Elect Me and I Promise… the Moon

Over the years, I’ve written several articles rating professions by "Trustworthiness." When it comes to the results of "Canada’s Most Trusted Professions for 2022," politicians don’t fare well. Year after year, they rank low on the list. In one survey I posted a few years ago, politicians were only a couple of spots above used car salesmen. You know the pitch: “Trust me, this car was only driven on Sundays by a little old lady.”

I struggled to understand why politicians are viewed so poorly, and then it clicked. During election cycles, too many of them say what people want to hear, not what they need to hear. The promises made during campaigns often feel empty. Perhaps their intentions are genuine, but the follow-through? That’s another story. And before we know it, we’re back in another election season with more promises that sound all too familiar.

True leadership and credibility are earned. It’s about telling voters the truth, even when it’s not what they want to hear. This was evident when Frank McKenna, a Liberal, won all 49 seats in the legislature. It was also true when Stuart Jamieson, another Liberal MLA, defied his party by calling for a referendum on the sale of NB Power. And it was true when Saint John’s Liberal MP Wayne Long broke ranks with his party over the federal small business tax proposal.

In the past six years, New Brunswick has faced serious challenges: a crippling $14.5 billion provincial debt, the COVID-19 pandemic, a severe economic downturn, and Bank of Canada interest rates spiking from 2.75% to 5%. It wasn’t exactly the ideal time to be the Premier of New Brunswick.

As voters head to the polls on October 21st, they’ll need to ask themselves: Does Premier Blaine Higgs pass the “leadership credibility test”? True leadership transcends party lines; it’s about having a strong moral and ethical foundation and the determination to make tough decisions for the greater good, unfortunately these tough decisions are not always popular with the public.

Healthcare funding has become a key issue this election cycle, with some parties making promises left and right. But rhetoric is one thing—results are another. Here are a few significant healthcare improvements made under this administration:

More Healthcare Workers: The Higgs administration has hired more doctors and nurses than ever before, exceeding targets with 514 new Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) (a net gain of 387), and 87 permanent physician positions (a net gain of 56).

Emergency Department Operations: Despite staffing challenges, all Emergency Departments (EDs) have maintained their hours while handling a 9% increase in visits compared to the previous fiscal year. Many other regions in Canada face temporary ED closures regularly.

Collaborative Care Practices: The PC administration are investing in collaborative care teams to improve primary care access and attract more healthcare professionals to New Brunswick. Currently, 15 teams are in the planning stages, with 76 physicians already engaged.

The administration is addressing Long-Term Care: By tackling the Alternate Level of Care (ALC) issue, where patients occupy hospital beds while awaiting long-term care, freeing up hospital capacity. The Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital’s discharge Command Centre is a prime example, supporting over 300 patients daily. They are also adding 15 new beds by renovating the ambulance bay.

Reducing Wait Times: Initiatives like Fredericton’s Urgent Treatment Centre, which now serves 50 to 70 patients daily and are helping reduce wait times for emergency care and surgeries. This year, there’s been a 15% increase in surgeries completed, and a 12% decrease in the surgical waitlist from April to August.

Horizon Health’s self-booking system for X-rays and bloodwork is another win, with over 75,000 X-ray appointments and 8,500 lab appointments booked online since the service launched.

Promises made by parties are easy to make during an election. But it’s leadership and results that matter when the dust settles. As we approach the time to vote I repeat: Rhetoric is rhetoric and the facts are the facts. Take that the time to become more aware of the actual investments and achievements that is being made in our healthcare system and less time paying attention to what is promises to the healthcare system. It's something to think about.

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