Wally and the Hospice Gals (WWW.hospice)

My comment as it was sent to the Delta Optimist for April 18....

"I’m always impressed with the signage at election time. Like so many blooming daffodils the political messages sprout and fill every conceivable site-line. It doesn’t appear to be a completely exact science. I suspect that the idea is based mostly on subliminal messaging…seeing the same name and color scheme over and over again.

The Liberals have their traditional blue and red, the NDP their blue and gold and independent candidate Vicki Huntington has her...blue and red? What’s up with that anyway? Is Vicki saying that she likes the Liberal colors a little more than the NDP colors. I suppose that is what she is trying to say.

I don’t know about you but I am not going to buy in to some sort of philosophical association through an ill - conceived branding exercise.

Independent colors should be like, black and orange or something. Colors that say you are different and that you are not loosley associated with anyone. That is, of course, because you are not.

I noticed another interesting thing in the Huntington campaign. They are suggesting that our hospital is still in some sort of downgraded status and that the Liberal government has been responsible for this.

Here is a newsflash for those of you scoring at home. There was a big story in our community this past week, covered extensively on page 3 of this newspaper on Wednesday. A new $1.7 million CT scanner has just been installed in our local hospital - a crowning accomplishment for the little hospital that could.

This scanner adds significant capability for the sick in our community and is the envy of many a hospital throughout British Columbia. Vicki Huntington voted against the idea of asking the people if they wanted or needed a scanner.

Our community has clearly rallied around our hospital since the early dark days. Some brave individuals and diligent caring community groups and private supporters have worked tirelessly to achieve the current status of our hospital. Delta hospital is something we deserve.

Funding for the hospital was an idea broached municipally in 2002 when things were looking bleak.

Vicki Huntington voted no to that idea at that time as well. So why is Vicki poking away at this issue that has seemingly and happily reached a successful conclusion? Your guess is as good as mine but it is clear that the idea of a degraded Delta hospital is thankfully old news. Does anyone remember a failed recall campaign over this issue?

Did anyone read the Vancouver Sun a week ago when some hard working people in our community were featured in a hospital story? The reference there, as it was in Wednesdays Optimist article was that our MLA always kept the door wide open.

Can we move on from this one or do we have to, in seemingly typical South Delta fashion, continue to flog dead and buried horses?

We deserve what we get when we vote. South Delta deserves a voice at the table so that we can deal favourably with the real issues that concern us looking ahead as our community and province continues to evolve. Let’s deal with the future positively."