Emptying the Bathtub

I was not aware, but apparently all of party leaders: the PCs, Liberals and Green Party are required by law, to take a basic competency test.

Let’s face it, if you win the election on Oct 21st and become the Premier of New Brunswick you will be responsible for the fair and equitable distribution of literally billions of the taxpayer’s hard earned money. As it turns out I “received” anonymously, in my email a copy of "the test", the test complete, believe it or not, with the answers from David Coon, Susan Holt and Blaine Higgs.

I hope I won't get into trouble for revealing the answers there's a lot at stake and an old friend of mine once said: “”It’s better to be shot for being a fool than a coward” so here we go.

The question was in three separate encrypted messages sent to each of the three leaders read: You are required to empty a bathtub, how would you do it?

David Coon representing the Green Party answered: And offering a typically conservationist answer responded with: I would buy a big bucket and in no time the tub would be empty.

Susan Holt representing the Liberal party, not being afraid to spend a few bucks answered: I would buy a pump, a big pump and pump the water out, the tub would be empty in no time.

Blaine Higgs opened the encrypted message looked at the question, shrugged and answered: I would pull out the drain plug.

This, of course, is not a true story. I present it within the context of election issues or perceived issues, the main one being health care funding. For those who have not been paying attention is $3.8 billion dollars is earmarked for healthcare for 2024-2025, the most in New Brunswick's history, however both Susan Holt and David Coon are both telling voters "that is not enough".

The Obesity Epidemic – New Brunswick needs a strategy!

The evidence is overwhelming.

"Over the past several years New Brunswick has experienced an alarming increase in obesity rates among adults, children, and its youth. And while obesity itself may often be overlooked as a chronic condition, Health Canada cautions that obesity is directly linked to many chronic diseases, like diabetes, asthma, heart disease, stroke and cancer, burdening our health care system, and costing the Canadian economy more than 7 billion dollars annually” This is a direct quote taken from the New Brunswick Medical Society.

.Stats Can - ?“In 2022, New Brunswick was the province with the highest prevalence of obesity among adults in Canada. At that time, around 43 percent of adults in New Brunswick were considered obese”.

The elephant in the room is that healthcare issues in New Brunswick has little to do with funding and everything to do with lifestyle. This fairly obvious fact was pointed out by the Minister Dr. Denis Furlong 14 years ago in 2010. ??He also told CBC News Online in 2004, 20 years ago, “That ?the government doesn't have to throw more money into health care”.

Returning to my silly analogy about the political leaders emptying the bathtub. There’s no need for David Coon and the Greens to spend taxpayers money to buy a bucket, there is even less need for Susan Holt and the Liberals to spend even more of our taxpayers hard earned dollars the buy and expensive pump.

All that is required is for Blaine Higgs and the PCs to continue pulling the plug on inefficient and ineffective practices within the healthcare system. We can work hard or we can work smart, the choice is ours. Something to think about. ???