of a cyclotron facility in the city to be able to handle the radioisotopes necessary for PET scans.
“The people of Corner Brook, the people of western Newfoundland, central, southern and eastern Labrador deserve this service here in Corner Brook on time as promised.
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“Cancer does not wait for anybody. Mr. Haggie, we cannot wait another three, four years for this PET scanner.”
In less than four days, a petition he started has gathered more than 3,700 signatures of people who want the PET scanner delivered on time as promised, he said.
Byrne was at the protest, along with Scott Reid, the Liberal MHA for St. George’s-Humber.
When Downey-Sutton asked him to respond, Byrne said there was nothing further he could add to what he has already said.
“We are getting a PET scanner in Corner Brook, NL.”
As Byrne said he was happy to talk to the media present, some in the group began to ask him when that will happen.
He said the doctors will indicate when they want and when they need the PET scanner.
Downey-Sutton suggested the government is passing it off to the doctors, and that is unacceptable.
At times the exchange got a bit heated.
“We’re tired of your voices … Liberal broken promises. Give it to us in facts, in paper, put it on paper telling us we’re going to get it. Don’t bullshit us,” said Pasadena resident Kevin Hynes, who also questioned where Premier Andrew Furey was and why he hasn’t said a word on the issue.
As Byrne said work is underway already to get the PET scanner and radiation therapy in place and that both will occur, Hynes asked why not tell the people when it was promised that it would take this long.
That led to chants of, “Broken Liberal promises,” and, “No more Liberals on the west coast.”
Corner Brook Mayor Jim Parsons stood flanked by Deputy Mayor Bill Griffin and Coun. Tony Buckle as he addressed the group.
“I think it’s important going into an election, which is imminent, to make sure our voice is heard in the Corner Brook region, in the western region, in the Labrador region. Because this is not something that’s servicing our constituents alone, it’s meaning travel time for people all over the western region."
Parsons said Corner Brook is an important regional hub and service centre for the province and that everything does not have to be on the Avalon Peninsula.
And he encouraged the people to get a commitment from the provincial government on the issue.
Oldford said he hopes those voices have already been heard.
“I would hope the ministers and all politicians are listening and they do go back to Furey and say those people mean business, let’s give them their PET scanner or whatever else they want.”
Diane Crocker reports on west coast news.
