Dear editor,
Re: Hospital location; let's move on.
Why not swap hospital and Vanier locations? Let us count the ways why not.
First, moving a location just 1.5 kilometres seems a bit extreme to gain what? It would still be 'on that side of the river.'
Second, I don't know if anyone considered the football field and track investments were for high school use. I'm not sure how many people in the hospital would be healthy enough to go for a jog, or quick game of soccer or football.
Third, do people even realize how much has already been spent on engineering studies and other pre-building costs. We have enough government debt due to poorly-thought-out re-dos.
Fourthly, the proximity to the air base for medical evacuations straight up Ryan Road via ambulance from the base, as the Cormorant downwash is not conducive to landing near buildings.
As someone who worked at a nursing training hospital, the financial spinoffs are huge. People come from far and wide to have the opportunity to train and gain on hands experience at the same time.
Of course, this is if people can step beyond their protecting of their kingdoms and organize a liaison between NIC's nursing program and the hospital. Who knows what other opportunities there are to expand other courses in the medical field.
The only idiotic step would be changing the location, with all the possible benefits if optimum collaboration is developed. The costs of a third engineering report and any other 'we touched it' bureaucratic costs, would be foolish just to move it 1.5 kilometres.
The only idiotic thing going on here is that Vanier is not earthquake-proof and this community has been sending their children there for years.
And the return to one northern hospital choir, the majority did not want one major hospital. Welcome to a democracy.
Gavin Barry,
Comox Valley